Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields Page 3

  CHAPTER III.

  LEAVING FOR THE FRONT.

  "What's this? What's this?" stammered Tubby, as the schooner of richmilk fell with a crash to the pavement when the soldiers beganstruggling with the woman vender, who was also the owner of the dogteam.

  Of course a crowd collected immediately, as it always will in a citywhen there is the first sign of something doing. Antwerp was fairlyseething with half suppressed excitement at that time, and anything ofthis kind was like putting a match to the powder magazine.

  "Well, I declare but she's a husky old woman, that's right!" Tubby washeard to say after his astonishment had in a measure abated, and hecould catch his breath. "Why, it takes the whole four soldiers to subdueher. Shame! to hit a poor old woman like that; but my stars, don't shekick and try to land a blow on some of their noses."

  "Whew! what do you think!" exclaimed Rob just then, for he had beenlistening to some of the chattering on the part of the excited crowdnear by. "It isn't an old woman, after all, but a man. That explains howhe comes to fight as he does, and why the Belgians keep on treating himso roughly."

  "A man, and dressed up like a woman!" cried Tubby. "Well, if that isn'ta queer stunt, I want to know. Is he trying to escape military duty, doyou think, Rob? I remember they have conscription here in Belgium justlike in Germany, Russia and France. Every young fellow has to serve thecolors just so long."

  But Rob shook his head. By now the soldiers had apparently conquered thespirit of the man in woman's garments. His white Belgian cap had beentorn off in the struggle, showing that his hair was short underneath. Hewas also bleeding from having come in contact with some hard object, buthe now stood there as straight as any grenadier, and looked his captorscontemptuously in the face.

  "They say he's a German spy!" Rob told his two chums. Tubby again heldhis breath, and stared as hard as he could at the prisoner.

  The crowd became fairly wild to get at the captive, and made all mannerof violent threats as they surged around the little group. The milk canwas upset, and the dogs liberated by some friendly hand ran wildly away,as though knowing that their temporary master had gotten himself in aserious scrape.

  The four determined Belgian soldiers guarding their prisoner against thefury of the mob began to work a way along the pavement, meaning, nodoubt, to land their prize in the lock-up, where he would be safe untilthe firing squad was called on to complete the tragedy.

  Presently their signals brought another detachment of the guard to thespot, a way was speedily cleared through the dense masses of people, andthat was the last the three scouts saw of the spy. They could guess hisfate, but at the same time felt positive that he must have met it as aman.

  Somehow, the experience gave them a queer feeling. Here they had beenrubbing up against some of the tragic happenings of the war, and afterbeing in Antwerp only a few hours. No wonder they all felt convincedthat the signs pointed to their having some lively times ahead.

  "And say, I didn't get my drink of milk, either, did I?" lamented Tubby,after things settled back into the old rut again, with that never-endingprocession of citizens, refugees, soldiers, and even a sprinkling ofventuresome foreign tourists passing by in both directions.

  "Oh! that doesn't cut much figure in the matter," Merritt told him,"because if you step off this main street into one of the side _gassens_you'll run across plenty of other milk-venders, who will not turn out tobe something else."

  "I see one right now," announced the persistent Tubby, who did not liketo give up anything on which he had set his heart. "And look at the nameof the same, will you: _The Street of the Steen_. Now what does thatstand for, Rob? Is it the same as the German word _stein_?"

  "Oh! no, you're away off there, Tubby," he was immediately told by thepatrol leader, who had studied his guide book to some advantage. "ThisSteen used ages ago to be a terrible prison, where in the days of theSpanish Inquisition they tortured people in all sorts of ways. Just nowit's a great museum; and if only we had time, which we don't expect, I'dlike nothing better than to explore it."

  "You see," Merritt told them, "if only you would let me go on by myself,and try to find Steven Meredith, you might stay around here and have afairly decent time, unless the Germans do really start to try andcapture Antwerp, after all."

  "That'll do for you, Merritt," Rob informed him severely, "you forgetthat incident is closed."

