OFF ON A MISSION.
"I regret to say that what you ask is impossible."
The speaker was General Ferrari, commander of the Italian army of the
North--the army that later was to attempt an invasion of Austrian
territory by way of the Alps.
Colonel Anderson had just put before the general the question of trying
to gain the freedom of Uncle John. The general turned to Hal and Chester.
"I am not unmindful of the great help you rendered Italy in Rome," he
said; "but, at the same time, I cannot grant your present request. I
am sorry."
"Why, that's all right, sir," said Chester quietly. "The idea was Colonel
Anderson's, and if it cannot be done, that settles it, of course. Uncle
John will have to take his chances, the same as the rest of us."
"I am glad you are so sensible about it," replied the general. "Now,"
turning to Colonel Anderson, "I have a matter to discuss with you."
Hal and Chester took their departure, telling Colonel Anderson they would
await him without. Half an hour later the colonel joined them.
"It's too bad you fellows are not in the fighting business any
more," he said.
"Why?" demanded both lads in one voice.
"Because I am now confronted with a piece of work in which I should be
glad to have your aid."
"What kind of work?" asked Chester.
"Oh, just a little mission that would take us into the Austrian lines.
General Ferrari wants a little information, and he has selected me to go
after it. I've got to have a couple of companions."
"By Jove, Chester! Here's a chance for us," declared Hal. "We'll go
along, and who knows, perhaps we may have a chance to help Uncle
John, too."
"Good!" agreed Chester. "What do you say, colonel?"
"I am afraid the general would not hear of it," replied the colonel, with
a slight smile. "For my part, if you are willing I should be glad to have
you with me. I know you are to be depended upon and I have great
confidence in your resourcefulness."
"Let's go and see the general," said Chester.
Colonel Anderson offered no protest to this and a few moments later
Chester put his request to General Ferrari.
"H-m-m," said the general, musing for a while. Then he gave his decision.
"All right," he said; "but first, I want to impress one thing upon you.
Your work of trying to release your Uncle John, as you call him, must be
a secondary matter. The mission you are undertaking will permit of no
delay. Do you agree to that?"
"Yes, sir," replied both lads, without an instant's hesitation.
"You say you hold commissions in the Belgian army?" asked the general.
"Yes, and I can vouch for the fact that they were both attached to the
staff of General Sir John French," put in Colonel Anderson.
"Very well, then," returned the general. "You may go, and my only
instructions are that the work be done with the greatest possible haste."
"It shall be done, sir," declared the colonel. "Come, boys."
The three saluted and made their way from the general's quarters.
In Colonel Anderson's tent they talked over their plans.
"Just what is it we are supposed to find out?" asked Hal.
"First, the enemy's strength at this point," replied the colonel. "The
lay of the land, the strength of the enemy's position, how his army is
laid out, and, lastly, the feasibility of a quick dash over the Alps."
"Not such a little job, after all," commented Hal dryly.
"And," said Chester, "just how do you figure we are going to get within
the Austrian lines?"
"That's the problem," said the colonel. "We'll have to figure that out.
One thing, we've got to get there, and at least one of us has got to get
back again. Luckily, I speak German fluently. I don't believe Austrian
will be necessary."
"Not much difference, is there?" asked Hal.
"Some. But German will do us."
"Well," said Chester, "one thing is certain; we shall have to discard our
uniforms."
"In which event," said Hal, "we shall be shot if captured."
"That can't be helped," said the colonel. "We'll have to don
civilian garb."
"But how to get across?"
"Say, look here, I've got a plan," said Chester.
"Let's have it," said Hal.
"Listen, then. We'll put on civilian clothes. We'll tell the Italian
officer in command of the farthest outpost what we are about to do. We'll
get horses and we'll have a squadron of Italian cavalry chase us,
shooting--but over our heads. That will attract the enemy, and they'll
come forward to help us. Then we'll get there."
"But what reason will we give for wanting to get into the Austrian
lines?" asked Hal.
