CHAPTER XX--HAMLIN
Don Hale was certainly given a tremendous reception; and a short timelater, while comfortably seated in a chair at the villa recounting hismemorable adventures, was highly gratified to hear T. Singleton Albertverify his statement concerning the destruction of the observationballoon.
"This is the way it came about," explained Drugstore: "During thatscrimmage with the Boches I happened to see Don's machine, hotlypursued, enter the clouds. And Don being rather new at the game, Ithought I'd try to hang around a bit, so as to keep an eye on him if Icould."
"Bully for you!" cried Don. "Albert, you're a brick!"
"I had a pretty fierce time of it, too, with tracer bullets cuttingholes through the air all about me, but, after a while, I managed toslip away from the attacking planes. By that time the scrap was over andthe photographic machine and its escort were on their way home.
"Somehow or other, I don't know why, I had a pretty strong suspicion,Don, that your Nieuport wasn't among them. So, instead of making for theairdrome, I flew back over the lines, incidentally saying'how-do-you-do' to a number of 'Archies' and a bushel or two of'onions.' I shot up pretty high to avoid being shot up myself, and aftertraveling quite a considerable distance began cutting big spirals in theair. The clouds were looking mighty ominous and threatening, and severaltimes yours truly was tempted to beat it, but, fortunately, somethingrestrained me.
"My Nieuport was away up near the ceiling when, on looking down, Isuddenly discovered a plane which appeared exactly as though it wascrawling along the ground. Through a pair of binoculars I could see thecircles of red, white and blue on the wing tips. Then I volplaned a bit,hoping to make out whether it was your machine or not." Albert began tolaugh. "Yes, I saw the whole shooting match, Don; and the way that bigsausage began to blaze after your little interview certainly tickled myfancy."
"Oh, boy, but wouldn't I have enjoyed the sight!" giggled Bobby Dunlap.
"Of course it wasn't possible for me to tell whether it was your planeor not, Don, but after seeing the Nieuport begin to climb to a higheraltitude I concluded to say good-bye to 'Germany' and streak for thehome plate.
"Very soon it began to rain--rain like the dickens, too, and before Igot within miles of the airdrome my bus was doing everything but turningsomersaults. Anyway, Don, you've got a witness to prove that you turnedthe trick."
"That's simply great!" chuckled Don. "Some afternoon, eh?"
"You bet!" agreed Drugstore. "But it certainly was a jolly rude jolt tome when I got back and found that after all you had not returned."
"Anyway, he'll have something to talk about for the rest of his life,"said George Glenn.
"There's no doubt about that," laughed Don.
The young pilot had by no means recovered from the effects of histurbulent experiences. Some of the dizziness still remained. His nervesoccasionally twitched and he experienced a feeling of physicalexhaustion, all the more unpleasant because of his boyish fear that theothers might observe it.
It had required a considerable effort for him to tell his story, and astill greater to enter into the general conversation.
Finally the thunder began to roll less frequently; the storm wasbreaking away.
Soon afterward one of the mechanics stepped into the room to inform Donthat his machine had been found full of holes.
"Just a little bit more, and it would have made a capital piece ofmosquito netting, Monsieur l'Aviateur," he declared.
"If I should happen to see any mosquitoes around here so big that theycouldn't get through such holes I'd sure take that next train for home,"guffawed Bobby Dunlap.
"And if I'd had a piece of mosquito netting manufactured for me byGerman bullets, I wouldn't even wait for the train; I'd start running,"laughed the mechanic. He turned to Don.
"It's a great wonder to me, Monsieur, that your nose and ears weren'tclipped off."
"I expected more than that to happen," returned Don, with a faint smile.
At length Bobby Dunlap began to tell the hero of the afternoon about themysterious peasant.
"He's a German spy, sure as shooting," he whispered. "But don't sayanything to the boys about it, Donny. George Glenn promised me hewouldn't."
"Why not explain the matter to the lieutenant?" asked Don, quitebreathlessly.
Peur Jamais reflected an instant, then shook his head.
"I intended to at first," he declared, "but, thinking it over, concludedto wait until I could arrest the old bird myself and march him over hereat the point of a pistol. And, oh boy, that is going to make a biggersensation than your cooking the big sausage."
