The Boy Allies at Liege | Page 4

as you are bold, eh? Well, all right," and he extended his hand, which Hal and Chester grasped in turn.
But the Frenchman was not to be put off so easily. He insisted on embracing both of the boys, much to their embarrassment.
"I'm Lieutenant Harry Anderson, of the Tenth Dragoons, His Majesty's service," explained the Englishman, and then, turning to his friend: "This is Captain Raoul Derevaux, Tenth Regiment, French Rifle Corps. We were strolling along the street when attacked by the gang from which you saved us. In the morning we shall try to get out of Germany by way of the Belgian frontier. If now, or at any other time, we may be of service to you, command us."
"Yes, indeed," put in the Frenchman, "I consider myself your debtor for life."
Hal and Chester thanked their newly-made friends for their good will, and, after a little further conversation, left them to continue their way, while they returned to the hotel, much to the relief of Mrs. Paine, who had become very uneasy at their long absence.

CHAPTER II.
A PERILOUS SITUATION.
"Come on, Hal. Let's stroll about a few minutes. We've lots of time before the train pulls out."
It was Chester who spoke. Mrs. Paine and the two boys were sitting in their compartment of the Brussels express, in the station at Berlin. It still lacked ten minutes of the time set for departure.
"You don't mind, do you, mother?" said Hal.
"No; if you do not go too far," was the answer.
The boys descended from the car, and wandered toward the entrance of the station. Just as they were about to step on to the street, a German military officer swung into the doorway. Hal, who was directly in his path, stepped aside, but not quickly enough to entirely avoid him.
With one outstretched arm the officer shoved him violently to one side, and then stopped.
"What do you mean by blocking my way?" he demanded. "Do you know who I am?"
Hal's temper was aroused.
"No, I don't; and I don't care," was his reply.
"Well, I'll give you something to care about," and, raising his hand, the officer made as though to strike Hal across the face.
"Don't you strike me," said Hal quietly. "I'm an American citizen, and I give you warning."
"Warning!" sneered the officer. "You young American upstart! I'll have you whipped!" and he turned as though to call someone.
At that moment there was a sudden cry of "All aboard!" and the officer, after taking a threatening step toward Hal, made a dash for the train.
"I guess that is our train, Hal," said Chester. "We had better hurry."
The lads retraced their steps toward their train. Reaching the shed, they saw the German officer disappearing into a compartment on the train.
"That looks like our compartment to me," said Hal. "I hope we don't have to ride with him."
"I hope not," agreed Chester, and then broke into a run, as he shouted:
"Hurry! The train is moving!"
It was true. The boys had wasted too much time.
The door to one compartment was all that stood open, and that was the one in which Mrs. Paine could be seen gesticulating to them.
"We just made it," panted Hal, as they reached the open door, and started to climb aboard.
At that instant a uniformed arm appeared through the door and pushed Hal away.
"Go away, you American puppy," came a voice.
Hal slipped, and but for the prompt action of Chester, who caught him by the arm, would have fallen beneath the train.
The train gathered momentum, as the boys raced along beside it, in vain seeking an open door by which they might climb aboard. There was none but their own compartment, and that had passed them. It was impossible for them to overtake it, and there was not a train guard in sight.
The boys stopped running and stood still as the remainder of the train slipped past.
On ahead they could see Mrs. Paine and the big German officer, both gazing back toward them, the former gesticulating violently.
Hal stamped his foot with rage.
"I'd like to get my hands on that big lout!" he shouted. "I'd--"
"Come, come, old fellow," interrupted Chester, "never mind that, now. I don't blame you, but you can see it's impossible. You'll have to wait."
"You are right, of course," replied Hal. "The thing to do now is to send mother a telegram to the first station and tell her not to worry, that we shall be along on the next train. But, just the same, I'd like to get my hands on that--"
"Come, now," Chester interrupted again, "let's send that telegram and find out when the next train leaves."
They found the telegraph office, and Hal prepared a message, which he handed through the window.
The clerk glanced at it, and then passed it back.
"Can't be sent," he informed Hal.
"Can't be sent! Why not?"
"Nothing