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.. meta::
   :PG.Id: 50166
   :PG.Title: The Boy Allies with Marshal Foch
   :PG.Released: 2015-10-08
   :PG.Rights: Public Domain
   :PG.Producer: Al Haines
   :DC.Creator: Clair \W. Hayes
   :DC.Title: The Boy Allies with Marshal Foch
              or, The Closing Days of the Great World War
   :DC.Language: en
   :DC.Created: 1919
   :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg

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THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH
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      Cover art

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   .. _`Before either lad could produce a weapon, a shrill voice cried in German: "Hands up, there!" Page 25`:

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      :alt: Before either lad could produce a weapon, a shrill voice cried in German: "Hands up, there!" Page 25

      Before either lad could produce a weapon, a shrill voice 
      cried in German: "Hands up, there!" Page `25`_

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      Title page

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      The Boy Allies

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      With Marshal Foch

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      OR

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      The Closing Days of the Great
      World War

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      By CLAIR \W. HAYES

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      AUTHOR OF
      "The Boy Allies With the Army Series"

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      \A. \L. BURT COMPANY
      NEW YORK

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      Copyright, 1919
      By \A. \L. BURT COMPANY

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      THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH

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   THE BOY ALLIES

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   (Registered in the United States Patent Office)

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   WITH THE ARMY SERIES

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   By Clair \W. Hayes

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The Boy Allies at Liege
or, Through Lines of Steel

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The Boy Allies on the Firing Line
or, Twelve Days Battle along the Marne

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The Boy Allies with the Cossacks
or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians

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The Boy Allies in the Trenches
or, Midst Shot and Shell along the Aisne

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The Boy Allies in Great Peril
or, With the Italian Army in the Alps

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The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign
or, The Struggle to Save a Nation

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The Boy Allies on the Somme
or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded

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The Boy Allies at Verdun
or, Saving France from the Enemy

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The Boy Allies under the Stars and Stripes
or, Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line

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The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders
or, The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge

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The Boy Allies with Pershing in France
or, Over the Top at Chateau-Thierry

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The Boy Allies with the Great Advance
or, Driving the Enemy through France and Belgium

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The Boy Allies with Marshal Foch
or, The Closing Days of The Great World War.

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   CONTENTS

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   CHAPTER

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I.  `Good News`_
II.  `Through the Lines`_
III.  `Among the Enemy`_
IV.  `Chester is Indiscreet`_
V.  `An Enemy Plot Bared`_
VI.  `An Encounter`_
VII.  `The Advance`_
VIII.  `Toward Sedan`_
IX.  `The Battle`_
X.  `The Advance Continues`_
XI.  `A New Mission`_
XII.  `Hal Meets an Obstacle`_
XIII.  `Chester to the Rescue`_
XIV.  `The Closing of the Net`_
XV.  `The Capture of Sedan`_
XVI.  `An Unexpected Honor`_
XVII.  `Stubbs Again`_
XVIII.  `A Message from the Enemy`_
XIX.  `Hirson`_
XX.  `The German Envoys Arrive`_
XXI.  `Stubbs' Scoop`_
XXII.  `Spa`_
XXIII.  `The Kaiser Abdicates`_
XXIV.  `In Trouble Again`_
XXV.  `A Battle`_
XXVI.  `The Conference Resumed`_
XXVII.  `Stubbs Redeems Himself`_
XXVIII.  `The End draws near`_
XXIX.  `The Last Zero`_
XXX.  `Conclusion`_





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.. _`GOOD NEWS`:

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   THE BOY ALLIES
   WITH MARSHAL FOCH

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   CHAPTER I

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   GOOD NEWS

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"Heard the news, Hal?" asked Chester excitedly
as he dashed into the small but comfortable dugout
where the two boys were quartered with the
Thirty-second division of American troops a few miles
to the east of Rheims.

"No," replied Hal Paine, "what news?"

"Austria has sued for peace; it's the beginning of
the end."

"Rats!" said Frank.  "I've heard that before.  I
guess you're a bit premature, Chester."

"Not a bit of it," declared Major Chester
Crawford emphatically.  "I had the news from Colonel
O'Neil himself.  He says Austria has made overtures
for an armistice, looking toward a permanent
peace."

"Oh, an armistice," said Major Paine.  "That's
a horse of another color."

"But it means peace soon," protested Chester.

"It might ordinarily," Hal agreed, "but you must
remember that dealing with enemies such as we have
now, there is no telling what may happen.  I don't
know so much about the Austrians, but the
Germans are a treacherous lot, and I've no doubt that
long association with men of that ilk has taught
the Austrians a thing or two.  No, Chester, take
my word for it, there is nothing to your news.  Even
if the Austrians have made such overtures, you
may be sure there is a trick in it some place."

"By Jove!  You're an optimistic sort, aren't
you?" said Chester.

"Well," said Hal.  "I'm not quite as credulous
as you seem to be.  Besides, why should Austria sue
for peace now?  It's true that she is getting the
worst of the argument, as is Germany; but to my
mind she is a long way from being compelled to
throw up the sponge.  Then, too, she wouldn't have
the nerve to leave Germany in the lurch."

"All the same, I'm taking the news for true,"
declared Chester.

Hal shrugged his shoulders.

"To whom were these overtures addressed?" he
asked at length.

"To President Wilson."

"Is that so?  Well, it would seem that the
Austrians had looked to the proper place.  It would
seem they knew who, perhaps, would let them down
the easiest."

"But they won't be let down easily," said
Chester.  "What's the matter with you anyhow?  You
know as well as I do that they must make full
reparation for the ruin they have caused."

"Exactly," said Hal, "which is the reason I say
that no such overtures have been made; or if they
have, they were prompted by some hidden motive."

"Personally," said Chester, "I don't care what
you think.  You are so confounded wise it's a
wonder General Pershing hasn't resigned in your favor."

"Come, now, Chester," replied Hal.  "Don't get
sore.  Can't you take a little joke?"

"I don't call that much of a joke.  I came with
a piece of news I thought you would be anxious to
hear, and all you've done is scoff."

"Never mind," said Hal.  "Personally, as I have
said, I am inclined to the belief that you are all
wrong, but at the same time I hope you are right.
However, time will tell."

Chester was about to reply, but the sound of
hurried footsteps without restrained him.  A moment
later there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," called Hal.

A lieutenant, whom the lads recognized as attached
to Colonel O'Neil's staff, entered and came
to attention.

"What is it, lieutenant?" asked Chester.

"Colonel O'Neil desires your presence in his
quarters at once, sir," replied the lieutenant; "and,
Major Paine also."

"We shall follow you at once, lieutenant," said
Hal, reaching for his helmet, which lay on his cot.

The lieutenant saluted again, turned on his heel
and departed.  Hal and Chester followed him a
few moments later.

"I thought it was about time we had something
to do," said Hal as they hurried along.

"Right," Chester agreed.  "We've been pretty
quiet for the last week.  I shall be glad to get busy
again."

"Here too."

Hal Paine and Chester Crawford, natives of a
small Illinois town, had been chums from early
childhood.  Together they had gone to school,
toured the lumber country of the northwest where
Hal's father owned large tracts of land; travelled
extensively, and fought and played.  So close had
they been in their school days that their companions
had dubbed them "The Boy Allies."  More than
one lad of more mature years had found to his
sorrow that when he "picked on" one of them he
had two to contend with.

At the outbreak of the great European war Hal
and Chester were in Berlin with the former's mother.
They were caught there by the German mobilization,
and in attempting to get out of the German
capitol, were separated from Mrs. Paine.  Thrown
thus upon their own resources, the two lads gave
the first evidence of that resourcefulness which
later was to stand them in good stead.

They joined forces with a French and an English
officer and, after considerable excitement and
adventure, reached the Belgian frontier just in time
to be with the forces of King Albert when they
made their desperate but futile stand at Liege.

In an unofficial capacity, the boys were able to
render some little assistance to the Belgian
commander, and later, through the latter's efforts, were
permitted to join the Belgian forces.  Several
months later they found themselves commissioned
lieutenants.

Hal and Chester had seen active service in all
the theaters of war.  They were with the British
in France and Flanders; they served under General
Joffre and under General Petain, French commanders,
at the first battle of Verdun, when the German
advance was checked just as it seemed the enemy
must break through to Paris.  They fought with
the Cossacks on the eastern front, with the Italians
in the Alps and with the Serbians and Montenegrins
in the Balkans.

At the time the United States declared war on
Germany, Hal and Chester were captains in the
service of King George of England, serving at the
time under Field Marshal Haig.  With other Americans
in the allied army, however, they were selected
to return to the United States, where for some
months they lent invaluable service to Uncle Sam
in drilling raw recruits at the army training camps.

Such excellent reputations had they won,
however, that when the first American expeditionary
force sailed for France, Hal and Chester found
themselves among them.  Since their return, they
had taken active parts in the American advance.
They had been with the Marines at Chateau-Thierry
and Belleau Wood; they had been with the heroic
Thirty-second division which had won undying
fame in the Argonne forest, where the American
forces had been all but annihilated under the
German fire.

Now they had been resting for several days.

The turning point in the great war had come
and gone.  The full power of American might was
making itself felt on the western battle front, where
the Yankee troops time and again had proved
themselves the masters of the best the German emperor
had to offer.  The tide had turned at Chateau-Thierry
in the early summer, and from that time
on the Americans, under the leadership of "Black
Jack" Pershing, had pressed their advantage at
every opportunity.

To the unprejudiced observer it was apparent
that the Germans were already beaten.  True, they
might fight on for days, weeks or months, but their
offensive power had been broken by the million
and more Americans who had been hurled against
them.  There was nothing at the moment to indicate
that the German emperor, his advisors, or the
German people, were willing to cry for peace, but
it was plain that the ultimate outcome was only a
question of time.

From time to time came rumors of internal
disorders in Germany.  These, however, could not be
substantiated, and for that reason it was impossible
to tell that Germany was on the eve of a revolution.

Gradually the allies and the American forces had
pushed their battle lines toward the east.  Much of
France and of Belgium, for almost four years
occupied by the Germans, had been reclaimed.
Everywhere, where there was fighting, the advantage
rested with the allies.  No longer did the Germans
dash to the attack with the impetuosity that
characterized their attacks in the early dawn of the war.
Their morale had been broken.

Even the crack Prussian Guards, the flower of
the German army, had been decisively beaten by the
Americans at Chateau-Thierry.  Hurled into the
battle at the last moment in an attempt to stem the
advance of American soldiers and marines, they
had proved unequal to the task.  The Yankees had
proved their masters at every turn.

There was nothing for the Germans to do but
retreat.  This they did, slowly, contesting every inch
of the ground.  Gradually, however, their retreat
became faster, and at some places it developed into
utter rout.

Late in July of 1918 the enemy had been cleared
from the greater part of France and Belgium.  In
fact, in Alsace-Lorraine, American troops were on
German soil and threatening the strong fortresses
of Metz and Strassburg.  Germans had been cleared
from the Argonne forest, which, in the enemy's
possession, had proved one of the greatest menaces
to the allied advance.

It appeared that the time was drawing near for
a decisive blow by Marshal Foch.

The time was to come sooner than either Hal or
Chester could possibly have conceived, and both
boys were to bear a full burden of the fighting.

At the quarters of Colonel O'Neil, Hal and Chester
waited a few moments before being ushered into
the former's presence.  But their time came eventually,
and they hurried into Colonel O'Neil's office and
stood at attention.

Colonel O'Neil looked up.

"Well, how do you feel, Major?" he asked of Hal.

"Pretty well, sir."

"Good.  And you, Major Crawford?"

"Very well, sir."

"Good," said Colonel O'Neil again.  "I'm glad
to hear it, for I've an important piece of work that
must be done at once and I wouldn't feel like
calling upon you unless you are perfectly fit."

"We're perfectly fit, sir," declared Chester
eagerly.

"Draw up chairs here, then," said the colonel.

The boys obeyed.





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.. _`THROUGH THE LINES`:

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   CHAPTER II


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   THROUGH THE LINES

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"I suppose," said Colonel O'Neil, "you have both
heard the rumor that Austria has sued for peace?"

"Yes, sir," replied Chester, "and I have tried to
convince Hal of it, but he is inclined to be skeptical."

"And with good reason," declared Colonel O'Neil.
"I don't place much confidence in the report myself.
Nor, it seems, do my superiors.  In fact, it is in
regard to that report that I have summoned you here."

Hal smiled slightly.

"To me it seems the report is too good to be
true," he volunteered.

"My sentiments exactly, Major," said Colonel
O'Neil.  "Nevertheless, it is, of course, possible
that the report is true, and if it is true, it is the
beginning of the end.  However, before the general
staff can take advantage of the report, it must
be verified absolutely.  With Austria suing for
peace, and Bulgaria and Turkey virtually out of the
war, we can strike such a blow at the Germans on
the west front as will mean the end of the war
before Christmas."

"I see," said Chester, "and it is to obtain
confirmation of the report that you have summoned us?"

"Exactly," declared the colonel.  "It stands to
reason that if Austria has made peace overtures,
the German general staff will know of it.  Also,
for that matter, will practically every man in the
German army.  It would appear that if we could
place a man behind the enemy's lines, he could, with
caution and discretion, learn the truth of the
matter.  I have called you here to offer you this
opportunity."

"And we accept it, of course, sir," declared Hal.

"Of course," Chester repeated after his chum.

"Good!" exclaimed Colonel O'Neil.  "I knew I
could depend on you.  General Rowan asked me to
put the mission in the most capable hands I could
find, and being familiar with your records, I know
that my selection could not be better."

"Thank you, sir," said Hal and Chester in a single
voice.

"Now," went on the colonel, "I don't want to
hamper you with a lot of foolish and needless
instructions, but I do want to impress upon you that
the sooner the matter is cleared up the better.  You
will both be granted indefinite leave of absence,
but I would ask that you return at the earliest
possible moment."

"We shall, sir," said Chester quietly.

"Very well, then," replied Colonel O'Neil; "that
is all."

The lads saluted and left the colonel's quarters.

"Well," said Hal, as they made their way back to
their own quarters, "this is an expedition after my
own heart."

"Right," Chester agreed.  "I suppose that it's
necessary to keep some of us sitting quietly around
here, but at the same time I would rather it were
someone besides me."

"Same here.  But I'll bet some of the rest of the
fellows would be tickled to death with our luck."

"Naturally; why shouldn't they be?  Now the
question before the house is the best method of
crossing safely into the German lines."

"And of getting safely out again," said Hal dryly.

"That goes without saying.  But we've got to get
there first.  The return trip will be considered
later."

"There are ways enough of getting there," said
Hal.  "Automobile, airplane, afoot or a-horseback.
Take your choice."

"Airship for me," said Chester; "its quicker and
promises a greater degree of success."

"I'll make that unanimous," said Hal.  "Airship
is my vote, too."

"Guess we'd better wait until along toward
midnight, though," Chester suggested.

"Why?"

"Well, chiefly because there is less likelihood of
our being discovered at that hour.  Guards will be
posted, of course, but we've eluded them before
and we can do it again.  Also, arriving within
the enemy's lines after midnight, will give us the
chance of mingling with the German troops
without so great a risk of discovery."

"Any way suits me," said Hal.  "First thing to
do, now that we have decided upon our means of
locomotion, is to find a plane."

"I'll commandeer one from Captain Nicholas,"
said Chester.

"All right.  Tell him to have it ready at midnight
sharp."

"Right," said Chester and hastened away.

Hal meantime returned to their quarters and
threw himself down upon his bunk.  He was reclining
at ease when Chester entered to report the
airplane arranged for.

"Captain Nicholas said he would have it in flying
trim exactly at midnight," said Chester.  "Now, my
advice is that we discard our uniforms and climb
into German attire if we can round up the
necessities."

"Guess that can be done, too, without any trouble,"
said Hal.  "We've plenty of prisoners here.
All we have to do is to change with them.  I should
say that Captain Nicholas could attend to that, too."

"I'll suggest it to him," said Chester, and took
his departure.

The lad was back within the hour with two
German uniforms, which had once adorned the forms
of German captains of infantry.

"Seems we're losing rank here," commented Hal
with a laugh.  "You might at least have robbed a
couple of generals or field marshals."

"Take what you can get these days and be
thankful," grinned Chester.  "Also, ask no questions.
According to Captain Nicholas, even this pair of
captains objected strenuously to being deprived of
their uniforms.  I imagine a general would have
put up a terrible howl."

"You're probably right," Hal agreed.  "Well,
we'll be satisfied with what we have.  If we're
discovered it won't make much difference whether
we're attired as privates or the kaiser himself."

"No, a firing squad could shoot through one as
well as the other," Chester replied.  "Now, all we
have to do is wait until midnight."

"In which event," said Hal, "I shall woo sweet
morpheus for two hours and fifteen minutes."

"Two hours and fifteen minutes is right," said
Chester after a glance at his watch.  "I'll follow
suit."

Five minutes later both lads were stretched out
in their bunks fast asleep.  They slept soundly, but
not so soundly, however, that they did not wake at
the desired minute.

At fifteen minutes to twelve, Hal opened his
eyes and sat up.  Chester yawned, stretched and sat
up a minute later.

"Time to be moving," he said, glancing at his
watch again.

"Right," Hal agreed.  "I'll be inside this
German uniform in three minutes by the clock."

He was; and Chester found himself suitably
attired a moment later.

"Now for the plane," said the latter.

He led the way to where a two-seated biplane
was being guarded by several soldiers.

"All right, men," said Hal, "you can turn in
now.  We'll take charge of this craft."

The soldiers saluted and took their departure.

"Let's be moving," said Chester.  "Into the
pilot's seat with you, Hal."

"Thought maybe you wanted to do the driving
this time, Chester," said Hal.

"That's a poor joke, Hal," declared Chester.  "I
don't want to die right this minute, and I guess you
don't, either."

"Which is the reason I'm not going to argue with
you who will do the piloting," Hal declared.

He clambered into the pilot's seat, and Chester
took his place in the observer's compartment.

"All set?" called Hal.

"All set," was Chester's reply.

"Let her go, then," said Hal, and the single guard
who had remained gave the machine momentum
with a vigorous push.

The machine moved slowly across the ground at
first, then, under Hal's guiding hand, dashed on
swifter and swifter.  Hal touched the elevating
lever and the airplane soared into the air.

Now Chester had been aloft many times, but he
had never reached a point where he was not affected
by the sensation of the earth dropping away from
him.  For a moment he clung to the side of the car.
His head cleared, in a twinkling, however, and he
breathed a sigh of relief.

"All right, Chester," Hal called back, not taking
the time to turn his head.

"All right," was Chester's reply.  "Step on her, Hal."

Hal obeyed this injunction, and the plane darted
in the direction of the distant enemy like a big bird.

There was no light aboard the craft that carried
the two lads toward the German lines.  On either
side, above and below, however, Hal could see now.
and then a faint twinkle, indicating that other
American craft, bent upon no such dangerous
mission as Hal and Chester, still were on the alert to
prevent a possible surprise attack by the foe.

These lights were soon gone, however, and now
all that Chester could see was the faint outline of
Hal's head before him.  He looked back, but the
last of the American lights had been lost in the
distance.  Ahead, the German lines were still too far
distant for a plane to be distinguishable should it
be on guard aloft.

The night was very dark.  For this Hal felt
thankful, for it meant that, barring accidents and
the rays of German searchlights, he had more
opportunity of guiding his craft into the enemy lines,
unobserved.  Could he escape the prying eyes of
the foe's sentinels of the sky, he felt that he had
nothing to fear.

The distance between the German and allied lines
at that point, Hal knew, was less than three-quarters
of a mile.  This distance was covered in a jiffy,
but still Hal kept the nose of the craft pointed due
east, for it was his intention to come down well
within the foe's lines rather than to risk a landing
near the front.

But at last he felt he had gone far enough.  His
hand tightened on the controls and gradually the
speed of the plane slackened.  Chester leaned
forward, and putting his mouth close to Hal's ears,
exclaimed:

"Going down here?"

"Yes," was Hal's reply.  "May as well, I guess.
It should be as safe as any place.  Suit you?"

Chester shrugged in the darkness.

"I'm satisfied if you are," he replied.  "Shoot!"

The plane began to descend.





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.. _`AMONG THE ENEMY`:

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   CHAPTER III


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   AMONG THE ENEMY

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The aircraft settled to earth in the darkness as
gently as a huge bird and Hal and Chester stepped
out silently.  For a moment they stood trying to
get their bearings.

"Where do you figure we are?" asked Chester in
a low tone.

"We should be a mile due east of Sedan," was
Hal's reply.  "I saw the lights of the city below as
we passed."

"Sedan, eh?" said Chester.  "What memories of
school days that name conjures up, Hal."

"So it does," was Hal's whispered response: "Of
Bismarck, of Napoleon III and of the French defeat
in the deciding battle of the Franco-Prussian war."

"What a glorious thing it would be if the French
could strike a decisive blow at the Germans here
now," muttered Chester.  "It would be retribution."

"No less," Hal agreed; "and still, to my mind,
it would be extremely better if the decisive blow
were delivered by American troops, whether at
Sedan or elsewhere."

"Right, as usual, Hal," was Chester's reply.

And although neither lad knew it then, it was to
be the fortune of American troops to wrest Sedan
from the hands of the invader and to be the first
forces of democracy to tread the streets of the
historic city.

"We've talked enough, Chester," Hal whispered.
"It's time for action."

"Let's be on the move, then," Chester whispered
back.  "Which way?"

"Might as well head toward the city, I guess."

"How about the plane here?"

Hal shrugged in the darkness.

"We'll have to leave it, I guess.  If we're not
back by morning it will be discovered, of course,
and a search instituted for its occupants."

"Which might lead to our discovery," said Chester.

Again Hal shrugged.

"It might, of course," he agreed.

"Then why not pull it in among the trees there?"
Chester wanted to know, pointing to a clump of
trees a short distance away.

"Not a bad idea," Hal declared.  "I hadn't
noticed the trees, myself."

"As Stubbs would say, you must be more observing,"
was Chester's response.  "Lay hold here."

With some effort the boys wheeled the plane into
the little clump of trees and then stepped forth
again.

"It may do," said Hal, eyeing the hiding place
carefully in the darkness.  "It's invisible enough now,
but I don't know how well the foliage will protect
the plane in daylight."

"It's the best we can do, at all events," declared
Chester.  "Come, let's be on our way."

"May as well, I guess," said Hal, and led the way
toward the distant city of Sedan.

From time to time the lads passed hurrying
figures as they walked along, but they were not so
much as accosted.  In their German uniforms, they
felt reasonably safe, particularly so as their features
were concealed by the darkness.  Once in the city,
however, they knew they would have to exercise
greater caution.

Nevertheless they entered the outskirts of the city
with firm tread and headed directly toward the
center of town.  Neither had been in Sedan before
and each was conscious of the utter foolishness of
prowling around the edge of the city.

"We've got to get among the foe if we want to
learn anything," Hal said.

A few lights still twinkled in the city, despite the
lateness of the hour.  On what appeared to be the
main street, the lads made out a fairly large hotel.

"Guess that's our destination," said Chester,
pointing.

Hal nodded.

"That's the place," he said, "though I don't know
what we'll do when we get there."

"Events will shape themselves," said Chester.

"That's what worries me.  If I could shape them
according to my own needs and desires it would
be much better."

"Don't croak, Hal."

"I'm not croaking.  I'm merely remarking."

"You remark a whole lot on the style of Anthony
Stubbs, if you ask me," declared Chester.  "Come
on, let's go into the hotel."

Hal made sure that his revolvers were ready in
his pockets before he followed Chester through the
door.  Both lads kept their caps well over their
eyes, for while there was little danger of their
being suspected, their countenances lacked the heavy
sluggishness of the Germans—a fact which should
it be noticed, might call for questions.

At one side of the small lobby was a desk.
Chester approached it.  A man rose to greet him.

"We want a room for the night," said Chester
gruffly in German, using the commanding and
ill-bred tone always affected by German officers in
talking to inferiors in rank or civilians.

The man threw wide his arms.

"I'm sorry, Herr Captain," he said humbly, "but
all the rooms are occupied."

"What!" said Chester angrily.  "I said that my
friend and I desire a room, and a room we will
have if we have to trundle your guests out into the
street."

"But——" protested the hotel clerk.

"Silence!" thundered Chester.  "Now answer
me.  You have a room of your own, have you not?"

"Yes, Herr Captain, but——"

"Silence!" cried Chester again.  "Your key, if
you please."

Again the man seemed on the point of protesting,
and Chester stepped quickly toward him.

"Your key," he said again, and extended his
hand.

The clerk's hand reached to his pocket, and he
extended a key to Chester.

"Yes, Herr Captain," he said humbly.

"Now lead the way to our room," commanded
Chester, "and in future know that when an officer
of the emperor commands, it is for you to obey."

"Yes, Herr Captain," said the man as he led the
way toward the rear of the hotel.

There he preceded Hal and Chester up a flight
of stairs and turned to the left.  They walked down
a long hall until they reached a door at the extreme
end.  Here the guide stopped, turned to Chester
and opened his mouth to speak.

"Silence!" said Chester sharply.  "Open the door."

The hotel clerk shrugged his shoulders in a manner
that meant he washed his hands of the outcome
and tried the knob of the door.  The door swung
inward and the clerk stood aside to allow Hal and
Chester to pass.

It was dark in the room as the lads stepped across
to the threshold.  But hardly had they set foot in
the room when a brilliant light shot forth.

For a moment the lads were blinded, but they
were conscious of a startled ejaculation from the
hotel clerk, who still stood without.

"Ha!" he exclaimed.  "I thought so.  Now for
it, my dear Herr Captain."

.. _`25`:

When the lights flared up, Hal and Chester both
dropped their hands to their revolvers.  But before
either could produce a weapon, a shrill voice cried
in German:

"Hands up, there!"

There was nothing for the lads to do but obey.
They still had not had time to accustom their eyes
to the sudden light so were unable to distinguish
the owner of the voice.  But gradually their vision
cleared.

Chester glanced sharply at the man who had
stopped them.  He sat up in bed and in both hands
he held a revolver squarely levelled at the two lads.

Chester gave a sudden start.  At the same moment
the man in the bed gave vent to a queer sound
and his revolvers wavered.

Chester leaped forward and possessed himself
of the two revolvers with several quick movements.
One of these he levelled at the man in the bed.

"Hands up!" he commanded sharply.  The man
in the bed opened his mouth to speak.  "Silence!"
cried Chester.  "Not a word."  He turned to Hal,
who for the moment had been staring in
open-mouthed wonder.  "Explain to the clerk, Hal," said
Chester, "that we will take possession of this room,
also of its occupant.  It might be well to tell him
that he should have informed us his room was
occupied.  We will discuss that later."

"But I tried to tell you, Herr Captain," declared
the frightened clerk.  "You would not listen, Herr
Captain!"

"Silence!" commanded Chester.  "Leave the
room, and not one word about this matter as you
value your life.  We shall take charge of your other
guest here.  I've no doubt we shall all be good
friends in the morning."

Still the clerk hesitated, but Hal settled the
argument.  He stepped quickly toward the clerk.

