SAFE AT LAST
McKenzie's arms went up again--not shoulder high--just to his
hips. For McKenzie, in his early days, had been reckoned in the
Canadian northwest as the most deadly shot in the country. He fired
from his hips and aimed by instinct and not by sight.
Each automatic flashed once and two more of the foe fell to the
ground. McKenzie staggered a bit as a German bullet plowed into his
shoulder. Then his revolvers spoke again.
As he fought, the Canadian gave ground slowly. He seemed to bear a
charmed life. Two other bullets struck him--one in the arm and the
other in the thigh, but no one reached a vital spot.
Hal, Chester and Stubbs, in the meantime, had reached and crossed the
Dutch border. There they were immediately taken in charge by order of'
the Dutch officer in command. Hal addressed the officer quickly.
"Can't you do something for my friend?" he demanded, pointing to where
McKenzie was still battling against heavy odds.
The Dutch, officer shook his head.
"I would if I could," he said, his face flushed.
"He is a brave man, and it is a pity for him to die thus. But Holland
is neutral. To interfere might embroil us."
"But if I can show you how?" asked Hal eagerly.
"If you can show me how, yes!" exclaimed the Dutchman. "Talk quickly."
"We carry Dutch passports," said Hal quietly. "That should suffice.
However, cannot you send your men forward under the pretext that the
Dutch border at this point extends an additional one hundred yards?
That will be enough."
"But--"
"Oh, I know it doesn't, but that will be up to others than you. It
will be the subject of diplomatic negotiations. Will you?"
For a moment the Dutch officer hesitated. Then he commanded an officer
who stood near him.
"Captain Hodden! You will move forward with your company and inform
the foe that if he persists in firing on Dutch soil we shall be forced
to return it!"
The Dutch captain seemed only glad for this excuse. He dashed away,
and a moment later Dutch troops advanced onto German soil.
McKenzie, meanwhile, found that he had but two shots left in his
weapons. He glanced backward, and as he did so the Dutch troops
advanced.
"If I can reach them," the man thought.
He whirled, emptied his automatics into the face of his enemies, dashed
the now useless weapons after the bullets, and took to his heels,
zigzagging as he ran.
The bullets in his body impeded his progress, but he reached the
advancing Dutch troops safety. There was a cry of anger from the
German lines as McKenzie found shelter among the Dutch troops. The
Germans halted, and an officer advanced.
"I must ask you to deliver that man to me," he said to Captain Hodden.
"I am sorry, but what you ask is impossible," was the reply. "This is
Dutch territory, and you advance further at your peril."
"Dutch territory!" exclaimed the exasperated German. "You stand on
German ground, and the man you are protecting is a spy. I demand his
return."
"You won't get him," was the reply, "and I am instructed to inform you
that the next German bullet that falls on Dutch ground will be
considered a hostile act against a neutral nation. It will mean war!"
"I don't care what it means," shouted the German, now thoroughly
aroused.
"Perhaps not," said Captain Hodden, "but your superiors may. I would
advise you to order your men to fall back."
For a moment the German hesitated, and it appeared that he would risk a
breach of neutrality to capture McKenzie. At last he turned away.
"Holland will rue this day!" he exclaimed, as he ordered his men to
retire.
Captain Hodden now retreated to Dutch territory, where McKenzie was
turned over to the Dutch colonel.
"Thanks for the reinforcements," he said quietly. "They would have
done for me sure."
Hal, Chester and Stubbs crowded about and shook the Canadian by the
hand. The colonel asked to see their passports, and the four friends
produced their bogus documents.
"So you are Herr Block, eh?" he demanded, eyeing Hal closely.
Hal bowed, but did not reply.
"As it chances," said the Dutch officer sternly, "I happen to be the
brother of Herr Block, so I know you are not he. You are under arrest,
sir."
"For what?" demanded Hal.
"For traveling under false passports, sir. You friends are under
arrest also. You shall be sent to Amsterdam under guard. And you told
me you were Dutch subjects!"
"No I didn't," said Hal. "I told you we carried Dutch passports, and so
we do."
"It amounts to the same thing. It seems I have broken Dutch neutrality
to help a batch of spies. You are all under arrest."
He summoned Captain Hodden to take charge of the four friends.
"You will be responsible for them," Colonel Block said.
The captain saluted and marched his prisoners away. They were put in a
tent some distance away and a guard stationed over them. They were not
searched.
"Well," said Hal, "we're out of Germany, but, it seems to be a case of
out of the frying-pan into the fire."
"They can't shoot us as spies," declared Stubbs. "Holland is not at
war and we have not been active against her."
"No, but they can take this list away from me," said Hal, "and it has
to go to Washington."
"Then we'll have to get out of here," said McKenzie.
"A nice job," declared Chester, "and two of us wounded. By the way,
McKenzie, your wounds need attention. I'll call the Dutchman and have
you fixed up."
He hailed the guard outside, who in turn passed the word for the
captain. The latter appeared a short time later, and Chester explained
what he wanted. The captain moved away and fifteen minutes later a
Dutch physician entered the tent ad dressed McKenzie's wounds.
"Well, that feels some better," said McKenzie with a laugh, as the
surgeon departed. "I feel as good as new now."
The four were kept in the tent all night, and early the next morning
were informed that they would be taken to Amsterdam at noon. The trip
was made under heavy guard, and that evening the four friends found
themselves secure in a military prison in the Dutch capital.
"We're safe enough here, that's certain," declared Stubbs.
"We're safe enough, if you mean we can't out," Hal agreed. "But in
some way or other this list must be delivered to General Pershing."
"Show the way, and we'll do it," declared Chester.
As the friends discussed possible plans, a visitor was ushered in.
This proved to be Herr Block, the man who had assisted them to get into
Germany and who only a few moments before had learned of their arrest.
"It's too bad," he said. "So near and yet so far, as you Americans
say, eh? Tell me, is there anything I can do for you.
"You might get us out of here," said Hal.
Herr Block smiled.
"Easily said, but not so easily done," he made answer. "However, I
have no doubt it can be arranged."
"You do?" exclaimed the others. "How?"
"Well," said Herr Block, "you would be surprised if you realized the
extent to which Holland's sympathies are with the Allies. Of course,
it must not appear on the surface for it would mean war with Germany--and
we are not ready for war now. However, I shall see that the door
to your cell is left open tonight. When your jailer comes with your
meal he will drop his keys. You will rap him over the head with
something, that it may not look as though he were implicated. Then
walk out of the jail and come to my quarters. No one will molest you."
"By Jove," said Hal. "That's simple enough."
"Your meal will be brought in half an hour," he said. "I shall be
waiting for you at eight. You know the way to my quarters?"
"You'd better give me the necessary directions," said Hal.
Herr Block did so and took his departure.
"It all sounds simple enough," said Stubbs, "but it doesn't sound good
to me."
"Don't croak, Stubbs," said Chester; "you ought to be glad to get out
of here."
"Oh, I'll be glad enough to get out, but it doesn't sound plausible."
"Truth is stranger than fiction, Stubbs," said Hal.
"It'll have to be this time to convince me," declared the war
correspondent.
The four became silent, awaiting the arrival of the jailer.