Crossing rapidly, though softly, the patrol was challenged by a sentry in the French trench. De Verne went forward to answer and to establish the ident.i.ty of his patrol. Then they were allowed to pa.s.s in by the wire defenses, and next descended to the trench.
Officers and men hurriedly cleansed the black from their hands and faces.
"We will now march to Captain Cartier," said De Verne, "and he shall give us our further orders."
"You are looking for your friends, Captain?" spoke up a French soldier in the trench, in his own tongue. "Captain Ribaut has taken them west along the line."
"Thank you. If they return, you will tell them where I have gone."
By this time the German colonel was cursing volubly. He felt that he could talk, at last, without danger of being killed for his audacity. Noyez, pallid as in death, was silent, his eyes cast down.
Back to the third line of trenches De Verne led the party, then down into the dug-out of his company commander, Captain Cartier.
"A German colonel and Lieutenant Noyez, prisoners!" announced the patrol leader.
"The German colonel I can understand truly," replied the French captain. "But why Lieutenant Noyez?"
"Captain Prescott, of the American Army, arrested both and made the charges against Noyez," De Verne responded. "You will hear him now?"
As it was their first meeting Captain Cartier shook hands with d.i.c.k, who then told what he had overheard.
"Noyez, a German spy!" exclaimed Captain Cartier. "Truly, it seems incredible."
"It is worse! It is an infamous charge!" cried Noyez pa.s.sionately.
"Yet our American comrade must be truthful, a man of honor," said Captain Cartier, in a bewildered tone.
"May I suggest, sir," d.i.c.k interposed, "that it will be easy to decide. If Lieutenant Noyez was in the German trenches by orders of his superiors, or with their knowledge, then that would establish a first point in his favor. But if he was there without either orders or permission, then plainly he must have gone there on treasonable business."
"That is absolutely fair!" declared Captain Cartier. "I will send at once for Noyez"s captain, and we shall hear what he says."
In dejected silence Noyez awaited the arrival of Captain Gaulte, who promptly declared that he had no knowledge of any authority for his lieutenant to visit the enemy"s lines. Gaulte had, in fact, supposed that Noyez was back of the lines on over-night leave, for which he had applied.
"The business looks bad!" cried Captain Cartier, with troubled face.
"Quite!" agreed Captain Gaulte more calmly.
"I must telephone for instructions," Cartier continued. "It may require a long wait. Gentlemen, you will find seats."
First Cartier called up his regimental commander and reported the matter.
"It will be pa.s.sed on to division headquarters," reported Captain Cartier, turning from the telephone instrument.
By and by the telephone bell tinkled softly. Orders came over the wire that the arresting party should take the prisoners to division headquarters.
"These are your instructions, then, Lieutenant De Verne. Of course it is expected that Captain Prescott will accompany you as complaining witness."
In the darkness of the night it was a toilsome march back through the communication trenches. This time, when they were left behind, there was no limousine to pick up the members of the party.
"It is a relief to be at last where we can talk," said De Verne, in English.
"You may speak for yourself," retorted the German colonel gruffly, betraying the fact that he understood the language.
Halted four times by sentries, the party at last reached division headquarters. Outside a young staff officer awaited them.
"General Bazain has risen and dressed," stated the staff officer.
"He had undertaken to s.n.a.t.c.h two hours" sleep, but this cannot be his night to sleep. The general awaits you, and you are to enter. Through to his office."
As they entered the division commander"s office they found that fine old man pacing his room in evident agitation.
"And you, too, Noyez?" he called, in a tone of astounded reproach.
"It was bad enough that we should find Berger a spy! But to find one of our trusted officers---it is too much!"
"I am neither spy nor traitor, my general!" declared Noyez furiously, "and my record should remove the least suspicion from my name."
"But you were in the enemy"s trenches this night, without knowledge or leave of your superiors, Lieutenant. Have you a plausible way to account for it?"
"All in good time, my general, when my head has had time to clear,"
promised the young sub-lieutenant.
"It is but fair that we give you time," a.s.sented General Bazain.
"It can give France no joy to find one of her officers a traitor."
It was now the German"s turn to be questioned. He gave his name as Pernim. As he was an ordinary prisoner of war he was led from the room to be turned over to the military prison authorities.
"And it was you, my dear Captain Prescott, who captured one spy who has since admitted his guilt. And now you bring in another whom you accuse."
"Berger has confessed, sir," d.i.c.k asked, "may I inquire if he implicated Lieutenant Noyez?"
"He did not."
"Yet, sir, from what I heard, Berger and Noyez worked together.
If Berger be informed that Noyez has been captured is it not likely that Berger will then tell of this accused man"s work?"
"Excellent suggestion! We shall soon know!" exclaimed General Bazain, touching a bell.
CHAPTER XVIII
A LOT MORE OF THE REAL THING
Through the orderly who answered, three staff officers were summoned.
To these the general gave his orders in undertones in a corner of the room. As the three hastened out not one of them sent as much as a glance in the direction of the unhappy Noyez.
Seating himself in his chair General Bazain, after courteously excusing himself, closed his eyes as though to sleep. The arresting party and Noyez withdrew to the adjoining room.