"Get out!" he commanded sharply.

The hotel clerk vanished.

In the meantime the man in the bed had been
gazing at the two lads in astonishment.  With his
captured revolvers still in his hands, Chester
approached him.

"Well," he said, "and what are you doing here,
if I may ask?"

"By George!  I don't see that it is any business
of yours what I am doing here," was the reply in
English.  "I might ask the same of you."

"And you might get the same answer, Mr. Stubbs,"
said Hal.  "Threatened to shoot us when
we came in, didn't you?"

"And why shouldn't I?" demanded Anthony
Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York
Gazette and companion of Hal and Chester on many
a perilous venture.  "When a man breaks into
another man's room the first thing the man in the
room naturally thinks about is something with
which to protect himself.  I had those guns under
my pillow and when I heard you come in, I pressed
the electric light button and grabbed the guns."

"Well, it's fortunate you didn't use 'em, Stubbs,"
said Hal.  "If you had shot me and I had found
it out, I'd have had to lay you across my knee."

"You would, eh?" grumbled Stubbs.  "I guess
you would find that quite a job."

"Come, come, Stubbs," said Chester: "and you,
too, Hal.  We're in a ticklish position and there
is no time for foolishness.  What are you doing
here, Stubbs?"

"Well," said Stubbs, "I'll tell you; but as you'll
have to spend the night here, make yourselves
comfortable.  Sit down."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`CHESTER IS INDISCREET`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER IV


.. class:: center medium bold

   CHESTER IS INDISCREET

.. vspace:: 2

"First," Stubbs began, when the boys had pulled
their chairs close to his bed and he had propped
himself up with a pair of pillows, "first I want to
know what you mean, Chester, by jumping me the
way you did a few minutes ago?"

"Well," said Chester, "you had a pair of guns
wabbling in your hands and I was afraid one might
accidentally go off.  Safety first, Mr. Stubbs."

"That sounds all right," was Stubbs' dry comment,
"or rather, I should say, it would sound all
right if I didn't know you so well.  It's my candid
opinion you just jumped me because a good
opportunity presented itself."

"Come, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "you know I
wouldn't——"

"Oh, I do, do I?" exclaimed Stubbs sarcastically.
"I know all about you, Chester, you can bet on that."

"Then maybe you can tell me what Hal and I
are doing here," replied Chester.

"No, I can't do that exactly, but its a safe
assertion that you are up to your old snooping tricks
again."

"Then why are you here, Mr. Stubbs?" Chester
wanted to know.

Stubbs smiled wryly.

"I guess you have me there, my boy," he said
good-naturedly.  "I'm here to snoop a little myself."

"As I thought," Hal put in.  "By any chance,
Mr. Stubbs, have you heard rumors that Austria
has or is about to sue for peace?"

Stubbs sat up straight in bed.

"Now where did you get that idea?" he demanded.

"Because we're here in an attempt to verify that
rumor," was Hal's reply.

Stubbs sighed.

"Well, there is no use trying to conceal my
mission," he said; "and yet I was in hopes I was the
possessor of information that would give me a
'scoop' for my paper; or an exclusive 'beat,' if you
like that better."

"But surely you didn't hope to have such information
if it were not known to the military authorities,"
protested Chester.

"And why didn't I?" demanded Stubbs, with
some heat.  "Let me tell you something, my boy.
It's no infrequent thing for a newspaper man to
gain knowledge of a certain thing long before it
comes to the ears of the proper authorities."

"Then it is up to you to acquaint the proper
authorities with your information," said Hal.

"Not a bit of it.  Not a bit of it.  My duty is to
get the facts to my paper ahead of the correspondents
of the other papers.  That's what I'm paid for;
and you can bet I'll do it if I get a chance."

"That's all beside the question right now, Mr. Stubbs,"
said Chester.  "It seems that you are here
on a mission similar to ours.  Now the question
is, shall we join forces or shall we work separately?"

"I don't know," said Stubbs.  "You see, I've been
on the ground longer than you have and have
already made considerable progress.  Looks to me
like I'd be giving you my information in return
for nothing."

"Oh, of course if that's the way you feel about
it," said Chester, considerably nettled.

"Hold on, now!" protested Stubbs.  "Not so fast,
if you please.  I didn't say I wouldn't throw in with
you, did I?"

"No, you didn't say it," returned Chester
significantly.

"Then don't cry until you're hurt," enjoined
Stubbs.  "At the same time there is another reason
that tells me to let you go at this thing in your own
way."

"And that, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Hal.

"That," returned Stubbs, "is because every time
I get mixed up with you fellows I get in trouble.
Either I'm moving forward a couple of leaps ahead
of a bayonet, or I'm all snarled up in a knot of
struggling Germans; and I don't like that, I tell
you.  I'm a peaceable man."

Hal and Chester laughed.

"Oh, yes, we know how peaceable you are," said
Hal.  "We're perfectly willing to bank on your
courage, Mr. Stubbs."

"Well, I'm not exactly willing to bank on it myself,"
replied Stubbs grumblingly, but he was plainly
pleased.

"Whatever you think best, Mr. Stubbs," said
Chester.

"Surely, Chester," said Stubbs, "you didn't take
me seriously?  Surely you knew that I am willing to
do whatever I can to further the cause of America
and her allies.  I was simply joking."

"Maybe you were," returned Chester, not at all
convinced, "but all I've got to say is that you have
a mighty poor way of showing it."

"Then I'll do better," said Stubbs.  "Listen."  He
proceeded in a low tone.  "I've been here for
two days.  I heard rumors some time ago that
Austria and Germany were at the breaking point.
Bulgaria, out of the war, as she has been for
several weeks, it became apparent that Germany's other
two allies would soon leave her in the lurch.  Now
Turkey doesn't matter so much, although with the
Ottomans out of the war the strain on the allies
will be lessened considerably.  But with Austria—the
kaiser's most important and powerful ally, ready
to quit—the moment seems auspicious.  Now, I
wanted to be on the ground floor when the news
broke.  That's why I took a chance and sneaked
through the German lines; that's why I'm here.

"That's why we're here, too," said Hal quietly.

"Now, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "you inferred
that you had already learned something.  What is
it, if I may ask?"

"I didn't exactly say that," protested Stubbs.
"However, I have found what in the newspaper
business is called a 'leak' and I have hopes it will
produce some news before many hours have passed."

"And what is this leak, Mr. Stubbs?"

"Why," said Mr. Stubbs, "its none other than
our friend the night clerk whom you so
unceremoniously ordered from the room a few minutes
ago.  He thinks I'm a pretty regular fellow.  The
reason is plain enough.  I've been supplying him
with tobacco for the last two days."

Both lads smiled.

"It's no wonder then," said Chester.  "Tobacco
is one of the luxuries in Germany to-day.  But who
are you supposed to be, Mr. Stubbs?"

"Me?" said Stubbs, "why I'm nothing more than
a German-American who was caught in Germany
by the war, who is in sympathy with the German
cause and not at all anxious to get back to the
States.  In fact, the clerk is positive I'd be wearing
a German uniform if I were not above military age."

"But you're not above the German military age,
Mr. Stubbs," Hal protested.

"Well, the clerk doesn't know that," said Stubbs
significantly.

"You're a pretty shrewd customer, Mr. Stubbs,"
said Chester.  "I guess if you've managed to fool
the clerk this long you'll get by, all right."

"I will, unless you get me mixed up in some of
your scrapes," declared Stubbs.  "But you boys
must be tired.  Ring the bell there for the clerk.
I'll tell him that we have found we have mutual
friends and that I will permit you to spend the
night in my room."

The clerk returned in response to the summons
and Stubbs outlined the situation.  The clerk offered
no protest; in fact, he offered to supply cots
for Mr. Stubbs' visitors.

These arrived directly and as soon as the clerk
withdrew, Hal and Chester tumbled into their beds.
"There is nothing that may be done to-night,"
said Stubbs.  "Get a good rest, boys."

In spite of the fact that it was late when they
retired, all three were up bright and early in the
morning and went to breakfast in the small dining
room of the hotel.

As they were finishing their coffee—without
sugar or cream, by the way, these being other
verboten luxuries in Germany—Chester's attention was
arrested by the entrance of a tall, stately German
woman, accompanied by a girl of perhaps eighteen
years.  They sat down at a table but three removed
from where the friends were seated.

Hal followed the direction of Chester's eyes and
smiled.

"Don't play the gallant now," he whispered in a
low voice.

Chester flushed.

"By Jove!" he said.  "You're the limit.  Can't
a fellow look at a pretty girl without drawing some
such remark from you?"

"But I know you so well," laughed Hal.

"Rats!" Chester ejaculated.

At that moment two young German officers
entered the room and strode toward the table where
mother and daughter—as Chester had surmised the
two to be—sat.  They stopped suddenly, noticing
apparently for the first time that the table was
occupied.

"Himmel!" one exclaimed.  "Conditions are
pretty bad when a man cannot find a seat at his
own table."

The words were plainly audible to the mother,
and daughter, and their faces turned red.  The
elder made as though to rise, but the girl restrained
her.

"We have as much right here as they have,
Mother," she said.

Chester grinned to himself.  It did him good to
hear the girl talk like that, for he had not been
favorably impressed with the appearance of the
officers—both in the uniform of captains—in the first
place.

"We shall have to ask you to leave our table,"
said the German officer who had spoken before.

It was the girl who protested.

"We'll stay where we are," she said.

The German grew angry.

"Is this the manner in which to treat one of his
majesty's officers?" he demanded.

The girl deigned no reply.

"Did you hear me?" demanded the German again.

Still no reply.

The German stepped quickly forward, and laying
his hand on the back of the girl's chair, jerked it
back from the table.  As he did so, the girl leaped
to her feet.  Her hand shot out and the German
staggered back, his face red where the girl's open
palm had struck.

"Himmel!" he cried angrily.

He stepped forward and seized the girl by
the wrist.

Now Chester had been watching these proceedings
with rising indignation.  When the man seized the
girl's wrist, for the moment Chester lost all thought
of his surroundings, threw caution to the winds
and rose quickly.  As quickly he stepped across the
room.

"Let the girl alone," he growled angrily.

The German wheeled on him, and recognizing in
the lad no superior officer, stood his ground.

"And who are you?" he demanded.

"I'll show you," said Chester angrily.

He struck out with his right fist.  "Smack."  The
German staggered back.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`AN ENEMY PLOT BARED`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER V


.. class:: center medium bold

   AN ENEMY PLOT BARED

.. vspace:: 2

Hal and Stubbs were on their feet immediately.
Both hurried to Chester's side.  Seeing these
reinforcements, the friend of the first German officer,
who had advanced apparently to aid his companion,
stepped back.  So did the man who had gripped
the girl's wrist.

For a moment the latter glared angrily at Chester.
Then his hand dropped to his holster.  But
before he could draw a weapon, Chester whipped
out his own automatic and covered him.

"None of that," the lad said angrily.

Realizing that he had been caught in a position,
not to his credit, the first German sought to temporize.

"I'm sorry if I was a bit hasty," he apologized to
the German girl and her mother.  "The truth is,
I have had little rest lately, my nerves are bad and
I am easily disturbed.  I apologize."

The girl accepted the apology with a slight
inclination of her head.  Her mother said nothing.

The German turned to Chester.

"You struck me, sir," he said, "and under different
conditions I would demand satisfaction.  But
in this case, you acted very properly.  I would have
done the same in your place."

He bowed to Chester, who lowered his revolver
and slowly returned it to its holster.

This was the moment for which the treacherous
German had been waiting.  Suddenly he whipped
out his own revolver.

But Hal, too, had been on the alert.  A peculiar
look in the German's eye had warned the lad that
the man was bent on mischief.  Therefore, Hal's
revolver flashed forth a second sooner than that
of Chester's enemy.

"Drop that!" called Hal sharply.

The German obeyed.  There was nothing else for
him to do.  His head dropped, and a guilty flush
crept over his face.  Hal stepped forward and
picked up the man's revolver, which he stowed
safely in his own pocket.

"I thought you betrayed your true characteristics
when you insulted these ladies," said Hal.  "I
am sure of it now.  I shall make it my business to
see that this matter is reported to the proper
authorities.  You may go now."

Without a word, and followed by his companion,
the German turned and strode toward the door.  As
he would have passed out, he stopped suddenly and
brought his heels together and saluted sharply.  His
companion did likewise.

A moment later a figure in the uniform of a
German general of infantry stepped into the room.  He
halted just inside the door, as he took in the
situation about him.  The others still stood as they had
when Chester's opponent had left them, and the
general realized instantly that something was amiss.
Hal and Chester saluted as the general strode across
the room without so much as a glance at them, and
addressed the mother.

"What is the matter?" he asked.

It was the girl again who replied.

"That man insulted me, father," she said, indicating
Chester's erstwhile foe, and in a few brief
words she told how Chester had come to her assistance.

The general saluted Chester, then Hal in turn.

"I will talk with you later, sirs," he said.  "Right
now I have other business."

He strode across the room to where the young
German officers stood, awaiting permission to take
their departure.  Straight the general went to the
man who had accosted his daughter, stopped close
to him, raised his right arm and brought his open
palm stingingly across the other's face.

"Let that teach you," he said, "that a German
officer does not insult women of his own race."

The German captain staggered back, but said
nothing.

"You may go now," said the general.  "You will
hear more from me later."

The young officers left the room hurriedly.

General Knoff, for as such the general now introduced
himself to Hal, Chester and Stubbs, addressed
Chester quietly.

"You have befriended my wife and my daughter,"
he said.  "I thank you, sir."

Chester saluted again, but made no reply.

"It is my wish that you all join us at breakfast,"
continued the general.

"We should be pleased, your excellency," said
Chester politely, "save for the fact that we have
just breakfasted."

"Then you shall at least have another cup of
coffee with us," said General Knoff.

Chester bowed his assent, for he realized there
was nothing else to do.  A mere German captain
did not refuse an invitation from a general—not
under the iron discipline that still ruled in the armies
of the kaiser.

Accordingly, the three friends seated themselves
at the table with the others.  Coffee was soon before
them, and Chester presently found himself in
animated conversation with the general's daughter,
Kathryn.  Stubbs conversed mostly to Frau Knoff,
while the general kept Hal engaged.

For some time they talked on general topics,
touching only briefly on the war.  But as always
with soldiers, the conversation at last turned into
that channel.

Suddenly Hal's heart gave a quick thump.  Here,
the lad told himself, was an opportunity that was
not to be overlooked.  Undoubtedly, if he would,
General Knoff could verify or set at naught the
rumor that Austria had, or was about to, sue for
peace.  Hal drew a long breath, then said:

"I understand, your excellency, that our enemies
are regaling themselves with a report that Austria
is about to desert the emperor and sue for peace."

General Knoff set his cup down abruptly, and
gazed closely at Hal.

"And do you believe that?" he asked at last.

Hal shook his head and smiled slightly.

"Why should Austria desert?" he asked.  "We
have the advantage at this moment, in spite of the
fact that we have suffered some reverses lately.
No; if the war were to end now, Germany is
victorious."

"Good!" said General Knoff.  "I like that talk,
for it is becoming rare these days.  These light
reverses you speak of seem to have affected others
more strongly—to have shaken their confidence.
However, it is well that our foes think the slight
difference of opinion between his majesty and the
emperor of Austria may result in a complete breach;
yes, it is well."

"You mean, your excellency," said Hal, taking
another long chance, "that such rumors have been
circulated intentionally—that the enemy may be
taken off their guard?"

General Knoff glanced around cautiously.  He
waited a moment, then said:

"You will understand, of course, that it is
impossible for me to answer yes to your question; at
the same time, I cannot deny it."

"I understand, your excellency," replied Hal,
"and you may be sure that I shall say nothing of
what I know."

"You know nothing!" said the general sharply.

"Very well, your excellency," said Hal quietly.
"I know nothing."

General Knoff turned the conversation into other
channels.  Directly he asked the name and position
of Hal's and Chester's regiments.  Fortunately,
both lads had posted themselves in advance and their
answers did not rouse the general's suspicions.

At last breakfast came to an end.  The three
friends made their adieus to their new friends, and
retired at once to Stubbs' room.

"Well," said that worthy, when they were
settled comfortably and secure against intrusion,
"we've learned something, Hal.  But I'll tell you,
you took my breath away when you began to pump
the general."

"And mine, agreed Chester.

"Well, it looked like the best way to me,"
declared Hal.  "I figured it wasn't wise to pass up
an opportunity like that."

"It worked, anyway," said Stubbs.  "But the
general must have been in a particularly good
humor.  Otherwise such a question might have meant
prison, at least, for all of us."

"As it chanced," said Hal, "the general was in a
particularly good humor.  Chester had just put him
there; and by the way, Chester, it's all right to be
gallant and all that, but it strikes me you should
have used a little more discretion."

"I didn't hurt anything," Chester grumbled.  "On
the contrary, if I hadn't interfered as I did we
wouldn't know what we do now."

"That's true enough," Stubbs admitted.  "But
I stand with Hal.  It's not wise to rush to the aid
of every fair damsel in distress, especially when
you're masquerading in the uniform of the enemy.
It might bring a firing squad, and I have no
particular fondness for firing squads."

"All the same," said Chester, "you couldn't stand
by and see a boor of a Dutchman pick on a couple
of helpless women."

"Careful on that Dutchman stuff, Chester,"
Stubbs cautioned.  "Remember the Hollander has
no more use for a German than you have."

"Well, all right," returned Chester sulkily, "but
Hal always starts picking on me if I look at a girl."

"It's no time to be looking at girls when you are
on business," declared Hal grimly.  "You're
altogether too susceptible to the charms of the fairer
sex, Chester."

"Rats!" said Chester.  "You make me tired, both
of you."

"Well, we'll pass all that up," said Anthony
Stubbs.  "The question to consider now is whether
we shall take the general's statement as sufficient
to brand the Austrian peace rumor as a German plot."

"It's enough for me," declared Hal.

"Same here," agreed Chester.

"I'm perfectly satisfied myself," said Stubbs.  "I
am afraid the New York Gazette will lose a good
story as a result, but I can't help that.  I'm not
going to yell peace when there is no peace.  Now
the thing to do, to my mind, is to get back to our
own lines."

"Right," said Hal briefly.  "We'll make the
attempt to-night, if you are both agreeable."

The others nodded their agreement.  Hal told
Stubbs of the hidden airplane, and it was decided
to make the return trip in that craft if the
Germans had not discovered it.

"In the meantime," said Stubbs, "we'll just stick
close to this room; it's safer."

And so they spent the day in the quiet little hotel
of historic Sedan.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`AN ENCOUNTER`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER VI


.. class:: center medium bold

   AN ENCOUNTER

.. vspace:: 2

It was after dark when Hal, Chester and Stubbs
left the seclusion of the hotel and started toward
the spot where the lads had hidden their airplane
the morning before.

There were plenty of signs of military activity
in Sedan as the three friends passed along the
streets, but no one interfered with them.  To all
intents and purposes they were precisely what they
seemed—two German army officers and a civilian
above the military age.  And at last they came to
the outskirts of the town.

"How much farther, Hal?" Stubbs wanted to know.

"Not much," was Hal's reply.  "Perhaps a mile,
Mr. Stubbs."

"Not far, eh?" said Stubbs with some sarcasm.
"I hope you don't call that close."

"It's likely to be a whole lot farther to our lines
than we have figured, if the plane is gone," Chester
put in.

"And I'm willing to bet it'll be gone," declared
Stubbs.

"There you go, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.  "Nobody
could ever truthfully call you an optimist."

"I've lived too long and seen too much to be an
optimist," was the little man's response.  "Now,
who wants to bet we won't have to hoof it back
to the American lines?"

"I'll take that bet, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester,
"just to show you that it pays to be an optimist.
What'll it be?"

"Anything you say," replied Stubbs.  "Make it
a new pipe for me and a hat for you—when the
war's over."

"Suits me," said Chester.  "It's a bet."

The three walked along the dark road in silence
for some moments.

"By George! it can't be much farther," declared
Stubbs at last.  "We've covered a mile now.  Must
have lost your bearings, Hal."

"Just hold your horses, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.
"I'm not in the habit of making such mistakes.
We'll be there presently."

Stubbs grumbled to himself but made no reply.

Five minutes later Hal slackened his pace and
took Stubbs by the arm.

"There," he said, pointing to a clump of trees a
short distance ahead, "there is the spot we hid the
plane, unless I am greatly mistaken.  It may be
there yet."

"And it may not," growled Stubbs, although his
voice indicated that he was pleased that the long
walk was about over.

At the edge of the miniature forest, Hal paused
and glanced up and down the road.  So did Chester
and Stubbs.  There was no one in sight.

"We'll have a look," said Hal.

He stepped in among the trees.  Then he gave
an exclamation of relief.

"She's here," he said softly.

It was true.  There was the plane right where
the lads had left it in the early morning of the day
before.  Apparently there had been no one near
it, for its position was the same as that in which
the lads had left it.

"Well, don't let's fool around here," said Stubbs.
"Let's be moving."

"Since when did you become so anxious to fly,
Mr. Stubbs?" asked Chester.

"I'm not anxious to fly," retorted Stubbs.  "I
never did like to ride in one of these things and I
never will; but I want to get out of this place, and
I'm in favor of moving right away."

"We'll move then," said Hal briefly.  "Chester,
do you suppose you can make room back there?"

"By George!" said Stubbs.  "He'll have to make
room for me or there'll be a fight right here."

"I guess we can squeeze him in some way, Hal,"
replied Chester.

Hal and Chester turned the craft so that its nose
pointed toward the open, then wheeled it from the
woods.

"Climb in, Stubbs," said Hal.

The little war correspondent needed no further
urging.  Chester took his place beside him.  It was
a tight squeeze, for the machine had not been
constructed to carry two in the rear seat, but Chester
and Stubbs managed it.  Hal climbed in the pilot's
seat and adjusted the spark.

"All ready?" he called over his shoulder.

"Shoot," answered Stubbs, grasping the side of
the plane firmly.

Almost at the same moment there came a sudden
interruption to the flight of the three friends.

Half a dozen forms appeared from nowhere at all
and quickly surrounded the plane.  Half a dozen
rifles were leveled at the craft and a harsh German
voice exclaimed:

"Halt!"

Stubbs gave an exclamation of disgust.

"I knew it," he said, and that was all.

Hal muttered an imprecation beneath his breath.
They had been so close to getting away safely, and
now this interruption made him angry.

"Well," he told himself, "there is nothing to do
but try and bluff it out.  Fortunately, we have not
discarded our German uniforms."  He raised his
voice and called: "What's the meaning of this?"

"Get out of that plane," said the German voice.

The muzzles of half a dozen rifles made Hal
realize that discretion truly is the better part of
valor.

"There's no help for it," he told himself.

He got out.  Chester and Stubbs followed his
example.  Hal approached the man who had
accosted them.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded
again.

For the first time the German appeared to notice
the German uniforms and the straps that proclaimed
Hal and Chester captains in the emperor's service.

"Your pardon if I have made a mistake, captain,"
he said.  "But how was I to know?  Yesterday I
found this plane—clearly an American craft—hidden
here.  I had it watched all to-day, but no one
came near it.  I saw no bodies near to indicate that
the American pilot had been killed.  Therefore I
judged that there was a spy within our lines.  That's
why my men have stood guard here until now."

"You have done well, lieutenant," said Hal.  "It's
true that this is an American craft, but it has been
used by our friend here," and he indicated Stubbs,
"for purposes favorable to the German cause.  Herr
Schindler arrived early yesterday morning and
reported to General Knoff in Sedan.  Now Captain
Diegle and myself are bound on a little expedition
with him.  Do I make myself clear, lieutenant?"

"Perfectly," and the lieutenant ordered his men
to lower their rifles.  "It is not for me to question
the wisdom of my superiors."

"You are a good officer, lieutenant," said Hal.
"I shall see that General Knoff hears of your
vigilance."

"Thank you, captain.  Is there anything I may
do for you before you proceed on your journey?"

"Nothing, thanks.  Then with your permission,
lieutenant, we shall continue our interrupted
journey."

Hal turned again toward the car.  Chester and
Stubbs followed him.

"Quickly, now," said Hal in a low voice.  "His
suspicions may be aroused again.  We've no time
to lose."

Again Chester and Stubbs clambered into the back
seat.

"All right?" asked Hal, after he had taken his
seat.

"All right," said Chester.

"Let her go, Hal," cried Stubbs in English.

And these words almost caused their undoing.

At the sound of the English phrase the German
lieutenant, who had been watching the friends
embark for their aerial trip, realized in a moment that
he had been fooled.

The plane was gliding slowly across the ground
when he called to his men:

"Spies!  Shoot them!"

Instantly the soldiers threw their rifles to their
shoulders and poured a volley after the plane.  Then
they started after the craft on a dead run.

The first volley did no damage beyond arousing
Hal's anger.  He berated Stubbs' carelessness
roundly to himself, but not for a moment did he
take his mind off the work in hand.

Chester and Stubbs ducked instinctively at the
sound of the first volley.  Then Chester raised his
head, and drawing his revolvers, fired at the
pursuing Germans.

The lad's efforts were rewarded with cries of
anger, and there was one shrill scream.  Chester
smiled grimly to himself, for he knew that he had
accounted for one of the foes.

Again and again the Germans fired, and Chester
heard the balls glance off the side of the plane.  Still
the enemy fire had not reached a vital part of the
craft and the occupants were untouched.

Now Hal touched the elevating lever gently and
the plane soared in the air.  One more volley the
Germans fired after them.  Then the three friends
were safe.

"Stubbs," said Chester, as the plane sped through
the air.  "I ought to pitch you out of here, and you
know it."

"By George!  Why?" demanded Stubbs, puzzled.

"Why?" echoed Chester.  "Wasn't it your fault
that we almost got killed just now?"

"I don't see how you make that out," declared
the little correspondent.

"Didn't you yell out in English just before we
started?"

"By George!  Did I?  I didn't know it."

"You must be losing your mind, Stubbs," declared
Chester.  "You don't remember calling out in
English, eh?"

"No, I don't," declared Stubbs, "and it's my
opinion you're blaming me to cover up something you
have done yourself."

"I've a good mind to reach over and pull your
nose, Stubbs," said Chester.

"If you do you'll have your own pulled right
back again," declared Stubbs angrily.

"Say!  What's the matter with you fellows back
there?" called Hal over his shoulder.  "Don't you
know we're in enemy territory and that there are
thousands of German planes flying around here
some place?  If you have any arguing to do wait
until we get back to our own lines.  I'll be referee
then and you can fight all week, if you want to."

"Make him let me alone, then," growled Stubbs
to himself, but he became silent.

The journey was continued without incident.
Only once was Hal's order for silence broken, and
then by Chester who, nudging Stubbs, said:

"Don't forget our bet.  You owe me a hat."

"All right," Stubbs whispered back; "and I'll
pay it—when the war's over."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE ADVANCE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER VII


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE ADVANCE

.. vspace:: 2

The month of October, 1918, was one of the
most glorious in the pages of American history
written by the world's war.  From early in the
month General Pershing's men struck along their
wide front and everywhere the Germans gave
ground.  French and British troops also made
progress daily along the great battle front.