  "Yes," added Tubby, trying to frown, but as usual making a sorry mess ofit, for the lines of his chubby face refused to take on such an air,seeing that they were only adapted for smiling, "don't let us hearanother wheeze from you, Merritt. But please come with me, and let'ssee if all the old milk-venders of Antwerp are German spies. I hope themilk isn't poisoned."

  "That isn't fair talk, Tubby, because you know the Germans would be awayand above doing anything like that. They have their faults, but nobodycalls them cowards. In fact, they seem to be too brave for their owngood, because we hear how they are shot down like ripe grain, pushingalong in masses straight into the jaws of death, and singing as theygo."

  This time they were allowed to quaff their mugs of cool, fresh milkwithout any unpleasant incident to interrupt the ceremony. Tubby did eyethe woman who owned the outfit rather suspiciously, and must havearoused her curiosity by the way he turned his head several times afterthey had walked off.

  For another hour the three American scouts tramped back and forth,seeing all they possibly could in so short a time. The quaint Flemishhouses, with their many gables, and their red-tiled roofs, interestedthem greatly. In some of the streets the buildings even seemed to leantoward one another, and Tubby declared two men could almost shake handsby stretching from the upper windows.

  "Now we ought to see the burgomaster," said Rob, as the afternoon waned."You know you are carrying a letter to him, Merritt, from yourgrandfather, who happens to be acquainted with him. And we count ongetting a guide through his influence who will take us along the roadsbetween here and Brussels."

  "Even if a guide is not to be found, because nearly all the men areenlisted in the army," Merritt replied, "we've made up our minds not tohold back. Fellows who have had as much experience in running thegauntlet as the scouts of the Eagle Patrol can point to, needn't worryabout how they're going to get along."

  "Leave that to us," said Tubby, rather pompously; "and we'll land on ourfeet all right, just as a cat does if you drop it out of thesecond-story window."

  After considerable difficulty, the boys were admitted to an audiencewith the mayor or burgomaster of Antwerp in his official chambers.Fortunately, he spoke English, so they expected to meet with littledifficulty in acquainting him with the nature of their mission toBelgium at a time when nearly all other Americans were only too wellpleased to get away from the land of strife and warfare.

  The burgomaster looked surprised and even anxious when he heard thatthey desired an official paper from him, requesting all Belgians toassist them in their search for one Steven Meredith, who was believed tobe located in a town not many miles to the west of the capital.

  "I would do much for my old friend, Monsieur Charles Crawford, for whomI have long entertained a sincere affection," he told Merritt, after hehad read the letter presented to him, and questioned the boys at length,"but it is a most serious undertaking you have in view. I question thewisdom of my encouraging such a dangerous trip."

  Rob, seeing that the good burgomaster appeared to be hesitating, and asTubby expressed it, "on the fence," started in to talk. Rob had a verypersuasive way about him, as his chums knew from past experiences. Theyguessed how it would all turn out as soon as they saw how impressed theBelgian city official seemed to be with the arguments the boy broughtforward.

  Of course, in the end, the burgomaster yielded, and wrote them out thepassport they wanted so badly. This document would possibly permit themto go even beyond the lines where the Belgian army was intrenched,waiting to deal a blow at the enemy in case the Germans turnedthreateningly toward Antwerp.

  "I do
this much against my will," he told them, as he was shaking eachone by the hand upon their leaving. "But my old friend has written me somuch that is clever about the faculty you boys have shown in taking careof yourselves, that I am in hopes you may get through safely. But Ishall be sad indeed if anything overtakes you through my giving way tosentiment. I wish I could influence you to remain here in safety, andsend out some messenger in your stead to bring this man to Antwerp."

  "We have made up our minds to accompany our friend, the grandson of theCharles Crawford you knew, sir," Rob told him, "and all we can promiseis that we mean to be very careful. If the man you will send around tous as a guide does his duty faithfully, we hope to get along fairlywell. And believe us, sir, we feel that you have advised and assisted useven more generously than Mr. Crawford expected of you. We thank you athousand times. Good-bye."

