A DANGEROUS MISSION
It was noon of the following day. Hal and Chester stood at attention
before General Pershing, the American commander-in-chief. The latter
gazed at them long and earnestly. With a half shrug he muttered, as he
turned to his desk:
"But they are so young."
The words were not meant for the lads' ears, but Hal and Chester
overheard them. Hal spoke:
"If you please, Sir," he said quietly, "we are not so young as you seem
to believe. To me, Sir, our experience seems very old."
General Pershing glanced up from a pile of papers he was perusing.
Again he looked at the two lads in silence. The two boys bore the
close scrutiny unflinchingly. At length General Pershing got to his
feet, and, approaching Hal and Chester, laid a. hand on the shoulder of
each.
"You are brave youngsters," he said quietly. "From what you have done
since the American troops reached France, I know that Marshal Joffre
and General Haig have not spoken too highly of you; and yet," here the
American commander hesitated a moment before continuing; "and yet the
piece of work I have in sight will entail, perhaps, more danger, more
finesse, and more resourcefulness than any mission you have ever
undertaken."
"You will find that we shall not be found wanting, sir," said Chester
respectfully.
"I am sure of that," was General Pershing's response. "It isn't that I
question your courage or your resourcefulness; but, because of your
youth, in this particular business, I question your wisdom. It is a
task for older and wiser heads, but--"
General Pershing broke off and became silent. Hal and Chester did not
interrupt his meditations. At length the general continued:
"I wish to say before going any further that this mission, if you
undertake it, in all probabilities, will mean death for one of you. It
is for this reason that the task in hand requires the services of at
least two men. One to go and come back, and the other to go--and
come back if he can. It may be that neither will return, and yet one
must return if the safety of his country is to be maintained."
"We shall do our best, sir, if we are entrusted with the mission," said
Chester quietly.
Again General Pershing hesitated. Then he took his decision.
"Draw up stools here," he said, and made room at his desk.
The lads did so. General Pershing spoke in a low voice.
"You both undoubtedly know," he said, "that since the American
declaration of war on Germany, the activity of German agents and spies
in the United States has grown to startling dimensions?" The lads
nodded and General Pershing continued: "Very good. Now, I have before
me a cable, in code, from the state department, which advises me that
the department of state must have, at all hazards, a list of the most
important German agents in America. It is essential. Here," the
general pushed a slip of paper in front of the lads, "is the
translation of the code message."
Hal and Chester glanced at the paper. It read:
"German prime minister has lists of agents and spies in United States.
Realize it is not in your province to get list, but would enlist your
aid, because our diplomatic agents have all left Germany. List is
essential to safeguarding coast defenses and munitions plants. Do what
you can."
The message was signed by the secretary of state.
Hal passed the paper back to General Pershing. The latter eyed him
keenly.
"'You realize the dangerous nature of the work?" he questioned.
"Perfectly, sir; also its importance. We shall be glad to undertake
it, sir."
"Very well. Now I have a little information that may be of value. In
another code message from the state department I am advised that
efforts are being made to get a member of the diplomatic staff back
into Berlin. There is one person in the German capital whom you may
trust." General Pershing lowered his voice. "That person," he said,
"is the wife of the German undersecretary for foreign affairs. She is
an American woman, and upon several occasions has been of service to
her own country. Her name is Schweiring."
"We shall remember, sir," said Chester.
"Now," said General Pershing, "I have no advice to offer as to how you
shall reach Berlin, nor how you shall go about your work. Once in
Berlin, however, you will have to be governed by circumstances. You
speak German, I am told?"
"Like natives, sir," said Hal with a grin.
"Very well. I shall see that you are granted indefinite leave of
absence. There is just one thing more. I want to say that I do not
like to ask my men to become spies."
"Why, sir," said Chester gravely, "it's all for our country; and the
day when a spy was looked down upon has gone. It is just another way
of serving ones country, sir."
"Nevertheless," said General Pershing, "the punishment is the same as
it has been down the ages: death."
"If caught," Hal added with a smile.
"True," was his commander's response, and a slight smile lighted, up
his own features.
He arose and extended his hand. Both lads shook it heartily.
"I hope," said General Pershing, "that you may both come through
safely. But if you don't--well, good-bye. I don't need to tell you
that if one can get through with the list that, from the nation's
standpoint, what happens to the other is insignificant."
"I have a request to make, sir," said Hal, as they turned to go.
"Consider it granted," replied his commander.
"It is this," said Hal. "I believe that it would be well for us to
take a third man along. It may be that he will never reach the German
lines, but he should prove of help for the other two."
"Have you the man in mind?" asked General Pershing.
"Yes, sir. A man named McKenzie, a private in our troop. He's a
Canadian, and has seen years of active service. Also, as I happen to
know, he speaks German fluently."
"I shall give you a paper authorizing his indefinite leave of absence,"
said General Pershing.
He scribbled a few words on a piece of paper, and passed it to the
lad. The boys drew themselves to attention, saluted, and left.
"A pretty ticklish piece of business," said Chester quietly, as they
made their way to their own quarters.
"Rather," said Hal dryly; "and still it must be done. The safety of
America depends upon the success of our mission. It may be well that
it has been entrusted to us rather than to older men. We are less
likely to be suspected if we reach Berlin safely. Besides, we have
been there before, and are somewhat familiar with the city."
"Yes," said Chester grimly, "we've been there several times before. I
recall that we went there once very much against our will--prisoners."
"Well, we didn't stay very long," said Hal.
"Let's hope we don't stay for keeps this time either," said Chester.
"To tell the truth, I don't think much of this spy business myself."
"Somebody has to do it," Hal declared.
"Of course, but I am not very fond of that sort of work."
"If you don't want to go--" Hal began, but Chester interrupted.
"Of course, I want to go if it must be. I am ready to do what I can
for my country in whatever way I may."
"I knew it," said Hal; "I was only fooling. Come, we will acquaint
McKenzie with his work. And if he comes safely through this, I feel
confident he will not remain long in the ranks."
The found McKenzie, the erstwhile Canadian sergeant, in his tent.
"McKenzie," said Hal, "you are about to take a trip, I see."
"That so, sir? I hadn't heard of it."
"Yes," Hal continued. "I heard a man say you were about to go to
Germany."
"And the man," said McKenzie, "was--"
"General Pershing, McKenzie."
"Very well, sir," said McKenzie, to whom the few words told the story
of important work to be done.
"In that event, I presume that General Pershing has seen fit to allow
me leave of absence."
"He has, McKenzie. I shall present the order to Captain O'Neill at
once. In the meantime, see that your guns are cleaned, and that you
have an extra supply of cartridges. We may need them. Also, leave any
papers or other marks of identification behind. When you are ready,
come to my quarters."
"I shall be there in half an hour, sir."
Hal and Chester made their way to Captain O'Neill's quarters. Hal
presented the papers, granting leaves of absence to the three.
"Hm-m," muttered Captain O'Neill. "Something up, eh? Well, I wish I
were going with you." He extended a hand.
"Good luck," he said quietly.