On October 3 the Germans retreated on the Lenz
front.  The British advanced to within six miles
of Lille.  Belgian and French troops advanced in
the region of Hooglede and Roulers.  Two days
later the German retreat began in the Champagne
region.  Continuing along the line to the south, the
allies pressed their advantage at all points.

It was clear to all military experts that the
beginning of the end was in sight.  From Rheims,
American troops, late in October, began the advance
that was to carry them into Sedan and beyond.
Germany's resistance was becoming more feeble daily.

The German emperor was never to recover from
the moral effect of the desertion of Bulgaria as
German supremacy waned.  With Bulgaria out of the
war, German efforts were turned to keeping Turkey
and Austria in line.  But these, too, were to fail.
Only a short time after Bulgaria laid down arms,
Turkey signed a truce with England and France.
The United States had no hand in the making of
these two truces, because America, despite much
urging, had never formally declared war on Turkey
and Bulgaria.

With the fortunes of Germany at low ebb, it
became apparent that Austria would eventually leave
her more powerful ally in the lurch.  Again and
again reports filtering into the allied lines told of
fast growing political disturbances in the dual
monarchy.  Several cabinets had fallen.  The red flag
of anarchy was flying in the streets of some of the
smaller towns.  The Hungarian parliament had
broken with the cabinet at Vienna, and it seemed
only a question of time until the Austrian revolt
would make an end of Austria as a factor in the war.

Conditions were growing serious in Germany
also, as reports reaching the American forces
revealed.  So far, however, disorder was not as
rampant as in Austria-Hungary, but it was growing
clear that the masses of the German people, long
since tired of fighting a losing battle, were getting
ready to take matters into their own hands.

In none of the allied capitals, however, was it
believed that Germany was yet ready to consider a
peace, which, everyone knew, must deprive
Germany of her claim to being a world power.  The
world knew that when the allies imposed their
terms, they would be such as would tie the hands
of Germany for decades to come and would eventually
prevent a repetition, by a blundering and crazy
ruler, of a condition that had plunged the whole
world into war.

So the daily advance of the allied armies meant
one more day nearer to peace.

To the north, where the British under Field
Marshal Haig were pressing their advantage, the
German line held more firmly than to the south, where
French and Americans were delivering their smashing
blows.  The entire sector south and east of the
Argonne Forest was controlled by American forces
under the personal direction of General Pershing.
True, General Pershing was nominally under
command of Field Marshal Foch, the French
commander in chief, but so was Field Marshal Haig,
the British commander, and General Diaz, the
Italian commander in chief, for that matter.  It was
Marshal Foch who was the master mind of the
whole allied offensive.

When the rumor was first circulated among the
allied forces that Austria was about to sue for
peace, there were few who placed credence in it,
despite the fact that they knew such an appeal was
sure to be made before long.  Nevertheless, if it
were true, it would be of advantage to the allies to
know of the impending appeal at the earliest
possible moment.

To General Pershing, Marshal Foch had entrusted
the task of ascertaining the truth or falsity of
the report.  General Pershing, in turn, had passed
the word along where he felt it would do the most
good.  This was how it happened that Hal and
Chester found themselves so fortunate as to be
ordered within the German lines at Sedan on the
mission which opened this book.

That Germany would have profited greatly at
that time could the Americans, French and British
have been fooled by the false rumor goes without
saying.  And it is true, too, that the longer the
rumor was permitted to live the greater became the
danger of over-confidence in the ranks of the allies.

It is for this reason that General Pershing was
immensely pleased to receive so soon a report from
Colonel O'Neil, at Rheims that this first rumor of
an impending appeal for peace by Austria was
nothing more than a German plot.  Immediately
the word was passed along the whole battle front.
The result was, that Germany, instead of having
gained by this piece of duplicity, suffered.  For
when allied troops went into battle they struck that
much harder.  For a time they had believed that
their efforts were to be crowned with immediate
success, and now that they learned the Germans
had been playing with them they fought with the
desperate energy of the man who fears he has been
made ridiculous.

It was learned later that this rumor of Austria's
decision to break with Germany was started by the
Germans themselves for the reason we have seen.

Austria was not so much as consulted in the matter,
and it has been shown since that this very fact
was responsible, in a measure, for Austria's
decision some time later to sue for a separate peace.
So the bomb launched by the kaiser and his advisers
proved a veritable boomerang.

But President Wilson and his advisers had not
been fooled by the German plot.  President Wilson,
some time before, had laid down conditions on
which Germany and Austria might have peace, and
to these he stuck.  He had informed the German
and Austrian people that they might have peace at
any time by laying down their arms, provided they
ousted the militarists who were responsible for the
war.  Several efforts had been made by German
and Austrian officials to fool America by changes
of cabinets and other political tricks but President
Wilson, with his allies, was adamant.

So the situation stood in the middle of October,
when the allies girded themselves for what they
felt sure would prove the deciding effort.

All along the great battle line, which stretched
from the North Sea to the frontier of Switzerland,
British, French, Belgians and Americans supported
by their own allies, Portuguese, some few Brazilians
and troops from British and French colonial
possessions, gathered themselves for the final spring.

The last great offensive was begun by the British
and Belgians to the north.  Through Belgium and
western France they plowed, pushing the enemy
back on all sides.  Brussels, the capital of Belgium,
in German hands since early in the war, was
recaptured.  The Belgian government, which after
the fall of Brussels had moved into France,
returned to Brussels amid the cheering of thousands
of Belgians.

As the Germans retreated, they followed their
customary tactics of cruelty.  Fire and sword were
applied to the abandoned towns until a threat from
France put a stop to it.  France's threat was this:
That for every town destroyed by the Germans in
their retreat, retaliation would be made.  For every
town thus destroyed by the Germans, a German
town would also be put to the torch.

This threat, carried by neutral envoys to the
German high command, resulted in the abandonment of
the German campaign of destruction, for the
German high command was now more far-seeing than it
had been a year before.  The kaiser and his generals
at last had been forced to the conclusion that they
were waging a losing war.  Also, they knew that
the French troops had not forgotten the horrors
of the early days of the war, and their hatred of
everything Prussian dated farther back even than
that—to the days of the Franco-Prussian war, when
they had been able to gauge for the first time the
workings of the Prussian mind.

To the south of the Belgian frontier, the French
wrested St. Quentin, Lille and other important
railroad towns from the enemy.  No longer did the
Germans offer the fierce resistance that had
characterized their earlier activities.  They withdrew now
without the stubbornness of yore.  Their morale had
been shattered, and they were glad to retire.

All along the battle line the great field and siege
guns of the Americans, French, Belgian and British
played havoc in the enemy ranks.  The German
artillery replied, but it lacked the volume and the
fierce challenge of old.  Then, too, the Germans
had lost thousands and thousands of their guns,
field pieces and machine guns.  Factories behind
the German frontier had been depleted of workers
to fill the gaps in the fighting front, with the result
that guns and ammunitions were not being
produced so fast as they had been the year before.

This meant that the Germans were compelled to
conserve their ammunition.  The high command
had also found it necessary to be more sparing of
its man-power and less prodigal with its food
supplies.  No longer could the enemy sacrifice a few
thousand men and thousands and thousands of
rounds of ammunition to gain a few feet of ground.

On the other hand, due to the activity of American
factories, the allies were supplied with more
ammunition, guns and food than ever before since
the war began.  Also, numerically, were superior
to the foe.

With these facts in mind, Field Marshal Foch
ordered the advance all along the front that was
to prove the end of Germany as a military power;
that was to result in the abdication of the German
emperor and the crown prince; and that was to
mean revolution throughout the German empire
until such time as a stable government could raise
its head and the common people could come into
their own.

And so it was a great day for the German people
when Marshal Foch gave the word that set his
millions of men in motion from the North Sea
hundreds of miles south to the frontier of
Switzerland.  It was a move that meant that the German
people would do away with masters and would set
up a government of their own—a government which
was to be patterned after that of the United States
of America—a "government of the people, for the
people and by the people."

In this last great mission, Hal and Chester were
to perform their full duties, and they were to have
greater fortune than ever before, for they were to
be "in at the death," as Hal put it, with Marshal
Foch when the great French military leader gave
to the enemy terms that resulted in the ending of
the war.

In the meantime, all unconscious of what was in
store for them, the two lads, after returning from
their mission within the German lines, were taking
a well deserved rest in their temporary quarters in
the French city of Rheims.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`TOWARD SEDAN`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER VIII


.. class:: center medium bold

   TOWARD SEDAN

.. vspace:: 2

The American army was moving toward Sedan.
Already the Yankee forces advancing from the
south and west had occupied St. Aigan and
invested Maisoncelle, Stonne and Sommauthe.  The
enemy had contested every inch of the ground,
but the Americans were not to be denied.  The
Forty-second division, better known as the
Rainbow Division, under command of Major-General Charles
D. Rhodes, and the Second division, regular army
troops, commanded by Major-General John A. Lejeune,
were showing the way.

On either side of these forces were the Seventy-seventh
and the Eighty-second divisions, commanded
respectively by Major-General Robert Alexander
and Major-General George P. Duncan.

In these American units advancing upon Sedan
were represented fighting men from all sections of
the United States.

The Forty-second was composed of former
National Guardsmen from the various states, the
Seventy-seventh recruited chiefly from New York
City, and the Eighty-second, composed of
Georgians, Tennesseeans and Alabamans.  The Second
division, as has been said, was a regular army unit.

It was with the Forty-second division that Hal
and Chester found themselves when the advance
began.  Attached to the staff of Colonel O'Neil of
the third regiment, Thirty-second division,
commanded by Major-General William C. Haan, they
had been sent to General Rhodes with dispatches
just before the advance began.

It was the night of the second of November,
1918, and the Americans were forging ahead in
spite of the lateness of the hour—midnight.  This
was one feature of Yankee fighting that the
Germans were never able to understand.  The German
is a methodical man.  Even in the art of war he is
governed to no small degree by habit.  Ordinarily
the Germans did not fight at night.  With the
coming of darkness, as a rule, it had been their
custom to postpone further actions till the morrow.

Now, however, they were forced to give up
some of these customs.  When American forces
advanced they continued their work whether it was
night or day.  Consequently, the Germans had
found themselves forced either to fight or run.

The Germans were fighting tonight.  All day they
had been retreating, but now, less than a dozen
miles from the city of Sedan, they were making a
desperate stand.

The voices of the great guns shattered the night;
huge rockets and other signal flares lighted up the
darkness.  Dimly could be heard the crash of
machine gun fire and the rattle of the rifles at points
where the fighting was close.

All day Hal and Chester had been kept on the
jump, carrying dispatches to the various regimental
commanders.  At midnight, there appeared little
likelihood they would gain a much needed rest
before morning.  General Rhodes, realizing the
advantage won earlier in the day, was determined to
press it to the utmost.  Over his field telephone he
kept in touch with developments in other parts of
the field.  There, he learned, the Germans also were
giving ground.

The advance guard of the Forty-second was now
a few miles to the north of Maisoncelle, which had
been captured late in the evening.  General Rhodes
determined upon a bold stroke.

He summoned Hal, who stood at attention beside
Chester, in the general's quarters.

"Major Paine!" he called.

Hal approached and saluted.

"My compliments to Colonel English," continued
General Rhodes, "and order him to assume
command of the First, Second, Third and Tenth
regiments and make a detour toward Pouilly.
Inform him that I will make a greater show of force
to the south, and have him close in on the enemy
from the east.  I am informed that the German
positions there have been weakened.  We may catch
the enemy in a trap.  That is all."

Hal saluted, swung on his heel and departed
hastily.  Outside, he sprang into a small army
automobile, which was among a number of other
cars standing idle pending necessity of use by
dispatch bearers, and soon was speeding through the
darkness.

Half an hour later he was received by Colonel
English, who heard his orders in silence.

"Inform the general that I shall move at once,"
said the colonel.

Hal saluted and returned to headquarters.

Already, without waiting to hear the result of
Hal's mission, General Rhodes had given orders
for a more rapid advance all along the line.

The clear notes of many bugles sounded from
various parts of the field.  Regimental commanders
gave necessary instructions to their subordinates and
the advance of the American forces gained in momentum.

Half an hour later Hal found himself on the road
again bearing instructions to Colonel English.  He
overtook the colonel two miles from where he had
found him last.  The colonel was riding along in
the midst of his men, in a large army automobile.
He motioned Hal to a seat beside him.

"I am instructed to go with you, sir," said Hal,
"and carry back word of any imminent danger."

"Very well," said the colonel.  "Make yourself
at home."

From time to time Colonel English summoned
aides whom he dispatched to other parts of the
field with instructions.  Suddenly he turned to Hal.

"It strikes me," he said, "that the general is
risking a whole lot on this move.  If the enemy is in
greater strength at Pouilly than we suppose, our
position will be critical."

"I would imagine that the general's information
is authentic," returned Hal.  "Otherwise he would
not have ordered you to Pouilly."

"You are probably right," said Colonel English;
"but at the same time I have a feeling that all is
not well."

Hal shrugged his shoulders, a movement that
was not discernable to Colonel English in the darkness.

"Well," the lad said, "we'll let the boches know
we are there at all events."

"Right," agreed Colonel English.

There was silence after that except for the plodding
feet of the infantry and the noise of the horses
that composed the single troop of cavalry with the
expedition.  Also, the sharp crack of machine guns
in other parts of the field and the voices of the
distant big guns could be heard.

"According to my calculations," said Colonel
English to Hal an hour later, "we should now be
within three miles of Pouilly.  I shall order a halt
here and make a reconnaisance."

He did so; and the troops sat there in the
darkness for perhaps an hour while a young lieutenant
and ten men went ahead to get the lay of the
land.

"All quiet ahead, sir," the lieutenant reported on
his return.  "I went as close to the enemy as I
dared.  He apparently is expecting no attack from
this direction.  The village should be captured with
ease by a surprise assault."

"You were not, of course, able to ascertain the
approximate strength of the enemy, lieutenant?"

"No, sir; I dared not approach too close."

"Very good, lieutenant."

The young officer saluted and returned to his
station.

"Well," said Colonel English to Hal, "it seems
that my fears were groundless.  We'll go forward."

Silently the Americans crept along the dark road—or
as silently as it is possible for a mass of men
and horses to creep.  Machine guns were dragged
along as silently as possible, and the few field pieces
that were the main reliance of the little force also
were hauled with extreme caution.

Less than a half a mile from the village itself,
Colonel English swung his field pieces into position
to cover the advance of his men.  It was not his
intention to alarm the enemy by opening a bombardment
of the village, but he overlooked nothing that
would protect his men.

Under cover of the silent guns, which were ready
for action at a moment's notice, the Americans
crept forward.  A short distance ahead Hal could
see here and there a faint light, which indicated that
the whole village was not asleep.  Also, the lad
knew, German sentinels were on guard; and there
was little possibility that the Americans could enter
the town without discovery.

"By Jove!" the lad muttered to himself.  "I
don't like to sit back here while all this is going
on."

He turned to Colonel English.

"Colonel," he said, "I wonder if you will permit
me to take a hand in the attack?  I assure you that
I am no novice at the game."

The colonel considered the point a moment.

"All right," he said at last, "but mind that you
do not expose yourself needlessly.  You must
remember that General Rhodes looks to you for a
report on the pending engagement.  Here, I'll give
you instructions for Lieutenant Colonel Johnson,
of the Fourth regiment.  That will enable you to
get into the midst of things.  You may remain
with the regiment as long as you see fit, remembering
only that I wish you to report to me an hour
after daylight."

"Very well, sir," said Hal.

He leaped lightly from the colonel's automobile,
appropriated a horse from a trooper who stood near
and dashed forward in the darkness.

Colonel Johnson's force was some distance ahead,
and it was perhaps fifteen minutes later that Hal
came up with him.  He gave the instructions that
Colonel English had confided in him, and then said:

"Colonel, if you don't mind I'll stay with you
through this battle."

Colonel Johnson would have protested, but Hal
continued with a smile:

"I have the permission of Colonel English, sir.
I hope that I may be of some assistance to you.
Do not hesitate to call upon me for any piece of
work that you may wish accomplished."

Colonel Johnson shrugged.

"Help yourself," he said, "and don't worry.  If
I've need of your services you may be sure I won't
hesitate to ask for them."

The march continued in silence.

Suddenly the sound that Hal had been expecting
came.  It was the blast of a great gun, close at
hand.  The advance of the Americans had been
discovered.  Colonel English took his decision
instantly.

"Charge!" he cried.

The Americans went forward with a wild yell.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE BATTLE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER IX


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE BATTLE

.. vspace:: 2

A volley of rifle fire met the first rush of the
Americans.  Sleepy-eyed Germans, aroused from
their slumber by the sound of the warning gun,
poured from their shelter and rushed forward
through the streets of the village.  Hastily machine
guns were wheeled into position, and a veritable
rain of bullets swept the ranks of the charging
columns in khaki.

But the Americans did not falter.  These men
of the Forty-second division upheld the traditions
of the American army.  True, they had been under
fire before and it was not to be expected that they
would falter; but well might a man have faltered
in the face of the terrible fire poured in upon them.
Each man bent to his work with a determination
that boded ill for the foe.  Some dashed forward
with wild yells, others smiled quietly to themselves,
while still others joked with their nearest neighbors.
Here and there men dropped in their tracks, to rise
no more, but others leaped over the bodies and
dashed ahead.

So close had the Americans approached the village
before being discovered, that the enemy ranks
had not time to form.  What machine guns had
been brought into play by the Germans were widely
scattered and did not have the effect that would
have been possible had the Americans given the
enemy more time.

American machine guns also began to rattle and
Germans began to fall.  The opposing forces were
too close for the enemy to use his heavy artillery,
nor could Colonel Johnson use his own field pieces
for the same reason.

Undismayed by the withering enemy fire, the
Americans continued their charge and soon the
fighting became hand-to-hand.  Wild cries and imprecations
arose above the sounds of firing, and the clash
of cold steel became audible in all sections of the
field.

The Germans withstood the first shock of the
American charge, but they could not withstand the
second.  They faltered momentarily, but under the
commands of their officers for a moment braced
again.  But when the Yankees hurled themselves
upon the wall of human flesh the third time, the
German line wavered along its entire length, then
broke.

Groups of the enemy threw down their arms and
raised their hands in token of surrender.  These
were quickly passed to the rear, for the men in
front were too busy to be occupied with prisoners.
Others of the enemy turned and ran.  Here and
there, however, groups of the foe gathered,
determined to resist the Americans to the last.

Against these small batches of the enemy, groups
of American soldiers dashed.  Again the fighting
became fast and furious, and in this fighting the
Americans sustained their heaviest losses.

Hal found himself close to Colonel Johnson, who
had advanced in the midst of his men.  A German
officer raised his revolver and aimed at Colonel
Johnson.  Hal, who had been about to discharge
his own revolver at a big German soldier who was
pressing him closely, turned his weapon and fired
in time to drop the man who otherwise must surely
have killed the American colonel.

Colonel Johnson at the same moment had perceived
his danger and he realized instantly that Hal
had saved his life at the imminent risk of losing his
own.  Colonel Johnson was a brave man, and he
recognized bravery in another.  He sprang to Hal's
side and with his sword laid low the man who then
held Hal at his mercy.

Hal acknowledged this assistance with a smile;
he had no time for more.  The Germans were pressing
too close for that.

Colonel Johnson cleared a space about him with
his flashing sword.  Hal emptied his revolver into
the ranks of the enemy, then drew his own sword.
Standing side by side, Hal and Colonel Johnson
beat off the Germans who tried to pierce their
guards.  Nevertheless, their predicament was
extremely critical, and it is doubtless if they would
have come through alive had not half a dozen
soldiers, seeing their peril, dashed forward and
scattered the Germans who surrounded them.

This gave the two a breathing space, of which they
took advantage.

But the fighting was far from ended yet—the
Germans were far from beaten.  In the rear of the
line which had broken and fled under the American
attack, other lines had formed and now dashed
forward.  Colonel English, taking in the situation at
a glance, ordered support to the assistance of the
hard-pressed men under Colonel Johnson.

The reinforcements came forward with a rush
and met the new German line with a crash.  The
hand-to-hand fighting that ensued was terrific, but
after five minutes of give and take, the Germans
again retired.

American machine guns were swung about hastily
to cover the retreating foe and wreaked terrific
havoc among the enemy.  The retreat became a
rout.  The Germans turned and fled.

Victory, it appeared, was with the Americans.

But Colonel English had no mind to allow the
enemy to rest.  His instructions had been to
capture the village of Pouilly, and he would not rest
content until he had accomplished that feat.
Accordingly, he ordered another advance.

The Americans dashed forward with the same
recklessness that has always characterized the charge
of the American fighting man.  In vain German
officers sought to bring some semblance of order
out of the confusion that reigned in the enemy
ranks.  The effort was vain.  Young lieutenants
stood in the path of the retreating men and beat
them with the flat of their swords, but they could
not stay the rout.  Others fired their revolvers
point-blank into the faces of their own men, but
even these heroic measures failed to have the
desired result.

The Germans were beaten and they knew it.

So it was just as the first faint streak of dawn
appeared in the eastern sky that the Americans set
foot in the village of Pouilly.

And still the fighting was not ended.

Scores of German soldiers, under command of
subordinate officers, barricaded themselves in the
houses that lined the streets and poured a hail of
bullets upon the Americans as they passed.  The
Yankees suffered severely under this fire.

"We can't stand for this," said Colonel Johnson
suddenly to Hal.  "The enemy is doing too much
damage."

"Drag up a couple of big guns and destroy the
houses," said Hal briefly.

"Good!" said Colonel Johnson.  "Lieutenant
Bennings!"

A young officer approached and saluted.

"Take twenty men and enough guns to destroy
the houses that line this street," said the colonel.
"Also, you will report while the battle lasts to Major
Paine, here."

The lieutenant saluted and hurried away.

"Major," said Colonel Johnson to Hal, "I will
detail you to see that the sniping from the houses is
stopped."

Hal saluted.

"I'll stop it, sir," he promised.

"Very well.  Don't let me detain you longer."

Hal strode away to where the young lieutenant
and a score of men were wheeling two big field
pieces into position.

"Hurry, men," he cried.  "We've no time to lose."

Meantime, because of the heavy execution by the
enemy from inside the houses, the Americans had
sought what shelter they could find in doorways
and around corners.  This situation, Hal knew,
could not be allowed to exist, for it would give the
demoralized enemy time to recover their scattered
wits and to reform.  Therefore, the houses must
be cleared of snipers immediately.

From the first house in the block where Hal
found himself, the snipers seemed to be more active
than in any other.  Hal determined to give this
house his attention first.

He sighted the gun himself, then gave the
command to fire.

"Boom!"

The voice of the big gun rose high above the
rattle of machine gun and rifle fire.

"Crash!"

Almost simultaneously with the sound of the gun
the heavy explosive missile reached its mark.

There was another resounding crash as the missile
exploded after reaching its mark.  Bricks, timber
and other debris flew high in the air and
descended in a shower.

The sniping from the first house ceased, for the
simple reason that there was no first house any
longer.  It had been destroyed.

"I hope that will be enough," Hal muttered.  "I
don't like this wanton destruction of property.  It
reminds me too much of the Germans themselves.
If those fellows in the other houses are wise they'll
cease firing now."

But in this Hal was doomed to disappointment.
Snipers in the other houses continued as active as
before, apparently unimpressed by the fate that had
befallen their comrades.

"Well, if you must have it you must," Hal muttered.

Quickly he gave the necessary orders and the
guns were wheeled into position.  This time,
however, they were not aimed at a single house, for Hal
decided that it was unwise to waste more time.  He
determined to give the enemy a lesson they would
not forget.

Accordingly, two houses were covered at once.

"Boom!  Boom!"

"Crash!  Crash!"

So closely together that they sounded almost as
one were the detonations of the guns and the effect
as they found their marks.

Again there was a shower of debris.

Without waiting to see what effect this destruction
would have upon the Germans who occupied
the houses, Hal ordered the guns turned on other
homes.

Again the big guns spoke, and again the mass
of bricks, mortar and wood descended and covered
the streets.

"I guess that will do 'em," muttered Hal, as he
waited for the smoke to clear away.

The lad was right.

No longer did the snipers fire from the windows
and the American troops, which had temporarily
sought shelter in doorways and around corners,
poured out again, their advance, thanks to Hal and
his men, thus being made more simple.

A few moments later Colonel Johnson came up to Hal.

"You did a good job, Major," he said quietly.
"I guess we'll have no more trouble with them."

"Then the town is ours?" asked Hal eagerly.

"It is indeed," replied Colonel Johnson.

"Then I'll have to leave you, sir," said Hal.
"Colonel English ordered me to report to him
immediately after daylight."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE ADVANCE CONTINUES`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER X


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE ADVANCE CONTINUES

.. vspace:: 2

Hal found Colonel English just beyond the
town, receiving the reports of his subordinates.  He
greeted Hal with a nod, and asked:

"What is the latest news, Major?"

"The town is ours, sir," replied Hal quietly.
"Colonel Johnson has just informed me of the fact."

Colonel English got to his feet.

"Good," he exclaimed.  "I was certain Colonel
Johnson was the man for the job.  Now if you will
wait half an hour, Major, until I have talked with
Colonel Johnson, I will ask you to carry my report
back to General Rhodes."

"Very well, sir," replied Hal.

Colonel English got into his automobile and was
whirled away to the village, where he consulted for
perhaps ten minutes with Colonel Johnson.  Then
he returned to where he had left Hal, and still
sitting in his car, wrote his report briefly.  This he
passed to Hal.

"I want to say," he said, "that Colonel Johnson
has informed me that it was really you who made
possible the capture of the village; also that you
saved his life in the midst of battle earlier in the
day."

"Well, he saved mine, too, sir," muttered Hal,
flushing slightly.

"It's all in a day's work, Major, I know that,"
said Colonel English.  "At the same time, I have
seen fit to mention your name in my report to
General Rhodes."

"Thank you, sir," said Hal.

"And I hope," Colonel English continued, "that
I may have the pleasure of being associated with
you further before this war has come to an end."

"Thank you, sir," said Hal again.

Colonel English extended a hand, which Hal
grasped.

"Good luck," said the colonel.

"The same to you, sir.  By the way, sir, may I
have a car in which to make my return trip?"

"Of course," exclaimed the colonel.  "I was
thoughtless not to have provided it before now.
Lieutenant Smith!"

A young officer approached.

"A car for Major Paine, Lieutenant, at once."

Ten minutes later the machine was at Hal's disposal.

"Do you want a driver?" asked Colonel English.

"Guess I can handle it myself, sir," replied Hal,
taking the wheel.  "Good-bye, sir."

A moment later he was speeding along the road
which he had covered the night before.

Less than two hours later, Hal reported to General
Rhodes in the latter's quarters, which had been
established a mile closer to Sedan than when Hal
had left his general the night before.

"You have done well," said General Rhodes,
after reading Colonel English's report.  "Colonel
English speaks well of you here.  It shall be my
pleasure to include your name in my next report to
the commander-in-chief."

And all that Hal could say was:

"Thank you, sir."

