CHAPTER XI
MCKENZIE IN ACTION
It was broad daylight now and Hat felt the necessity of traveling at aslower speed than he had through the darkness of the night.Accordingly he reduced the speed of the big car to not more thanthirty-five miles an hour.
Stubbs leaned forward and called to Hal.
"How far do you suppose we are from the Dutch border?"
"Don't know," was the reply, "but it's a long ways. We're not morethan 70 miles from Berlin."
Several times during the next few hours they were halted, but werepermitted to pass on, after showing their passports. Apparently theBerlin authorities had not wired ahead, and Hal was unable to accountfor this satisfactorily.
"Something peculiar about it," he muttered, as he bent over the wheel.
For the next few hours the automobile proceeded on its way withoutinterruption, save for a single stop to replenish gasoline and air.
It was well along toward evening when Stubbs announced that the Dutchfrontier was only a few miles distant. Once over the line they wouldbe comparatively safe.
A foreboding of trouble swept over Hal.
Chester had slept during most of the trip thus far. McKenzie hadexamined the lad carefully and discovered that he was suffering from aflesh wound in the left side. The Canadian had bound this up as wellas he could as the automobile jostled along.
His experienced eye told him there was nothing dangerous about thewound. It was painful, of course, and Chester would naturally be stiffin body for some time; but, providing the wound was kept clean, therewas no danger of infection.
Now, at Hal's injunction, Stubbs aroused Chester. The lad opened hiseyes slowly.
"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie.
Chester sat up and passed a hand across his forehead.
"I don't feel any too playful," he said with a wry smile. "Where arewe, anyhow?"
"Getting pretty close to the Dutch border," returned McKenzie.
"What'd you want to wake me for?" Chester demanded of Stubbs.
"Believe me," said Stubbs, "I didn't want to wake you up. It's usuallysafer for all concerned when you and Hal are both asleep. I woke youup because Hal told me to."
"That's all right, then," said Chester. "But don't you try to rub itinto me, Stubbs, just because I've got a bullet hole in me is no signI'm a cripple, you know."
"Maybe not," said Stubbs. "Here, take this gun."
He passed a revolver to Chester.
"What's the idea?" demanded Chester, taking the revolver; "going tofight me a duel or something?"
"Don't be a fool," said Stubbs. "We're still in Germany, remember.You may need that gun before we get out."
"All right, Stubbs," returned Chester. "Thanks."
Ahead, Hal suddenly made out a large body of men in such position as toblock the road. He slowed down the car, and, leaning back, addressedthe others.
"If I'm not mistaken," he said quietly, pointing, "just beyond lies theDutch border. Once across we are comparatively safe. At least theGermans will not dare to follow us on to neutral ground. At the sametime, if we are apprehended by Dutch military authorities our missionwill be a failure, because we shall be interned. What is your advice?"
"Get into Holland first and let matters take their course later," saidChester quietly.
"I agree with you," said McKenzie.
"And I," said Hal.
"Well," said Stubbs, "I don't. Not that it will make any difference,of course, because you will do as you wish anyhow."
"If you have any better plan, Stubbs," said Chester, "let's hear it."
"I don't have any plan," declared Stubbs, "but seems to me you couldthink of a better one. To rush through those fellows ahead means afight, a that's why you decided on that plan. I'm against a fight atall hazards."
"So I perceive," said McKenzie dryly.
"Well; you stick along anyhow, Stubbs," said Chester.
"Oh, I'll stick," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to tell you right now Idon't think I'm going to do you any good."
"Well, if we are decided," said Hal, "we might as well go on. We'llshow our passports again and it may be we'll get through withoutquestion. However, something tells me we are going to have trouble, soget your guns ready."
"If you think we're going to have trouble, I'm absolutely positive ofit," Stubbs mumbled to himself.
However, each looked to his weapons and made sure that they were inworking order.
"One of us has got to get through," said Chester in a low voice. "Whohas the list, Stubbs?"
"Hal," was the response.
"Then Hal must get through no matter what happens to the rest of us,"said Chester quietly.
"Good lord!" said Stubbs. "Why didn't I keep that list!"
As the large automobile approached, several of the Germans aheadstepped directly into the road and one threw up a hand in a signaldemanding a halt. Hal made out that at this point there were perhaps adozen men, though to each side he saw countless other forms. Theselatter, however, appeared no wise interested in the automobile and itsoccupants, but went about their several duties.
Hal put on the brakes and the automobile came to a stop a few feet fromthe nearest German, who, it appeared, was a colonel of infantry.
The German, followed by his men, approached the car and surrounded it.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"Dutch war correspondents," replied Hal quietly.
"Your passports," demanded the German.
The four friends produced their passports and extended them to theofficer. The latter scanned them hastily, then cried:
"As I thought. You are the men we want. Seize them!" This lastcommand to his soldiers.
Instantly the dozen soldiers swooped toward the automobile, theirrifles leveled. At the same moment Hal sent the large automobileforward with a jump.
The German rifles spat fire. Revolvers appeared simultaneously in thehands of Chester and McKenzie. Both sprang to their feet, and, eachholding to a side of the machine, they returned the fire, as Hal bentover the wheel.
"Crack! Crack!"
Chester and McKenzie fired together.
In spite of the movement of the car their aim was true, and two Germansoldiers fell in their tracks. Stubbs still kept his seat.
The automobile, with its first lurch forward, had mowed down several ofthe enemy, and now dashed forward with a clear path to the Dutchborder.
Behind, at command from the German officer, the troopers, still upontheir feet, fell to their knees, and, taking deliberate aim at therapidly moving car, fired.
There was an explosion from the automobile. The car jumped crazily.Chester, still standing, revolver in hand, was flung violently into hisseat, but McKenzie was not so fortunate. He toppled from the car headforemost.
One of the German bullets had punctured a rear tire. Hal brought themachine to a stop.
"Out and run for it!" cried Hal, and suited the action to the word.
Chester clambered out with more difficulty, for the wound in his sidestill pained him. McKenzie, strange as it may seem, had not been badlyhurt by his fall. He got to his feet, still clutching his revolver.As the Germans hurried toward him, he raised the automatic and openedfire.
The first German pitched headlong to earth, as did the second.
McKenzie gave ground slowly.
With a swift look he saw that Hal had almost reached the Dutch border,which he perceived was guarded by a squad of Dutch soldiers. Chesteralso was limping in that direction. Stubbs, in spite of his oppositionto fighting, was lending the lad a helping hand.
"They'll make it, if I can hold these fellows a minute," mutteredMcKenzie.
He faced the foe again, and from a pocket brought forth a secondautomatic.
"Not for nothing was I called the best shot in the northwest," he saidquietly.
Hal's idea in not waiting to assist in the flight of the others,McKenzie knew on the instant. The list t
hey had risked so much to getmust be taken from German territory at all hazards. McKenzie knew,too, that Chester and Stubbs were simply following instructions whenthey also fled. It was every man for himself. A German bulletwhistled close to the Canadian.
"Well," he said quietly, "I'll get a few of you before you drop me."
He faced his foes unflinchingly.