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 pass on, after showing their passports. 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 passed 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 passed 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."
Ahead, Hal suddenly made out a large body of men in such position as to
block the road. He slowed down the car, and, leaning back, addressed
the others.
"If I'm not mistaken," he said quietly, pointing, "just beyond lies the
Dutch border. Once across we are comparatively safe. At least the
Germans will not dare to follow us on to neutral ground. At the same
time, if we are apprehended by Dutch military authorities our mission
will be a failure, because we shall be interned. What is your advice?"
"Get into Holland first and let matters take their course later," said
Chester quietly.
"I agree with you," said McKenzie.
"And I," said Hal.
"Well," said Stubbs, "I don't. Not that it will make any difference,
of course, because you will do as you wish anyhow."
"If you have any better plan, Stubbs," said Chester, "let's hear it."
"I don't have any plan," declared Stubbs, "but seems to me you could
think of a better one. To rush through those fellows ahead means a
fight, a that's why you decided on that plan. I'm against a fight at
all hazards."
"So I perceive," said McKenzie dryly.
"Well; you stick along anyhow, Stubbs," said Chester.
"Oh, I'll stick," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to tell you right now I
don't think I'm going to do you any good."
"Well, if we are decided," said Hal, "we might as well go on. We'll
show our passports again and it may be we'll get through without
question. However, something tells me we are going to have trouble, so
get your guns ready."
"If you think we're going to have trouble, I'm absolutely positive of
it," Stubbs mumbled to himself.
However, each looked to his weapons and made sure that they were in
working order.
"One of us has got to get through," said Chester in a low voice. "Who
has the list, Stubbs?"
"Hal," was the response.
"Then Hal must get through no matter what happens to the rest of us,"
said Chester quietly.
"Good lord!" said Stubbs. "Why didn't I keep that list!"
As the large automobile approached, several of the Germans ahead
stepped directly into the road and one threw up a hand in a signal
demanding a halt. Hal made out that at this point there were perhaps a
dozen men, though to each side he saw countless other forms. These
latter, however, appeared no wise interested in the automobile and its
occupants, but went about their several duties.
Hal put on the brakes and the automobile came to a stop a few feet from
the nearest German, who, it appeared, was a colonel of infantry.
The German, followed by his men, approached the car and surrounded it.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"Dutch war correspondents," replied Hal quietly.
"Your passports," demanded the German.
The four friends produced their passports and extended them to the
officer. The latter scanned them hastily, then cried:
"As I thought. You are the men we want. Seize them!" This last
command to his soldiers.
Instantly the dozen soldiers swooped toward the automobile, their
rifles leveled. At the same moment Hal sent the large automobile
forward with a jump.
The German rifles spat fire. Revolvers appeared simultaneously in the
hands of Chester and McKenzie. Both sprang to their feet, and, each
holding to a side of the machine, they returned the fire, as Hal bent
over the wheel.
"Crack! Crack!"
Chester and McKenzie fired together.
In spite of the movement of the car their aim was true, and two German
soldiers fell in their tracks. Stubbs still kept his seat.
The automobile, with its first lurch forward, had mowed down several of
the enemy, and now dashed forward with a clear path to the Dutch
border.
Behind, at command from the German officer, the troopers, still upon
their feet, fell to their knees, and, taking deliberate aim at the
rapidly moving car, fired.
There was an explosion from the automobile. The car jumped crazily.
Chester, still standing, revolver in hand, was flung violently into his
seat, but McKenzie was not so fortunate. He toppled from the car head
foremost.
One of the German bullets had punctured a rear tire. Hal brought the
machine to a stop.
"Out and run for it!" cried Hal, and suited the action to the word.
Chester clambered out with more difficulty, for the wound in his side
still pained him. McKenzie, strange as it may seem, had not been badly
hurt by his fall. He got to his feet, still clutching his revolver.
As the Germans hurried toward him, he raised the automatic and opened
fire.
The first German pitched headlong to earth, as did the second.
McKenzie gave ground slowly.
With a swift look he saw that Hal had almost reached the Dutch border,
which he perceived was guarded by a squad of Dutch soldiers. Chester
also was limping in that direction. Stubbs, in spite of his opposition
to fighting, was lending the lad a helping hand.
"They'll make it, if I can hold these fellows a minute," muttered
McKenzie.
He faced the foe again, and from a pocket brought forth a second
automatic.
"Not for nothing was I called the best shot in the northwest," he said
quietly.
Hal's idea in not waiting to assist in the flight of the others,
McKenzie knew on the instant. The list they had risked so much to get
must be taken from German territory at all hazards. McKenzie knew,
too, that Chester and Stubbs were simply following instructions when
they also fled. It was every man for himself. A German bullet
whistled close to the Canadian.
"Well," he said quietly, "I'll get a few of you before you drop me."
He faced his foes unflinchingly.