"Now," said General Rhodes, "you shall be free
for the remainder of the day.  Your friend, Major
Crawford, is at this minute with General Duncan,
but he should be back within a few hours.  I shall
have quarters placed at your disposal immediately
and my advice is that you turn in for the day."

"I believe I could stand a little sleep, thank you,
sir," said Hal with a grin.  "I shall follow your
advice at once."

"Very well.  And report to me this evening at
6 o'clock."

"Yes, sir."

General Rhodes summoned an orderly, whom he
directed to find quarters for Hal and to show
Chester to them when the latter returned from his
mission.  Then Hal saluted the general and followed
the orderly.

Fifteen minutes later he was fast asleep.

Hal did not know when Chester returned, but
when the lad opened his eyes he saw Chester sleeping
on a cot across the room.  Hal dressed quickly,
then aroused his chum.

"Hello," said Chester.

"Why didn't you wake me when you came in?"
demanded Hal.

"Because I thought you were entitled to a little
rest," replied Chester.  "The same as I am now,
although I notice you were not as considerate as I
was."

"The only reason I aroused you," said Hal, "was
because I thought you might possibly have been
ordered to report to the general this evening.

"And so I have," returned Chester.  "What time
is it?"

"Five o'clock."

"Whew!  Then I'll have to hurry.  I had no idea
it was so late.  I'm to report at 6 o'clock."

"Same here," said Hal.  "But where have you
been, Chester?"

"Carried dispatches to General Duncan.  Seems
that there is some fresh plan afoot that General
Rhodes expects will take us into Sedan within a
few days.  I don't know what it is, though.  Now,
where have you been and what have you been doing?"

Hal explained as briefly as possible while Chester
hurried into his clothes.

"So you have been fighting again, eh?" said Chester
when Hal had concluded.  "What would your
mother say?"

Hal grinned.

"About the same that yours would, I guess," he
replied.  "But hurry, I feel like a bite to eat before
I report to the general."

"Same here.  I'll be with you in a jiffy."

Chester was true to his word, and the two
sauntered forth five minutes later.  After they had
rounded up what Chester called a feast at one of the
mess tents, they strolled toward the general's quarters.

As they walked along, they saw a familiar figure
come dashing toward them.

"By George!" said Hal, "it's Stubbs.  Now I
wonder what he can be in such an all-fired hurry;
about."

"We'll stop him and see," said Chester briefly.

The lads stepped forward and accosted Stubbs,
who seemed to have no idea of stopping for a word
with them.

"What's the hurry, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Chester.

Stubbs waved them away.

"Don't bother me," he explained, "I'm busy."

"But—" began Hal.

"I said I'm busy," declared Stubbs.  "Can't you
see I'm in a hurry?"

"Well, all right, if that's the way you feel about
it," said Chester.

Stubbs seemed as if about to pass on, then hesitated.

"I'll tell you," he said.  "I am in an awful hurry,
but I've time to tell you the news if you promise to
keep it to yourself."

"I promise," said Chester.  "Let's have it,
Mr. Stubbs."

"Austria has sued for peace," said Stubbs briefly.

"What!" said Hal.  "Again?"

Stubbs glared at the lad.

"I tell you Austria has sued for peace," he said,
emphasizing each word.  "This time there is no
doubt about it.  I have it straight."

Chester's heart beat high.

"By Jove!  I hope you're right, Mr. Stubbs," he
exclaimed, "but I'm afraid to believe it."

"You needn't be," declared Stubbs.  "It's
perfectly true, this time."

"And I suppose you're hurrying off to flash the
news to The New York Gazette?" asked Hal.

"Exactly," said Stubbs.

"Don't let us detain you, then," said Hal.  "But
if I were you, Mr. Stubbs, I'd go rather easy on
that stuff.  You know if you flashed a report like
that and it wasn't true, you'd probably have to hunt
a new job."

"I don't flash reports I know are not true," said
Stubbs.

"Well," said Hal, "what I'd like to know is how
you have gained your information when no one else
seems to know anything about it?"

"In the newspaper game," said Stubbs, "a man
learns to provide his news sources.  I provided mine
for this very thing some time ago.  Now I have been
justified."

"All right," said Hal.  "I don't want to argue
with you about it, but all the same I'd go easy."

"I tell you I've got the dope," declared Stubbs.

"Then you'd better hurry along and file it to The
Gazette," Chester put in.

"By Jove, I will!" said Stubbs.  "And after this,
you'll get no more information from me.  But
remember your promises.  Not a word about this."

"Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester.  "We're
as mum as a couple of oysters."

"Then me for the cable wire," said Stubbs.
He turned and hurried off.

"You know, Hal," said Chester, "it would be
quite a feather in the little man's cap if he could
get something like that ahead of every other
newspaper in America."

"I should imagine it would," Hal agreed, "but
I'm afraid he's all wrong.  At the same time,
however, I hope he's right."

"Same here.  And by the way, speaking of Stubbs
and his efforts, there is only one other thing, to my
mind, that would be greater luck for him."

"And that?" asked Hal.

"That would be to get first word to his paper
of the ending of war."

"By Jove!  That would be something to talk
about," Hal agreed.

"I should say so.  But come, we have delayed
long enough.  It lacks only a few minutes of six
o'clock, and we're due in General Rhodes'
quarters at that hour, you know."

"Didn't think I had forgotten it, did you?"
demanded Hal.

"Well, I didn't know.  Your memory isn't as
good as it used to be."

"Is that so?  Why isn't it?"

"Well, I don't know why," said Chester, "but it's
a fact."

Hal was about to make a warm retort, but at that
moment they came to the entrance to General
Rhodes' quarters.

"Here we are," said Chester.  "I hope he has
something worth while for us to do."

"Same here," agreed Hal.

They went in.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`A NEW MISSION`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XI


.. class:: center medium bold

   A NEW MISSION

.. vspace:: 2

"Sit down, gentlemen," said General Rhodes as
Hal and Chester entered his quarters.  "I'll be
ready for you in a moment."

The lads obeyed.

For perhaps half an hour they sat quietly while
their commander gave dozens of orders to others
of his staff who appeared hurriedly every moment
or so and disappeared again just as hurriedly.

At last the room was cleared with the exception
of General Rhodes, Hal, Chester and the general's
private orderly.  General Rhodes motioned the lads
to approach.

"Before I ask if you are willing to undertake
rather a dangerous mission," he said, "I must
explain a few points to you."

The lads stood at attention, but said nothing.

"As you know," said General Rhodes, "we are
not more than a dozen miles from Sedan, which is
our immediate objective.  To the north, General
Lejeune has advanced practically to within the same
distance of the town.  When the time comes for the
deciding blow, we plan to strike simultaneously,
General Duncan at the same time to hurl the Eighty-second
division upon the city from the north and
west.  Also, as you know, a part of our division,
under Colonel English, has wormed its way to the
east of the town and will strike from that direction.
Do you follow me?"

"Yes, sir," said Hal.

"Very well.  Now an unforseen obstacle has
arisen.  The enemy, apparently forseeing our plans,
by a sudden counter attack has driven a wedge
between General Lejeune's division and my own.
Telephone communication has been cut.  For more
than twenty-four hours I have been unable to get
in touch with General Lejeune, and yet it is imperative
if the final attack is to be successful that I
communicate with General Lejeune."

"I understand, sir," said Chester.  "You wish
us to make an effort to get through."

General Rhodes nodded.

"That is it exactly," he replied.  "But I must tell
you a little more.  The wedge driven by the enemy
is less than a mile wide.  If a man got through, he
should be able to carry word to General Lejeune
and return within six hours.  Yet I have already
dispatched three messengers and none has returned."

"You mean that they have failed, sir?" asked Hal.

"So it would seem.  In each case I emphasized
the necessity of haste.  Had one of my previous
messengers got through safely, he should have
reported to me ere this.  I fear they have been either
killed or fallen into the hands of the enemy."

"In which event the enemy may have become
familiar with your plans, sir," said Chester.

"No," returned General Rhodes, "they carried no
written dispatches.  The word that I sent to
General Lejeune was verbal.  Now my idea is this.
If you, Major Paine, and you, Major Crawford,
are willing to volunteer for this hazardous duty, I
shall repeat the message to you.  I have called you
both because the matter is urgent.  One of you
may get through where the other fails.  Do I make
myself clear?"

"Perfectly, sir," said Hal quietly, "and I am sure
I speak for my friend as well as myself when I say
we are not only willing, but anxious, to volunteer
for the task."

"Indeed we are, sir," Chester agreed.

"Very well, then," said General Rhodes.  "The
message I would have you carry to General Lejeune
is this: Attack in full force at 6 o'clock on
the evening of November 6, which is day after
tomorrow.  I shall lay my plans accordingly, going
upon the supposition that one of you will get the
message through."

"We shall do the best we can, sir," said Hal
quietly.

"And that is the best any man can do," said
General Rhodes.  "As I say, I shall act upon the
supposition that one of you will get through and I shall
attack at that time whether I hear from you again
or not.  If you can, come back, but if you deem it
more prudent, remain with General Lejeune's division
until after the battle.  That is all, gentlemen."

Hal and Chester saluted and took their departure.

"Rather a ticklish piece of work, if you ask me,"
was Chester's comment as they made their way back
to their own quarters.

"Right you are," Hal agreed, "but the harder
the job the more satisfaction when you have
accomplished it successfully."

"What would you suggest?" asked Chester.
"Shall we keep on our own uniforms or shall we
disguise ourselves as Germans?"

"We'll keep our own," said Hal.  "There is no
use risking being caught as a spy unless absolutely
necessary.  If we're captured in American uniforms
they'll make us prisoners of war.  In German
clothes, we would probably be shot.  I'm against
the German uniform this trip."

"I guess you're right.  Besides, according to
General Rhodes, we shall have to pass through less than
half a mile of German territory.  Now I'll make
another suggestion."

"What is it?"

"My idea is that it will be better if we do not go
together.  I'll start an hour ahead of you, or you
can start an hour ahead of me.  We'll lay out our
route in advance so the one who goes last will know
about how far ahead the other should be.  He might
even be able to lend a helping hand should whoever
goes first get into trouble."

"Not a bad idea," Hal agreed.  "Then I elect
to go first."

Chester shrugged.

"Any way suits me," he said.  "And when will
you start?"

Hal glanced at his watch.

"Eight o'clock now," he said.  "I'll start at nine."

"Then I shall start at ten," said Chester.

"Right," said Hal.  "Now, as we have nothing to
do in the meantime, suppose we take a walk about
the camp."

"I'm agreeable," said Chester.  "Come on."

For perhaps an hour they strolled about, looking
over the huge encampment with critical eyes.  Men
slept on their arms that night, had been sleeping
on them for a week, for there was no telling at
what hour might come the order to advance.

Cavalry horses pawed the ground restlessly in
that part of the field where they were picketed.
The troopers slept or sprawled on the hard ground
nearby.  To the south were parked the American
batteries, while on all sides infantrymen were to be
seen by the thousands.

Suddenly, from the direction of General Rhodes'
quarters, came a loud hurrah.  It was taken up on
all sides, and directly the camp became a pandemonium.

"Wonder what's going on?" said Hal.

"Don't know," replied Chester.  "We'll find out."

The lads hurried toward the general's quarters.
Toward them came a crowd of shouting men, throwing
their hats in the air and cheering wildly.  Hal
stopped one of them.

"What's all the excitement?" he asked.

"Haven't you heard the news, sir?" he asked.

"No," said Hal.  "What is it?"

"A truce has been signed with Austria," replied
the soldier.  "Hurrah!"

"Hurrah indeed," said Hal fervently.  "And
have you heard the nature of the truce?"

"Yes, sir.  An armistice has been signed to
become effective to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.
The armistice extends for thirty days in which time
the allies will draw up terms of peace to be
presented to Austria, sir."

"That is good news indeed, my man," said Hal.
"I am obliged to you."

The soldier saluted and rejoined his companions.
Together they continued their parade of the camp;
spreading the glad tidings as they went from place
to place.

"So Stubbs was right after all," Hal mused.

"It seems so," said Chester, "but I wonder where
he got his information?"

"It's too deep for me," declared Hal, "but he got
it all right.  I hope he lands his scoop, as he calls it."

"So do I.  He deserves it."

Hal glanced at his watch.

"Well," he said, "you can stay here awhile and
help the others celebrate.  I've work to do and it's
time to be moving."

"Wish I were going with you," said Chester,
"but I am convinced we have agreed on the best
plan."

Hal nodded.

"It seems best to me."

"Then I shall follow the directions we agreed
upon," said Chester.  "I'll start in exactly an hour."

"And remember," said Hal, "that one of us must
get through, no matter what happens."

"Right," Chester agreed.  "Should you get into
trouble, I'll lend a helping hand should I come across
you and find that it is possible without endangering
my own chances of getting through.  Otherwise,
you will have to shift for yourself."

"That's the spirit," declared Hal.  "Help if you
can without compromising yourself, but always
remember that one of us must get through.  Now
I'm off."

He held out his hand, which Chester grasped
warmly.

"I'm hoping nothing happens," said the latter
quietly.  "But you never can tell.  Good-bye."

"Good-bye," said Hal.

He gave Chester's hand a parting grip, turned on
his heel and strode away.  Chester stood looking
after him for some moments.  Then he moved on
slowly.

"By Jove!  I hope nothing happens to Hal," he
muttered.

It seemed to Chester that the next hour would
never pass, but at last the hands of his watch showed
10 o'clock.

"Time to be moving," the lad told himself.

He produced his pair of revolvers and examined
them carefully.

"All fine and dandy," he muttered.  "Well, I
guess there is no reason for waiting longer."

He turned and strode off in the direction Hal
had gone just a short hour before.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`HAL MEETS AN OBSTACLE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XII


.. class:: center medium bold

   HAL MEETS AN OBSTACLE

.. vspace:: 2

Hal made rapid progress through the American
lines.  It was almost an hour after he left Chester
that he reached the most advanced American
outposts toward the north.  He was challenged there,
but after confiding to the officer in charge of
operations there that he was on a mission for General
Rhodes, he was allowed to pass.

The German lines, Hal learned, were perhaps two
hundred yards ahead.  There the enemy had hurriedly
dug a temporary line of shallow trenches and
settled down to hold them.  It was Hal's business
to get into and to pass through them.

Fortunately, the night was very dark so the lad
had no hesitancy in stepping from the protection
of the American lines.  The officer in command at
that point walked with him as far as he felt prudent.
To him Hal confided the fact that Chester would
be along presently, and the officer volunteered to
speed the latter's progress in any way he could.

"Good luck," he called, as Hal disappeared in
the darkness.

Hal made no response, but moved slowly and
silently off through the night.

The first hundred yards he covered standing and
without fear of detection.  It was so dark that he
knew his presence in No Man's Land would not be
noticed unless the enemy chanced to turn one of
their powerful searchlights in that direction.  In
that event, too, the lad knew it would make little
difference whether he was standing or crawling
across the open.

After covering what he judged was a hundred
yards, Hal dropped to his hands and knees and
proceeded more cautiously.  Voices in the German
lines became audible now and Hal was perfectly well
aware that a pair of German eyes might discover
him.  However, there was no help for it.  It was
his business to take such chances.

He wormed his way along slowly.

In this manner he came at last to the edge of
the German trenches.  There he paused a moment,
listening intently.  He heard voices.  They seemed
directly ahead of him.  The lad crawled to his left.
After progressing in this manner for perhaps a
hundred yards he paused and listened again.  He
could still hear voices, but they were some distance
to his right.  There was no sound directly ahead
of him.

Silently the lad got to his feet.  His head came
just above the top of the trench.  He peered around
quickly.  Some distance to the right he perceived
a little knot of men apparently engaged in heated
argument.  It was apparent that they were so busy
with their dispute that they would not notice the
alien figure in their midst.  To the lad's left, too,
perhaps fifty yards away, were half a dozen German
soldiers.  But they were not looking in Hal's
direction.

Slowly the lad drew himself to the top of the
trench, then dropped quietly inside.  There he
crouched for a moment, his hands on his revolvers,
ready to fight or run as occasion should demand.

But his presence was unnoticed and Hal drew a
breath of relief.

"Safe for a minute, at least," he told himself.

But Hal knew that he could not hope to escape
discovery long in this exposed position.  Besides,
he had no time to spare.  It was his business to
pass through the German Lines as quickly as possible.

Little light showed in the German trenches.  Here
and there a lantern flickered as a sentinel passed
along his post.  Also candles, sheltered from the
breeze by improvised shades, showed where little
groups of Germans had gathered to chat before
turning in for the night.

Hal perceived that his best hope of avoiding
discovery lay straight ahead, toward the center of the
German camp.  The enemy would be looking for no
enemies there.  Besides, Hal's destination lay in
that direction.

Leaving the shelter of the trench, he crawled
forward.  He stopped once or twice and flattened
himself into the ground, as footsteps approached.  But
the footsteps turned off each time without coming
close to him, and Hal proceeded.

Tents had been pitched in improvised streets and
Hal heard the sound of deep snores from within.
The German camp, except for sentries and some few
others, was asleep.

It was very dark.  Hal rose to his feet and
proceeded more swiftly.  He felt confident now that
he would be able to pass through the camp without
discovery, but he realized that the hardest work cut
out for him would be to leave the German lines on
the other side.

Nevertheless, it had to be done, so the lad pressed on.

Walking boldly along the little camp street, he at
last passed beyond the long row of tents.  Not more
than a hundred yards ahead now, he knew, he would
come upon more trenches thrown up as a protection
to the enemy against the forces of General Lejeune
of the Second division.

Now the lad went more cautiously, and at last he
came within view of the trenches.  Here and there
a sentinel flitted by in the darkness.  In the trenches,
Hal saw several groups of the enemy gathered in
circles within the glow of light cast by lanterns and
candles.  He approached very cautiously.

The lad no longer stood erect.  He was crawling
on his hands and knees.  With each inch advanced
he knew his danger increased; but he knew, too,
that every foot of ground he covered brought him
that much closer to success.

"I'll get through quietly if I can," he told
himself, "but if I'm discovered I'll make a run and a
fight for it.  Once in the darkness of No Man's
Land beyond I've as much chance of getting away
as the boches have of catching me."

The lad halted suddenly.  Footsteps were coming
toward him, and a moment later Hal made out the
figure of a German sentry approaching.  The lad
squirmed quickly but silently to one side and the
German passed without seeing him.

"Close shave," the lad muttered to himself.

He moved forward again.

Other footsteps now approached and Hal made
himself as small as possible on the ground.  Looking
up, he perceived the figures of half a dozen men
only a few feet away.  They were coming directly
toward him.  Hal realized that if he didn't act
promptly, he would probably be stepped on.

He tried to squirm out of the way silently, but
haste was too urgent for extreme caution and the
sound of the lad's body gliding over the ground
carried to the ears of the enemy.

"What's that?" demanded one of them, and all
halted.

"What's what, Hans?" asked a second voice.

"I heard something moving there," said the man
called Hans.

"And what of it?" demanded the second voice.
"Probably a rat."

"Made too much noise for a rat," was the response.
"Sounded more like a man."

"Ha!" said another voice.  "You talk as if you
feared enemies right in the heart of our own camp,
Hans."

"Can't trust these Americans," was the reply.
"They're not afraid of anything.  One of them is
as likely to be here as any place else."

"Some truth in that, Hans," said another voice.
"We'll have a look."

The Germans spread out fanwise and moved forward
again.  This was what Hal had been afraid
of, and he knew now that concealment was no
longer possible.

"I'll have to make a dash for it," he told himself
grimly.

Still stooping, he produced his pair of automatics
and paused, ready for action as soon as he should
be discovered.  And as he had feared, discovery
was not long coming.

"Hello!  What's that?" said a German voice.

"What's wh—" began a second voice.

Hal waited to hear no more.  He knew he had
been discovered, and he decided to act before the
Germans completely recovered from their surprise.

Springing to his feet, the lad dashed forward with
a cry.

"Out of my way!" he shouted in German.

For a moment it seemed that the Germans would
obey this command, so startled were they by its
suddenness and Hal's appearance from out of the
ground, apparently.

But they recovered their wits in a moment and
closed in on the lad with guttural cries of anger.

Hal raised both revolvers.

"Crack!  Crack!"

Two Germans reeled back and the others gave
ground.  Before they had time to recover from
this unexpected attack, Hal was among them.  Twice
more his revolvers spoke.  The targets were so close
that a miss was impossible and two more Germans
crumpled up on the ground.  The remaining two
skipped promptly out of harm's way.

Hal leaped for the trenches, revolvers still in
hand.  Once beyond the enemy's lines he felt he
would be comparatively safe.

But the sounds of the revolver shots had aroused
the camp.  Men streamed forth from all directions.

Hal found his progress barred by a dozen men
who seemed to appear from out of the ground.  The
lad raised his revolvers again and emptied them into
his foes, then sprang in among them, his revolvers
clubbed.

With both hands he laid about him lustily, the
while endeavoring to push through the enemy and
reach the trench beyond.  But the weight of
numbers was too great and directly Hal went to the
ground under a blow from a rifle butt.

He dragged himself to his feet and again mixed
in with his foes.  For a moment it seemed that he
might fight his way clear, so desperate were his
efforts.  Reinforcements continued to arrive,
however, and at last the lad was overpowered.

Strong hands seized him from behind, rendering
further struggling futile.  Hal relaxed his efforts
and grew quiet.

"You've got me," he said quietly, "but I'd have
got away if there hadn't been half a hundred of you."

"Tie him up," said a German voice.

No sooner said than done.  A moment later Hal's
arms were bound securely.

"Bring him up to the light," said another voice.
"The colonel wants a look at him."

Hal felt himself propelled toward the trench.
There a lantern was thrust in his face and a man
attired as a German colonel of infantry surveyed
the lad.

"So we've caught you, you American pig!" he
exclaimed.

"So it seems," returned Hal quietly.  "What are
you going to do with me?  That's the next question?"

"Brave man, aren't you," sneered the German.
"Well, you won't be so brave when I get through
with you.  Lieutenant Steinz!" he called.

"Now what's up, I wonder?" Hal muttered to
himself.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`CHESTER TO THE RESCUE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XIII


.. class:: center medium bold

   CHESTER TO THE RESCUE

.. vspace:: 2

Chester, after leaving the American lines,
proceeded with the same caution that had characterized
Hal's movements.  He made no better time
creeping across No Man's Land than had Hal.
However, he was just as fortunate as his chum
in penetrating the German trench.  He reached
them an hour later than had Hal and for this
reason he did not see as many figures.  Most of the
enemy in the trenches facing the Americans on the
south had turned in for the night.

Chester's passage through the German camp was
considerably quicker than Hal had been able to
proceed.  Nearing the German outposts toward the
north, however, he found it necessary to advance
with greater caution.

Suddenly he came to a stop and threw himself
flat on the ground.  A short distance away he saw
a faint light, cast by several lanterns, and he heard
German voices.

"They're not all asleep here, at all events," the
lad told himself.  "I'll have to be careful."

He wormed his way toward the light and when he
came close enough to ascertain what was going on,
he gave an exclamation of pure alarm.

"Great Scott!  They've nabbed Hal," he muttered.

Unmindful of danger now, he crept forward more
swiftly and at last drew close enough to distinguish
what was said.

"So you won't tell what you are doing here?"
came a coarse voice in German.

"I will not," was the reply in a voice that Chester
recognized as Hal's.

"Then I'll have to find a way to loosen your
tongue," said the German voice.  "Lieutenant
Steinz, do your duty again."

Chester strained his eyes to see.  He made out
the form of a big man who stepped toward a figure
that Chester made out as Hal.  The man's arm drew
back and flashed forth.  Chester saw Hal stagger
back, but the lad made no outcry.

Chester's blood boiled.

"So that's the kind of men we have to deal with,
eh?" he muttered.  "Well, I guess I'll have to take
a hand in this game."

With Chester to think was to act.  Nevertheless,
he realized the need of caution if he were to
extricate Hal from his present difficulty.

"I'll have to be pretty careful," he told himself;
"otherwise, they'll snare me, too."

Chester's first impulse, of course, had been to
dash forward, guns in hand, and wreak what damage
he could among his enemies.  He thought better
of this, however, and continued to creep forward
carefully and silently.

"If he hits you again," he said, speaking to Hal
but muttering the words to himself, "it can't be
helped; but we'll repay those blows with interest."

Hal, standing erect before his captors, did not
flinch as Lieutenant Steinz drew back his arm for
another blow.  But his eyes flashed dangerously.

"You'll be sorry for this, my friends," he said
quietly.

"Threats, eh?" sneered the German.  "You're in
no position to threaten, pig."

"Perhaps not," admitted Hal, "but just the same
I am warning you."

There was something so menacing in the lad's
voice, that for a moment the German hesitated;
but for a moment only, then he drew back his arm
and struck.

Once more Hal staggered under the blow, but he
did not flinch.

The German raised his arm and would have
struck again but for a sudden interruption.

When Chester saw the German strike Hal a second
time, it was more than his blood could stand.
He forgot, for the moment, his mission, that his
first duty was to pass beyond the German camp.
He threw caution to the winds.

With a wild cry he leaped to his feet and dashed
forward, a revolver levelled in each hand.

Startled, the Germans turned to face their new
foe.  One look at Chester's angry features and they
recoiled involuntarily.

At the same moment Chester fired—both weapons
at once.  Two of the enemy toppled over in their
tracks.

Now Hal had a quick mind.  At Chester's first
cry he knew what was up and he grew instantly
alert, ready to take advantage of the first
opportunity that presented itself.

The opportunity was not long coming.

Lieutenant Steinz, turning to get a view of
Chester, for a moment left Hal unguarded.  In that
instant Hal sprang.  Both hands he locked about the
German's throat, and squeezed with all his strength.
In vain the Teuton squirmed, struck and kicked.

Suddenly Hal released his right hand and drove
it into the man's face.  At the same moment his
left hand shot out and seized the German's revolver.
Then he stepped quickly back, levelled the weapon
and fired.

"Come on, Chester!" he shouted.

Chester needed no urging.

In a few quick strides he was at Hal's side.

"Let's get out of here," he cried.  "It's getting
too warm."

Together the lads dashed toward the trench.

A cry of alarm went up from the Germans behind.

"Shoot them!" cried a voice that Hal recognized
as that of the German colonel.

"Zig-zag, Chester!" cried Hal, and suited the
action to the word.

Chester followed his chum's example and the first
volley from behind failed to find a mark.

By this time the lads were at the edge of the
trench.

"Up and over with you, quick!" cried Chester.

Hal leaped to the top of the trench and toppled
to the ground beyond even as half a score of
bullets sang across the spot where his head had been
a moment before.

Chester also sprang for the top of the trench.  But
he had leaped too soon, and instead of reaching the
top he fell short, and dropped down inside the
trench again.

Germans were almost upon him when he regained
his feet.

Chester realized that a second leap was out of
the question at the minute, so guns in hand he
turned and faced his foes.

"Crack!  Crack!  Crack!  Crack!"

His automatics spoke angrily and all four
bullets found human targets.

Hal, meanwhile, safely over the trench, looked
around for Chester.  When he failed to see him he
realized on the instant what had happened.

