THE ACCUSATION.
That startling accusation sobered even Josh, for the smile faded from
his face as he turned an anxious look upon Rod. To be taken for a spy
was a serious thing in these war times, when a short shrift often
followed such a charge.
Rod did not lose his self-possession. At the same time a little frown
appeared on his usually placid face.
"That is a serious thing you charge us with, my Colonel," he remarked.
"We are three American boys who were caught in the whirl of war. We
finally found our way out of Belgium with much difficulty. Two of our
number started back home, having been recalled by a message of
importance."
"But Belgium is far away from Paris, and the banks of the Marne, young
M'sieu!" said the officer, with a touch of satire in his cold voice, and
a look toward a man dressed as a civilian, who, Rod noticed, was
intently watching them.
"That is true, Monsieur le Colonel," immediately replied the boy, "and
we can explain that easily. We met with a poor French woman in Antwerp
whose story enlisted our sympathies. She had just come by a paper from a
lawyer in Paris whereby her husband would inherit quite a snug little
fortune if he signed the same document within a stated time. But as he
had hastened to join his regiment when war was declared she feared the
opportunity would be forever lost. And, my Colonel, we three boys,
hoping also to see something of what was going on along the French
front, gave Jeanne D'Aubrey our promise that we would try to find her
Andre, so that the paper might be signed."
The colonel appeared to be interested, also the other officers, for they
were all French, and as such could appreciate anything bordering on
chivalry. Nevertheless the commander shook his head a little sadly.
"That sounds very fine, young M'sieu," he went on to say, "but, alas!
what are we to believe when this gentleman, who is a fully accredited
member of the French Secret Service, informs us that he certainly saw
you communicating with the enemy only last night, and that there can be
no doubt of your guilt?"
At hearing this Hanky Panky uttered a low cry of alarm, while Josh
glared defiantly at the man in question, who was nodding his head as if
confirming all the colonel said.
"Aha! I smell a rat," Josh muttered, "and its name is Jules, too! I can
see his fine hand back of all this raw deal."
Rod had to think fast. He, too, believed that the Secret Agent must be
in the employ of the schemer; but it might not be advisable to say so as
bluntly as Josh seemed capable of doing.
"Keep still, Josh," he said aside, "and let me do all the talking
necessary." And then, addressing the commandant again, he continued:
"There surely must be some mistake about this, Monsieur le Colonel. We
spent the whole of last night sleeping in a house in a small village
where a regiment of brave zouaves routed a force of Uhlans who had taken
possession. The building in which we found shelter was attacked, and we
had the honor of assisting in its defense. I myself shot two Uhlans in
the leg with this same weapon, as they were smashing in the front door,
after firing the back of the building. But the zouaves came up just in
time, and cleared the field of the enemy."
The colonel listened and looked hard at Rod. Evidently he had been
already favorably impressed with the frank face of the lad, and was
puzzled to know what to believe. He turned to the Secret Service agent
and exchanged several low sentences with him. The man seemed positive,
and apparently did his best to convince the officer that at least the
boys should be held, pending an examination.
Once more Rod faced the colonel. He meant to play his trump cards now,
and convince the other that the charge made against them was ridiculous,
to say the least.
Rapidly he started to recount some of the strange happenings that had
been their portion since crossing from German territory to that of
Belgium and taking up the race to reach Antwerp by dodging the invading
armies.
The officers listened, and apparently all of them could understand
English, for they showed the greatest interest. Now and then two might
be seen exchanging meaning looks, as though coming to a mutual
understanding to the effect that this boy must be a modern Baron
Munchausen, judging from the remarkable stories he had at the tip of his
tongue.
This was especially the case when Rod mentioned that they had actually
been invited into the presence of King Albert, who had thanked them
personally.
"It is all very interesting, young M'sieu," said the commandant, when
Rod paused for breath; "but naturally we would be better pleased if you
could show us some proof that these wonderful things have come your way.
So grave an accusation may not be brushed aside, you understand, with a
wave of the hand. And I am sure you will only too gladly oblige us in
this case."
He smiled when saying this; so too did the younger officers, for they
could not believe that the boy was carrying anything with him calculated
to substantiate his remarkable story.
Judge then of their amazement when Rod coolly produced certain documents
which he kept wrapped in oilskin, located in a deep pocket of his coat.
"Be kind enough, my Colonel," Rod said composedly, "to observe that not
only is this paper signed by the gallant king of the Belgians, but that
indeed he himself wrote every word it contains. And I have still other
proofs to show you in turn, if you would still be convinced that our
story is every word of it true."
There was a tense silence; several pairs of eyes were glued on that
document which Rod meant to have framed if ever he were lucky enough to
get it safely home with him. It would be a badge of honor to which he
and his chums might proudly point when speaking of their remarkable
adventures in the Land of the Great War.
The manner of the colonel had changed when finally he looked up.
Admiration spoke in the glance of his sparkling eyes. Here, then, were
brave American boys who had indeed done something worthy of commendation
by one whose name was already on the lips of every loyal Frenchman;
because the stubborn defense of his native soil by King Albert and his
little army had caused the delay in the plans of the German host that
really saved Paris from capture.