"I'm coming to that. Before we start, we'll draw up a couple of maps of
supposed Italian positions--which, of course, will be directly the
opposite of how things are here; we'll take down false figures of the
Italian strength and other such things. We'll tell the Austrian
commander, when we are taken before him, that we are German secret
agents, and we'll get away with it. Fortunately, I think we know the
phrase that will get us by."
"What do you mean?" asked Hal.
"Why, the one you used on Robard in Rome," said Chester. "'From the
Wilhelmstrasse.'"
"By Jove! I believe you are right," declared Hal.
"I am certain of it," replied Chester. "So, you see, we will overcome
suspicion, and will have freedom of the Austrian camp--practically. Now,
what do you think of the plan?"
"Well, it has its advantages," replied Colonel Anderson, "and if we are
careful and cautious, it may work. In lieu of a better, I guess we may as
well act upon it. Now, who is going to draw these maps? A map I would
draw wouldn't look like much."
"I guess that is up to me," said Chester. "I am rather handy with
a pencil."
He set to work and an hour later produced the result of his labors.
"Fine," said the colonel, after gazing at the maps. "And you have laid
them out, names and all. If the Austrians were to advance with the belief
that these were authentic, we'd eat 'em alive."
"I hope they do it," said Chester. "Now it's up to you to get the
other figures."
"We've prepared those," said the colonel, and produced the result of an
hour's work.
"Now we'll have to hide them, so it will look right," said Chester.
"Right; but first crumple them up and rub a little dirt on 'em," said
Hal.
This was done.
Then the three went in search of the necessary clothing. This they
obtained without much difficulty.
"Now, about the starting time?" said Chester.
"My idea," said Hal, "is that we go to the front at once, but that we do
not start toward the enemy's lines until just after the break of day."
"Why?" asked Colonel Anderson.
"For several reasons, but one will suffice. If we go at night the whole
thing is likely to go wrong, and they'll shoot us without taking any
chances. They won't see our apparently serious predicament in the
darkness."
"You are right, as usual," replied the colonel.
"Now about weapons," said Chester. "We ought to carry a couple of
guns apiece."
"And a good supply of ammunition," agreed Hal.
"We've got the guns, but not the ammunition," said Chester.
"I'll rustle that up for you in a few minutes," said the colonel.
He was as good as his word.
An hour later they set out for the front, still in uniform, for they did
not wish to don their civilian attire until it became necessary, for fear
they would arouse suspicion in the breast of the Italian officer in
command and necessitate a loss of time.
The Italian colonel in command of the outpost at the extreme northern
front listened to their plan and pronounced it a good one.
"I'll have you chased good and properly," he said, with a grin.
"Guess we had better turn in," said Colonel Anderson. "We'll leave it
to you to have us called half an hour before daybreak," he said to
the officer.
"I'll have you up if I have to pull you out by the heels myself," was
the reply.
The three friends turned in in the officer's own tent and soon were fast
asleep, their desperate mission of the morrow weighing not at all upon
their minds. They were too seasoned veterans for that.
Half an hour before daybreak they were aroused. All were perfectly
wide awake in a moment and donned their civilian clothes. Then they
left the tent and joined the Italian officer, where he awaited their
coming and explained to the officer of a squadron of cavalry what was
expected of him.
The latter nodded his understanding of the order and repeated it
to his men.
It was cool in the early morning air, close to the mountains as they
were, and the boys shivered a bit. Both were anxious for the time
for action.
A faint tinge of gray streaked the eastern sky; and gradually it
grew brighter.
"Well, guess we may as well be on our way," said the colonel. "Have you
got our horses?"
The animals were led up at a command from the Italian officer. The three
swung themselves to the saddles.
"Ready?" queried the colonel, gazing carefully around.
"All ready," came the reply.
"Good! Here we go then," and the colonel set off at a gallop, his
revolver in his hand. Hal and Chester spurred after him.