The Brighton Boys at Chateau-ThierryDriscoll, James R.
General
The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry
Driscoll, James R.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- France -- Juvenile fiction
Clem’s very brief glance at the driver of the Red Cross car had
caused him to start and wonder. He hardly knew why he gazed after
the car with an unpleasant feeling, and then, in order to watch its
movements, crossed the road and swung himself up on a branch of a low
tree.
There were no other cars on the hill and apparently no other people,
but the army ambulance man. Clem was cogitating:
“Now, can’t I think where? What had Don Richards said only yesterday?
Spies? But would they dare again to come here boldly and--” his
thoughts were cut short.
A man got down from the long, low car and quickly went to the other
machine. He paused and looked about for a moment, then raised the
hood and seemed to be working rapidly. He put down the hood and
returned. Then the Red Cross car moved on rapidly up the hill to
the far end of the lane, where it turned across pasture ground and
veered about among the rocks and thickets, stopping presently on the
south-east slope.
“Fire and flinders! It is--it is!” exclaimed Clem. “They wouldn’t
dare to go so far east and expose themselves to the guns unless the
Huns knew and approved of it.”
The boy dropped to the ground and, taking pad and pencil from his
pocket, wrote the following:
“I beg leave to report that I have this moment discovered the
Hun spies we were after yesterday. They have gone to the
eastern side of Hill 165, probably to signal the German lines,
as reported before. I also saw them disable an army ambulance.
Fearing to fail in their arrest, and confident that I can
accomplish this with the aid of the ambulance man on the hill,
I take the liberty of delaying my return to post. Will report
as soon as possible.
CLEMENT STAPLEY, Corporal.”
This sheet he folded, addressed, and handed to his companion, Martin.
The ambulance had a new spark plug and was ready to start.
“Give this to the lieutenant as soon as you get in,” Clem said. “Now,
please don’t ask any questions. I’m on an expedition the captain
ordered yesterday and the lieutenant knows about it. You might tell
him I said so. And, by the way, got any extra cartridges for your
pistol? I might need them. I left mine in my kit. Will pay you back
when I get back.”
“Maybe I could help you,” began Martin, but Clem backed off.
“No; I can handle this. Nothing much. When I come in I think you’ll
see me bringing some Heinies along--pretty soon, too.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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