The general turned to Hal.

"Do you know what that means?" he asked.

Hal nodded his head.

"It means," continued the general, "that you are a spy. You shall pay the penalty."

"But," Hal protested, "I was not captured within your lines in German uniform nor in disguise. You cannot treat me as a spy."

"I can't, eh?" cried General Von Kluck angrily. "Well, you shall see."

"The boy is right," came a stern voice from behind him, and, turning, Hal started back in amazement.

"The Emperor!" he cried.

And from other throats in the group came the time-worn salutation:

"_Hoch der Kaiser!_"

CHAPTER XXIX.

GERMAN HOSPITALITY.

"Yes," continued the Emperor of Germany, "the boy is right. He has spoiled our plans, I will admit; but it takes a brave man to wander into our lines as he did. It takes a brave one to have made a dash in the armored cars I have just witnessed; and it takes a brave man to raid right into the heart of our arms and destroy twenty-five aeroplanes, as I have no doubt he did."

"What," exclaimed all the German officers in the tent, "the aeroplanes destroyed?"

"Yes," continued the emperor, "and with them another opportunity to deal a death-blow to the English." Then, turning to Hal: "I have no doubt that you were concerned in that--am I right?"

"Yes, your majesty," said the lad.

"I thought so," said the emperor, and he turned again to General Von Kluck.

"The lad is perfectly right when he says that he was not captured in disguise. No doubt he was within our lines in German uniform, but, as he was not captured, he cannot be executed as a spy. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sire," said General Von Kluck, bowing low.

"It seems to me," went on the Kaiser, "that rather than spend so much time looking for spies to put to death, it would be advantageous if some of my officers would expend their energies in looking more carefully after my interests."

Once more the emperor turned to Hal.

"If I mistake not," he said, "you are an American. Am I right?"

"Yes, sire," said Hal.

"Then how comes it that you are fighting for Great Britain?"

Hal explained the misfortunes by which they had been left in Germany, and of how, eventually, they had taken service with the Allies.

"And who is your friend?" asked the Kaiser, pointing to Chester.

"Chester Crawford, sire," replied Hal, "my boyhood chum."

"And the wounded man?"

"An English officer, your majesty," said Hal, "and a brave one."

"I have found that all the British are brave," said the Kaiser grimly.

"I was misinformed as to their att.i.tude in this crisis," and the Kaiser's voice grew harsh; "it was not the only subject on which I was misinformed."

His words were clearly intended for the officers, more than for Hal.

He was silent for some moments, and then to General Von Kluck:

"General, I will take these lads to my own quarters. I desire to question them on matters pertaining to their own country. You will send a guard for them in two hours."

"Yes, sire," said General Von Kluck.

The Kaiser motioned to Hal and Chester.

"Follow me," he commanded.

Surrounded by his personal bodyguard, and with Hal and Chester close behind him, the emperor made his way to his own handsome and luxurious field quarters.

Inside the tent he motioned the two lads to seats.

"Now, tell me," he said, "what is the general sentiment in America toward Germany? Where is the general sympathy in this war?"

He had addressed Hal, so the latter replied, Chester maintaining a discreet silence.

"We were not in America when the war broke out, your majesty," he said, "but I believe that I am right when I say that the sympathies of the United States, generally speaking, are with the Allies."

The Kaiser nodded his head.

"I was afraid so," he said. "But why?"

"As to why, I can't say," replied Hal. "Chiefly, I suppose, because it is an English-speaking country."

"I suppose that is true," said the emperor, "and still there are many more persons of German descent in the United States than of any other nationality. Do the people of the United States believe that Germany brought about this war?"

"From what I have heard from Canadian officers and some others, I am afraid they do, your majesty," said Hal.

"It is not true," thundered the Kaiser, bringing his clenched fist down heavily on the table. "I tell you it is not true. Do you understand? It is not true. I did all in my power to prevent this war.

It is Czar Nicholas of Russia who is to blame. He and his Slavs would overrun Germany. But, with the help of G.o.d, I shall prevent it. I will not be called the War Lord of Europe for nothing!"