If we
both went, we might be caught--and I don't want to have to explain
anything until we've told what we know to the staff officers."
"All right, Paul. But don't be long."
"I won't! Here we are! Now you wait--and I'll get back just as soon
as I can."
It was an easy matter, as it turned out, for Paul to slip into the
grounds and retrieve the plans. But it took time, and time, had he
only known it, was the one thing he could not afford to waste just
then. Somehow neither he nor Arthur had given a further thought to the
two Germans they had so cleverly eluded in the mysterious cottage.
They had felt that these two enemies, at least, might be counted out
for that night.
And so Paul, returning to the spot where he had left Arthur, took no
particular pains to conceal himself. He called out as he vaulted the
low wall between the grounds of his uncle's place and the road.
"It was easy!" he cried. "No one was about. They're probably so
excited that they haven't even missed us yet! Start your engine!
We've got to hurry now."
Arthur tried to obey. But there was some slight hitch in the starting
of the engine. Then the spark worked, and the motor began to throb.
The cycle started; Paul leaped up to his place behind. And then,
behind them, came a sudden roar, the sound of another motorcycle, and a
flash of light swept over them.
"Stop!" cried a voice--a voice they knew! It was one of the Germans!
"Go on! Hurry!" cried Paul.
Pages:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47