The Boy Allies Under the Sea Part 41

"I'll take this one," the lad said at length, and picked the one on the right.

"You win," said Lord Hastings quietly. "I'm the fellow that must remain behind."

Jack was equally as pleased as Frank, but he did not manifest the same enthusiasm.

"And what is it you expect us to learn, sir?" asked Jack. "I'm sure I haven't any idea."

"Nor I, sir," declared Frank.

Lord Hastings smiled.

"You see," he said, "it might have been better to let me go." Then he added after a brief pause: "I don't know that I had any particular plan in view. I was just going ash.o.r.e and stroll about a bit. It is barely possible that one of you may overhear something. I wouldn't stay more than two hours at the most." He glanced at his watch. "Two o'clock now,"

he said. "I shall expect you back here at 4.30 at the latest."

The lads nodded.

"Will it be best for us to row ash.o.r.e ourselves, sir?" asked Frank. "Or shall we have one of the men take us?"

"You would better go alone," replied Lord Hastings, after a moment's hesitation. "You can tie your boat up some place. I hardly think any one will bother it. A sailor might betray all of us unconsciously. In a game like this, the fewer the better is my motto."

"Come on, Jack; let's be moving," said Frank impatiently. "There is no use staying here all day. Hurry up."

"Now you just hold your horses," replied his chum. "We'll get there soon enough--maybe a little too soon, so far as we know."

Nevertheless the lads wasted no further time in talk and five minutes later the two were rowing sh.o.r.eward in a little boat.

As they rowed along, they saw several other under-the-sea craft at anchor and upon the bridges of one or two stood officers. These saluted as the boys pa.s.sed, but none so much as hailed them.

"These German uniforms seem to be pretty good things," Frank remarked in a low voice. "Guess they carry the entree any place in the town."

"We'll see," returned Jack briefly.

Fifteen minutes later they reached a landing and climbed ash.o.r.e. Then they tied the little boat up, against their return, and started down the first street.

"Pretty likely looking town, this," declared Jack, as his gaze roved about.

"Yes," Frank agreed, "but you can still see the marks of the German sh.e.l.ls that struck during the siege."

They looked around with interest--though not so curiously as to attract attention--and continued along the street.

For an hour and more they strolled about gazing at the various sights of interest, but learning nothing of value. Several times they approached knots of German officers, attempting to overhear their conversation. But there was nothing in any of this street-corner talk which was worth hearing, being concerned chiefly with accounts of adventures and curious episodes.

The lads were saluted frequently as they pa.s.sed along and they returned these salutes with customary German stiffness. No one spoke to them and for this they were duly thankful, although each spoke German like a native and ran little risk of detection on that score.

Frank glanced at his watch.

"Five minutes to four," he said. "Time to be moving back."

Jack nodded.

"May as well, I guess," he agreed. "If you ask me, this has been an afternoon wasted. I don't seem to have learned anything of importance and I don't believe you have either."

"You've been with me right along," replied Frank. "You know as much as I do."

They retraced their steps toward the water front.

And here, in the place they would have felt least likely to encounter a familiar face, that very thing happened. They were still a short distance from the water-front when a man brushed by them closely, walking rapidly. His head was lowered and his face was well m.u.f.fled in spite of the fact that the day was not cold. There was something familiar about him, though neither lad could place him. After he had pa.s.sed both lads turned and looked after him with one accord.

"There is something familiar about that fellow," Jack declared. "I've seen him some place before."

"And so have I," agreed Frank. "And I have a feeling that it was not under very favorable circ.u.mstances."

Each lad racked his brain for a brief moment; then Jack said:

"Well, I guess it doesn't make any difference. Let's go."

He turned about and took a step forward. Frank was about to do the same, when a sudden thought flashed into his head.

"Wait a minute," he called. "I think I've got him."

"Who?" demanded Jack.

"Davis!" said Frank quietly. I'll bet a pretty red apple that man is Davis."

"By Jove!" said Jack. "I wonder--now what would he be doing here?"

"I don't know," replied Frank, "but I feel sure that's who it is. Come on. Let's go after him. We'll lose him in a minute."

Even as he spoke the man he felt sure was Davis turned a corner. Not waiting for Jack to agree, Frank hurried after him. Jack followed.

The man ahead was walking rapidly, but the two lads gained on him. After two blocks' walking they were less than fifty yards in the rear--slouching along cautiously, with heads lowered, for they did not wish to be recognized if the man were really Davis.

Once the man turned and gazed at the two figures behind him; then, apparently satisfied that he was not being followed, he moved on again.

After two more blocks he doubled around a corner. Frank and Jack turned the corner a moment later, just in time to see Davis mount a short flight of steps, open a door and enter the house.

Frank and Jack walked by, taking careful note of the number of the house, however, and without glancing up again, continued down the street and turned the next corner.

There they halted as of one mind while Frank peeped around the corner, remarking:

"Don't want him to trick us. I don't think he knew he was being followed, but you never can tell."

The lads stood there for perhaps ten minutes; then Jack reached a decision.

"As long as we have come this far," he said, "we may as well finish this man hunt. We'll go and have a look for him."

"How do you figure we are going to get into the house?" demanded Frank.

"Or do you just plan to ring the bell and ask for 'Mr. Davis'?"