Fighting in France Part 30

"That's true," agreed Earl readily. "Why don't we all go?"

"You two stay here and guard this monoplane," exclaimed Jacques. "They may arrive here after us at any minute." He set off at a run across the field.

"If that aviator who threw the bomb has landed yet," remarked Leon, "he has undoubtedly telephoned to the post nearest this place and soldiers are probably on their way here already."

"They've got to go through a lot of woods to reach this spot," said Earl. "Perhaps they won't be able to find it."

"Don't you worry about that; they'll come straight here without the least bit of trouble."

"The minute any Germans appear it seems to me the thing for us to do is to take to the woods. We might be able to escape that way."

"Our chance of escape depends on whether Jacques can get any wire or not," said Leon. "I wish he could hurry."

"He'll do his best," remarked Earl. "You may be sure of that."

"What's he doing over there anyway?"

"Talking with the priests as far as I can see," said Earl. "I guess they decided there was no use in trying to save their barn."

"I should say not. It's too bad though and as a matter of fact we are the ones who are really to blame for it."

"How so?"

"Well, if we hadn't landed in this clearing that German flier would not have dropped any bombs down here."

"That's true," agreed Earl. "Where's that priest going?"

He had turned and was walking swiftly towards the house. Jacques stood talking with the other priest for a moment and then he too started in the direction of the dwelling.

"Do you think those priests are French?" asked Earl.

"I don't know; I suppose so though."

"Well if they are they'll help us, won't they?"

"They'd probably like to but I don't know whether they'd dare or not."

"The Germans would do something to them if they were caught aiding us in any way I suppose."

"They certainly would," exclaimed Leon.

"Shoot them?"

"Probably."

Jacques and the priest were now inside the house and it seemed to the two brothers who waited so impatiently that they were gone a very long time. The remaining priest stood and sadly watched the eager flames destroy the barn as if it were made of paper.

At length, however, the door of the house opened once more and Jacques and the priest reappeared.

"What has Jacques under his arm?" demanded Earl.

"I can't see," said Leon.

"It's a roll of wire," cried Earl suddenly. "We'll soon be off now."

"If the Germans don't reach here first we will."

"Don't be so gloomy," Earl protested. "Of course we'll get away."

"It'll be dark soon."

"All the better. They won't be able to see us in the dark."

"And we won't be able to see our way."

"You're an old pessimist," exclaimed Earl lightly. "Good boy, Jacques," he cried as the young Frenchman came within hearing. "I knew you'd fix us up all right."

"We must hurry," panted Jacques, his breath almost gone after his quick trip across the field. "We haven't much time."

"Can't I help?" inquired Earl eagerly.

"No, thanks; I can probably work faster alone."

He set to work immediately and without wasting a moment or making a false move began the work of repairing the weakened support. Meanwhile Earl and Leon kept a sharp lookout on all sides for any sign of their enemies.

"Who were those priests?" asked Earl finally.

"Frenchmen," replied Jacques keeping right on with his work.

"How do they happen to be living here inside the German lines?"

"This place is a sort of monastery or home and they are allowed to stay here for some reason. Every day one or the other of them has to report at the nearest German post though; that is five miles away."

"How do they reach it?" inquired Leon.

"They have a bicycle they use in good weather and in bad they have to walk."

"Is there a good road through the forest?"

"Fairly so, they said."

"That's a pretty tough job, isn't it?" exclaimed Leon. "Still I suppose they'd rather do that than leave their home."

Jacques still toiled earnestly at his task. The sun was fading in the west and the shadows of the forest trees began to lengthen. It would be dark presently.

"How soon can we start?" asked Leon anxiously.

"I don't know," replied Jacques. "In about ten minutes, I hope."