"We are obeying orders, sir," said Frank, quietly. "Those are the despatches Colonel Menier at Amiens gave us to deliver. He said that only one officer here would know what they meant, and how to get the despatches."
"O, I beg your pardon," said the major. He took down his telephone. "Ask if despatches are expected from Amiens," he said, into the instrument.
"And find out who is in charge."
"There is another matter, sir," said Frank. "We saw German troops as we came here."
"Uhlans. Yes, they"re all around behind us. One squadron of them was cut up when it attacked a convoy. There aren"t many of them."
"No, sir, I didn"t mean Uhlans. There is a force of infantry--five thousand men, we estimated--"
"What?" thundered the major, springing to his feet, "You must be dreaming! Where did you think you saw them? And where were they?"
Frank explained.
"It sounds incredible," said the major, frowning. "Come! I"ll take you to General Smith-Derrien. If that"s true, it"s highly important news.
Here, show me on this map just the place where you say you saw them."
Frank and Henri pointed at once to the wood in which the German infantry had vanished, then followed the major out of the room.
CHAPTER XI
AN UNEXPECTED CHANCE
The first impression they had of General Smith-Derrien was of his absolute calmness. The major had been excited when he heard the report of the German infantry in the woods. But when they entered the room in which sat the British general who was responsible for the retreat, as they guessed, they saw a quiet-faced man with smiling eyes, who listened attentively to the reports of the officers who were constantly hurrying up to him, spoke a word or two in answer, and turned, imperturbably, to the next comer.
Their guide left them near the door.
"Wait a minute here," he said. "I"ll tell the General your story. But he"ll want to speak to you himself. He always does."
Frank watched the British leader closely as he turned to the major, who now went up to him. If the news moved him, he gave no sign of his emotion. Instead he nodded quickly, once or twice; then he looked over toward Frank and Henri. The major turned to them, beckoning, and they went up. General Smith-Derrien was sitting at a table. Before him was an ordnance map of the section covered by his operations.
"Now tell me exactly what happened, as quickly as you can," he said.
"You saw these Germans--just where? Point it out on the map. Give me your position and the road they took."
Frank and Henri studied the map a moment. They traced their own course from Amiens; soon they found the spot. The map was on a very large scale, and it showed the hills and a great deal of detail. It was easy to explain just where they had seen the Germans.
"They went into the woods, you say," said the general. "But why did you think they stayed there? Why shouldn"t they have gone on?"
"I went along the road to a spot where I could see beyond the woods, sir," said Frank. "And there was no sign of them."
"You did? That was excellent--regular scouting. Oh, I fancy I understand! Boy Scouts, are you?"
"Yes, sir," they echoed together.
"Well, if your information is exact--and I have no reason to doubt it, of course--you did a very fine piece of scouting, and I shall be glad to see that you get the proper amount of credit for it, when the time comes. Now your information is most valuable. But before I can act on it, I must be absolutely certain that it is accurate. Will one of you help one of my scouts to determine this?"
"Let me go, sir," said Frank, quickly. "I was the one who saw the other side of the woods--"
"But I know the country best," protested Henri. "And--"
"I think you"d better go," said the general to Frank. Perhaps he thought Frank was English; in any case he selected him. "I don"t think it will be dangerous at all, or I shouldn"t let you go. We haven"t started using boys in this war yet. Major, you will see to it that a start is made as soon as possible!" turning to that officer.
The major saluted.
"Yes, sir, at once," he said. "The one who does not go can deliver the despatches they brought from Amiens--a handful of marbles!"
"Eh? What"s that? Those are the despatches from Colonel Menier. I"ll take those!"
Plainly, since he knew of them, he was the officer to whom they should be delivered. So Frank and Henri, not without some misgivings, since the major"s annoyance at the sight of the marbles had rather depressed them, handed over their marbles. General Smith-Derrien picked them up, weighed them in his hand, and finally selected two, to the undisguised amazement of his staff. But when he pressed a hidden spring, and each marble flew back, showing that it was hollow, cries of admiration came from those who were close by.
"Very well. They are in good order," he said, after a glance at the thin but tough paper. "I will send an answer by the scout who remains here."
The major was already moving toward the door, and Frank, with a quick grasp of Henri"s hand and a salute for the general, followed him. He was sorry for Henri"s disappointment, but he had made up his mind when they left Amiens that whenever possible, he himself would take any risks that were to be run. No one would care greatly if anything happened to him, since his parents were dead, and his only other close relative was his uncle, of whom he had seen very little. But Henri"s mother was alive, and, moreover, she had troubles enough. Her husband was at the front, and there was no telling whether or not he would ever return.
"Come along, young "un," said the major. His name, Frank learned, when a pa.s.sing officer spoke to him, was Cooper. "Know what you"re going to do?"
"I"m to help a scout to determine the position of the Germans we saw,"
said Frank.
"Yes, but how? In an aeroplane, my lad! I envy you. They"ve never let me go up in one of the blooming things yet--and just because I happen to be a.s.signed to a special job here with the staff. A lot of fun this war is going to be for me! We"ve been at it pretty nearly a month, and I haven"t been under fire yet!"
Frank found it hard to conceal his delight. He had always wanted to have the experience of riding in an aeroplane, but never before had he seen even a remote chance that it would be gratified. Now he was to have fulfilled one of his most cherished ambitions--and in what a way! To fly with one of the wonderful aviators of whom he had been hearing ever since the war began, and over hostile territory. Risk! What if there was?
In his own room Major Cooper sent an orderly flying, and in a few moments he returned, followed by a spare, tall man in a uniform differing slightly from that of the regular troops. He wore a heavy sweater, and on his head was a headgear resembling, Frank thought, that worn by football players in America.
"You sent for me, Major?"
"Yes, Captain Greene. You"ll have to make a flight to-night. This lad is one of two Boy Scouts who have reported seeing German infantry in rather considerable force south and west of our position here. He will show you on the map just where he says they are lying up. The general wants to verify this report or disprove it as quickly as possible. Your orders are simply to make a reconnaissance and to run no avoidable risks. If it is possible, ascertain the facts without betraying your own presence. I have detailed you because you have a silent motor."
"Very well, sir," said Captain Greene. "Now, then, my lad, sharp"s the word. Show me just where you say these Germans are."
For the third time Frank pointed out the spot on the map, and the flyer whistled.
"Don"t wonder you want to know where they are!" he said. "If that"s so, it"s a pretty big sell for us flying chaps--eh, what? We rather fancied there wasn"t a chance for them to do anything that we didn"t know all about as soon as it was done."
"Exactly," said the major, rather dryly. "Well, here"s your chance to make up for errors of omission. Get the facts, and get back as quickly as you can."
"All right. Double quick, young "un. What"s your name, eh? Might as well be sociable!"
Frank told him, and liked the tall aviator immensely. But there was no more talk between them as he followed the captain to the outside. He had all he could do to keep up with the Englishman"s great strides without trying to talk too. Greene led the way to a park-like enclosure, where, under shaded electric lights that lit the ground fully but were so screened that no betraying flashes showed from above, a dozen aeroplanes stood, gaunt and ghostlike in the night.
"See those lights?" said Greene. "If one of those German Johnnies in a Taube came along he could make a lot of mess by dropping a couple of bombs down here. An aeroplane"s delicate enough as it is. A bomb will put it out of business in no time. Here we are! Wait till I try the motor and see to my tank. If you run out of petrol at five hundred feet you can"t always find a garage where they"ll sell you more!"
The tank was full, however. His mechanic had seen to that. And the engine responded beautifully to the first test.