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"We think we had better take our departure at once." Mrs. Dersi offered further objections, but at length, seeing that they were all in vain, she bade the two lads a sorrowful farewell, enjoining them to be sure and look her son up and to return to see her should the opportunity offer.
"There is something queer about him," said Chester to Hal, as Mrs. Dersi and her son left the room. "He's not telling the truth." "I know it," said Hal. "I don't like to say it, but it is my belief he is fleeing from the French lines to give information to the Germans." "You mean you think he is a traitor?"
It is the traitor Dersi who has put them on our trail. Hustle!" Side by side the two lads sprinted for a clump of trees almost directly ahead. They reached their friendly shelter just before the glare of a searchlight down the road gave evidence of the approach of their pursuers. Once among the trees the boys dropped to the ground and became absolutely silent.
This he brought to bear, and an instant before Dersi's finger pressed the trigger, Chester fired. Dersi fell to the ground with a groan. His revolver exploded as he fell, and the bullet whistled close to Hal's right ear. Quickly Hal jumped to Chester's side and raised his chum in his arms. "Chester! Chester!" he said anxiously. "Tell me, are you much hurt?"
"And I hope," said Hal gently, "should he ever be in a situation similar to ours, that another good woman may be the means of saving his life, and that some day he may return to you." "Just so he does his duty I shall be satisfied," said the woman, who now introduced herself as Mrs. Madeline Dersi.
"And you take the word of those two upstarts in preference to mine?" he demanded. "I do," said the general quietly, "upon the advice of General Sir John French, who vouches for the truth of their story. Besides, your actions just now have convicted you. Come, Tromp, further denial is useless. Dersi has confessed." "Dersi!" exclaimed Tromp, his fingers twitching.
"I told you I didn't like to say anything," replied Hal, "but I am afraid you have hit the nail on the head." "In that event he is likely to tell of our presence here," cried Chester. "I'm sure he'll tell," said Hal quietly. "Then what shall we do?" "We shall leave at once or, as soon as Mrs. Dersi returns. That is the best return we can make for her kindness to us.
Then Chester grabbed Hal by the arm. "Come," he said in a hoarse whisper, "we must find a place of safety." Hal drew back. "Wait until I see if Dersi happened to have another gun," he said. He ran his hand over the dead man and at length rose up with a second revolver and a belt well filled with cartridges. One of the weapons he passed to Chester. "We'll probably need these," he said grimly.
They wanted to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the house where they had so lately found shelter, for there was little doubt in the mind of either that young Dersi was a traitor, and that he would soon put their erstwhile captors on their track again.
A moment later young Dersi left the house; and soon the Germans were once more upon the trail of the two lads. Hal and Chester hurried along as fast as their legs could carry them. It was now nearing dusk, and with each forward step they knew that they were that much closer to a place of safety. Darkness fell and still the two lads plodded onward.
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