Chapter 22

THE KAISER.

In spite of the fact that Hal had sure sense that Emperor Wilhelm would be in the room below, he felt a peculiar thrill creep over him as he made out the imposing figure of "The War Lord of Europe." He whistled softly to himself.

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated, and then looked long and silently.

"To think," he said to himself after a long pause, "that he is primarily responsible for this great war, with its toll of thousands of lives and the destruction of property worth millions of dollars."

Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straight at the War Lord's breast.

"With one little movement of my finger," said the lad softly to himself, "I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sent thousands to their death. One shot, and----"

His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only. Then he lowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket, while he wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered on his brow.

"It's no use," he told himself, "I couldn't do it if I wanted to."

Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, will never know how close he was to death at that moment!

Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and by straining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.

"If," came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of Count Von Moltke, "if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut them off from their French support and annihilate them. And----"

"And," came the voice of the Kaiser himself, "we can, then, by a quick turning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will be complete."

"Exactly, sire," came Count Von Moltke's voice again.

"But, sire," said a third voice, "what have we to warrant that the English will accept our bait?"

The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke in again.

"We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne," he said, "and will retire slowly before the British. As they come on, flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take them on the left flank. We shall cut them to pieces."

"The plan sounds well to me," came the voice of the Kaiser again. "General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute this coup?"

"Not before day after to-morrow, sire," was the reply. "It will take me that long to bring my men to the designated point, at the same time keeping the British unaware of their withdrawal."

"And how many men will you be able to bring?" asked the Kaiser.

"Half a million, sire."

"Leaving how many in their present position, as a screen?"

"Very few, sire. Hardly more than 50,000 men."

The Kaiser growled something, unintelligible to Hal, into his mustache. Then he spoke aloud:

"If the British were aware of that," he said, "by a quick advance they would place us at a tremendous disadvantage."

"So they would, sire," agreed General Von Kluck. "But it must be seen that they do not anticipate our plan."

"In that event," came the Emperor's reply, "it will be necessary for that part of your force which is left to make a show of strength at the same moment the mass of your command is withdrawn."

"Exactly what I had figured upon, sire."

"Good; but you say it is impossible for you to be ready until the day after to-morrow. In that event, we must hold the English in their present positions at all costs. A premature advance on their part, while we would undoubtedly repulse it, would mean the ruination of our coup. See to it, gentlemen, that there is no leak."

"There shall be none, sire," came a chorus of officers.

"Very well. But I had had my mind set on being in Paris long ere this. Had it not been for the interference of these English--and these starving Belgians, I would be there now," and the Kaiser's voice grew harsh. "They must be crushed," and he struck the table a heavy blow with his clenched fist.

"And crushed they shall be, sire," said Count Von Moltke soothingly. "It is only a question of time."

"Well, you have been long enough doing it," came the Emperor's angry voice. "See that you do not fail me again. If you do----"

He broke off, but his silence was more menacing than any threat he might have uttered.

There was the sound of chairs scraping on the floor, and a moment later of heavy footsteps. Hal, in his hiding place, knew that the German officers were leaving the house.

"By George!" the lad muttered to himself, "Wilhelm must be a holy terror. I'll bet Von Kluck, Von Moltke and all the rest are due for a terrible wigging, for I'm here to see that this plot fails."

Hal waited patiently for perhaps half an hour, and then, feeling certain that the coast was clear, emerged from his hiding place. He was just lowering himself from the window by which he had entered when, from almost below him, there was a loud scream.

Glancing down, Hal beheld the pale face of the woman who had given them food only a short time before. Fearing that the Emperor and his officers might be attracted by her screams, Hal dropped quickly to the ground, and an instant later had his hand clapped over the woman's mouth.

"Quiet!" he commanded in a harsh voice. "If you make no noise you shall not be harmed. Otherwise----" he paused significantly.

The woman shuddered once or twice, but she uttered no further sound.

"Go into the house," Hal commanded, and followed her.

"I guess I had better tie you up for safe keeping," the lad muttered to himself. "I can't afford to be interfered with now."

He found a piece of rope, and, making a gag out of a napkin, gagged and bound her securely. Then he placed her gently in a chair.

"You will have to sit there until someone comes along to free you," he told her. "I hope it won't be long, for your sake, but I can't afford to take any chances with you."

He left the house; and as he turned his eyes toward the spot where he had so lately left his friends, his heart sank.

Chester, Lieutenant Anderson and the three troopers were running toward him as fast as their legs would carry them, closely pursued by a band of mounted Germans. Even at this distance Hal could make out the forms of Count Von Moltke, and, yes, Emperor Wilhelm himself!

With the high German officers came a little troop of mounted soldiers, evidently, Hal thought, an escort, that had been left some distance behind while the Emperor and his officers discussed their plans in the farmhouse. In all, there were twelve horsemen dashing after the fugitives.

Now his friends came up with him, and Hal, believing as did his friends that discretion was the better part of valor, also turned and ran. Several shots rang out, but none was touched and they did not pause to reply.

"Just wait till we get back to our own men," thought Hal to himself as he ran along, "that is, if we can make it."

But help came unexpectedly. Bristow, the man who had been left in charge of the little band of English, hearing the sound of firing, had crawled forward to investigate. He made out the figures flying toward him and recognized them instantly; also, he saw the pursuing horsemen.

Quickly he returned to his men, and at a word they all dashed forward. This reinforcement arrived not a moment too soon, for the horsemen were overhauling the fugitives rapidly.

When the fugitives saw their own men approaching they stopped in their mad flight, drew their revolvers and fired at the pursuers with almost a single movement.

The horses of the Germans came to a sudden halt, being pulled up on their haunches, so forcibly did their riders bring them to a stop. A moment later the pursuers themselves were in full flight.

Hal laughed loudly to himself, and so great became his mirth that he was forced to hold his sides.

"What on earth is the matter with you?" demanded Chester in great surprise. "What are you laughing at?"

"Why," explained Hal, between bursts of laughter, "I am laughing at the sight of Emperor Wilhelm II, War Lord of Europe, flying as if the evil one himself were after him!"