"What shall I do?" he asked himself.  "Duty
says to hurry to a place of safety, but friendship
says help Chester."

He wasted little time in thought.

He scrambled back to the top of the earthen
embankment and took in the sight about him.

There Chester stood at bay, his automatics held
in steady hands.  Hal drew his own weapons.

"Jump up here quick, Chester!" he called.  "I'll
cover you."

"Don't bother about me," Chester called back.
"Get away from here.  Remember you must get
through.  I'll hold 'em off."

"Don't be a fool," shouted Hal, discharging his
revolver at a big German who was about to shoot
Chester down with his rifle.  "Come up here."

Chester paid no further heed to his chum.

Hal gritted his teeth, dropped one revolver in
his pocket, and reaching down grasped Chester by
the shoulder.

"Come on," he called.

Chester shook off his chum's hand.

"Let me alone."  he shouted angrily.  "I'll get a
few of these boches before they down me."

His revolvers spoke as he talked, and two
Germans dropped.

Meanwhile bullets were striking on all sides of the
two lads, and it seemed a miracle that they were
not touched.

Hal considered the situation in a flash.

"There's one chance," he said.

Deliberately he sheathed his other revolver, thus
leaving himself unarmed in the face of his foes.
Then, bracing himself as best he could on the
embankment, he reached down and seized Chester by
both shoulders.

Putting forth all his strength, Hal heaved mightily,
and drew his chum to the top of the embankment
with him.  There he released him and drew
his revolvers again.

Came a cry of rage from inside the trench as
the Germans saw their prey about to escape.  Two
men dropped on their knees and sighted their rifles
carefully.

But before they could fire Hal had accounted for
one and Chester for the other.

Again a howl of rage went up from the German
trench.

"Kill them!  Kill them!" screamed the German
colonel.  "What a lot of dunderheads!  Can't you
shoot?"

He seized a revolver from a young officer close
by and dashed forward himself.

Hal, in the act of tumbling from the embankment,
smiled slightly and faced the colonel, unmindful
of all other dangers.

"So you're the man responsible for those blows
a moment ago, eh?" he muttered.  "Well, you'll
never do it again.  Take that!"

He sighted carefully and fired.

The German colonel staggered in his onward
rush, reeled crazily, threw up his arms, casting his
revolver a dozen paces away, then fell to the ground.

"So much for you," Hal muttered.  "You won't
bully another American, I'll bet on that."

"Come on," said Chester, who had stuck close
to his chum all the time.  "It's too warm here.
Let's move."

"Right.  Suits me," said Hal quietly.

"Down we go, then," said Chester.

He rolled rather than leaped to the ground on
the outside of the trench.  Hal did likewise.

Both lads were slightly bruised by this method
of descent, but they were not injured seriously.
They scrambled to their feet.

"Now, let's see you run!" shouted Hal to Chester.

They ran.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE CLOSING OF THE NET`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XIV


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE CLOSING OF THE NET

.. vspace:: 2

Bullets flew thick and fast after the two lads as
they clashed for the shelter of the American lines
beyond.  Fortunately, however, none touched them.

The Germans, it appeared, were so bewildered by
the suddenness of Chester's appearance, single-handed
attack and the flight of the two chums that
followed, that they forgot all about their
searchlights, which would have made it possible for them
to have picked off fugitives at will; or else they
had no searchlights in that section of the field.

Zig-zagging from right to left, the lads ran at
top speed.  For a time bullets whistled unpleasantly
close, but soon they became few and far between.

Hal slowed down.  Chester followed his example.

"Whew!" said Chester.  "Pretty close, but we're
safe enough now, I guess."

"By George!  I hope so," declared Hal.  "But
there is just one job that I would have liked to
complete before getting away from there."

"What's that?" demanded Chester.

"I would like to have let a little lead into that
big German lieutenant who battered me up with his
fist."

"Don't blame you," said Chester.  "I'd like a shot
at him myself."

"Well," said Hal, "I left my mark on his throat,
and that's some satisfaction.  Also, I disposed of
the colonel who was responsible, and there's more
satisfaction there, too."

"I saw you," replied Chester.  "It was a neat shot."

"Well," said Hal, "we've done something that
a couple of other couriers sent out by General
Rhodes failed to accomplish—we have passed
through the German lines.  The general's plans will
not go wrong if we can help it."

"Right," agreed Chester.  "And I figure that the
sooner we report to General Lejeune the better."

"Correct as usual.  But I don't know that I care
to try and repeat the feat of getting through.
Besides, we have General Rhodes' permission to stay
here until after the big battle if we like."

"And I vote that we stay," said Chester.

"Think I'll cast my own ballot that way," declared
Hal.  "We'll stick, unless something turns up to
change our minds."

"Now for the American lines, then," said Chester.

They hurried on through the darkness and directly
the dim outline of the American trenches
loomed up ahead.

"Here we are," said Hal.  "Now to get over."

As they would have climbed up, however, the
figure of a soldier appeared above them.  He saw
them instantly and levelling his rifle cried:

"Halt!  Who goes there?"

"Friends," said Hal briefly.

"Advance, friends, and be recognized," said the
sentinel.

Hal and Chester obeyed and the sentinel scanned
them closely.

"You look all right," he growled at last, "but
I'm not sure of you."

"Do you think we'd be coming in here if we didn't
belong?" demanded Chester.

"I don't know about that; but I can't see any
good reason why you should be prowling around
out in No Man's Land if you are not bent on
mischief."

"Don't be absurd, man," said Hal.  "We come
from General Rhodes with a message for General
Lejeune."

"A likely story," said the sentry.  "How'd you
get through the Germans?"

"Walking and running," said Chester.  "But are
you going to keep us standing here all night?  I
tell you we bear an important message from
General Rhodes."

"What'd you both come for?" the sentry wanted
to know.

"That," said Chester, thoroughly exasperated, "is
none of your business, my man!  Will you call the
sergeant of the guard, or shall I?"

"Oh, I'll call him," said the sentry, "but I'll tell
you right now I don't think it will do you any good.
Kindly step up here, will you?"

Hal and Chester did so.  Then, for the first time,
the sentry saw that they were officers in the
American army.  He looked flabbergasted.

"I—I—I beg pardon, gentlemen," he said.  "I
didn't know you were officers.  Why didn't you tell
me?"

"You didn't give us a chance," said Hal shortly.
"Kindly summon the sergeant of the guard."

The sentry argued no longer.  He raised his
voice in a shout that brought the sergeant of the
guard on the dead run.

"What's the matter with you, you bonehead?"
demanded the sergeant as he came lumbering
forward.  "Want to arouse the whole camp?"

"It's all right, sergeant," said Hal.  "He only
did as ordered.  We have come from General
Rhodes with an important message for General
Lejeune.  Will you direct us to his quarters?"

The sergeant saluted stiffly.

"Follow me, sirs," he said briefly.

Five minutes walk brought the three to the
headquarters of the commander of the Second American
division.  There the lads were accosted by a
member of the general's staff, Colonel O'Shea.

"We desire to see the general at once on a very
urgent matter," said Hal.

Colonel O'Shea scowled.

"The general left orders that he was not to be
disturbed unless upon a very important matter," he
replied.

"But this is urgent," said Chester.  "We are
instructed by General Rhodes to deliver the message
at once."

"But how am I to know the matter is so urgent?"
asked the colonel.

"Because I say so, sir," said Hal quietly.  "I am
not in the habit of lying, nor of having my word
doubted."

"Oh, is that so," said the colonel, though somewhat
taken aback.  "Well, I'm not sure the general
will care to be disturbed.  You may deliver your
message, and then I shall consider whether your
business is of such importance as to justify waking
the general."

"We were not instructed to deliver our message to
you, sir," said Hal simply.  "I have to request again
that we be given immediate audience of General
Lejeune."

The colonel hesitated.  Apparently he was on the
point of refusing to arouse the general, but he
thought better of it, shrugged his shoulders and
turned away.

"One moment," he said brusquely.

He returned a moment later, however, followed
by a second figure, attired in a suit of pajamas and
rubbing sleepy eyes.

"General Lejeune?" asked Hal.

"Yes," was the sharp reply.  "What is it?"

"We bear a message from General Rhodes, sir,"
said Hal.

"Well, let's have it, let's have it," exclaimed the
general.  "I've got to get back to bed and get some
sleep."

"First, sir," said Hal, "I must explain that we
came through the German lines where two or three
other couriers lost their lives.  General Rhodes
wishes you to understand, sir, that the success of
the campaign depends upon your acting in accordance
with his message."

"I have no doubt of it," said General Lejeune.
"I have been unable, since the German wedge was
driven between our forces, to get into communication
with General Rhodes or other divisional
commanders.  I am isolated here, but at the same time
I consider my position impregnable, so I am standing pat."

Hal and Chester bowed in understanding of the
general's explanation, and the commander of the
Second division added:

"Come, sirs, what is the message you bring?"

"General Rhodes' message, sir," said Hal, "is
that he requests you to attack the enemy before
Sedan in full force on the evening of November 6,
the attack to begin precisely at 6 o'clock."

"Very well," said General Lejeune, "and just
what is at the bottom of this plan—what is to be
gained by it?"

"That I do not know, sir," said Hal.  "General
Rhodes simply asked us to carry that message.  He
said that the success of the campaign against Sedan
depended upon you doing your part."

"Well, I'll do it, never fear," said General Lejeune.
"I've got one of the best fighting units in
France, and there's not a man in it who's not dead
anxious to get another chance at the Huns.  You
may take back word to General Rhodes for me,
that I shall act in accordance with his wishes."

"If it is all the same to you, sir," said Chester
with a slight smile, "we're not going back—not, at
least, until the battle of Sedan is over."

"How's that?  How's that?" asked the general
in some surprise.

"Why, sir," said Chester, "General Rhodes gave
us permission to stay with you if we deemed it
imprudent to try and pierce the enemy's lines again."

"And you think it would be imprudent?" asked
General Lejeune with a slight smile.

"In view of the trouble we had getting here, yes,
sir," replied Chester.

"Very well, then," said the general, "you may
remain with us.  Colonel O'Shea, will you find
quarters for these gentlemen?  By the way, I did
not catch your names."

"Crawford, sir," said Chester.

"Paine, sir," said Hal.

"Very well," General Lejeune continued, "Colonel
O'Shea, will you please see that Major Paine and
Major Crawford are provided with suitable quarters?
And will you both report to me at 8 o'clock
in the morning, gentlemen?  I may have need of
you.  The Second division is an hospitable unit,
but you'll find that guests are required to work as
well as home folks."

"We shall be more than glad to do our parts,
sir," said Hal.

"Very well.  Now you have kept me out of bed
long enough.  I'll leave you both to the good graces
of Colonel O'Shea, and if he doesn't find suitable
quarters for you, you let me know and I'll have
him court-martialed."

With this, and a smile on his face, the
good-natured commander took his leave.

"By George!" said Hal, as the lads followed
Colonel O'Shea from the general's quarters, "he's
the most lively commander I ever did see."

"Full of 'pep' eh?" said Chester with a laugh.

"Yes," Hal agreed, "and I'll bet he's full of the
same old 'pep' when it comes down to business."

And Hal was right.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE CAPTURE OF SEDAN`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XV


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE CAPTURE OF SEDAN

.. vspace:: 2

The American advance against Sedan was in
full blast.  All night the fighting had raged.
Promptly at 6 o'clock on the evening of November
6 General Lejeune had hurled the Second division
forward in accordance with the plans outlined by
General Rhodes of the Forty-second.

Apparently the Germans had anticipated the
attack, for they were braced to receive it when the
first Yankee troops began to move.  The enemy
stood firm—and was continuing to stand firm
almost twelve hours after the assault was launched.

There was a slight chill in the early November
air as it grew light.  The air was filled with
shrieking shells and shrapnel.  Rifle and machine-gun fire
rose even above the noise of the field and siege
guns.  Shrill whistles punctuated intervals of
seeming silence as American officers gave orders to their
men.  In the midst of battle, whistles are depended
upon mainly for signals—also there are signals
given with the hands.  The confusion is usually
too great to permit verbal orders being understood.

At the same time that General Lejeune attacked
the enemy, General Rhodes, to the south, also had
advanced.  But the enemy was holding stubbornly
in that section of the field also, and at 6 o'clock on
the morning of November 7 the American forces
had made only slight progress.  However, they
were still hammering hard at the German lines.

With a gallantry not exceeded in the annals of
the war, the Second division kept at its task.  When
one enemy machine-gun nest was captured, they
found themselves targets for others, whose gunners,
discovered, had withheld their fire until the
moment when it would be the most effective.

Another grand assault was ordered by General
Lejeune.

The Germans made a determined resistance.  They
put in fresh troops and subjected the American
lines to a terrific artillery bombardment of high
explosives and gas shells.  Directly in the path of the
advancing Americans was a large wood.  Although
the wood was not yet cleared of the enemy, the
American line here was farther advanced.  Many
prisoners had been taken.

A third attack resulted in the capture of still more
prisoners and many machine-guns.  In the meantime
the Ninth infantry, on the right of that part
of the field where Hal and Chester found
themselves, had advanced its position to the northern
edge of the Bois de la Jardin and was digging in
to beat off a possible counter-attack.  In fact, the
entire Third brigade, assisted by a battalion of the
Second engineers, was strengthening its lines as
well as possible under heavy enemy machine-gun
and artillery fire.

The defensive part played by this brigade was
very difficult.  Its losses were heavy as a result of
enemy shell fire and gas bombardments, to which
the Third brigade could not at the moment reply.
Its duty now was to hold its lines.  Its present
action was confined to a rifle and machine-gun duel
with the enemy.

To the south, the First brigade also was hotly
engaged.  It had advanced in the face of a terrible
artillery and machine-gun fire until at hand grips
with the foe.  Then ensued one of the fiercest
struggles of the war.

As in other encounters, the Germans proved no
match for the Yankees at hand-to-hand fighting.
They resisted desperately, but gradually were driven
back.  The Americans, with wild cheers, pursued
them closely.

General Lejeune's center, composed of the Second
brigade, with an additional battalion or two of
artillery, also was meeting with greater success than
the Third brigade, which, for the moment, had been
checked.

The advance was pushed with desperate energy,
and the Germans could not hold their ground in
the face of the withering American fire.  The
German center faltered, then broke.

Taking advantage of this success, General
Lejeune pushed Brigadier General Abernathy's Second
division into the breach.  Immediately, also, he
ordered the First brigade forward in an effort to
break through to the south, while orders were rushed
to the hard-pressed Third brigade to make a final
effort.

The task of the Third brigade was easier now.
Bereft of its supports, the German center was
obliged to yield ground to the Third brigade or risk
being cut off and surrounded.

The Germans gave ground slowly.

To the south, the First brigade also began to
drive the foe more swiftly.  It appeared for a
moment that the Germans would suffer a rout.  Under
the direction of their officers, however, they braced
perhaps half a mile farther back, and again showed
a determined front.

Trenches dug by the Americans were abandoned
now as the Yankees poured forth in pursuit of the
enemy.  Not a man in the whole Second division
who was not sure that the trenches would never be
needed for defensive purposes.  No one knew better
the morale of the American troops than did the
men themselves.

Nevertheless, the advance slowed down in the
face of the resistance being offered by the enemy.
For a time it appeared that the fighting had reached
a deadlock.

The deciding touch to the battle was furnished
by General Rhodes.

Sweeping up from the south, the Fifth, Sixth and
Seventh brigades of the Forty-second division bore
off a trifle to the east and then turned north again,
thus catching the enemy on the left flank.

This maneuver, apparently, had not been anticipated
by the enemy's general staff, for it took the
Germans by surprise.  True, they received warning
in time to wheel machine-guns into position and
to place big guns to rake the Americans as they
dashed forward.  But the warning had not been
received in time to permit the general staff to alter
its plan of defense, and for this reason proved the
blow that broke the backbone of the enemy's resistance.

The enemy, closely pressed by General Lejeune,
had no time to make changes in his defensive plan
necessitated by General Rhodes' sudden attack.
Reinforcements could not be sent to check General
Rhodes without weakening the front opposed to
General Lejeune.

General Schindler, after a hasty conference with
his staff, ordered a retreat to the lines just before
Sedan.  The Germans fell back rapidly.

Neither General Rhodes nor General Lejeune
was content to rest with this advantage, but each
decided to push on.

During all this time, the enemy had been successful
in keeping a wedge between the Second and
Forty-second American divisions.  General Schindler
realized that if he hoped to extricate his men
from the trap sprung by the Americans he must
prevent a juncture of the Second and Forty-second
at all hazards.

Now, however, as the attack seemed on the verge
of success, General Lejeune decided that the
German wedge separating him from General Rhodes
must be pierced.

Accordingly, without permitting the advance to
slacken elsewhere, he threw the First brigade against
it.

For perhaps fifteen minutes the fighting was fast
and furious.  In vain the Germans tried to stem
the tide in khaki that rushed forward against them.
General Schindler further weakened his center to
rush reinforcements in order to retain the wedge
intact.

But it was no use.  The Americans were not to
be denied.  They fought with the courage and
desperation of lions.  Little heed did they pay to the
hail of machine-gun bullets that swept them as they
advanced.  Artillery and explosive shells failed to
stop them.  Rifle fire was no more effective.

Suddenly from the German lines sallied a regiment
of cavalry.  The American infantry braced
to receive the charge.

At the same time Hal found himself before
Colonel Taylor of the First brigade with dispatches
from General Lejeune.  He had just delivered them
as the German cavalry sallied forth.

"Great Scott!  What a chance to take!" the lad
muttered under his breath.  "The Germans must
be licked.  This move can be for no other purpose
than to give infantry time to withdraw."

The American infantry stood firm as the German
cavalry hurled itself upon them.  Not an inch
of ground did they give.  Horses and men fell in
heaps.  Other chargers reeled back, throwing their
riders beneath their hoofs.  At the same time the
Yankee infantry poured in a hail of rifle fire.

The Germans retired a pace, reformed and
charged again.  The result was the same.  Not an
inch did the Americans give, and the execution in
the enemy's ranks was fearful to behold.

"I guess that will stop that," Hal told himself.

He was right.

When the enemy's cavalry withdrew a second
time it did not reform for a third charge.  Instead,
it fell back upon its infantry and artillery supports,
apparently fearing that the American infantry would
pursue and annihilate it.

"I thought so," said Hal.

In the meantime, the German retirement in other
parts of the field had become more rapid.  The
lines before Sedan were abandoned gradually and
at last there was nothing to keep the Americans
from entering the city save the cannonading of the
German artillery from far to the rear of the town.

But although the bulk of the German army had
retired safely to the east of Sedan, fortune had not
been so kind to the two brigades which had formed
the wedge between the Second and Forty-second
American divisions.

When General Lejeune's men had pushed back
the cavalry attack, General Rhodes, to the south,
had gained an inkling of what was going on.
Accordingly he had ordered an attack upon the
hard-pressed foes.

Caught thus between two fires, the Germans tried
first to hold their ground, and, finding this could
not be done, to retreat orderly.

But they had delayed too long.

Three regiments of the First brigade of General
Lejeune's division had been hurried forward to
cut off a movement, and the Germans, when they
found flight blocked, became disheartened.  In
spite of the fact that they outnumbered the little
force between them and the bulk of their army,
thousands of men threw down their arms and
surrendered.  This forced the others to follow suit
or be annihilated.

Less than two hours later, with German shells
still falling among them, American troops entered
Sedan.

And the French population, virtual prisoners for
many months, received them with wild acclaim.  It
was a joyous day for the citizens, indeed.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`AN UNEXPECTED HONOR`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XVI


.. class:: center medium bold

   AN UNEXPECTED HONOR

.. vspace:: 2

"Sedan at last!  This settles the war."

It was Chester who spoke.

"Right you are," replied Hal.  "The poor old
kaiser's goose is cooked.  Even the most sanguine
German can no longer hope for victory."

"I think the kaiser gave up hope a long while
ago," said Chester.  "He—Hello, what's up now,
I wonder?"

He broke off suddenly and pointed to a horseman
who came galloping into the town from the
east, gesticulating excitedly as he rode along.  Words
that he shouted as he dashed forward seemed to
create great excitement among the villagers, who, all
day, had been parading the streets in celebration of
the American occupation of the city.

"Don't know," said Hal.  "We'll try and get
close enough to hear what he says."

As the man drew close, the lads saw that he was
a German cavalryman.  It appeared strange to both
boys that he was thus permitted to ride free, as the
feelings of the villagers were very strong against
the Germans.  But it soon became apparent that
the message he brought secured him immunity.

"What's that he said?" asked Chester, with hand
to his ear.

"I didn't catch it," said Hal.  "Here, get in front
of him.  We'll stop his wild ride."

Chester needed no urging.  The lads stepped
directly in front of the galloping horse.  Hal
produced his revolvers.

The rider checked his steed.  Hal approached
him.

"Dismount," said the lad in German.

The rider did so.

"Now," said Hal, "what's all the excitement?
You seem to have something on your mind.  What
is it?"

"Haven't you heard the news?" demanded the
rider.

"I wouldn't be asking you if I had," said Hal.
"What is it?"

"The kaiser has abdicated!"

Hal and Chester started back in pure amazement.

"What!" they exclaimed in a single voice.

"So I am informed," declared the German.  "It
is true that my information has not been substantiated,
but I know enough of conditions in Germany
to credit the report."

"Well, you come with me," said Hal.  "We'll
take this matter to General Lejeune."

The German accompanied them without objection.

General Lejeune received the report with skepticism.

"Nothing to it, in my opinion," he said.  "It is
true that conditions in Germany are fast approaching
a crisis, but I believe this report is premature.
However, I have no doubt that something like that
will happen within the next thirty days.  But what
are you doing in our lines, man?"

This last to the German soldier.

"Well, I'm tired of fighting," was the soldier's
reply.  "I want to live to go home again some day.
I've a family in Hamburg that will need me.  I am
content to remain a prisoner until the war is over."

"And so you shall," said General Lejeune.
"Whether your report is true or not, it has given
me an interesting moment.  Colonel O'Shea, will
you turn this man over to the corporal of the
guard?"

The prisoner was led away.  General Lejeune
turned to Hal and Chester.

"I am sorry to lose your services, gentlemen," he
said, "but I have just been in communication with
General Rhodes, and he wishes you to report to
him at once."

The lads saluted the commander of the Second
division and left his quarters.

Half an hour later they reported to General
Rhodes as he rode into Sedan to establish his own
quarters, as the Second division was soon to
advance again.  General Rhodes greeted the lads
warmly.

"I am certainly glad that you both came through
safely," he said, after returning their salutes, "and
I must say that I didn't expect it.  You have been
in luck.  Now I have another important matter in
hand."

"We shall be glad to offer our services, sir," said
Hal.

General Rhodes smiled.

"I've no doubt of it," he replied.  "However, this
mission is not likely to be so dangerous.  Don't
worry, though," he added, as the faces of the lads
fell, "I believe I may safely promise you some
interesting moments."

"We're glad of that, sir," declared Chester.

"I wonder," said General Rhodes, "whether you
have heard of the reported upheaval in Germany?"

"Yes, sir," said Hal.  "Only a few moments ago
we captured a man who declared the kaiser had
abdicated."

"That," said General Rhodes, "is probably untrue;
however, I know that the kaiser has considered
abdicating.  In fact, his abdication is being urged
by his military leaders—his erstwhile friends,
Hindenburg and Ludendorff."

"Can that be possible, sir?" asked Hal.

"Yes, we have authentic information to that
effect.  I understand, too, Germany is preparing to
ask Marshal Foch for an armistice preliminary to
signing a declaration of peace."

"By Jove, sir!" exclaimed Chester, carried away
in spite of himself.

General Rhodes smiled again.

"It is good news," he said quietly.  "Of course,
I am not absolutely positive of that, but in view of
recent German reverses I do not see how the enemy
can do aught else."

"Well, sir," said Chester, "we'll impose terms on
them that will make their hair curl."

For a third time General Rhodes smiled.

"We won't be too severe," he said.  "Remember,
we are not German."

"That's true, too, sir," said Chester.  "But all
the same, it should be done, if you ask me."

"Perhaps," said General Rhodes.  "Now, I suppose
you are wondering why I called you here?"

"Yes, sir," returned Hal.

"Well," said General Rhodes, "I have been
summoned to report to the commander-in-chief and I
want a couple of officers to go with me who can be
useful as well as ornamental."

Both lads flushed.

"I know that you drive an automobile exceedingly
well, Major Paine," the general continued, "and
for that reason I am selecting you as my chauffeur
on this trip."

"But I am afraid I shall not be so useful, sir,"
said Chester.

"Well," said the general, "I am taking you along
because I thought you'd like to go."

"And so I would, sir," answered Chester.

"It may be," General Rhodes continued, "that
before our return we shall be present at a very
momentous gathering."

"You mean, sir—" asked Hal.

General Rhodes nodded.

"Exactly," he replied.  "I mean that the
commander-in-chief is summoning me for some purpose
other than because he wants to see me.  It would
seem that matters have reached a point where
something is likely to break at any minute."

"By George!  I hope so, sir," declared Chester.

"I shall expect you to be ready in an hour," said
General Rhodes ending the interview suddenly.  "I
shall have a car here at that time."

Chester and Hal saluted and departed.

"Now, this is what I call a regular mission,"
declared Hal, as they hurried to their quarters.

"It is if it develops," replied Chester.

"Something tells me it will develop," said Hal.

"Let's hope so."

The lads were back at General Rhodes' headquarters
well within the time allowed them.  A large
army automobile stood without.

"Guess this is our steed," said Hal.

He was right.

General Rhodes appeared a few moments later
and took his seat.  He motioned Chester to a place
beside him.  Hal took the wheel.

"Where to, sir?" he asked of the general.

"Rheims," was the reply.  "The commander-in-chief
is there now.  You know the road, of course?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you will take us there as speedily as possible."

The machine shot forward with a lurch.

Now if there was one thing Hal did better than
anything else it was to drive an automobile.  He
was a fast though careful driver and his hands and
nerves both were like steel when he clutched a wheel.

He had been over the road before, and his excellent
memory served him in good stead now.

It was after 3 o'clock on the afternoon of November
7 when the automobile flashed into the outskirts
of Rheims.  Hal stopped the car long enough to
inquire the way to General Pershing's headquarters,
then moved forward again.

"You are a good driver, Major," said General
Rhodes, as he alighted and motioned both boys to
follow him.

"Thank you, sir," returned Hal.  "I've had
experience enough, sir, I should be, at all events."

General Rhodes vouchsafed no reply, as he
mounted the short flight of steps to General Pershing's
offices, with Hal and Chester at his heels.

Apparently his arrival was expected, for an
orderly saluted and told him that he was to proceed
to the commander-in-chief immediately.

"You gentlemen stay here until I send for you,
or return," he instructed the two lads.

Hal and Chester stood stiffly at attention as he
walked away.

"We're in luck, if you ask me," said Chester
after their commander had gone.

"It would seem so," Hal agreed.  "If anything
happens, I'd like to be in at the finish."

"So would I.  We've been in the war from the
first.  It would be no more than right for us to see
the finale."

