TOWARD THE FRONTIER
Hal set his course by instinct and the glow of the disappearing moon,
and a few moments after their swift departure, it seemed, they were
beyond the city itself, headed straight for the Dutch frontier.
There was no pursuit, and Hal rightly judged the reason to be because
he had thrown pursuers off the track by several sharp turns before
leaving the city proper.
After an hour's riding, Hal made out specks ahead that he took to be
automobiles. He increased the speed of the car slightly to make sure
of this fact. The car driven by Hal was gaining, but so slightly as to
be almost imperceptible.
"Those fellows are hitting up a pretty swift gait," the lad muttered.
"I wonder why."
The sound of a shot was suddenly swept back to Hal's ear.
"Hello!" he muttered. "Trouble ahead."
He slowed down, for he had no mind to mix up with the Germans so long
as it could be avoided. Suddenly the first automobile ahead came to a
stop. The second did likewise. Hal shut off his searchlight and
approached slowly in the darkness.
It became plain, as he drew closer, that the first automobile had been
stopped by a pistol shot, which probably had punctured a rear tire.
There came more pistol shots and then silence. Hal brought his own
machine to a dead stop.
A few moments later one of the automobiles ahead, as Hal could see by
the position of its searchlight, began to turn in the road. Instantly
Hal flashed his own light on and sent the car forward. This he did
because he realized it would look suspicious should the flare of the
other light show Hal's car standing still in the road.
The other car had now come about and approached Hal's machine.
McKenzie and Stubbs both had been watching the proceedings ahead with
strained eyes. Now they were ready for Hal's words:
"Guns ready back there. We'll pass if they let us alone."
The cars came closer together. Suddenly Hal was struck with a thought
that sent a chill down his spine. Suppose Chester was in that car!
Maybe the pursuit he had witnessed was the pursuit of Chester.
The cars were almost together now. Instead of turning off to the right
to allow the other to pass, as it seemed to have every intention of
doing, Hal only swerved slightly. Then, before the other car could
pass, he brought his own machine to a stop and sprang to the ground,
revolver in hand. McKenzie was close behind him.
Only Stubbs remained in the automobile, and he, too, held a revolver
ready for instant action.
A voice from the strange car hailed Hal.
"Why do you stop us like this?" it demanded.
"Want to see who you are," was the lad's reply. "A spy has escaped
from Berlin, and I have orders to search all vehicles."
"You are mistaken," said the voice. "The spy has not escaped. We have
him here."
"Good!" exclaimed Hal. "Nevertheless, I must satisfy myself that you
are speaking the truth and are what you represent yourselves to be."
"Of course," returned the voice. "Approach."
Hal went forward slowly, gun in hand, as did McKenzie.
Hal now made out that there were four occupants of the car, besides the
man at the wheel and a figure stretched out in the tonneau.
With his cap down over his eyes, he peered in. The men were in
civilian garb and Hal knew, therefore, that they must be members of the
secret service and not of the military. He knew, too, that they would
consequently be that much harder to handle. Nevertheless, he
determined upon a bold stroke.
"Hands up, all of you!" he cried in a stern voice.
His revolver covered the occupants in the front seat. McKenzie covered
the rear.
"Here, what's the meaning of this?" exclaimed a man who seemed to be
the leader. "You fool! Haven't you been convinced yet that we are
what we say."
"Perfectly," returned Hal quietly. "That's why I must insist that you
raise your hands. Instantly!" His voice hardened and his finger
tightened on the trigger. "Shoot without hesitancy," he warned
McKenzie.
McKenzie's lips were set in a determined line. It was plain that he
would need no urging.
"Well," said one of the Germans, "it's my belief you are also spies."
"Hands up!" repeated Hal.
"If you must have it you must!" exclaimed the first German.
His hand flashed up and in it was a revolver.
McKenzie's revolver flashed. The German dropped back.
The man at the wheel released his hold on the steering apparatus and
also reached for a gun. Hal dropped him without changing his
position.
One of the Germans, before either Hal or McKenzie could stop him,
hurled himself over the far side of the car. The other two raised
their hands.
"That other fellow is probably bent on mischief," said Hal to himself,
"but we'll have to take a chance. Cover 'em" he ordered McKenzie,
"while I get their guns!"
Hal advanced to the side of the car and deprived the two Germans of
their revolvers. Then he climbed in and motioned the Germans to get
out. After that he bent over the still form in the bottom of the car.
It was Chester.
"Keep those fellows covered, McKenzie," he warned. "Don't let them
move. One of them may have the list."
The Germans made no move under the muzzle of McKenzie's gun, held in a
steady hand.
Hal lifted Chester's head to his knee. As he did so there was a sharp
report from nearby, quickly followed by a second, and Hal felt a slight
pain in his left arm.
He dropped Chester's head and leaped to the ground.
"That's the man who escaped," he said. "I'll have to get him,
McKenzie. You watch, these fellows closely."
"It's all right, Hal," came a voice from the lads own car. "I got
him!"
It was the voice of Stubbs, and the little man now came forward.
"I stayed behind to cover you fellows," he explained. "The man who
jumped out of the car made a detour and came up to my car. From its
protection he took a shot at you. He didn't see me in the darkness,
though, and I beat him to it. He was so close I couldn't miss."
"Thanks, Stubbs," said Hal quietly. "Now you look in the car and see
if you can't find some rope or blankets or something to tie these
fellows with."
Stubbs returned shortly with several thin blankets, which Hal quickly
fashioned into an improvised rope. The two prisoners were bound.
"Now search 'em for the list," said Hal.
The war correspondent did so. There was no list to be found.
"Search the one you just disposed of, Stubb,"' Hal ordered.
The little man obeyed, and a moment later gave an exclamation of
triumph.
"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.