The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders Part 16

SAFE AT LAST

McKenzie's arms went up again--not shoulder high--just to his hips. For McKenzie, in his early days, had been reckoned in the Canadian northwest as the most deadly shot in the country. He fired from his hips and aimed by instinct and not by sight.

Each automatic flashed once and two more of the foe fell to the ground. McKenzie staggered a bit as a German bullet plowed into his shoulder. Then his revolvers spoke again.

As he fought, the Canadian gave ground slowly. He seemed to bear a charmed life. Two other bullets struck him--one in the arm and the other in the thigh, but no one reached a vital spot.

Hal, Chester and Stubbs, in the meantime, had reached and crossed the Dutch border. There they were immediately taken in charge by order of'

the Dutch officer in command. Hal addressed the officer quickly.

"Can't you do something for my friend?" he demanded, pointing to where McKenzie was still battling against heavy odds.

The Dutch, officer shook his head.

"I would if I could," he said, his face flushed.

"He is a brave man, and it is a pity for him to die thus. But Holland is neutral. To interfere might embroil us."

"But if I can show you how?" asked Hal eagerly.

"If you can show me how, yes!" exclaimed the Dutchman. "Talk quickly."

"We carry Dutch pa.s.sports," said Hal quietly. "That should suffice.

However, cannot you send your men forward under the pretext that the Dutch border at this point extends an additional one hundred yards?

That will be enough."

"But--"

"Oh, I know it doesn't, but that will be up to others than you. It will be the subject of diplomatic negotiations. Will you?"

For a moment the Dutch officer hesitated. Then he commanded an officer who stood near him.

"Captain Hodden! You will move forward with your company and inform the foe that if he persists in firing on Dutch soil we shall be forced to return it!"

The Dutch captain seemed only glad for this excuse. He dashed away, and a moment later Dutch troops advanced onto German soil.

McKenzie, meanwhile, found that he had but two shots left in his weapons. He glanced backward, and as he did so the Dutch troops advanced.

"If I can reach them," the man thought.

He whirled, emptied his automatics into the face of his enemies, dashed the now useless weapons after the bullets, and took to his heels, zigzagging as he ran.

The bullets in his body impeded his progress, but he reached the advancing Dutch troops safety. There was a cry of anger from the German lines as McKenzie found shelter among the Dutch troops. The Germans halted, and an officer advanced.

"I must ask you to deliver that man to me," he said to Captain Hodden.

"I am sorry, but what you ask is impossible," was the reply. "This is Dutch territory, and you advance further at your peril."

"Dutch territory!" exclaimed the exasperated German. "You stand on German ground, and the man you are protecting is a spy. I demand his return."

"You won't get him," was the reply, "and I am instructed to inform you that the next German bullet that falls on Dutch ground will be considered a hostile act against a neutral nation. It will mean war!"

"I don't care what it means," shouted the German, now thoroughly aroused.

"Perhaps not," said Captain Hodden, "but your superiors may. I would advise you to order your men to fall back."

For a moment the German hesitated, and it appeared that he would risk a breach of neutrality to capture McKenzie. At last he turned away.

"Holland will rue this day!" he exclaimed, as he ordered his men to retire.

Captain Hodden now retreated to Dutch territory, where McKenzie was turned over to the Dutch colonel.

"Thanks for the reinforcements," he said quietly. "They would have done for me sure."

Hal, Chester and Stubbs crowded about and shook the Canadian by the hand. The colonel asked to see their pa.s.sports, and the four friends produced their bogus doc.u.ments.

"So you are Herr Block, eh?" he demanded, eyeing Hal closely.

Hal bowed, but did not reply.

"As it chances," said the Dutch officer sternly, "I happen to be the brother of Herr Block, so I know you are not he. You are under arrest, sir."

"For what?" demanded Hal.

"For traveling under false pa.s.sports, sir. You friends are under arrest also. You shall be sent to Amsterdam under guard. And you told me you were Dutch subjects!"

"No I didn't," said Hal. "I told you we carried Dutch pa.s.sports, and so we do."

"It amounts to the same thing. It seems I have broken Dutch neutrality to help a batch of spies. You are all under arrest."

He summoned Captain Hodden to take charge of the four friends.

"You will be responsible for them," Colonel Block said.

The captain saluted and marched his prisoners away. They were put in a tent some distance away and a guard stationed over them. They were not searched.

"Well," said Hal, "we're out of Germany, but, it seems to be a case of out of the frying-pan into the fire."

"They can't shoot us as spies," declared Stubbs. "Holland is not at war and we have not been active against her."

"No, but they can take this list away from me," said Hal, "and it has to go to Washington."

"Then we'll have to get out of here," said McKenzie.

"A nice job," declared Chester, "and two of us wounded. By the way, McKenzie, your wounds need attention. I'll call the Dutchman and have you fixed up."

He hailed the guard outside, who in turn pa.s.sed the word for the captain. The latter appeared a short time later, and Chester explained what he wanted. The captain moved away and fifteen minutes later a Dutch physician entered the tent ad dressed McKenzie's wounds.