"Maybe we will," said Hal.  "Here's hoping."

They sat quietly for some time.  Two hours later
an orderly approached.

"Major Paine!  Major Crawford!" he said,
"the commander-in-chief desires your presence at
once.  Kindly follow me."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`STUBBS AGAIN`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XVII


.. class:: center medium bold

   STUBBS AGAIN

.. vspace:: 2

General Pershing greeted the lads cordially.

"Glad to see you again," he said.  "General
Rhodes informs me that you have been up to your
old tricks and have again been cited for gallantry
in action.  However, it is no more than I would have
expected of you."

The lads bowed in response to this praise, but
neither spoke.

"It is fortunate that General Rhodes brought you
with him," General Pershing continued.  "Still, it
may not be so fortunate for him, for I am about
to deprive him of your services.  I take it that you
will survive the separation, though," and the
commander-in-chief smiled.

"We are always glad to serve in whatever way
we may, sir," said Hal.

"Good!" said General Pershing.  "Then I shall
avail myself of your services.  Several hours ago
I was in communication with Marshal Foch, who
is now in Soissons.  General Rhodes informs me
that he has made you acquainted with the facts that
seem to indicate an early cessation of hostilities, so
I need not amplify here.  Now, Marshal Foch,
anticipating that Germany may really sue for peace,
has asked my advice in the matter of armistice terms
pending a final treaty of peace.  These I have
written out.  As you will readily recognize, they are
not to be trusted to careless hands.  I have
confidence in you, however, gentlemen, so I shall ask
you to carry this paper to Marshal Foch."

"We shall be glad to do it, sir," said Chester.

"Very well.  Then I intrust this paper to you, and
I need not warn you to guard it carefully and keep
the matter secret."

General Pershing extended a document to Hal.
The lad took it and put it carefully in his inside
coat pocket.

"It will be safe there, your excellency," he said
quietly.

"Now," said the commander-in-chief, "it is my
wish that that paper be placed in Marshal Foch's
hands at the earliest possible moment.  The car in
which you drove General Rhodes is at your disposal."

"We shall make all possible haste, sir," said Chester.

Both lads saluted their commander and left the room.

"By Jove!" said Hal, as he sprang into the car,
"there is no use talking, important developments
are pending.  It begins to look like peace to me."

"And to me," Chester agreed.  "Well, the sooner
the better.  Four years of war is enough to satisfy
Mars himself."

Soon the car was speeding westward.

It was a long drive to Soissons and it was after
nightfall when Hal saw the lights of the city in the
distance.  A few moments later they entered the
town.

Hal had no difficulty ascertaining where Marshal
Foch made his headquarters and he drove there at
once.  A few words to a guard before the building
brought forth a member of Marshal Foch's staff
and the lads explained their mission to him briefly.

"You are expected," said the French officer.
"Follow me."

He led the way into the house and through a
long hall.  At the far end he tapped on a door.

"Who's there?" came a voice, that Hal at once
recognized as belonging to the French
commander-in-chief.

"Colonel Murrat," said the lads' guide.  "The
messengers from General Pershing have arrived."

"Show them in at once," said Marshal Foch.

A moment later Hal and Chester were in the
presence of the generalissimo of all the allied forces.
They saluted him respectfully.

"I may be mistaken," said Marshal Foch, eyeing
them searchingly, "but I'll wager you are Majors
Paine and Crawford.  Am I right?"

"Yes, your excellency," said Hal.  "We are
honored that you remember us."

"I never forget a face," replied Marshal Foch;
"and seldom a name.  Then you bring me a
communication from General Pershing?"

For answer Hal produced the document given
him by the American commander-in-chief earlier in
the day.  He passed it to Marshal Foch without a
word.  The French commander took it and laid it
carefully on his desk.

"That will be all for to-night, gentlemen," he said.
"I shall be pleased if you will avail yourself of our
hospitality.  Colonel Murrat will find quarters for
you.  Will you report to me in the morning at 8
o'clock?  I may have a reply for your
commander-in-chief."

The lads saluted again and withdrew.  Colonel
Murrat showed them to excellent quarters in a house
next to the one in which the French commander had
his headquarters and left them.

"Well," said Chester, after he had gone, "looks
like we are right in among things, doesn't it?"

"It certainly does," Hal agreed.  "But say, I'm
hungry.  Let's step out and round up something to
eat."

"Suits me," declared Chester, "I'm half starved
myself."

At a little restaurant only three or four blocks
away they were soon comfortably filled.  Hal was
on the point of suggesting that they turn in for the
night when a figure entering the door caught his
eye.

"By all that's wonderful," he exclaimed, "here
comes Anthony Stubbs."

Hal was right.  The little war correspondent espied
the lads at the same moment and hurried toward
them with outstretched hand.

"I'm awfully glad to see you boys again," he
exclaimed.  "What brings you here, if I may ask?"

"Sit down, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.  "Have
something to eat with us."

"Thanks: don't mind if I do.  But I repeat, what
are you doing here?"

"How long have you been in town, Mr. Stubbs?"
asked Chester, ignoring the little man's question.

"About fifteen minutes, more or less.  But I say,
what are you doing here?  This is the third time
I've asked that question."

"Then don't ask it again, Mr. Stubbs," replied
Chester.

"Oh, I see," smiled Stubbs.  "Can't answer, eh?
Well, I'll wager another hat with somebody that
I can tell you why you're here."

"You'd lose this time, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.

"Oh, no I wouldn't.  You're here in connection
with the signing of an armistice by Germany and
the allies."

Chester started to his feet.

"Sh-h-h!  Not so loud, Stubbs," he exclaimed.

Stubbs smiled, but he lowered his voice when he
spoke again.

"Well, would I lose the bet?" he asked.

"I can't say a thing, Mr. Stubbs," was Hal's response.

"Well, I'm bound by no such orders," said Stubbs,
"so I can.  First, however, I want you to understand
that whatever I do say is in confidence."

"Of course," said Hal.

"Certainly, Mr. Stubbs," agreed Chester.

"Well, then," said Stubbs, "I want to tell you
I'm on the trail of the biggest scoop in newspaper
history.  I'm going to be the first war correspondent
to flash the news that the armistice is signed."

"You mean you think you are," said Chester.

"I'm dead sure of it.  Now, I'm in close touch
with a very influential naval officer.  He has agreed
to let me know the moment the armistice is signed;
and the news will come to him over the only direct
wire to the place of meeting between Germans and
allies, for it will be an official wire."

"You're getting away ahead of the game, Mr. Stubbs,"
declared Chester.

"Certainly you have no information yet that an
armistice is likely to be signed soon."

Stubbs smiled.

"But the trouble is I have," he replied quietly.

"Stubbs," said Hal with real admiration, "I don't
know how you do it, but you certainly have a way
of getting information when you start after it."

"That's why the New York Gazette sent me over
here," replied Stubbs modestly.

"I see," said Hal.  "Well, I wish you luck.  But
what are you doing here?"

Stubbs was silent a moment.  Then he said:

"I know you'll say nothing about this, or I would
keep mum.  Truth is I came here to make these
arrangements I've been telling you about."

"And how long will you stay, Mr. Stubbs?"

"Over night.  I'm off for Versailles to-morrow."

"Versailles!" exclaimed Chester.  "But you will
be out of the fighting zone then, Mr. Stubbs, and
it will take you longer to get word should your news
develop."

"But I'll be where I can get it on the cables ahead
of some of the rest of 'em," said Stubbs with a
grin.  "Also, I'll get word in Versailles as soon as
the fellows get it here, or wherever the thing is
pulled off.  I've seen to that."

"I get you, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.  "Now take
my advice and wait until you are sure of your facts
before you do anything rash."

"I wasn't born yesterday," said Stubbs with
another grin.  "I'll flash the word when the time
comes, not before."

"Sorry we can't help you a little bit, Mr. Stubbs,"
said Chester, "but you know how it is."

"Oh, that's all right," said Stubbs.  "I understand.
I don't make a habit of telling all I know
either.  Well, that was a pretty fair meal you fellows
set me up to.  Now let's get out of here.  Where
are you putting up?"

Hal told him.

"Guess there's no objection to my coming along,
is there?" asked Stubbs.

"I guess not," said Hal.  "Come along."

So Stubbs accompanied the two lads back to their
temporary home.

"I'm going to turn in on that second bed there,"
he said.  "You two fellows can bunk together.  If
I'm gone when you get up in the morning you'll
know I'm on my way."

He threw his clothes off hastily, and crawled into
bed.

"Good night," he said.

He was asleep and snoring loudly long before
Hal and Chester turned in for the night.

"Let him snore," said Hal with a grin.  "I'm
not particularly fond of such noises, but I'd hate
to disturb him.  Anyway, he won't bother me long,
and not at all after I get to sleep."

"Nor me," agreed Chester.  "Let him snore."

So the lads also crawled between the sheets.

"Guess we'd better get all the rest we can," said
Chester.  "Things are liable to happen from this
time on."

Chester was right.  Things did happen.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XVIII


.. class:: center medium bold

   A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY

.. vspace:: 2

An air of confusion and extreme activity
pervaded Marshal Foch's headquarters when Hal and
Chester presented themselves to the French
commander-in-chief the following morning.

The lads awakened early in spite of the fact that
they had not gone early to bed.  Stubbs already
had taken his departure, but he had left a note
which read:

"Good-bye.  You were sleeping so peacefully I
didn't wish to disturb you.  You'll hear from me
after I land the big scoop.  Stubbs."

Upon entering the office of Marshal Foch the
lads stood at attention for some moments before
the marshal noticed their presence.  Then he
motioned them to approach.

"I'm very busy now," he said, indicating a mass
of papers on his desk, "so I will ask you to sit down
and await my pleasure.  I am expecting momentarily
to have news upon which to base a communication
to General Pershing."

He turned back to his desk, and Hal and Chester
found seats in the far end of the room.

From time to time, French officers hurried in,
reported to Marshal Foch and departed again as
hurriedly.

Marshal Foch tapped a bell on his desk.  An
officer who answered the part of private secretary
arose from a desk across the room and hurried to
his commander's side.

"Any word from General Marcel?" asked Marshal Foch.

"None, your excellency."

"Strange.  My information indicated that developments
would begin before now.  What day is this,
Colonel?"

"The eighth of November, your excellency."

"So it is, I had forgotten.  In times like these,
it seems I cannot keep track of the days.  If
General Marcel has not reported in the next half hour,
you will send a messenger to ascertain why."

"Very well, sir."

The officer resumed his seat and Marshal Foch
again plunged into the mass of papers on his desk.

Half an hour passed and in the interval no one
had entered the room.  Marshal Foch's secretary
arose and approached his commander.

"I shall send a messenger to General Marcel now,
your excellency," he said.

Marshal Foch nodded, but did not raise his head
from his work.

The secretary left the room.  He returned five
minutes later and resumed his seat without a word.

Another half an hour passed.

Then an officer in full general's regalia entered
and approached Marshal Foch.

"I am here, sir," he said, saluting.

The French commander looked up.

"Ah, General Marcel," he exclaimed.  "And what
have you to report, sir?"

"Nothing, your excellency."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing, sir.  I have heard no word from the
enemy since my conversation with you last night."

"Please repeat to me your reply of last night to
the unofficial overtures made through the Swiss
ambassador.  My memory is not as good as it once was,
general."

"I simply repeated your words, sir.  I said: 'If
the German general staff desires to ask an armistice
on the western front, the allied forces will respect
a flag of truce.'"

"And that is all, general?"

"That is all, sir.  It was plain enough.  The
enemy knows now that he need attempt to gain
no delay by subterfuge.  If he is sincere in his
appeal, a flag of truce will be sent from the German
lines."

"Exactly," said Marshal Foch.  "In the meantime,
general, I shall order an attack in force along
the whole front."

"I shall report to you the moment there are
developments," said General Marcel.

"Very well, general.  Let us hope the developments
will come speedily.  That is all."

General Marcel saluted and withdrew.

Marshal Foch swung again to his secretary.

"Summon General Magnin," he instructed.

The secretary went out hurriedly.  He returned a
moment later accompanied by a second figure,
General Magnin, then acting chief of staff.

"General," said Marshal Foch, "I am going to
order a further advance all along the line.  Will
you see that the necessary orders are given, at
once?"

"At once, your excellency," said General Magnin,
and withdrew with haste.

"Now, that's what I call getting action," Hal
whispered to Chester.

"You bet," was Chester's low response.

Once more the French commander became immersed
in his work.  He took no notice of Hal and
Chester, who, though trying to be as patient as
possible, were beginning to get restless and to fidget
uneasily.

At noon Marshal Foch showed no intention of
stopping work for lunch.

"I can stand it if he can, I guess," Chester told
himself.

At 2 o'clock the French commander was still with
the papers and maps before him.

At 3 o'clock General Marcel entered hurriedly.

"General Dupree reports a flag of truce advancing
from the enemy lines south of Rocroi, sir," he said,
his voice trembling under repressed emotion.

Marshal Foch was on his feet instantly.

"By 'phone?" he demanded.

"Yes, sir."

"And what else did he say?"

"That is all, sir."

"Very well.  Report to your own station, general.
I'll get General Dupree on the wire myself."

General Marcel withdrew.

"Colonel Matin!"

The French commander's secretary was on his
feet instantly.

"Get General Dupree for me on the wire at once."

Colonel Matin seized the telephone.  Five
minutes later he said:

"General Dupree on the wire, your excellency."

Marshal Foch seized the instrument.

"Hello, Dupree," he said into the transmitter.
"This is Marshal Foch.  Has the flag of truce
reached our lines yet?"

"No, sir," was the response over the wire.  "There
seems to be some doubt that it will reach our lines."

"Some doubt?  What do you mean?"

"The bearer has turned back twice, sir, and—one
moment."  The voice broke off and for several
moments Marshal Foch waited impatiently.  At
last General Dupree spoke again: "The flag of truce
is advancing again, sir."

"Good," said Marshal Foch.  "I'll keep the wire
open.  Inform me at once of what the messenger
says."

For perhaps five minutes Marshal Foch held the
'phone himself.  From time to time his eyes
wandered to the mass of papers that littered his desk.
He called suddenly:

"Major Crawford!"

Chester sprang to his feet with alacrity and
advanced to the marshal's side.

"Take this 'phone and inform me the moment
General Dupree is on the wire again."

Chester did as commanded, and sat motionless
before the telephone.  Marshal Foch, meanwhile,
bent over his desk and buried himself in maps and
papers.

Not for a moment, it seemed, could this active
man rest.  He could not even content himself the
few moments necessary to await further word from
General Dupree.  His mind was never idle.  He
was busy and active every minute he was awake.
This, perhaps, was what made him the great and
successful military genius he was.

A voice came over the wire to Chester's ear.

"Your excellency?"

"One moment," said Chester.

He found it unnecessary to apprise Marshal Foch
that General Dupree was on the wire again.  At
the first sound of the lad's voice, the French
commander had left his chair and stepped to Chester's
side.  Now he took the receiver from the lad's hand.

"This is Foch," he said.  "Well?"

"The message from the enemy," said General
Dupree, "is signed by Ludendorff.  In effect, it
requests a meeting between a commission of Germans
and the allies to discuss terms of an armistice."

"Hm-m," said Marshal Foch.  "Signed by Ludendorff, eh?"

"You may tell the envoy," said Marshal Foch,
"that to-morrow at noon I shall be at Hirson,
accompanied by my staff.  A flag of truce from the
enemy's lines will be respected then as now.  If it
is the earnest and true wish of the enemy to seek
means of bringing an end to hostilities, I may be
seen at Hirson at that hour.  That is all, general."

Marshal Foch replaced the receiver and returned
to his desk.  Then, instead of plunging again into
the mass of work awaiting his attention, he sat in
thought for some time.  At last he raised his head.

"It has been thoughtless of me to keep you gentlemen
here all this time," he said to Hal and Chester,
"but to tell the truth for the time being I had
forgotten your presence.  Now, I don't know as it
is really necessary for me to send any word to
General Pershing.  However, I shall be in touch
with him by telephone shortly, and I shall take
pleasure at that time in informing him that I am
taking you with me to Hirson to-morrow."

In spite of themselves, Hal and Chester uttered
exclamations of pure astonishment.

Marshal Foch smiled.

"I know it is a strange procedure," he admitted.
"Still, it will be well if I have some one besides
French officers when I meet the German delegates.
Do you care to go?"

"Of course, your excellency," said Chester breathlessly.

"Of course, sir," declared Hal.

"Then go you shall," said Marshal Foch.  "Report
to me here to-morrow morning at 6 o'clock."

Hal and Chester saluted and took their departure,
their spirits high.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`HIRSON`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XIX


.. class:: center medium bold

   HIRSON

.. vspace:: 2

Almost due west of Rheims approximately 150
miles as the crow flies, less than two hundred miles
northeast of Soissons, is the village of Hirson.
Through all the war, this little village, on the edge
of the Franco-Belgian border, had retained its quiet
seclusion.  It had been the scene of much severe
fighting during the four years of the war, but
otherwise laid no claim to prominence.

But now Hirson was to become historic.  In it
was to be written one of the most important
chapters in the history of all nations.

Into Hirson on the morning of November 9,
steamed a special train.  The Tricolor streamed
from the engine pilot, from the rear car, and
fluttered from each and every window as the train
drew into the little station.

At the depot awaiting the arrival of the train
stood a group of men.  Included in this group was
the burgess, the mayor of the city, and other
officials of the city government.

As the train came to a stop a uniformed man
dropped from the steps of the rear car, removed his
hat and stood at attention.  Directly other uniformed
figures alighted.  These also drew themselves up
to attention.  Following these there stepped from
the car an elderly man, smooth shaven except for
a flowing white mustache.  Tall he was and erect.
His uniform, though plain, nevertheless proved him
of high rank and it was apparent to the casual
observer that here was the man to whom the others
now paid homage.  In fact, a glance showed that
the man who now stepped from the car was of the
highest military rank in France.  He was, as his
stars and bars proclaimed him, a marshal of
France—the commander-in-chief of all the allied armies
opposed to the Germans—Marshal Foch.

Following him from the car came his retinue of
officers—members of his staff, and a few others
who had been invited to accompany him to the
coming conference with representatives of the German
empire.

As Marshal Foch left the car, the mayor of the
town hurried forward, and welcomed him to the
city with a series of deferential bows and words.
It is doubtful, so excited was the mayor at the
unexpected honor paid his little town, if the man
really knew what he said; but his intentions were
all of the best, and Marshal Foch accepted them
as such—and smiled.

"I am very glad to be here, Mr. Taylor," he said
quietly, "particularly on such a mission.  I know
that the people of your little city will be proud to
be hosts upon such an historic occasion."

"Yes, ye-s-yes, your excellency," stammered the
burgess.

"Will you kindly see if you can prepare food
for my officers and myself?" requested Marshal
Foch.

"It shall be done immediately, your excellency,"
said the mayor, and bustled away.

Marshal Foch turned to the members of his staff
and the others who composed the party.

"There is nothing for us to do at the moment,
gentlemen," he said, "except to prepare ourselves
for the feast.  By the way, Colonel," turning to
his secretary, "at what hour did I bid General
Dupree report to me here?"

"Two o'clock this afternoon, sir," was the reply.

Marshal Foch glanced at his watch.

"And it is not quite noon yet," he said.  "Well,
we have plenty of time ahead of us."

Directly the burgess returned to report that
luncheon was served in the depot, and to this
Marshal Foch and members of his staff repaired at once.

The meal disposed of, it was after 12 o'clock.
The next hour the French commander-in-chief spent
in animated discussion with members of his staff.

Now Hal and Chester, in response to the
commands of Marshal Foch, had reported to him at
the hour appointed and thus found themselves
members of the group that proceeded to Hirson.  The
heart of each lad beat high, for both were smart
enough to know that they were on the eve of
historic events.

"I'm willing to bet, though," said Hal, "that the
Germans will go back on their promises."

"I don't think so," declared Chester.  "They are
aiming to get the easiest terms possible, and they
must be smart enough to realize that the longer
they postpone their cry for peace, the harder will
be the terms imposed by the allies."

"Maybe so," Hal admitted; "but after four years'
experience with the Germans, I believe nothing
until I see it."

"You talk like Stubbs," said Chester.

"Perhaps; and yet I'm telling you just how I feel."

"For my part," said Chester, "I believe the enemy
has at last come to the conclusion that they are licked
and want to get out of the mess the easiest way they
can."

"You may be right.  It would be just like the
Germans to have wreaked destruction on all other
nations and then to try and crawl out without
paying the cost."

"Don't fool yourself about that," said Chester.
"They'll have to pay."

"I'm sure I hope so.  Personally, I am in favor
of dismembering the German empire."

"I believe that is what will be done.  Certainly,
with victory in their grasp, the allies cannot afford
to allow Germany to prepare a second time for a
conflagration that will consume the world."

"You wouldn't think so, that's certain."

The lads became silent as Marshal Foch, followed
by members of his staff, approached them.

"Well, gentlemen," said the marshal, "are you
glad to be here, or would you rather be on the firing
line with your American forces?"

"For the moment," replied Hal, "we would much
prefer to be here, sir.  I want to say that we are
indeed fortunate to be on the spot where history is
about to be written, your excellency."

"Right you are, young sir," declared Marshal
Foch, "and if I am not greatly mistaken, history
will be written here—and that very soon."

"The sooner the better for all concerned, sir,"
said Chester.

Marshal Foch bowed slightly in acknowledging
this remark, the lads saluted and the
commander-in-chief walked away.

"Well," said Chester half an hour later, "I'm
getting tired of sitting around here.  I wish
something would happen."

"I heard Marshal Foch say that General Dupree
was to report here at 2 o'clock," said Hal "It's
almost that now.  Something may happen soon
after that."

"Let's hope so.  This is tiresome business."

Shortly before 2 o'clock, the sound of an approaching
train raised the lads' hopes again.  Others
in the party also showed keen interest.  A few
moments later a train drew into the station.  Marshal
Foch and his staff were on the platform.

Presently there alighted a figure in the uniform
of a divisional commander.

"General Dupree," said Chester to Hal.

The lad was right.

General Dupree hurried at once to Marshal Foch
and the two engaged in conversation when the
formalities of greeting had been exchanged.

"Then you say that the German envoys will be
here this evening?" asked Marshal Foch.

"So I have been informed.  They have sought
safe conduct through our lines, and without asking
your permission, sir, I have granted it."

"That is well.  At a time like this we must not
let a few formalities stand in the way."

"I thought you would say so, your excellency,
therefore I have ordered that firing be suspended
all along the line at 4 o'clock, the hour upon which
I am informed, the German representatives will
leave their own lines."

"You have done well, General.  Now what is
your idea as to their reception?"

"There should be no formal reception, sir.  These
men are coming to sue for peace.  As defeated
enemies, so they should be received.  We must not
lose sight of the fact, sir, that we are dealing
almost with barbarians."

"True, General," said Marshal Foch, "and yet
I wish it could be otherwise."

"You may be sure," said General Dupree, "that
they will never be satisfied with any terms for an
armistice which you may offer."

"That will be their misfortune," was the reply.
"But as for my terms, they may take them or leave
them.  I shall stand firm."

"As you should, your excellency.  The enemy is
entitled to no consideration."

"I shall be no more harsh than necessary," said
Marshal Foch.  "All I am striving to bring about
is peace—peace on such terms as will prevent a
resumption of this murderous struggle."

Marshal Foch now turned and re-entered his car
which still stood in the station.

"I shall receive them here when they arrive," he
informed General Dupree, who accompanied him.

The day passed slowly for Hal and Chester.

Much as they would have liked to look about the
city a bit they knew that their duty lay with the
others who had come to Hirson, and they stuck close
to the railroad station.

"Hope we don't have to linger here long after
the conference," said Chester.  "This is not my idea
of having a good time, at all."

"Nor mine," Hal agreed; "and yet, when we get
back to America we will have something to talk
about."

"Rather," Chester agreed dryly.  "But I wish
something would hurry up and happen."

"So do I; but wishing won't do any good."

"Maybe not; but it gives a fellow something to
talk about, and that helps pass away the time."

The day drew toward a close at last.

Hal and Chester, along toward 4 o'clock, found
themselves close to the telegraph operator in the
station.  Suddenly the clattering of the instrument
became more nervous.  The operator pricked up his
ears.  Then he leaped to his feet excitedly.

"They're coming!" he cried.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE GERMAN ENVOYS ARRIVE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XX


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE GERMAN ENVOYS ARRIVE

.. vspace:: 2

A third train drew into the station.  Two French
officers alighted first.  These were the men who
had been directed to receive the German representatives
and accompany them to Marshal Foch's headquarters.

The German delegates, who left the train immediately
after them, presented a strange appearance.
Garbed in German uniforms, their eyes were blindfolded.
This precaution had been taken by direction
of Marshal Foch in order that the delegates
might not acquaint themselves with the allied
strength and other military details as they passed
through the lines.

The German delegates were worn and travel-stained.
It had been a hard trip through No Man's
Land in an automobile.  There they rode in the
drizzling rain, over shell holes and under the most
trying conditions.  Consequently, they were not in
the best of humor.

Immediately upon alighting from the train that
had brought them to Hirson, they were conducted
to Marshal Foch's train.

In the rear car, Marshal Foch was busy at his
desk.  This car was fitted out with all material
comforts.  It was the marshal's private car.  In it he
often slept and worked.  It had all the comforts
of home and bore some resemblance to a large parlor.

His staff stood respectfully some distance away,
while his guests, including Hal and Chester, were
even farther back in the car.

Came footsteps on the vestibule without.  Instantly
an air of excitement pervaded the car.  Staff
officers, trying to look unconcerned, failed miserably,
and no wonder.  Great events were impending.
A man could hardly help showing the strain under
which he was laboring.

Marshal Foch was by all odds the coolest man
in the car.

Directly the door opened.  In stepped the
German delegates—five of them—and behind them
came the French officers who had been their pilots.

General Dupree arose to receive them.  Marshal
Foch was still busy at his desk.  He did not look up.

First the German envoys were allowed to remove
the bandages from their eyes.  Then they were
presented to General Dupree, who acknowledged
the introductions with a stiff salute.

"If it is your desire to speak with the commander-in-chief,"
he said to the Germans, "his excellency
will grant you a brief interview.  But he is very
busy, so you must be brief."

He spoke to the commander-in-chief, who laid
down a sheaf of papers and rose to his feet.

Marshal Foch and the Germans saluted stiffly.
Introductions followed.

"You must be brief, gentlemen," said Marshal
Foch.  "My time is valuable."

One of the Germans advanced.

"We have come," he said quietly, "to learn on
what terms we may accept the armistice you have
offered."

"Armistice?" repeated Marshal Foch, "I have
made no offer of an armistice."

The German officer bit his lip.

"But I understood—" he began.

"Enough of this subterfuge," said Marshal Foch
sternly.  "It is my understanding that you come
hither to request an armistice preliminary to
negotiations for peace.  If I am mistaken, we are
losing valuable time."