  That night passed without anything unusual happening to disturb thethree boys. Their hotel chanced to be situated in a quiet part of theseething city, so that they were not at all annoyed by patrioticoutbursts. And boys as a rule have a happy faculty of losing theirtroubles in sleep.

  With the coming of that next morning all of them were early astir. Afterbreakfast they went in search of mounts, having secured some hints fromthe proprietor of the hotel.

  Horses were certainly at a high premium just then in Flanders. Nearlyevery animal of any worth at all had been taken by the Belgian fieldforces for army use. If a few were by accident hidden, and escaped thissearch, they were apt to be discovered by the advancing Germans.

  "It would be of no use, anyway, getting hold of respectable nags," Robexplained, when he saw even Tubby gape at sight of the poor lookinganimals they had offered to them at exorbitant prices, "because we'dnever have the least chance to get anywhere on their backs. No matterhow many passes we had from burgomasters, or even King Albert himself,somebody would be sure to take them away from us."

  "I suppose half a loaf _is_ better than no bread at all," complainedMerritt with vivid recollections of the fine mounts he and his chums hadsported on several occasions, notably when on the cattle ranch, andfollowing Mexican war trails.

  "But _such_ a loaf!" sighed Tubby, as he ran his hand over the bony backof the nearest quadruped, and wondered whether so weak looking a horsecould long survive under his rather heavy weight.

  "They may turn out a heap better than they look," Rob told them."Sometimes it's the bony horses that can hold the pace in a gruelingjourney. But, after all, it's a case of Hobson's choice with us; eitherthese nags, or walk."

  "Whew! better close the bargain then, Merritt; that is, if you think youcan afford the price," Tubby hastened to say, for as may be easilyunderstood, he was not very much in love with protracted walks, nothaving been built for a sprinter.

  So Merritt bought four horses, and paid cash down for them, receiving aregular bill of sale from the dealer, to show they were his property.With them went old saddles and bridles, good enough for the purpose ofthe three scouts, but not of a type calculated to incite anyone to stealthe same.

  All that remained to be looked after now was that promised guide. If thegood burgomaster of Antwerp kept his promise, they expected to find anative waiting at the hotel when they got back after their foray intothe limited horse market.

  And sure enough they found a swarthy Belgian there who said he had beenengaged by the mayor to serve them. Merritt quickly made terms, for theguide, besides being able to converse in French and Flemish, couldspeak some English, and readily comprehended all that was said in thattongue; especially when the subject of a money contract came underconsideration.

  "There's nothing to detain us any longer, boys," remarked Merritt. "Wehave made up a little pack apiece which we'd like to take along. Wetravel light on this trip, you know; all but Tubby, and that's somethinghe always gets left on. The balance of our duffle the proprietor of thehotel has promised to keep safely until we show up to claim it again."

  "Small loss if we never see any of it again," Rob admitted. "At the sametime we hope to come back this way after we've run that person down, andeither recover the paper your grandfather wants, or learn that it's lostfor good."

  "That is," corrected Tubby, "we expect to see Antwerp again if theGermans don't gobble us up."

  "I'd like to see them try it," remarked Merritt, with a significant lookat the ample proportions of the fat chum. "They'd have their work cutout, as sure as you live, Tubby."

  "Now, don't get personal again, Merritt," cautioned the other, holdingup a warning forefinger, "but as there are heaps and heaps of queerthings I'd like to poke into around this town, I certainly hope to visitit again."

  Half an hour afterward, mounted on scrubby looking horses, which wouldhave excited the derision of any respectable cowboy in the West, Rob andhis two chums, accompanied by Anthony Wallenhout, the Belgian guide,passed out of the city, heading toward the east.

  Before they had gone a sixth of a mile they found themselves stopped bya patrol of soldiers, led by a young lieutenant, who, it happened, couldspeak English.

  "It is no use, messieurs," he told them, with a pleasant smile, but adetermined shake of the head, "you must face the other way and go back.The enemy is in force in many places between Brussels and Antwerp, andsevere fighting is going on wherever our brave army has thrown upentrenchments. Antwerp is the only safe place for any who speak English,these days."