THE MEETING BETWEEN THE LINES.
"Good for us! We're the ones to read a message! But say, was that in
German, or French, or English, I want to know?" and Tubby seized his
chums each by an arm, as he asked this question in a husky whisper.
"When you come to making dots and dashes in the Morse code, or what
answers for the same with the heliograph, or a torch, or signal flags, I
guess all languages are the same!" Merritt told him, more to keep Tubby
quiet than for any other reason.
"The question is, who could that message have been for?" Rob was
muttering.
"There, he starts in again," said Tubby. "He's a most persistent sort of
chap, I take it, and means that the other fellow will get that message,
sooner or later. What 'coast is clear'? Why, we're miles and miles away
from the sea-shore now, ain't we? And what under the sun does he mean
by 'safe landing'? Where's the boat going to come from, somebody tell me
quick?"
"I think I know," Rob had just managed to say in reply, when all of them
were suddenly startled to hear a queer, rattling sound from behind that
kept swiftly drawing nearer and nearer, until presently Tubby, in sheer
alarm, dropped flat to the ground.
As he lay sprawled out on his back, judge of his astonishment when he
saw some object, that was like an immense bird, pass over not fifty feet
above him. It was heading directly for the spot where the light of the
lantern glowed in that open field.
The shuttle sound abruptly ceased.
"He's shut off his engine," remarked Rob, apparently intensely
interested.
"Yes, because he means to alight in the field," added Merritt.
Tubby suddenly comprehended what it must apparently mean. He hastened to
scramble to his feet again, and no sooner had he accomplished this than
he was, of course, busily engaged with his questions.
"Was that an aeroplane, Rob?"
"It certainly was," he was informed.
"Then that signal was for the pilot; that was what it meant by 'safe
landing here' and 'coast clear!' Oh! I begin to see it all now. The
'important news' he mentioned in his message must be something a spy has
gathered, and which he wants this air-pilot to carry back to the German
lines for him? Am I on the right track, Rob?"
"Yes; that's about what it all means, Tubby."
"Then that machine must have been one of the Taube aeroplanes they told
us about?"
"We expect it is," replied the obliging Rob.
"It must have landed by now, then, hasn't it?"
"As we can hear nothing moving, that's about the way things stand,"
replied the patrol leader.
"Please shut up, Tubby, so we can listen," Merritt suggested, not
unkindly, but with the authority that his position as second in command
of the Eagle Patrol allowed him to display.
Tubby thereupon collapsed; that is, he simply mumbled to himself, while
staring as hard as he could toward the spot where they could see that
feeble little glow, made by the signaling lantern.
Rob was considerably interested in the adventure. It appealed to him in
a way that was almost irresistible. He could understand that this might
be only one of many methods taken by the astute Germans to get valuable
information to the Staff Headquarters, which were at that time supposed
to be located in the captured Belgian capital of Brussels.
Some spy, who had the run of the Belgian lines, would gather up certain
information which he believed might be appreciated. Then, at a given
time, when darkness covered the land, he was to be waiting for a daring
aviator, who would take such risks as always accompany night traveling
and landing with an aeroplane.
If the man aloft failed to receive the signal agreed on, he would hover
around up to a certain hour, and then go back to Brussels. But, if the
coast was clear, and the secret agent gave him assurance to that effect,
he could dart down, and take charge of the precious documents or maps
showing the positions of various hostile forces, or else some new
arrangement on the part of the defenses of Antwerp.
"I'd like to be able to just crawl up closer, and see what goes on,"
Merritt remarked, after they had stood there for a little while,
listening and watching, yet seeing only that small light in the open
space under the stars.
"Would it be safe?" asked Tubby cautiously; though, no doubt, if his
chums decided on the venture, he would be found remaining at their side.
As often happened, here again Rob had to show his leadership, and curb
his chum's impetuosity. Merritt was apt to do things sometimes on the
impulse of the moment which were really unwise.
The prospect of stealing along, like Indians on the warpath, and
gradually drawing closer to the spot where the pilot of the air-craft
and the spy were in consultation, was very inviting. Rob, however, took
a grip on himself, and decided that it would be most unwise of them to
accept such an unnecessary risk.
"It's really none of our business, Merritt," he said. "First of all----"
"Of course not, but----"
"And, if they discovered us, you know what it would mean?" Rob continued
gravely.
"I suppose they would fire on us," admitted Merritt.
"They certainly would, because they could only believe that we were
enemies," continued the other, who, once he had started in to convince
an impulsive comrade, believed in delivering sledge-hammer blows in
succession, "and we're not aching to be filled with lead just yet."
"But," urged Merritt, "we might move along the road just a little bit
farther; that would take us closer to the place. I'd like to be able to
see that Taube machine fly over our heads again."
"Well, there's no objection to doing that, only we must keep mighty
quiet. And, Tubby, mind your feet!" said Rob.
Tubby did not bother making any reply, for none seemed necessary. He
knew well enough that, as a rule, he was inclined to be clumsy, and
could stumble, if given even half a chance. But, on the open road, and
with the starlight to help out, he could not believe there was any
danger.
So he sniffed disdainfully, and braced himself to move as softly as a
cat; for it is wonderful how light on their feet most fat people can be,
when they try their best.
Of course they could not see a thing, but then, imagination often helps
out, and by this means they could picture the daring air-pilot, having
successfully landed, in consultation with the secret agent.
When he had delivered what news he had picked up, perhaps verbally as
well as through some written process, the spy would most likely assist
the flier to get his Taube under way again, after which he could return
to take up his risky profession amidst the Belgian forces.
Once Tubby did come near falling, as his toe caught in a projecting
stone, which, of course, had been invisible. He managed to clutch hold
of Merritt, who was on his left, and in this way avoided a tumble that
might have caused more or less noise, even if it did not result in any
damage to his nose.
Then Rob came to a stop. The others understood that he must have decided
they were as near the place where the lantern glowed in the field as
they could get without clambering over the stone barrier. This wall
fence came up to Tubby's chin, so that he had to stand on his tiptoes to
see over it.
"Has he sailed away yet, Rob?" asked Tubby, in his hushed voice, which
sounded as though he might be using the soft pedal on his vocal organ.
"We would have heard the clatter of his motor if he had," returned Rob.
"So far it hasn't been found possible to deaden the rattle of the
propeller. And, on a still night like this, you could get that some ways
off. No, they're talking business yet, I reckon."
"Gee whiz! but they must have a lot to say," muttered Tubby.
"After they separate we'd better lie low a while," suggested Rob.
"What for?" demanded Tubby, bound to understand everything, even if he
had to swamp his mates with questions.
"The spy, or spies, for there may be more than one of them, might just
happen to cross this way, so as to get to the road; and, if they saw
three shadowy figures moving along, the first thing they'd be apt to
think was that we were enemies who had been listening."
"Oh! now I see!" Tubby admitted. "And, since we don't want to be made
targets for them to practice at, we'll be wise to do what you say, Rob."
"Please, please, let up on all that talk, Tubby!" implored Merritt.
"Oh! I will, if it bothers you any," the fat boy answered; "but I think
it queer a fellow can't ask a few little innocent questions once in a
while, without being sat down on so hard. Now, I know a boy who made
himself a real nuisance with his everlasting wanting-to-know, but I only
speak up when there's absolute nec----"
Tubby stopped short there. It was not that the annoyed Merritt clasped a
hand over his mouth, thus shutting off his supply of breath, for no such
thought entered the mind of the corporal of the Eagle Patrol; but just
then a horrible din, in which shots, mingled with wild shouts, broke out
in the field nearby.