"It is only right that I should beg your pardon, young M'sieu," he
hastened to say, with deep feeling his voice; "there is no mistaking the
meaning of this recommendation, which rings true. You are the friends of
Belgium, and also of France. There is little that you could ask within
my power to grant that I would refuse you. And if you will do me the
honor to shake hands with me I shall be proud to press the palm that
King Albert has held."
Well, the thing had not been so hard to accomplish after all. Still Rod
realized that the Secret Agent of the French Government must have sold
himself to Jules for a price, knowing at the time he was going to put
the lives of innocent boys in peril; and Rod did not feel positively
safe yet.
The man, however, saw that, so far as he was concerned, he had put his
foot in a hole and had better beat a hasty retreat while there was yet
time.
Undoubtedly he himself had been impressed by the display of a document
of such great value, and realized that those who had the sincere
friendship of the ruler of the Belgians were not to be treated harshly
with impunity.
As Josh afterwards remarked, the man immediately commenced to "hedge";
that is, he hastened to "square himself" with the French colonel, who
was now glancing curiously, perhaps a bit suspiciously, toward him.
"Apparently I have been mistaken in supposing that it was these brave
young messieurs who were sending secret messages to the enemy," he went
on to say glibly, "and I hasten to offer them my most sincere apologies
and regrets that through me they have been put to such needless trouble.
I hereby withdraw my charge and trust that you will forget it has ever
been made, Monsieur le Colonel."
This was said in French, which Rod alone of the three boys could fully
understand, but Josh guessed the tenor of the remarks from the shrugs
accompanying them.
"He's eating his words, Hanky, don't you see?" he observed behind his
hand to his other chum. "Some people know enough to get in out of the
rain when the deluge comes. Jules has wasted some more hard cash, seems
like."
Now Rod understood that he could make it pretty hard for the Secret
Service man of the French Government if he chose to tell what he knew
about Jules, and the profit that would accrue to the schemer could he
prevent Andre from signing that paper on time. He did not think it good
policy, however, to mention the matter. It would only serve to anger the
man, and could not bring them any particular benefit.
Accordingly Rod only shot him a suggestive look that doubtless the other
could easily analyze. It meant that the boys were not disposed to be
vindictive--that in fact they were ready to take it for granted he did
not know the true condition of affairs when he entered into his
agreement with the crafty Jules; and hence they were going to let the
matter drop.
Perhaps the man might feel a spark of gratitude and appreciation for
this kindly and generous spirit; the future would show that, Rod
thought.
As the colonel had been so much interested in their story, Rod
considered it only fair that he relate a few more circumstances
connected with their past. He also gladly showed him the paper given him
by the surgeon at the field hospital, telling how the American boys had
worked like beavers in assisting him take care of the numerous cases he
had been compelled to handle with such inadequate facilities at his
command. Yes, there were still other documents which Rod allowed them to
glance over, after which he smilingly remarked:
"I suppose now, M. le Colonel, there will be no necessity for taking us
out before a file of your soldiers and blindfolding our eyes while they
perform their melancholy duty?"
The officer for answer threw his arms around Rod and gave him a
demonstration of excitable French admiration by kissing him on both
cheeks.
"If I had a son," he said fervently, "which, alas! Heaven has not
allowed me to retain in this world, I should be proud indeed were he
built in your image, my brave young American. And when you go back to
your splendid country tell them, will you not, wherever you go, that
France sees her duty by the world, and will not flinch, no matter what
the cost. When this war is over there will never be a despotic military
power again. The victory on the Marne has settled all that, though it
may take years for Germany to recognize the fiat."
The three boys parted from the worthy colonel with mutual expressions of
esteem. They would often recall his fine martial appearance, with his
strong face and its white imperial, trimmed after the style of the later
Napoleon.
Even Hanky Panky could laugh now, once they were on the road again.
"That agent of the Government saw he had put his foot in it, after you
flashed the King Albert message before them," he remarked as they rode
slowly along as near to forming a bunch as was safe for motorcyclists.
"Yes, and I reckon he felt pretty cheap when he had to own up about
making a mistake," added Josh. "You don't believe for a single minute,
do you, Rod, that he really saw anybody trying to send signals to the
enemy? It was all a set-up game, wasn't it?"
"No question about it," he was told by the other, Rod being in the van,
as usual, "but it was another experience for us, you know. And besides,
I managed to pick up a little information that helps out."
"Do you mean with regard to the regiment we're on the track of?"
questioned Hanky Panky eagerly, for to tell the honest truth he was
hoping that the end of the trail was near at hand, when they could
follow their other chums across the sea to their far-distant homes.
"Yes," said Rod over his shoulder, "it's ahead of us, and we ought to
reach it some time to-day; but the chances are we'll find it neck deep
in action, because it forms a part of that army thrown forward to do the
worrying of the German rearguard to-day. Let us hope if one man in that
regiment survives the battle it may be Andre."