The Boy Allies in the Trenches.
by Clair Wallace Hayes.
CHAPTER I.
WITH THE ARMY.
"Well! Well! Well! If it isn"t Lieutenant Paine and Lieutenant Crawford!"
The speaker, none other than Field Marshal Sir John French, commander-in-chief of the British forces sent to help France hurl back the legions of the German invader, was greatly surprised by the appearance of the two lads before him.
"I thought surely you had been killed," continued General French.
"We are not to be killed so easily, sir," replied Hal Paine.
"And where have you been?" demanded the General.
"In Russia, sir," replied Chester Crawford, "where we were attached to a Cossack regiment, and where we saw considerable fighting."
General French uttered an exclamation of astonishment.
"How did you get there?" he asked. "And how did you return?"
"Airship," was Hal"s brief response, and he related their adventures since they had last seen their commander.
Hal then tendered the General a despatch he carried from the Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of all the Russian armies operating against the Germans in the eastern theater of war.
"You shall serve on my staff," said General French finally.
He summoned another officer and ordered that quarters be prepared for the two lads immediately.
And while the two boys are getting themselves comfortably fixed it will be a good time to introduce the lads to such readers as have not made their acquaintance before.
Hal Paine and Chester Crawford, two American lads, their ages being about 18 and 19, had seen considerable service in the great European war--the greatest war of all time. They had been in Berlin when Germany had declared war upon Russia and France and with Hal"s mother had attempted to make their way from that country. The mother had been successful; but Hal and Chester got into trouble and had been left behind.
Fortunately, however, two young officers, Major Raoul Derevaux, a Frenchman, and Captain Harry Anderson, an Englishman, had come to their a.s.sistance--reciprocating a good turn done them by the two lads a day before--and together, after some difficulties, they succeeded in reaching Liege, Belgium, just in time to take part in its heroic defense against the first German hordes that violated the neutrality of the little buffer country.
Both had distinguished themselves by their coolness and bravery under fire, and had found favor in the eyes of the Belgian commander, as related in "The Boy Allies at Liege." Later they had rendered themselves invaluable in carrying dispatches.
Following their adventures in this campaign they saw service with the British forces on the continent, as told in "The Boy Allies on the Firing Line." In this campaign they had been instrumental in foiling a well-planned German coup, which would have resulted in a severe blow to the British had it been put through.
Also, while scouting in the enemy"s domain, Hal and Chester had unearthed a conspiracy that threatened the destruction of a whole French army corps. By prompt action the lads prevented this and won the congratulations of General Joffre, the French commander-in-chief.
It was through information gleaned by the lads that the British army was finally able to surprise the enemy and advance to the east sh.o.r.e of the River Marne, after a struggle that had lasted for two weeks.
In a battle following this decisive engagement--while returning from a successful raid--Captain Harry Anderson, who had accompanied them, was critically wounded and, together with Hal and Chester, taken prisoner.
Hal and Chester, with a French army dog they had rescued from the wrath of a German officer, were taken almost immediately to Berlin.
There, while strolling about the street one day in company with the German officer in whose charge they had been placed, they were made, to their surprise, the bearer of an important communication to the Russian commander-in-chief. It happened in this wise:
An English prisoner, recognizing them, made a dash for liberty and succeeded in pa.s.sing the doc.u.ment to Chester. The lad secreted it.
Finally, through their resourcefulness, the lads managed to make their escape from the German capital and reached the Russian lines by means of an airship.
Here they put the doc.u.ment into the hands of Grand Duke Nicholas, who, at their request, a.s.signed them to a regiment of Cossacks.
The lads immediately made a good friend of a huge Cossack, Alexis Verhoff, a man of immense prowess and great strength, and with him saw a world of fighting. In a battle with the enemy, Marquis, the dog who had accompanied them, was killed. Later, while they were making their way back to England by airship, Alexis, who accompanied them, was wounded on the coast of Sweden, where their machine, crippled by the fire of German aviators, had fallen.
While Alexis stood off the foe the lads repaired the damage to the machine, but when they finally succeeded in dragging the huge Cossack aboard and once more headed toward home, they found that their friend was wounded unto death. He died as the aeroplane sped over the North Sea.
In Russia both lads had been decorated with the Cross of St. George by the Czar of Russia himself--this for their bravery and daring.
Hal and Chester were both exponents of the manly art of self-defense, and more than once their skill in the fistic art had stood them to good advantage. They were also proficient in the use of the revolver and sword. They had returned from Russia with a dispatch for Sir John French from the Russian Grand Duke, a message so important that the Russian commander-in-chief would not flash it by wireless for fear that it might be intercepted by the Germans, and the code deciphered.
Hal and Chester went at once to the quarters a.s.signed them, where they immediately threw themselves down to rest. They were tired out, as the journey had occupied days, and they had scarcely closed their eyes during that time. They had remained in England only long enough to have the body of Alexis buried with fitting honors, and had then set out for France immediately.
It was dark when the two lads were aroused by the sound of a bugle blowing the call to arms. Both were quickly on their feet and dashed through the darkness to where they could make out the form of their commander, surrounded by other members of his staff.
"Something up!" cried Hal as they hurried forward.
"Probably a night attack," said Chester. "General French may be planning to carry some of the enemy"s trenches by a.s.sault."
"Guess you are right," replied Hal briefly.
They took their places among the others of the British leader"s staff and were received with nods of welcome and some expressions of astonishment.
They had friends among the British officers, many of whom, because of their long absence, had mourned them as dead.
The lads let their eyes roam about. Troops, troops, troops! Nothing but troops, as far as the eye could see. Cavalry, artillery and infantry in solid ma.s.ses on every side; officers darting hither and thither delivering sharp orders. It was an impressive sight.
An officer on horseback dashed up to General French and the two held a short conversation. As the rider turned and was about to make off again the lads recognized him.
"Major Derevaux!" shouted Hal, taking a step forward.
The officer wheeled in his saddle. He recognized the two lads in an instant, and reined in.
"h.e.l.lo, boys," he called back. "I heard you were dead. Glad to see you again."
Without further words, but with a wave of his hand, the French officer put spurs to his horse and dashed out of sight in the darkness.
"Wonder what he is doing here?" said Hal. "He was attached to General Joffre"s staff when we left. Remember?"
"Yes," replied Chester. "Must be some momentous move under way."
Other officers now began to appear. They dashed up to the British commander, made their reports and immediately dashed away again.
"Lieutenant Paine! Lieutenant Crawford!"
It was General French summoning them and the boys approached and came to attention. Because of past experience, both lads realized instantly that the General had some ticklish work cut out and that he had selected them to carry it through.