The Boy Allies on the Firing Line Part 31

"Yes," agreed Chester; "or, if we can manage to hold out till night, we may be able to get away."

"It is possible, too," said Hal, "that our absence will be noticed and aid sent to us."

"I'm not banking much on that," replied Captain Anderson, "for, if we are missed, our loss probably will be put down to the fortunes of war.

It is hardly possible General French would know we are cooped up in this house."

"That's so," said Chester. "Well, we will have to hold on as long as we can. That's the best we can do."

"Exactly," agreed Hal quietly.

The three approached the window in front of the house on the second floor. But, even as they neared it, the rifle of the soldier guarding it spoke.

"Evidently the siege has begun," said Hal grimly. "Poor fellow!" he added, as one of the men at the window toppled to the floor, a bullet in his head.

His place was quickly taken by another, and the battle went on. The firing became fiercer with each pa.s.sing moment. The British barred the windows with chairs, tables, and whatever other articles of furniture they could find, leaving an opening just large enough to poke their rifles through.

But even this was not enough to keep out all the German bullets. Still men fell, though not as fast as before. Captain Anderson a.s.signed Hal to direct the fire of the British in the front of the first floor and Chester in the rear. The captain took command of the second floor himself.

The three were everywhere encouraging the men, seemingly being all over their respective stations at once. Occasionally, as a man fell, Hal or Chester would step into the breach and hold the place until relieved by another soldier.

Noon came and went, and still the fighting continued. Apparently, thus far, the Germans had not conceived the idea of battering the house to pieces with their big field guns. Evidently they thought they could take it without this trouble.

And now darkness drew on. The German fire had played havoc with the defenders, but, if they had suffered severely, the enemy's loss, exposed as they were to the grilling fire from the house, had been enormous.

Night fell, and with it came a lull in the firing. Hal took advantage of this respite to hurry upstairs for a word with Captain Anderson. As they conversed in low tones, they were startled by an outcry from the floor below.

Hurriedly descending the stairs, they beheld the cause of the commotion. Struggling in Chester's arms was a man in civilian garb.

"I caught him just as he was about to open the front door," Chester explained.

The man's struggles were soon quieted, and he stood before Captain Anderson, pale and trembling.

"What are you doing here?" demanded the latter.

"I was hiding in the cellar," said the man in a shaking voice. "When you English burst in I didn't know what to do. I remained in my hiding-place until there was a lull in the fighting. I was afraid I would be killed if I was found, so I tried to get out the first time I thought I had a chance."

Captain Anderson looked at him queerly.

"Surely you are not a German?" he asked.

"No, sir," was the reply, "I am French."

"Then what need had you to be afraid of us?"

"Well, you see, sir," was the nervous reply, "I am a peace-loving man.

I don't want to fight, and I won't fight if I can help it."

"A nice specimen of a Frenchman, to be sure," said the captain, with a sneer. "If you are such a peace-loving man, how does it happen we find you here? Why haven't you fled with the rest of the old women and children?"

"Well, you see, sir," quavered the man, "I have been hiding here. I was afraid that if I went to Paris I would be forced to fight."

"And you have been hiding here ever since war broke out?"

"Yes, sir. I have a nice hiding-place downstairs," and he rubbed his hands in satisfaction.

"And you were not discovered by the Germans?"

"No, sir; and a party of officers were here only yesterday."

"Then, no doubt, you heard their plans. Perhaps you can give us important information?"

"I could, yes, sir," was the reply. "But, if I do, will there be any pay for me?"

The captain was taken by surprise.

"And you call yourself a Frenchman," he said in contempt. He took a threatening step forward. "No," he said angrily, "there will be no pay, but I can promise you that if you don't tell what you know you will be shot right here and now."

"Oh, sir, you wouldn't do that," said the man in a wheedling voice.

"Wouldn't I?" exclaimed the captain. "You shall see."

He turned to his men, and, in response to a signal, two of them approached the Frenchman. But the stern tone had convinced the man that the officer meant what he said.

"I'll tell, sir," he cried, falling on his knees.

Captain Anderson waved his men away.

"Very well," he said coldly, "and see that you make no mistake. If your information is of no value you shall be shot anyhow."

"But it is, sir," protested the Frenchman.

"All right. Then let's have it."

"The Germans are planning an aeroplane raid on the English," said the man, in a low voice. "There is a park of aeroplanes hardly two miles from here, on the road leading to Viviers. They are ready for instant flight."

"What!" exclaimed Captain Anderson. "Are you sure?"

"Perfectly," was the reply. "I heard the German officers talking of it only yesterday. They said it would deal a death-blow to the English."

"And so it would," said the captain, "unless it can be stopped."

Hal broke suddenly into the conversation.

"Can you point the approximate whereabouts of this park of machines out to us?" he asked.

"Easily, sir."

"What's your idea?" asked Captain Anderson.