The Boy Allies at Liege | Page 7

moment, and, with good
luck in getting a boat of some kind at Kolberg, that is the quickest
route."
"Won't we have trouble getting a boat?"
"I am afraid we shall; but we must leave something to chance."
"Well, I guess we won't be any worse off in Kolberg than in Berlin,"
said Hal. "How do you figure to get there?"
"Automobile! We have arranged for a car to pick us up on the northern
outskirts of the city, just inside the line."
"Won't the place be guarded?"
"Of course; but, by a little ingenuity and a bold dash, we should be able
to get through. If not--"
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders expressively.
"Well," said Hal, "I won't object to a little excitement."

"Don't worry," replied the young officer; "you will have all the
excitement you want, and more, too, or I miss my guess."
They continued their walk in silence.
Beyond getting into Denmark, the young officers had formulated no
plan. But, once out of Germany, the rest would be easy. A ship to
England, and from there into France for the young Frenchman, and the
two American boys would telegraph to their mother, or continue their
journey alone. Lieutenant Anderson was bound direct for London,
where he would join his regiment.
The officers had decided to make their attempt at escape by way of
Denmark because, in all likelihood, the country between Berlin and
Kolberg would be less closely guarded than any other part of the
German Empire. Troops were being rushed to the French and Russian
borders, and they realized it was practically impossible for them to
journey in those directions without being captured. Also the southern
route offered little hope of success.
The streets became more and more deserted as the four friends
continued their walk toward the northern outskirts. They passed several
detachments of rapidly moving troops, but they were unchallenged.
Suddenly the young Englishman called a halt.
"The automobile is waiting at the next corner," he explained. "Just
beyond is the northern limit of the city. Go quietly and we may not be
molested."
Hal and Chester were greatly excited by this time, but they obeyed
instructions as well as they could, and climbed into the big car that was
waiting for them, without even being seen. The driver immediately
started the machine, and our boys were on their way at last.
On toward the city line the big car rushed, and it was just as the four
friends were breathing a sigh of relief at having passed the first danger
safely, that a harsh voice rang out:

"Halt!"
Almost directly ahead stood a squad of armed men, their rifles leveled
straight at the occupants of the oncoming car.
"The patrol!" exclaimed Captain Derevaux, as the auto came to a stop.
An officer approached the side of the machine.
"Give an account of yourselves," he demanded. "Your passports,
please."
"We have none," replied Captain Anderson. "We are just taking a little
spin."
"You cannot pass here," said the officer. "Either return at once, or I
shall be forced to place you under arrest."
There was no use arguing.
"Home it is, then," said the young Englishman aloud, and then in a
whisper to the driver: "Ahead! Full speed!"
"To the bottom of the car!" he cried, as the machine jumped forward
with a lurch.
He dived to the floor of the car, the young Frenchman and Hal
following his example.
Chester, however, had been so surprised at the suddenness of this
maneuver, that for a moment he was unable to move; but, while his
momentary inaction placed him in great danger, it nevertheless saved
his companions from capture, or even death.
As the automobile lunged away, hurling the officer to the side of the
street, the latter shouted a command:
"Fire! Shoot the driver!"

One man only was in a position to obey. The others were forced to
jump for their lives, as the machine bore down on them. This one man,
however, raised his rifle and aimed at the driver, just as the car swept
by.
The muzzle was right at the side of the car, and a miss would have been
almost impossible.
But, before he could fire, Chester sprang to his feet, and, leaning out,
grasped the barrel of the weapon in both hands. With a desperate effort,
he wrenched it from the soldier's hands, just as he was about to pull the
trigger.
Then, at a second command from Lieutenant Anderson, he dropped
beside his friends in the bottom of the car, and it was well that he did
so.
A volley rang out from behind. The hum of bullets could be heard
overhead, and there was the sound of splintering wood, as others
crashed into the rear of the auto, but