Marshal Foch saw plainly through the Germans'
plan.  It was to make it appear that the armistice
had been offered by the allies, and not sought by
the German high command.  The French commander-in-chief
realized, too, what effect this would
have on the German people.  It would bolster their
flagging courage and might possibly result in many
more months of war.

"But—" began the German again.

"It is idle to argue," said Marshal Foch.  "As
I say, I understood that the German high command
seeks an end of this war.  If so, I shall be glad to
state my terms.  If not, I shall order an advance
along the whole front within two hours."

The German delegate to whom had been assigned
the role of spokesman bowed.

"It is our misfortune, sir," he said, "to ask for
an armistice, in order that negotiations may be
begun to put an end to further bloodshed."

"That is different," said Marshal Foch.  "In that
case, I shall be glad to state my terms.  Briefly,
they are these: That Germany immediately surrender
to the allies quantities of arms and ammunition,
the amounts to be determined later; that a
certain number of war vessels and other ships,
including submarines, be turned over as evidence of
good faith; that German troops, in a specified time,
shall withdraw to the east banks of the Rhine.  In
a word, I demand such sacrifices as will preclude
the possibility of Germany renewing the struggle."

The German delegates uttered exclamations of
protest.

"But, sir," said the spokesman, "Germany cannot
submit to those terms."

"Take them or leave them," said Marshal Foch,
throwing wide his hands.

"Have I your permission to confer with my associates?"
asked the spokesman.

Marshal Foch produced his watch and laid it
on his desk.

"I will allow you fifteen minutes," he replied.

The Germans withdrew to the far end of the
car, where they began an animated discussion.  At
last the spokesman again approached Marshal Foch
and saluted.

"I am afraid," he began, "that it is not in our
power to accept such conditions out of hand.  It
will be first necessary to obtain the consent of higher
authorities than we chance to be."

"Yes?" said Marshal Foch inquiringly.

He had expected something like this.

"In which case," went on the German, "we have
to request a cessation of hostilities while we return
to our lines for further instructions."

Marshal Foch shook his head.

"It is impossible," he said quietly.

The German was surprised.  Clearly he had
expected nothing like this.

"But, sir," he protested, "it is utterly impossible
for us to accept these conditions.  We have not the
authority.  We must secure it from the high command."

"That is your misfortune," said Marshal Foch.

"Then what are we to do?"

"You may return to your own lines at your own
risk," said Marshal Foch.  "I shall order firing
stopped for a brief space that you may leave the
allied lines; also, a flag of truce will be honored
again, if you care to return.  But in the interval, I
propose to renew the fighting."

Again the German delegates debated.

"If that is the best you can do, sir," said the
spokesman at last, "we shall have to be content."

"It is the best I can do," said Marshal Foch.
"Now let me make a suggestion.  It is perfectly
plain that if the sentiments of the German high
command are sincere, the sooner you return the
better for all concerned.  Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly, sir."

"Then my suggestion is this.  I shall place a fast
army plane at your disposal that you may return
to your own lines the quicker."

"But we have no pilot," protested the German.

"I will furnish the pilot."

A third time the Germans debated the matter.

"We accept, sir," said the spokesman at last.

Marshal Foch surveyed the group of French officers
in the car.  Then his eyes fell on Hal and
Chester.

"Major Paine!" he called.

Hal stepped forward and saluted.

"If memory serves," said Marshal Foch, "you are
an experienced air pilot?"

Hal bowed his assent.

"Good," said the commander-in-chief, "then we
need look no further for a pilot, gentlemen."

"Major Crawford."

Chester stepped forward and saluted.

"You will place yourself at the disposal of Major
Paine, sir."

Chester saluted again and stepped back.

"General Dupree!"

The officer addressed stepped forward.

"You will present my compliments to the burgess
of the town, and ask him to place his largest
aircraft at your disposal."

General Dupree left the car.

"I guess that is all, gentlemen," said Marshal
Foch.  "I shall remain here until to-morrow at this
time, awaiting your return.  If you are not back
within that time I shall consider negotiations
suspended!"

"Major Paine."

Again Hal stepped forward.

"General Dupree, before you leave, will furnish
you with a map showing where you may pass safely
through our lines and at what hours fire will be
remitted at certain points.  It will be all the safeguard
you need.  I shall continue to advance in all other
sectors.  Good day, gentlemen."

Marshal Foch saluted the Germans stiffly, and
then signified that the interview was ended by
turning again to his desk.

Hal and Chester led the way from the car, closely
followed by the German delegates.  Outside, they
encountered General Dupree, who announced that
the large army plane would be ready within fifteen
minutes.

Hal then mentioned the map Marshal Foch had
said General Dupree would provide, and the
general hastened away to prepare it.  He returned
within a few minutes and placed the map in Hal's
hands.

"I shall issue the necessary orders at once," he
said.

He, too, saluted the Germans again and then
took his departure.

Less than fifteen minutes later the mayor of the
town himself hurried up.

"Follow me, gentlemen," he said with great dignity.
"Your craft is ready."

At the far side of the little town, Hal, Chester
and the Germans came to the machine.  No time was
wasted in words.  The Germans climbed in and Hal
and Chester took their places.

"Let her go!" shouted Chester, to the men on
the ground.

The huge airplane began to move.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`STUBBS' SCOOP`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXI


.. class:: center medium bold

   STUBBS' SCOOP

.. vspace:: 2

To keep in proper touch with all the characters
in this story, it will be necessary for a few moments
to go back several days and give an account of the
activities of Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of
the New York Gazette.

Now when Stubbs left Hal and Chester in Soissons
he had, as he had told the lads, laid what he
considered all necessary plans to make sure that
he would be apprised of the signing of the armistice
between Germany and the allies ahead of any other
of the war correspondents in Europe.

Reaching Versailles, Stubbs took quarters in one
of the largest hotels.  Now it is a fact, that in many
quarters, even in Europe, it was thought that
General Foch and the German delegates had come
together several days before they really met.  Stubbs,
in constant touch with his source of information,
from time to time received so-called details of
progress of the proceedings supposed to be in progress.

The little man was greatly elated.  There were
a score or more other war correspondents in
Versailles and Stubbs managed to worm from them the
fact that they were without information regarding
the armistice.  Believing his own information
absolutely true, he naturally felt that he was a step or
so ahead of his rivals.

On the night of November 9, Stubbs retired early.
The little man slept literally with one eye open.  He
didn't intend to miss anything.

He came to himself with a start.  The telephone
bell in his room was jingling.

"Wonder who wants me at this hour?" he muttered
sleepily, and turned over, for the moment losing
sight of the fact that this might be the
particular call he was so anxious to get.

The bell continued to jingle.

"May as well answer it, I guess," said Stubbs.
"It won't stop till I do."

He climbed out of bed, switched on the lights
and put the receiver to his ear.

"Hello," he said.

"Stubbs?" came a voice over the wire.

"Yes."

"Admiral W— talking.  The armistice was signed
this morning at 11 o'clock."

"What's that?" Stubbs yelled into the 'phone,
jumping up and down excitedly.  "Hello!  Hello!"

But the voice on the other end of the wire was
gone.

In vain Stubbs rattled the hook.  He could not
recall the voice.

"May be somebody trying to have some fun with
me," muttered Stubbs.  "I can't take a chance on any
such message as that.  I must verify it.  I'll call
the admiral and see if it were really he on the wire."

It took him a good five minutes to get the
connection, but at the end of that time a "hello" was
wafted over the wire.

"Admiral W—?" demanded Stubbs.

"Yes."

"This is Stubbs.  Did you call me a moment ago?"

"Yes."

"Then it is a fact that the armistice has been
signed."

"It is.  I had my information not more than
fifteen minutes ago."

"I just wanted to make sure it was really you
who called," Stubbs explained hurriedly.  "Good-bye."

He slapped the receiver back on the hook and
literally flew into his clothes.

"No time for an elevator now," he muttered as
he dashed out the door, through the hall and down
the steps.

In the lobby downstairs half a dozen war
correspondents had gathered in a little knot.  They
came to their feet as Stubbs dashed down the steps.

"What's the matter, Stubbs?" one called.

But Stubbs did not stop to reply.  Out the door he
dashed, his coat trailing behind him.

It was perhaps half a dozen blocks to the cable
office.  Stubbs covered the distance in jig time,
formulating his message in his mind as he went.

"No time for details now," he muttered.  "Just
the flash.  I'll get the details later."

Into the cable office he dashed.

Behind him the little knot of correspondents
became alarmed.

"The little man knows something," said one of
them.  "Don't suppose the armistice could have
been signed, do you?"

"Not a chance," said another.  "We'd have the word."

"Well, Stubbs was in a terrible hurry about
something," said a third.  "We'd better get busy and
find out what it's all about."

They sprang to action.

"I'll go after him," said Jennings of The World.
"The rest of you fellows get busy on the 'phone.
Call every man in authority in the city.  Some of
them will know something.  Doesn't matter whether
they kick about being called at this hour or not.
Get busy."

He dashed out the door after Stubbs.

In the cable office Stubbs grabbed a blank and
wrote, in code:

"Armistice signed this a.m. at eleven o'clock at
Hirson.  Stubbs."

The message he handed to the clerk with instructions
to rush it.

"That'll be enough," said Stubbs.  "They'll know
at the office what to do with it.  They'll probably
write columns at that end describing the scenes at
Hirson between Marshal Foch and the German
delegates.  There'll be pictures and everything.  Now
I'll go and learn a few of the details."

He encountered Jennings of The World as he
moved toward the door.

"Look here, Stubbs," said Jennings, "why all this
rush.  You're not going to leave the rest of us out
in the cold, are you?"

Stubbs smiled.

"I'm not working for you fellows," he replied.
"The New York Gazette is paying me my weekly
stipend, but I don't mind saying I've landed a big
piece of news."

Jennings attempted to minimize the matter.

"Oh, I guess it's not so terribly big," he said.

Again Stubbs smiled.

"Guess again," he said.

"But I say, Stubbs, give me a hint."

"Not a hint," declared Stubbs.

"Well, all right," said Jennings, "but you'll be
sorry."

"Not half as sorry as the rest of you'll be when
you hear from home after The Gazette is on the
street," declared Stubbs.

Jennings looked at Stubbs closely.  The latter
was clearly excited.

"By Jove!  He must know something," Jennings
decided.  "I can't waste time here."

He turned on his heel and was gone.

An hour later, after Stubbs had made ineffectual
efforts to learn from Admiral W— details
of the signing of the armistice, he gave it up for
the night.

"I know no more than I have told you," said the
admiral.  "I should have the details in the
morning.  Call me then."

Stubbs returned to his hotel.  Again he was
surrounded by the other correspondents who, after
trying all their channels of news, had failed to learn
anything of importance.

"Come across, Stubbs," said one.

"Not yet," said Stubbs.  "But I'll tell you what.
I'll give you my news one hour from now.  That
will assure The Gazette of a beat."

He remained deaf to all urging, and directly the
other correspondents gave it up as a bad job.

Jennings, watch in hand, an hour later said.

"Come, Stubbs, time's up.  What's your news?"

"Well," said Stubbs quietly and with an air of
great importance, "the armistice has been signed."

"What?" yelled Jennings.  "You're crazy, man!
There has been no conference yet."

"Nevertheless, it's true," said Stubbs.  "I have
my information from unimpeachable sources."

"Who told you?" demanded Timothy, of The Mail.

"You've been in the game long enough to know
a newspaperman doesn't divulge the source of
information, Timothy," said Stubbs.  "Nevertheless,
I can say that it came from a very high source."

"Well," said Jennings, "I don't believe it.  I'm
not going to flash my paper on any such information.
I'm standing pat."

"Same here," declared Timothy.

"And here," "and here," chimed in the others.

"Suit yourselves," said Stubbs with a shrug.
"You'll probably get the word in the morning."

He returned to his room.

In spite of the fact that the other correspondents
declined to take Stubbs' words as gospel, it was an
uneasy group of men Stubbs left behind him.

All night long they tried in vain to confirm the
signing of the armistice.  It could not be done.

Stubbs came downstairs again at 7 o'clock.  Once
more he was surrounded by the correspondents.

"Boys," he said, "I shall call my source of
information now.  If I get the details, I will tell you
where you can verify them."

He entered a telephone booth, where he remained
for perhaps ten minutes.  When he emerged again,
his face was drawn and he walked with the air of
a man who has lost his last friend.

"Well," demanded Jennings, "what have you to
tell us?"

"Boys," said Stubbs slowly, "my days in the
newspaper business are ended.  I have just committed
the cardinal sin.  I have sent false information to
my paper, though in good faith.  The armistice has
not been signed.  Admiral W— has just informed
me his information was premature.  What his
message should have said is that the conference is in
session.  My resignation shall be cabled to The
Gazette together with my retraction."

Sadly the little man walked away.

"By Jove! that is tough," commented Timothy.
"Yet, with such information I should have done
the same.  Well, our jobs are saved, but I'll bet
Stubbs' resignation will be unnecessary.  He's fired
right now, though he doesn't know it."

And so it was none other than Anthony Stubbs
who was responsible for the premature flash that
reached America that the armistice had been signed.
Every city in the United States, almost, when the
news was heard, had declared a holiday.  Hours
and days passed and still the news could not be
confirmed.  And then the state department issued a
statement denying it.  The feeling of happiness
changed to disappointment.

But in the French city of Versailles Anthony
Stubbs was, at the moment perhaps, the most
disappointed man in the world.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`SPA`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXII


.. class:: center medium bold

   SPA

.. vspace:: 2

The German envoys, returning to their own lines,
were silent as the big airplane driven by Hal sped
across the allied lines.  Eyes below were strained
as the craft dashed along, for news traveled swiftly
among the soldiers and word that the preliminary
meeting between the German delegates and Marshal
Foch had not been entirely satisfactory had spread
among the troops.

As General Dupree had told Hal, firing ceased in
the zone that the airplane traversed.  Guns snorted
and bullets flew on all other sides, but Hal, laying
his course by the map General Dupree had given
him, avoided all danger.

From the spokesman of the German delegates
Hal had learned that their destination was the little
German village of Spa.  It was there that the
German emperor and the High Command was quartered.
Hal laid the nose of the airplane in that direction.

Now, in flying, great distance can be covered in
a very short period of time.  The plane that Hal
drove was capable of making almost 200 miles an
hour under proper conditions.  Hal, however, did
not attempt to get that speed out of the machine.
Flying well above the ground, the craft sped quietly
along at something like 100 miles an hour.

It was dark when they passed across the brief
expanse of No Man's Land.  Looking down,
Chester saw a few twinkling lights.  These, he knew,
came from the German positions.  Some were
signal lights for the enemy aircraft, others just the
lights usually to be found in a great army encampment.

Chester leaned forward and touched Hal on the
shoulder.

"Sure you have the right course?" he asked.

"Perfectly," was Hal's response, his voice raised
almost to a shout to make himself heard above the
humming of the motor and the purr of the giant
wings of the aircraft.

Chester sat back, apparently satisfied.

The lights displayed among the German troops
disappeared as the plane continued its journey
toward the northeast.  Soon, however, other lights
came into view below.

"This," said Hal, "should be Spa, unless my
geography and sense of direction are all wrong.  I'll
take a chance, at all events."

Almost above a score of the lights, Hal shut off
the motor and the machine began to descend.  A
short time later it came quietly to earth just beyond
the village.  Hal scrambled out and spoke to the
Germans.

"This should be Spa, according to my calculations,"
he said.  "Correct me if I am wrong."

"You are right, sir," said one of the German
delegates.  "You have done well in bringing us here
in such a short period of time."

The Germans alighted, and Chester also
scrambled out.

"If you will come with us," said the spokesman
of the enemy mission to the lads, "we will see that
you are provided with quarters for the night.  It is
hardly possible that we will return before to-morrow
at noon, if at all."

The lads followed the Germans into the town.
Before a building somewhat larger than the rest,
the men stopped and the one who appeared to be
leader of the party said:

"You gentlemen wait here.  I will go within and
see that quarters are provided for the young Americans."

He motioned the lads to follow him, which they
did.  Inside a German officer barred their progress,
but the German soon set the man's doubts at rest,
and the latter stepped aside.

"Captain," said the German envoy, "these gentlemen
have brought us back from the allied lines,
and will conduct us there again to-morrow should
it be necessary for us to go.  You will kindly see
that they have all necessary accommodations for the
night."

"Yes, sir," said the captain.

"Then I shall leave them to you.  I will return
for them to-morrow some time."

"Very well, sir."

The German bade the lads good night and took
his departure.  The German captain addressed them.

"Kindly follow me, sirs," he said.

The lads did so.  Along a long hall they were
led.  Then they turned into a large room at the
far end of the hall.  Inside were a dozen or more
German officers.  The captain led the way toward
a door across the room.  All eyes were turned on
the lads as they stepped across the room.

Suddenly there came an exclamation from a man
who sat near, as Hal and Chester passed.  A chair
scraped the floor and a man sprang up and
confronted them.  Hal and Chester looked into the eyes
of General Knoff, the German general whose daughter
Chester had befriended in Sedan some weeks
before.

"So," said the general confronting the lads with
a gleam of anger in his eyes, but his gaze resting
particularly upon Hal, "so you made fools of me
in Sedan, eh?"

Hal smiled.  He was perfectly safe now and he
knew it.  Not a man there nor in the German lines
any place for that matter would dare harm the
officer who had piloted the German envoys back from
their tryst with Marshal Foch.

"It had to be done, General," said Hal, still smiling.

"But," protested the general, "why was it necessary
for you to pick me for your tool?"

"We wouldn't have done that, General," said Hal,
"had you not been so insistent upon our having
breakfast with you."

"Well," said General Knoff, "it would appear
that the fates are just, after all.  I have no doubt
that it was information you gained from me that
spoiled our plans."

"I have no doubt of it either, sir," Hal smiled.

"And such being the case," the general continued,
"I shall see to it that you are tried as spies."

"But we are in American uniform now, sir," said Hal.

"You weren't then," was the reply, "as I stand
willing to prove.  No; I shall have you shot.  No
man can make a fool of me and live."

"You can't do that, sir," said Hal, quietly.

"I can't, eh?" exclaimed the general.  "I would
like to know what is to prevent me?"

Hal's smile seemed to infuriate the general.

"Captain," he said, "you will place these men
under arrest."

The German captain saluted respectfully, but he
shook his head.

"It is impossible, sir," he said.

"What's that?" demanded General Knoff angrily.
"Do you dare dispute my orders?"

"Only when I have previously received commands
from your superiors, sir," was the reply.

"What do you mean?"

"These young Americans," the captain explained,
"have safe conduct in our lines.  I only know they
have piloted our delegates who have been discussing
an armistice with the French commander-in-chief.
I cannot arrest them, sir."

"I see," said General Knoff.  "You are perfectly
right, captain."

He stepped close to Chester and extended a hand.

"As a military measure," he said, "I would have
you shot for what I know, but I want to thank
you again for a service you rendered me in Sedan."

Chester was taken absolutely by surprise.
Nevertheless he grasped the general's hand, for that
was what seemed to be expected of him.

"I am glad I was on hand at such an opportune
moment, sir," the lad replied.

"So am I," said the general.  "You know my
name, of course.  When the war is over, should you
chance to be in Berlin, it would give me pleasure to
entertain you at my home in Berlin."

"Thank you, sir," said Chester.  "Should I
chance to be in Berlin at any time, I shall avail
myself of your offer, sir."

The general bowed slightly, insisted on shaking
hands with Hal also, and then said:

"Well, gentlemen, you are probably tired from
your trip, so I will not detain you longer.  Captain,
I leave the young Americans to you."

The lads followed the German captain from the room.

Their quarters for the night were commodious,
though not richly furnished.  However, as Hal
said: "I have slept in whole lot more unpleasant
places and thought I was doing well."

"It's plenty good for me," Chester agreed.  "By
the way, Hal, has it occurred to you that we may
return to Hirson to-morrow alone?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why, that the German high command may refuse
to accept Marshal Foch's terms, and refuse to
negotiate farther."

"Hardly likely," said Hal.  "My view is that the
Germans are so anxious for peace that they will
accept almost any terms."

"I hope I'm wrong, of course," said Chester.
"but I am simply judging by what one of the
envoys said about 'if' they returned to-morrow."

"I heard him," said Hal, "but at the same time
I don't take much stock in any such statement.  In
the first place, these envoys don't have any more
to say about what terms they shall accept than I do."

"Oh, they don't, eh?"

"Of course not.  It is the German high command,
that will make that decision.  The delegates will do
whatever they are instructed to do.  They are
merely the representatives of the powers that be."

"Nevertheless," said Chester, "if they sign terms,
the terms will be binding."

"Of course; unless it should be that the Germans
consider the agreement simply another 'scrap of
paper,' as they did the Belgian treaty."

"I think the Germans have learned a thing or
two," said Chester.  "I don't believe they'll ever
try such tactics again.  They have at least learned that
the majority of nations are honorable, and that they
are in honor bound to respect treaties."

"Let us hope so," said Hal.  "Now we've talked
enough.  I vote we turn in.  We may have a hard
day to-morrow."

"All right.  It suits me.  And here is one night
we will sleep within the German lines in comfort,
for we will not have to be on the watch for enemies
and fear possible discovery."

"Right," agreed Hal, "and at the same time we
are here in the line of duty.  Well, me for the hay."

"Not a very elegant expression, perhaps," said
Chester with a grin, "but very much to the point.
Me for the hay, too."

Ten minutes later both lads were fast asleep.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE KAISER ABDICATES`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXIII


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE KAISER ABDICATES

.. vspace:: 2

It was another historic conference that Hal and
Chester attended the following morning.  It is true
they were not invited guests; neither, perhaps, were
they supposed to overhear the nature of historical
facts as they were written that day.  It was, most
likely, an oversight that permitted them to be near
when the German emperor signed a formal decree
of abdication.

It still lacked a few minutes of 7 o'clock on the
morning of November 10 when Hal and Chester
turned out, greatly refreshed by a good night's sleep.
They strolled from the house where they had spent
the night, and for perhaps an hour took in the sights
about the German city.  Then they returned to
their temporary quarters, for, as Hal said, "there
is no telling when we shall be wanted and it is just
as well to be there."

It was half an hour later when a German officer
appeared and instructed them to follow him.  This
the lads did without hesitancy.  Their guide led
them to a distant part of the village, where an
extraordinary array of tents told the lads that they
were near important personages in the German
ranks.  The guide showed them into a tent
somewhat smaller than the rest, where he left them.

After they had been alone perhaps twenty minutes,
Hal explored.

"Well," he said, "if these fellows don't hurry
they won't get back to Marshal Foch's rendezvous
until too late."

"Oh, I guess they'll get there in time all right,"
replied Chester.  "At least they will if they know
what's good for them."

Meanwhile Hal, peering through the canvass door
at one end of the tent, ascertained that the door of
the second tent in some unaccountable manner had
been left open.  Also, the lad perceived that the
tent was filled with uniformed figures.

"Something going on," he said to Chester in a
low voice.

Chester stepped forward and peered over Hal's
shoulder.

"There certainly is," he agreed.  "Wonder if we
will be able to hear what they say?"

"I guess we can," said Hal.  "I don't like to
eavesdrop, but we might learn something that will help."

"I guess the end will justify the means," said
Chester.

They became silent.

It was clear to both lads that the figures in the
tent were awaiting the arrival of another person.
And presently the latter came; and when he entered,
the tent both lads stifled exclamations of surprise
with difficulty.

"Well, what do you think of that!" Chester ejaculated.

"By Jove!  I didn't know he was in this part of
the field," said Hal.

For the man who had just entered the tent was
none other than the German Emperor, Wilhelm II.

Gazing more closely, the lads made out other
familiar figures.  There was, first, General
Ludendorff, chief of the German staff; General Von
Hindenburg, and newly created Chancellor Ebert.  Also
the tent was crowded with other notables, both
military and civilian.

It was the kaiser who spoke first.  Straining
their ears, the lads were able to catch every word
that was uttered.

"Well, gentlemen," said the kaiser, "I am here
at your request.  What is it you desire of me?"

It was General Ludendorff who replied.

"Your majesty, it is my painful duty to acquaint
you with the terms laid down by the enemy
commander-in-chief."

"What are they?" demanded the kaiser briefly.

In as few words as possible, General Von Ludendorff
outlined the terms of an armistice as Marshal
Foch had presented them to the German envoys.

The kaiser fidgeted impatiently until his chief
general had concluded.  Then he burst out:

"We shall accept no such terms."

General Ludendorff bowed.

"As I supposed you would answer, your majesty.
Nevertheless, it again becomes my duty to acquaint
you with other unpleasant facts."

The German emperor appeared surprised.

"Explain, sir," he said briefly.

Again General Ludendorff bowed.

"Well, your majesty," he said, "it must be plain
to you that the war is lost to German arms."

"Not at all," said the kaiser.  "I still have
millions of men in the field, and there are others who
yet may take up arms."

"Very true," said General Ludendorff, "they may
be able to take up arms if they will.  The trouble
is, your majesty, that they probably will decline
longer to wage a losing fight."

The German emperor started back.

"What!" he exclaimed in a loud voice.  "The
German soldier refuse to obey my commands?"

"Exactly, your majesty," said General Ludendorff.

"Any such men shall be instantly shot," declared
the kaiser.

"That would be all very well, Sire," said General
Ludendorff, "if there remained any to carry out
the sentence of execution."

The kaiser began to catch a glimmer of the true
situation.

"You mean," he asked in a low voice, "that my
men will refuse to fight longer?"

Again General Ludendorff bowed.

"Precisely, your majesty," he said quietly.

The kaiser dropped abruptly into a chair.

"I should have been warned," he muttered.  "I
should have been warned.  For years I have seen
this coming, and yet I would not take heed."

He rose to his feet again.

"Tell me," he said to General Von Ludendorff,
"what are your sentiments in this matter, General?"

"The same as the sentiments of the soldiers, your
majesty."

"You mean that I must accept the enemy's terms?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Well, I won't do it."

"There is yet an alternative," said General
Ludendorff slowly.

"And that?" demanded the kaiser, his voice hopeful.

"Abdication," said General Ludendorff quietly.

"What!"

The kaiser stepped quickly forward and raised
his right hand.  General Ludendorff stepped quickly
back several paces.

"I should strike you down where you stand,"
said the kaiser, lowering his arm and letting his
hand play with the hilt of the sword that he wore
at his side.  "Give up my throne, and throw my
people upon the mercy of the enemy?"

"The people would be very glad to be thrown
upon such mercy," said General Von Hindenburg,
now stepping forward.  "Your majesty, let me add
my voice to that of General Ludendorff.  I have
fought for you as best I know how, but it has been
a losing fight, as we have known, almost from the
first.  Something must be done, and that at once."

"Then you, too, general, urge that I renounce the
throne?"

"I do, Sire, most emphatically."

The kaiser's face grew grave.  Apparently such
a thing as abdication had never entered his head.

"Well, gentlemen," he said at last, "I shall give
my decision when my son, the Crown Prince,
arrives, which should be in a very few moments."

The officers in the tent bowed low.  Wilhelm II
was still emperor, and would be until he had signed
a formal decree of abdication.  As officers of the
emperor it was the duty of every man present to
serve him.

