"The first trick--yes: but what are trumps?" said Kenneth, in reply to
his companion's remark.
"Toujours l'audace!" the stranger answered. "But my life isn't worth a
moment's purchase. I owe you a few minutes; 'for this relief much
thanks.' Leave me now, and make for your friends. They will look after
you. I have none."
"Not a bit of it," replied Kenneth instantly. "We stick together. I
know a quiet place where we can consult. Step out briskly, as if we
have important business on hand."
"There's nothing hypothetical about that," murmured the other. "On,
then!"
They hurried along the street, which was crowded with persons of all
ages, some talking excitedly, others cheering and singing patriotic
songs. Now and then there was a cry of "Down with England!" The two
fugitives walked quickly, dodging among the crowd to avoid the wearers
of military or police uniforms, their own uniforms clearing a way for
them. As they passed a beershop, the outside tables of which were
thronged, the drinkers cheered them and broke lustily into the song of
Deutschland ueber Alles.
As soon as possible they turned into a side street, less populous; and
Kenneth, who knew the city well, directed his course towards the river,
to a little secluded nook, where he hoped it would be possible to hold a
quiet consultation. In the hurry of escape and the anxious transit of
the streets he had been unable to devote a moment's thought to their
future action. It was clear that their safety hung by a thread; their
only chance was to lay their plans calmly, taking due account of the
present circumstances and future contingencies.
They reached their destination. There was nobody about.
"We may have a few minutes to ourselves," said Kenneth. He took out his
watch. "It is nearly ten o'clock. My train has gone, so that's out of
the question."
"You were leaving?"
"Yes; my friends thought I had better go; that was before war with
England was certain. I suppose it is true?"
"The time limit has not expired, certainly; but there can't be any doubt
about it. Germany can't afford to yield about Belgium, and we can't
afford to let her have a walk over. We may be quite sure that no
Englishman of fighting age will get away now without trouble. But your
friends will protect you; again I say, don't consider me."
"That's all right. In any case I don't want to get Max Finkelstein into
a row."
"Of Amory & Finkelstein?"
"Yes; I'm Kenneth Amory. Do you speak German, by the way?"
"Like a native. I was at school at Heidelberg."
"That's a help. But for the life of me I can't think of a way of
getting out. When they discover our escape they'll watch the stations,
the piers, and the roads. Our uniforms won't be a bit of use."
"Oh! for the wings of a dove!--or an eagle would be more to the
purpose."
"By Jove! that gives me an idea. I've done some flying; I was going to
try for a place in our Flying Corps. If we could only bag an
aeroplane!"
"A sheer impossibility, I should say."
Kenneth stood silent in the attitude of one deep in thought. Every now
and again his right eyelid twitched--a little involuntary mannerism
which came into play at such times. His companion watched him
curiously. At last a look of resolution chased the doubt from his face.
"It's the only way," he said; "we must have a try. There are plenty in
Cologne. They've been using a new aviation ground lately; the regular
aerodrome was too small for them. They don't fly at night. All the
machines will be in their hangars. Of course they'll be under guard;
but we might get hold of one by a trick. Give me another minute or two
to think it out: I know the place well."
After a few minutes' silence there ensued an earnest conversation
between the two. The upshot of it was that they hurried by unfrequented
roads to the new aviation ground. It was a large enclosure defended by
a wooden fence about eight feet high, with barbed wire along the top. A
sentry stood at the gate near the sheds. The whole place was in
darkness, but a little beyond it, on the far side of the road, shone the
lights of a beershop.
Leaving his companion in a dark corner, Kenneth hastened alone to the
beershop. At the tables outside sat several men, mechanics in
appearance. Kenneth slackened his pace to a policeman's walk, and
passed by, throwing a keen glance at the men, who gave him a perfunctory
salute. On reaching the remotest table he whispered a word or two to
the man drinking alone there. The man left his bock, and rising, joined
Kenneth, who had drawn back into the darkness.
"You can be discreet?" he said.
"What is it, Herr Policeman?" the man replied, doubtfully.
"It is a question of a spy. One of the mechanics is suspected. Do you
know a short dark man who has recently come in?"
The question was a bait cast at a venture; Kenneth was elated at the
man's reply.
"Yes, to be sure; there is a new fellow, mechanic to Herr Lieutenant
Breul. None of us liked the look of him. If he is a spy! ... Not that
he is particularly short."
"Well, not so very short."
"Nor more than common dark."
"Not a gipsy, perhaps; but still, rather dark and certainly not tall."
