BERLIN ONCE MORE.
By dint of persuasion the German officer succeeded in gaining the
consent of General Von Kluck to allow the boys to take the dog with
them. That Marquis was just as pleased to go as the boys were to have
him, was plainly evident. When they left their tent for the last time,
and whistled to him to follow, he bounded after them with enthusiasm.
The train on which the boys were to be taken back to Berlin did not
leave until well along toward midnight, but, with some 5,000 other
prisoners, British, French and Belgians alike, they were bundled
aboard early. Heavily guarded, and without a weapon of any kind or
description, there was no fear of a break for liberty, in spite of the
large number of prisoners.
The lads were shoved into a car already loaded down with prisoners and
took their positions at the far end, the dog between them. In spite of
misfortune, the prisoners all were far from unhappy. They joked and
chatted as though they were on a pleasure trip.
Finally, after much delay, the train started with a jolt, tumbling
men all over each other as it gradually gathered momentum. They were
hurled hither and yon, but they only laughed.
The trip was necessarily slow, for the train, time after time, was
switched on to a siding to permit of the movement of German troop
trains carrying soldiers from the western theater of war to the east,
or from the east to the west.
Consequently, it was late the following night when the train finally
pulled in, and the prisoners were ordered to get out. Under the
leveled rifles of a strong German guard, they stepped to the ground,
and, after being divided into squads at the direction of the German
officer in command, were marched away.
Hal, Chester and Marquis were among the last to leave the train. As
the dog tumbled out after them, there was an exclamation from a German
officer.
"What have we here?" he demanded, approaching the boys. "A dog, eh?
Well, we haven't time to fool with dogs," and he leveled his pistol at
Marquis.
Marquis drew back his lips in a snarl, even as Hal stepped forward to
stay the German's hand.
"This dog was allowed to come with us by special command of General
Von Kluck," he said quietly.
"So you say," was the reply. "But how am I to know that you speak the
truth?"
"The very fact that he was allowed in the car should be sufficient
proof of that," said Hal quietly.
The German officer lowered his weapon.
"I guess you are right," he said. "I beg your pardon."
He appraised the boys with a critical eye, and then became more
friendly.
"You are British officers?" he asked.
"We are attached to the staff of General French," Chester replied.
"So? and at your age? I presume you have seen considerable action?"
"Considerable," replied Hal, with a smile; "at Liège, Louvain, the
battle of the Marne, and some other skirmishes."
"You have been in luck," said the officer. "And here I have been, ever
since the war broke out, receiving prisoners as they are sent on.
Worse luck!"
"Cheer up," said Chester, smilingly, "you probably will get your
chance before the war is over."
"I hope so," replied the German, and continued: "I am going to arrange
for you to come with me--yes, and the dog, too," as he saw Hal glance
at his canine friend. "You can tell me stories of the war. Besides, I
am interested to know how it is that two so young should have seen so
much fighting."
"If I may make so bold," said Hal, "you are not so old yourself."
"True," said the German, with a pleasant smile. "But I am twenty," he
added proudly.
"Then we are not much younger than you," said Chester.
"Well, maybe not; but you seem to have had a whole lot more fun."
His other work disposed of, the German turned to the two lads.
"Come with me," he said, and the boys followed him.
"I am at liberty to accept your parole," said the young German, "if
you are prepared to give it."
Chester glanced quickly at Hal, and the latter replied.
"We appreciate your offer very much, but we decided long ago that we
would give our parole to no one."
"Oh, well," said the German, with a laugh, "it doesn't matter. There
is no chance of your getting out of Berlin, anyhow. However, since you
refuse, it will be necessary to keep more careful watch over you."
The officer bundled the two boys and the dog into a taxi, and they
were soon riding along the streets.
"I am taking you to my home," said the young officer. "While there,
you will be treated as my guests, except that you will always be
guarded."
"We understand," said Chester quietly.
"Looks natural along here," said Hal suddenly, nudging Chester.
"It certainly does," said Chester, with a smile, for he had at that
moment recognized the spot where he, Hal, Lieutenant Anderson and
Captain Derevaux had met for the first time--the spot where the French
and British officer had been set upon by a gang of young thugs.
"What, you have been in Berlin before?" questioned the German officer
in some surprise.
"Oh, yes," said Hal. "We spent one vacation here with my mother."
He thought it best not to let the German know how they had escaped
from the German capital following the outbreak of the war. Chester
also made no reference to this.
All the streets which the taxi traversed were familiar to the boys
now, and they pointed out different places of interest to each other
as they sped along. Finally the taxi drew up and stopped.
The young German leaped lightly to the ground, and stood there as the
boys emerged from the taxi. Looking up, the lads beheld a handsome and
commodious house.
"My home," said the lieutenant simply, "and yours, so long as you are
forced to remain in Berlin."
The lads followed their captor up the steps, and into a prettily
furnished hall, where a servant, summoned by the officer, hurried away
with word for Mrs. Strauss, for, as Lieutenant Heinrich Strauss, the
officer now introduced himself to the boys.
A few moments later a pleasant-faced woman appeared in the hall. The
boys were quickly introduced to her, and she made them welcome,
adding:
"I am sure the general also will be pleased to have you with us."
Both lads looked questioningly at the young officer, who hastened to
explain.
"General Strauss is my father, in command in Berlin. Perhaps were it
not for that, I would not have ventured to bring you to my home. You
would have to have gone with the other prisoners."
"Thanks," said Chester. "I am sure we both appreciate it."
"Indeed we do," agreed Hal.
Before either the young lieutenant or his mother could reply, there
came a heavy footstep without; a moment later the door was thrown
quickly open, and a German officer, huge in stature, and imposing in
his uniform, draped with gold and lace, strode in. At sight of the two
boys he came to a sudden pause.
"What have we here?" he demanded, in a great, booming voice.
"Two of my prisoners, sir," said the lieutenant, stepping forward and
saluting.
"Your prisoners, sir? Do you mean that they are spies whom you have
captured in Berlin?"
"No, sir. They came with the last trainload of prisoners."
"Then, why are they not with the others?" demanded General Strauss
sternly.
"Why, sir," stammered the lieutenant, "I--I----"
"Enough," said the general in a softer voice, his eyes twinkling
although this he endeavored in vain to hide. "You mean that you are up
to some of your old tricks--that your sympathies have gotten the upper
hand of your better judgment. Do you know what I should do with you,
sir?"
The lieutenant made no reply, and the father continued:
"I should have you court-martialed for disobeying the command of your
superior officer. But I won't do it this time. However, it is a very
good thing that our emperor--God bless him--is a very good friend of
your father. Otherwise----"
He broke off and shrugged his shoulders significantly, then continued:
"Then no doubt that big gray dog I stumbled over outside--and which
almost bit me--is the property of your prisoners."
Hal stepped forward and saluted.
"He is, sir," he said.
The old general eyed the lad for some minutes in silence. Hal bore
the scrutiny without flinching. Then the general turned to Chester and
repeated the process. Chester also met his gaze squarely.
"Humph!" ejaculated the German commander; then turned suddenly to his
son.
"When you have introduced us," he said, "we shall all go in and have
something to eat!"