"But he may slip away," suggested Don.
"That idea struck me, too," commented Peur Jamais, in a troubled tone."But"--he brightened up--"it will only mean that somebody else is goingto do the point-of-the-pistol act. Wouldn't it make a dandy movie drama,eh? And, just to think, Donny, if it hadn't been for old Pere Goubain Imight never have known what was going on." Bobby laughed joyously."Crickets! I can hardly wait for the fireworks to begin."
In the interest aroused by the story of the mysterious peasant, Donalmost forgot his fatigue. He could not remember ever having enjoyed asupper more than he did that evening; and the sense of security andfreedom from all danger as they sat around after the meal proved mostpleasant and welcome.
On the following day Don Hale was in his Nieuport again, and performedthe usual two patrols of two hours each over the lines without meetingwith adventures.
Several weeks passed, and it was a time filled with enough narrowescapes and thrilling incidents to last even an aviator a lifetime.
At length Don Hale's day off arrived. Late in the afternoon he seatedhimself comfortably by the window and spent the time in reading a bookand occasionally joining in the conversation about him. Theirrepressible Bobby Dunlap was in the room, as was also Jason Hamlin.
Finally the latter rose to his feet and began walking toward the door,whereupon Bobby blurted out:
"I say, Jasy, have you seen the old peasant lately?"
Hamlin, who was one of those individuals who apparently dislike theslightest familiarity, frowned, remarking briefly:
"Yes; just the other day."
"I must say, this particular specimen is rather a dull looking old chapuntil one gets to talking to him. Ever been over to his place, Hammy?"
"Yes," answered Jason.
"So have I," laughed Peur Jamais. "And there's everything there but whata farm ought to have. He must be using some method of growing vegetablesby wireless. By the way, Jason, ever go through that old ramshacklehouse?"
"Only the first floor," responded the other, adding abruptly: "Bobby,several times I've overheard you making mysterious observations inregard to that particular 'specimen,' who is a rather dull looking oldchap until one gets to talking to him. How would you like to offer anexplanation?"
Bobby's expression swiftly changed. The laughing light left his eyes,and, for an instant, he looked not only surprised but displeased.
"So you were in the house?" he cried. "Well, what did you find?"
"That the peasant was not altogether what he seemed. I heard you alsomention Sherlock Holmes, which would naturally suggest that you thoughtof doing a little investigating. How about it?"
Bobby scowled quite fiercely.
"Really, Jasy, I'm quite surprised at you," he declared. "Did you learnhow to eavesdrop in a correspondence school or did it just comenaturally?"
"One doesn't have to eavesdrop when you're around, Bobby," returnedHamlin. "You don't know how to whisper."
"Thanks, frightfully," growled Bobby.
"Some people have ears so keen that they can even hear what isn'tintended for them. Run outside and play. When I want to tell youanything about the old peasant you'll get it first hand. And as I noticeyou seem to appreciate his company so much I won't be impolite enough tomake any disparaging remarks about him."
"Some people's eyes are so sharp they can even
see what isn't intendedfor them," laughed Hamlin. "However, I won't avail myself of your kindpermission to run out and play, but will take a walk instead."
"Where?" asked Bobby.
"It's a secret, but I'll tell you. I'm going in the direction of mydestination. So-long, Messieurs. I'll see you later."
And, with a half mocking laugh and a wave of his hand, Hamlindisappeared outside.
"I declare, that chap's about the limit!" exclaimed Peur Jamais to DonHale. He lowered his voice. "You noticed, Donny, that he didn't want totell us where he is going. I wonder if----" Bobby paused, lookedthoughtfully out of the window, scratched the back of his head, thenresumed: "Yes, I'll bet that's just it!"
"What is?" asked Don.
"That Jasy's going over to see the old boy now. Say, Don, put up thatbook, and see how near my deduction comes to the truth."
"Which means, I suppose, that you're going over there yourself?" askedDon.
"You guessed it the first time. Coming?"
"Having aroused my curiosity so much about the mysterious peasant, Ithink I will," responded Don. "It adds a touch of activity to a dayotherwise full of perfect repose."