The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders Part 14

"Here it is," he cried.

"Good!" said Hal. "Now we'll lay these fellows where they can't move to give an alarm."

This, too, was but the work of a moment.

"Lend a hand, McKenzie," said Hal. "We'll move Chester into our own car and then move on. It is dangerous to remain here."

Chester was gently transferred from one car to the other and laid in the bottom.

"You fellows see if you can revive him as we go along," said Hal. "We have no time to waste."

He sprang again to the wheel, and the car moved on.

Daylight overtook the four friends as they sped along the country road. Occasionally other automobiles flashed by, but they were not molested.

Under the administering hands of Stubbs and McKenzie, signs of life soon became apparent in Chester's body. He moaned feebly once or twice, and then opened his eyes. For a moment he did not realize where he was, but with remembrance of the recent attack, he suddenly sat up and aimed a blow at Stubbs, in whose lap the lad's head had rested.

"I say! What's the meaning of this?" cried Stubbs. "What are you trying to hit me for?"

"Is that you, Stubbs?" asked Chester in a feeble voice.

"You bet it's me, and I'm going to spank you good if you don't keep quiet."

"How'd you get here?"

"That's a long story," replied Stubbs, "and we don't have time to tell it now."

"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie.

"Great Scott! You here, too?" exclaimed Chester.

"Yes; and Hal is driving this car. You keep quiet now. We're in grave danger and you must get all the rest you can. We may have need of your services before long."

Chester's head dropped back and his eyes closed. He sat up abruptly again a moment later, however, and demanded sharply:

"Where's the list?"

"Safe," replied Stubbs quietly.

Chester sank back again with an exclamation of satisfaction.

CHAPTER XI

MCKENZIE IN ACTION

It was broad daylight now and Hat felt the necessity of traveling at a slower speed than he had through the darkness of the night.

Accordingly he reduced the speed of the big car to not more than thirty-five miles an hour.

Stubbs leaned forward and called to Hal.

"How far do you suppose we are from the Dutch border?"

"Don't know," was the reply, "but it's a long ways. We're not more than 70 miles from Berlin."

Several times during the next few hours they were halted, but were permitted to pa.s.s on, after showing their pa.s.sports. Apparently the Berlin authorities had not wired ahead, and Hal was unable to account for this satisfactorily.

"Something peculiar about it," he muttered, as he bent over the wheel.

For the next few hours the automobile proceeded on its way without interruption, save for a single stop to replenish gasoline and air.

It was well along toward evening when Stubbs announced that the Dutch frontier was only a few miles distant. Once over the line they would be comparatively safe.

A foreboding of trouble swept over Hal.

Chester had slept during most of the trip thus far. McKenzie had examined the lad carefully and discovered that he was suffering from a flesh wound in the left side. The Canadian had bound this up as well as he could as the automobile jostled along.

His experienced eye told him there was nothing dangerous about the wound. It was painful, of course, and Chester would naturally be stiff in body for some time; but, providing the wound was kept clean, there was no danger of infection.

Now, at Hal's injunction, Stubbs aroused Chester. The lad opened his eyes slowly.

"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie.

Chester sat up and pa.s.sed a hand across his forehead.

"I don't feel any too playful," he said with a wry smile. "Where are we, anyhow?"

"Getting pretty close to the Dutch border," returned McKenzie.

"What'd you want to wake me for?" Chester demanded of Stubbs.

"Believe me," said Stubbs, "I didn't want to wake you up. It's usually safer for all concerned when you and Hal are both asleep. I woke you up because Hal told me to."

"That's all right, then," said Chester. "But don't you try to rub it into me, Stubbs, just because I've got a bullet hole in me is no sign I'm a cripple, you know."

"Maybe not," said Stubbs. "Here, take this gun."

He pa.s.sed a revolver to Chester.

"What's the idea?" demanded Chester, taking the revolver; "going to fight me a duel or something?"

"Don't be a fool," said Stubbs. "We're still in Germany, remember.

You may need that gun before we get out."

"All right, Stubbs," returned Chester. "Thanks."