"That's the fellow to a hair. He's a boor: why, he called me a stupid
pig only this morning. That's suspicious in itself; for I'm not a
stupid pig; I can prove it by my school certificates."
"Of course; you wouldn't be employed here if you were a stupid pig. Well
now, Herr Lieutenant Breul ought to be warned."
"That's true. The Herr Lieutenant is not here now; he has gone for the
night with the other officers. But it would be better to arrest the man
at once. A spy! We'll do for him, me and my mates."
"Not so fast. We must make sure of the man. I ought to hold him under
observation. But it is important to keep the matter quiet. The
question is, can you manage to let me have a sight of the man without
attracting attention?"
The man scratched his head.
"You don't want to enter by the gate, Herr Policeman?"
"No. It would never do to let it get about that a spy was found here."
"Well, it's not an easy matter, but I'll go to the sheds and see what
can be done."
The man went away, Kenneth hastened to the spot where he had left his
companion.
"Things look possible," he said. "But your uniform is a difficulty. A
German officer mustn't enter the enclosure like a thief, and without the
password you can't go in by the gate."
"I must simply bluff it out. I'm a friend of Lieutenant Breul. I've
played many parts in my time--not without success."
"Come along then. There's no time to lose."
They hurried back to the dark corner in which Kenneth had interviewed
the mechanic. In a few minutes he returned.
"This is a friend of the Herr Lieutenant's," said Kenneth. "I met him
just beyond the gate, and he agrees with me that this disgraceful matter
must be kept secret. Have you had any success?"
"The fellow is overhauling the Herr Lieutenant's engine in preparation
for a start to-morrow. He is the only man at work."
"That's very suspicious," said Kenneth. "Don't you think, Herr Captain,
that we had better climb the fence and keep a watch on the man? Who
knows what mischief he may be doing?"
"I'll go back to the gate and meet you inside," replied his companion.
"I think you had better come with me, Herr Captain," said Kenneth, "Your
presence would guarantee me if any soldier within chanced to suppose
that I was intruding."
"Very well," returned the other, with seeming reluctance. "But you also
must guarantee me against damage to my clothes."
"That is easily done. This man will throw his coat over the wire."
"Certainly, Herr Policeman," said the mechanic, whom the presence of an
officer had quite reassured.
They moved off to a spot beyond the sheds. The mechanic laid his coat
upon the wire, and assisted the fugitives to mount. Then he hurried
back to the gate, entered the enclosure, and met them near the furthest
shed. The whirring of a propeller was audible.
"That's the shed," he said, pointing to the half-open door through which
a bright light was streaming. "He's at work there, running the engine."
"Very well," said Kenneth. "You had better get your coat and make
yourself scarce. You won't want to appear in this."
"Not I," said the man.
"The Herr Lieutenant will reward you," said Kenneth's companion. He
knew German officers too well to tip the man in the English way.
The mechanic slipped away into the darkness. The Englishmen went to the
shed. They opened the door and entered boldly. A man was bending over
the engine, spanner in hand, adjusting a nut on the carburetter. He had
not noticed the opening of the door or the entrance of the strangers.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looking up, was amazed to
hear an officer say, through the noise of the propeller:
"Villain, you are under arrest."
Dumbfounded, he stared stupidly at the officer, and feebly protesting,
stood back from the machine. Meanwhile Kenneth had taken a tin of
petrol from a cupboard in the corner of the shed, and was filling up the
tank. When this was done, he ran his eye rapidly over the monoplane,
tested the stays, and finding all in good order, said in English:
"We'll lock this fellow in the cupboard. Then you throw the door open,
come back quickly, and get into the seat beside me. The engine is
running well, and it will only take a few seconds to get off."
At the first words of English the mechanic shouted with alarm; but his
cry was drowned by the whirring of the propeller, and before he could
repeat it he was locked into the cupboard. Then the Englishman carried
out Kenneth's instructions. As soon as he was in his place, Kenneth
threw the engine into gear, and the machine glided forward out of the
shed into the dimly lit open space beyond. In a few yards it began to
rise. There were shouts of surprise from the few men about the grounds
and the mechanics in the beershop outside, scarcely heard by the airmen.
The monoplane soared up and up, unnoticed by the noisy multitudes in the
crowded streets below. It was soon out of sight. Suddenly a beam of
blinding light flashed upon it from some point high above the ground.
"The searchlight on the cathedral steeple," shouted Kenneth to his
companion. "But there's no danger; they'll recognise it as a Taube."
The searchlight followed its course for a few minutes; then was shut
off.
"The second trick is to us!" cried the passenger.
But Kenneth did not hear him. His whole attention was given to the
machine.