As the kaiser had predicted, the Crown Prince,
known more familiarly in allied circles as the
"clown prince," because of his peculiar appearance,
entered the tent.

He slapped his father familiarly on the shoulder.

"What's the matter?" he demanded.  "Have the
allies taken Berlin?"

The kaiser smiled feebly.

"Even worse, if possible, son," he said.  "These
gentlemen here," and he swept the interior of the
tent with his arm, "ask that I renounce the throne
of Germany so that my people may have peace."

The Crown Prince stepped back as though he had
received a blow in the face.  He recovered himself
quickly, however, and said quietly.

"Please repeat that again, Sire."

The kaiser did so, and for a space of perhaps
five minutes there was silence in the tent.  Then
the Crown Prince said:

"Well, Sire, what are you going to do?"

"Abdicate," said the kaiser briefly.  "I shall
abdicate in your favor.  You may treat with the enemy."

"Hold on," ejaculated the Crown Prince.  "You
don't need to abdicate in my favor, sir.  I don't
want to be emperor, not under present conditions."

"Are you afraid?" demanded the kaiser sternly.

The Crown Prince was not to be bluffed like that.

"Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not," he said doggedly;
"but I'm not going to be left in any such
plight as this.  You may wager on that, sir.  If
you abdicate in my favor, I shall follow suit, your
majesty."

"As you will," said the kaiser.  "I, at least, shall
abdicate, and that at once.  General Ludendorff;
how soon can you have the necessary papers prepared?"

"I have already had them prepared, your majesty,"
was General Ludendorff's response.  "I had
hoped that you might see the light."

"Play the coward, you mean, eh?" said the kaiser.
"But no matter.  Put the paper before me and I
shall sign."

From his pocket the general produced a long
parchment, which he laid on the table.  As his
officers gathered about him, the German emperor read
the paper carefully.

"You don't seem to have had much doubt about
how I would act," he commented dryly.  "Well,
perhaps it is for the best."

He seized a pen and scrawled his name across
the paper.  He stepped back and looked at General
Ludendorff.

"Perhaps," he said, "you have Had a similar
paper drawn for the Crown Prince to sign?"

"I have," said General Ludendorff briefly.  "I
have overlooked nothing, Sire."

"So it would seem," said the Crown Prince
angrily, "but I shall sign just the same."

He attached his signature to a second paper
produced by General Ludendorff.

And thus ended the rule of the family of
Hohenzollern.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`IN TROUBLE AGAIN`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXIV


.. class:: center medium bold

   IN TROUBLE AGAIN

.. vspace:: 2

Hal and Chester, from their place of concealment,
had been interested spectators of the abdication
of the German emperor, and his son, the
Crown Prince.

"By Jove!" said Hal, drawing back, "this is a
sight we can brag about the rest of our natural
lives."

"I should say so," agreed Chester.  "And so the
kaiser has abdicated.  Who would have thought it?"

"Certainly not the kaiser himself four years ago,"
was Hal's response.  "But it just goes to show that
right is bound to triumph in the end."

"So it does.  Now I suppose the signing of the
armistice will be only a matter of form."

"I should judge so.  But who will sign the
armistice for Germany?"

"Chancellor Ebert, I imagine," said Chester.  "He
should be the proper man to do so now."

"Well, I guess we'll know soon enough," said
Hal.  "But see, the conference is breaking up.  We'd
better get back a bit.  No need having them learn
we have overheard what has happened."

The lads drew back to the far end of the tent.

Perhaps fifteen minutes later the man who had
acted as spokesman for the German delegates at
the conference with Marshal Foch entered the tent.

"I see you are still here," he said, smiling slightly.
"We shall be ready to return to your lines soon."

"Very well, sir," said Hal, "we await your pleasure."

The man withdrew.

"Well," said Hal, "I guess the war's as good as
over.  Of course, it will be weeks and perhaps
months after the armistice goes into effect before
peace is signed, but I guess there will be no more
fighting."

"I hope not," said Chester.  "It's true enough
that we've had a good time in Europe, such as it is,
but how much better it will be when men turn their
energies to up-building instead of destroying."

"True," agreed Hal, "and yet we know that until
German militarism was destroyed, nothing was safe
in this world.  The war has been a benefit to mankind."

"From that standpoint, you are right, of course;
and still, it would seem that there must be better
ways than by wholesale killing.  It is a long ways
from being pleasant."

"It is indeed.  I shall be glad when it is over.
I don't believe there will ever be another war."

"Oh, I wouldn't go as far as to say that," said
Chester.  "I suppose that as long as there are
nations, and men think as they do now there will be
war.  Of course, some day nations will come to
observe the Golden Rule, and then wars will cease."

"I heard Colonel O'Neil say the other day," said
Hal, "that wars will cease only when men quit
thinking war."

"A very apt remark, by Jove!" said Chester.

Further conversation was prevented by the
entrance of half a dozen figures, one of them the
German delegate who had left the tent a few
moments before.

"We will be moving any time you are ready,
gentlemen," he said, addressing Hal.

"We are ready now, sir," was the lad's reply.

"Good!  Then there is no need to delay.  Let us go."

Hal and Chester followed the Germans from the tent.

Straight to the airplane in which Hal had piloted
the Germans to their own lines from Hirson the
Germans led the way.  Beside the machine, they
came to a stop.

"This trip," said the spokesman to Hal, "you shall
carry a more distinguished personage."

"Very well, sir," said Hal with a slight bow.
"Who, sir?"

"Chancellor Ebert," was the reply.  "However,
it is not desired that his departure be known;
besides which, he will go incognito, his identity to be
revealed only to Marshal Foch, and to be kept
secret after that."

"I see," said Hal.  "I shall never mention the
matter, sir."

"I was sure I could depend on you.  And your
brother officer?"

"I can answer for him, too, sir."

"It is well.  Then we may as well move."

He stepped aside to allow the German chancellor,
a man of slight stature but imposing countenance,
to enter the craft.  The latter climbed in nimbly.

The others followed him.

Hal was about to take his place in the pilot's
seat when there was a sudden interruption.

Came a body of infantry forward at the double
and there was a shouted command to halt.  Chancellor
Ebert stood up in the airplane.

"One moment, sir," he said to Hal, and raised a hand.

The leader of the advancing troops, catching sight
of the chancellor, halted his men and came to
attention.

"What can I do for you, sir?" demanded Chancellor Ebert.

"There is a rumor about the camp," said the
other, "that the emperor has renounced the throne
in favor of the Crown Prince, who also has signed
papers of abdication."

He stopped speaking and stood expectantly,
awaiting a reply.

"Well?" asked Chancellor Ebert.

"We wish to know if the rumor is true, sir?"

"And what if it is true, General?"

"Nothing, sir, except that my men will obey none
but his majesty."

"You mean," asked the chancellor, sharply, "that
you will dispute my authority?"

"I do, sir."

"General Herwigs," said the chancellor, addressing
one of his companions in the airplane, "will you
kindly dispatch one of your men for assistance?
It seems there is mutiny here."

In response to a command from the general, a
man who had been standing near the airplane
started away.  He was immediately halted by the
officer who had accosted the party in the plane.

"One moment, my man," said the officer.  "You
cannot pass here until I have verified the rumor
of the kaiser's abdication."

"General Herwigs," said Chancellor Ebert quietly,
"will you kindly place that officer under arrest."

"With pleasure, sir."

General Herwigs sprang from the machine with
alacrity and approached the officer and addressed
the latter's own men.

"You know me, men," he said.  "I have ever
been a stanch supporter of his majesty.  But now
General Derloff questions the authority of the
imperial chancellor.  I order you to arrest him."

It was plain that the sentiment of the troops was
about evenly divided.  General Derloff immediately
began to harangue his followers, and while the
argument continued the man whom General Herwigs
ordered away in search of reinforcements took the
opportunity to disappear.

He was out of sight before anyone noticed his
absence.  Ten minutes later, while the argument
between the two generals still waxed hot, the troops
meanwhile being undecided just what to do, a
second force of infantry appeared in the distance,
coming forward at the double.

General Derloff was the first to see them.

"Quick, men, away!" he cried.  "We have been
tricked!"

His men turned in confusion and ran.

As they did so, the loyal troops opened fire on
the mutineers.  Immediately the latter, angered,
turned to reply to the fire.

Rifles cracked right and left.

The allied airplane, caught thus between two
fires, was in a dangerous predicament.

"Climb in here, sir," said Hal to General Herwigs,
"and we will make our escape while we may."

But Chancellor Ebert stayed the departure.

"A moment," he said.  "I cannot fly while Germans,
through a misunderstanding, are at each
other's throats."

"But we must go, sir," said General Herwigs.
"Time is growing short.  Marshal Foch said that if
we had not returned in twenty-four hours negotiations
would be considered suspended.  We have little
time now, sir.  Haste is necessary."

For answer Chancellor Ebert stepped from the plane.

"As I have said," he said quietly, "I cannot go
now, under these conditions.  But you may go,
general, you and the other delegates.  Before all these
witnesses, I designate you to sign the armistice
terms with Marshal Foch.  But I cannot go.  My
place is here."

"But, sir—" began General Herwigs.

Chancellor Ebert stayed further words with
upraised hand.

"Enough," he said quietly.  "You heard me, sir.
I am your superior, and as such will be obeyed.
Report to me when the armistice has been signed, and
not before."

General Herwigs, it appeared, was about to protest
further, but the chancellor stayed him with a
gesture.

"Hurry now," he said.  "You have not much time."

Unmindful of the bullets that were flying overhead,
he turned on his heel and walked toward the
loyal troops, who, still firing at the mutineers,
hurried forward to receive him.

General Herwigs, realizing that to protest further
to the chancellor was useless, climbed in the
airplane again and took his seat.

"No use arguing with him," he muttered.

Hal smiled slightly and made sure that his spark
was set.

"All ready, sir?" he called back over his shoulder.

"All ready," was the reply; "and hurry."

The huge plane slid gently over the ground.
Gradually its momentum increased until it was
traveling with the speed of an express train.  Then Hal
touched the elevating lever.

The airplane leaped aloft.

Almost at the same moment, a dozen or more of
the mutineers, who were still facing the loyal troops
firmly, at command from General Derloff, turned
their rifles on the airplane and fired.

Hal, catching their movements out of the corner
of his eye, veered the course of the airplane sharply.
Prompt though he was, he had not acted promptly
enough.

A hail of bullets sang above and on both sides
of him.  The plane fluttered like a big bird,
wounded.

Hal's heart sank within him.

"Something wrong," he told himself grimly.
"We're hit."

Chester also was alarmed.  His fear grew as the
airplane began to descend.

"What's the matter, Hal?" he called.

"Don't know," was Hal's reply.  "I'm going to
land and find out."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`A BATTLE`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXV


.. class:: center medium bold

   A BATTLE

.. vspace:: 2

The descending airplane became the target at
which a hundred or more rifles were aimed.  Nevertheless,
it reached the ground without any of its
occupants being wounded.

Out sprang Hal and Chester and behind them
the German envoys.  While Hal darted around to
examine the nature of the machine's injuries,
Chester and the Germans drew their revolvers.

At the distance, however, as Chester well knew,
revolvers were of no avail against the rifles in the
hands of the mutinous Germans.  But from behind,
loyal troops were closing in on the latter.  It
appeared for the moment that the mutineers must
yield in the face of this overwhelming force against
them.  Several threw down their rifles and raised
their arms in token of surrender.  The others, however,
as they retreated before their erstwhile friends,
drew even closer to the crippled airplanes.

One of the German envoys gave a sudden cry as a
rifle bullet grazed his left arm.  The mutineers had
now come within range of the revolvers of the little
party gathered about the fallen airplane, and the
latter opened fire.

Confusion ensued in the ranks of the mutineers.

"Give 'em another," cried Chester, forgetful for
the moment that his companions were Germans.
Nevertheless, his words were understood, and a
second volley of revolver bullets checked the
approach of the enemies.

"How's the machine, Hal?" shouted Chester.

"I'll have her fixed in a jiffy," was Hal's reply,
as he tinkered with the engine.  "Nothing serious."

From all sides of the German camp, troops,
attracted by the sounds of firing, rushed toward the
scene of conflict.  The mutineers, heavily outnumbered,
nevertheless fought on doggedly.  They must
have realized that death would be the penalty should
they be captured, and it seemed to be their
intention of bringing down as many of their former
companions as possible before being killed themselves.

The attack from the rear and either flank had
become so severe that the mutineers were forced to
abandon their efforts to shoot down the German
envoys.  Their ranks were sadly depleted now, but
those who were left showed no signs of surrender.

And at last there remained but half a dozen.

"Surrender!" cried a German officer, and ordered
his men to withhold their fire.

The mutineers' reply was a volley that laid the
officer low.

But the shot that struck the officer did not kill.
With difficulty the man raised himself on his elbow
and gave a command to his men.

"Kill them!" he said quietly.

Three more volleys flared forth in rapid
succession, and when the smoke had cleared away
there was no mutineer left standing.

Chester breathed a sigh of relief.

"Safe again," he muttered.

This outbreak of German troops had an unpleasant
effect on the German envoys.

"It is time we had peace, no matter at what price,"
mumbled one to himself.  "Our people are on the
verge of open revolt.  Those men professed to be
loyal servants of the emperor.  It just goes to show
the temper of the masses.  Mutiny is in the hearts
of the armies.  Soon they would take matters in
their own hands."

"You are right," said another.  "It is to be
earnestly hoped that we may have peace and set up a
stable government before rioting becomes rampant."

"I am afraid it is too late even now," declared
the first speaker.

At this juncture Hal came from beneath the
airplane with the announcement that the machine was
fit to resume its voyage.

"Please get in at once, gentlemen," he said.  "We
have not much time."

The German envoys stepped aside to permit
Chancellor Ebert to return to them.  This the
chancellor did a few moments later, but what was the
surprise of the others when the chancellor announced
that he would not accompany them.

"My duty is here, it seems," he said quietly.
"Events that have just transpired seem to prove
that.  No, gentlemen, I shall not go with you."

"But, sir—" began General Herwigs.

Chancellor Ebert stayed the protest with upraised
hand.

"I have decided," he said quietly.  "You, General
Herwigs, I have designated as my representative.
These gentlemen," and he included Hal and
Chester with the others, "are witnesses to the fact."

The other bowed, but made no reply.

"That is all, gentlemen," said the chancellor.
"You would better be on your way."

General Herwigs seemed to realize that further
protest was useless.  He drew himself up stiffly, as
did the other envoys, and saluted the chancellor.
Then, without another word, he re-entered the airplane.

The others took their seats, and Hal climbed again
into the pilot's seat.

"All ready?" he asked.

Chester glanced around to make sure that all the
passengers were ready for the trip.

"Let her go, Hal," he said a moment later.

The airplane sped across the ground.  Directly
it began to ascend.  Soon Hal turned it a trifle so
that its nose pointed toward the distant village of
Hirson, where Marshal Foch and staff were awaiting
the return of the two lads and the German envoys.

"And I hope," Hal muttered to himself, "that
there will be no other delays."

But in this he was doomed to disappointment,
and it was due to the lad's own carelessness that the
trouble came about.

Looking now for the map given him by General
Dupree, which was to mark out for Hal the safety
zones in the allied lines, the lad was unable to find
it.

Frantically he explored his pockets, the while
keeping one hand on the wheel.  He could not find
the map.

"Now what do you think of that?" he muttered.
"By Jove!  I've just naturally got to have that map."

He slowed down the speed of the craft to enable
him to make a more careful search of his pockets.
The search was futile.  The map was not there.

Hal turned the situation over in his mind as the
craft sped on.

"I don't know how," he told himself, "but I've
lost the map.  That much is certain.  What a
dunderhead I must be, by Jove!  Well, what shall I do
now?"

Again he considered the matter.

"Well," he said aloud at length, "there is no need
alarming the others, but if I don't have a map to
show the safety zones at certain hours, I'll just
naturally have to get there without one.  That's
all there is about that."

With Hal to decide was to act.  He acted now,
and without further thought of the danger that lay
ahead.

The speed of the plane increased, and it soared
higher into the heavens.

"It's safer up here," the lad told himself.

The airplane had now passed from over the German
lines, so it was clear that the danger that Hal
feared, whatever it was, was not from German
aircraft.  What worried the lad was the fact that
he might be unable to run safely the gauntlet of
allied machines that were patrolling the sky.

Once sighted by allied pilots, Hal knew, and
there would be trouble.  Any plane approaching
from the direction of the German lines, and not in
that section of the field designated as a safety zone
by General Dupree, Hal was perfectly well aware,
would incur the suspicion of whatever allied
airman sighted it.

"He might let me explain, and he might not,"
the lad told himself.  "Best way, I guess, is to keep
out of their reach."

The lad made out the forms of several sky fighters
several miles away.  Of these he had no fear, however,
for the distance was too great and they seemed,
if anything, to be moving away from his machine.
But soon the boy saw half a dozen craft, in close
battle formation, bearing down on him.

"Here they come, ready for business," he muttered,
"and they're Frenchmen, too, judging from
here.  Well, we'll have to go up a little higher and
see if we can't dodge them."

The airplane went higher in the air.

But the craft bearing the German peace envoys
had been sighted by the pilot of the air fleet, and
the entire squadron now dashed toward Hal.

Came a rifle shot from the distance and Hal
heard the whine of a bullet not a great distance
from his ear.

"Too close for comfort," the lad muttered.
"Now here is a case where I'm sorry the French
air fighters are such confounded good marksmen.
I'll have to see what this craft can offer in the way
of speed."

The airplane seemed to leap forward as Hal
touched the controls.

The machine bearing the lads and the German
envoys was now many feet above the allied battle
squadron.  And, before the commander of the air
flotilla realized what was happening, his prey sped
by him unharmed.

Instantly he flashed a command to his other vessels
to give pursuit, and the entire squadron turned
and gave chase.

Although Hal had not warned the others of their
danger, they were now fully conversant with what
was going on.  Plainly the German envoys were
worried, for they had come on a mission of peace
and naturally supposed Hal would pilot them safely
to Hirson without their being molested.

But Chester had some glimmering of the truth.

"Hal's lost his map," he told himself.  "Oh, well,
I guess it won't make any difference.  We'll get
there safely enough.  Hal is as full of tricks as a
magician.  Besides, we seem to be leaving those
fellows in the lurch."

It was true.  The pursuing flotilla was falling behind.

And directly Hal was so far in advance of his
pursuers that he knew he was safe.

"Now for Hirson!" he muttered.

The remainder of the journey was made without
incident, and several hours later the airplane landed
only a few yards from where it had started the day
before.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE CONFERENCE RESUMED`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXVI


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE CONFERENCE RESUMED

.. vspace:: 2

The mayor of the village was there to greet the
German envoys when they stepped from the airplane.
He announced that they would be conducted at once
into the presence of Marshal Foch.  He signified
that Hal and Chester were to accompany the party.

The lads saw, as the mayor led the way, that
the conference was to be resumed in Marshal Foch's
private car, which still stood on a side track in the
station yards.

Upon the platform of the car stood General
Dupree.  He greeted the German delegates stiffly.

"It is late," he said.  "We had begun to fear
perhaps you would not return.  However, you are
within the allotted time."

"We are later than we expected to be for
unavoidable reasons, sir," said General Herwigs.  "In
fact, we came with difficulty."

He explained the trouble within his own lines,
but for some reason he said nothing of the pursuit
by the allied airplanes.

"I hope he forgets all about it," Hal murmured
to himself.  "It was gross carelessness on my part,
and I should get a wigging.  However, if he says
nothing about the matter, it's a sure thing I won't."

General Dupree now showed the delegates into
the car.  As before, Marshal Foch sat at his desk,
immersed in a pile of papers.  He looked up as the
delegates approached.

"Ah, gentlemen," he said, "pray, be seated."

He motioned the five men to seats at his table.
Besides these, there were also seated there three
or four members of the marshal's staff.

"I trust you had a pleasant trip, gentlemen?"
said Marshal Foch politely.

"Not so very pleasant, sir," said one of the
envoys, and explained what had befallen.

Marshal Foch expressed his condolences, then
added:

"And now to business, gentlemen."

"We are ready to discuss terms, sir," said
General Herwigs.

"Ah," said Marshal Foch, "but there shall be
no discussion.  I have stated my terms.  It is for
you to say whether Germany will accept."

"You have the terms in writing, Marshal?"

"I have, sir.  They are here," and Marshal Foch
extended a paper to General Herwigs.

General Herwigs read the several sheets of
foolscap carefully.  Then, without a word, he passed
them to his associates, who scanned them carefully
in turn.  The paper was passed back to General
Herwigs.

"They are very severe, sir," said General Herwigs.

"So they are," agreed Marshal Foch, "but under
the circumstances I can do no better."

"But surely, sir," said General Herwigs, "you
realize that they are more harsh than have ever
before been imposed upon an enemy by a civilized
nation?"

"Perfectly," said Marshal Foch.  "At the same
time, sir, never has a civilized nation wrought such
ruin on the world at large as has Germany in the
last four years.  He who plays, must pay the
fiddler, you know, sir."

"Is there no hope, sir," asked General Herwigs,
"that the terms may be modified?"

"None," said Marshal Foch briefly.

For the space of perhaps five minutes General
Herwigs was silent.  Then he said:

"You will grant me a few moments' private
conversation with my associates, sir?"

"As many as you choose," replied Marshal Foch.

The German delegates retired to the far end of
the car, where they conversed in low voices for
perhaps ten minutes.  Then they returned to their
seats.

"Since you insist upon these terms," said General
Herwigs, "I want to record formal protest
against their severity."

"It shall be duly recorded, sir," said Marshal
Foch gravely.

"And," continued General Herwigs, "as you refuse
to modify them, there is only one thing Germany can do."

There was an air of expectancy in the car.  Hal
felt his breath coming quickly.  Chester's hands
clenched and unclenched nervously.

At General Herwigs' last words, it seemed to
both lads that he was about to defy Marshal Foch.
Neither lad was able to place any other construction
on his words.

"And that is?" asked Marshal Foch, answering
General Herwigs' last statement.

"That is to accept the terms, sir!"

General Foch got to his feet and took a step forward.

"I am glad," he said simply.  "There can be no
one more glad than I that peace shall rest again
upon earth after four years of war."

There was a subdued cheer from the allied officers
in the car, but these were quickly suppressed.

"There remains, then," said Marshal Foch, "nothing
now except the formal signing of the terms,
which accomplished, I shall order an armistice
effective from 11 o'clock to-morrow morning."

General Herwigs bowed.

"I am ready to sign now."

"You have the authority to speak for the German
people?" asked Marshal Foch.

"I have, sir.  Since the formal abdication of the
kaiser and the Crown Prince——"

There were exclamations of surprise from all
parts of the car.  Even Marshal Foch seemed
moved.

"The emperor has abdicated?" he questioned.

"Yes, sir, and the Crown Prince has declined to
take the throne.  Chancellor Ebert, now acting head
of the government, has authorized me to sign the
armistice terms in the name of the German people."

"It is well," said Marshal Foch.

The paper was spread out on the table.  Once
more General Herwigs read, as his associates
grouped themselves about him.

"It is hard thus to sign away virtually the freedom
of a mighty nation," he said, "but there is no
help for it."

He signed.

Then the other German delegates affixed their
signatures as witnesses, and Marshal Foch wrote
his name.

So the armistice was signed.  While formal peace
negotiations would not be begun for perhaps months,
the war was over so far as actual fighting was
concerned.

In signing Marshal Foch's terms, Germany
virtually had signed away her rights to be classed as
one of the great powers.  Besides agreeing to
surrender the bulk of her arms and ammunitions, she
had announced she would give up her most effective
weapon of warfare—the submarine—the majority
of her undersea craft to be turned over to the allied
navies at a specified time.

By the terms of the armistice, Germany agreed
to withdraw her armies from occupied territories
to the east bank of the Rhine.  It was stipulated
that mooted questions, such as the disposition of the
captured German colonies and the amount of
indemnity Germany would be required to pay, would
be left to the formal peace council of the allies.  But,
to make it absolutely certain that Germany would
have to accept the decisions of the peace council,
Marshal Foch, in imposing his stringent armistice
terms, had tied the hands of the foe.  Germany,
once the terms of the armistice had been carried
out, would have practically nothing with which to
fight should she desire to resume the struggle.

Marshal Foch, having pocketed the document,
indicated that the conference was adjourned.

"There is no other business before us, I believe,
gentlemen," he said, "so I shall detain you no
longer.  I have much work to do in the next
twenty-four hours and I must get about it."

At the door to the car the German envoys saluted
the French commander-in-chief before taking their
departure.  Marshal Foch returned the salute stiffly.
Upon suggestion of General Dupree, Hal and Chester
were to take the German envoys back to their
own lines.  Neither lad was greatly pleased with the
task, but there was no use of protest.  The trip was
made in record time, but when Hal and Chester
returned to Hirson in the airplane, they found that
Marshal Foch and his staff had gone to Soissons.

"Did the commander-in-chief leave any instructions
for us?" Hal asked of the mayor.

"None," was the reply.

"Then we must report to him in Soissons,"
declared Chester.  "We may not return to our own
command without his permission, Hal."

"Right you are, Chester.  Well, as long as we
have this plane at our disposal, we shall continue
to Soissons in it, if our good mayor here has no
objections."

"None, sir," said the burgess of Hirson.  "I am
proud to be honored, as is every one of my fellow
citizens.  This has been a great event for Hirson."

"And for the world," said Hal briefly.

"Very true, sir," replied the burgess; "and for
the world.  But the plane is yours, if you will have
it.  After 11 o'clock to-morrow morning, we will
have need of no such messenger of the air."

"Not for warlike purposes, at all events, I trust.
Many thanks, Mr. Mayor.  With your permission,
we will be on our way at once."

The mayor bowed and insisted upon shaking
hands with each.  Then the lads repaired again to
their machine and climbed in.

"Here's one trip we'll take without fear of
danger," said Chester, as Hal touched the controls.

"Right," Hal agreed.  "By the way, the mayor
made us a present of this airplane.  I've a good
mind to keep it and take it back to America."

"Guess the French government would have something
to say about that," laughed Chester.  "However,
you can try it if you want to."

"No," returned Hal, "guess I'd better leave it
here.  I've had trouble enough in the last few years
and every German is my enemy.  I don't want to
make any more, particularly among our friends,
the French."

The plane was now speeding through the air.

"Step on her, Hal!" cried Chester.  "I want to
get back to Soissons and then to our own command.
Remember, the armistice doesn't become effective
until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.  The fighting
is not over yet.  We may have a chance for a little
more fun before it's all over."

"By Jove!" Hal ejaculated.  "You're right.  I
hadn't thought of that."

The plane dashed forward faster than before.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`STUBBS REDEEMS HIMSELF`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXVII


.. class:: center medium bold

   STUBBS REDEEMS HIMSELF

.. vspace:: 2

Now, it is a fact that for some hours after the
armistice between Germany and the allies was
signed the matter was kept secret, for some reason
or other.  To this fact was due, in a large measure,
Anthony Stubbs' ability to redeem himself for the
false information he had sent his paper some days
before.

Much disgusted with himself over the false
"scoop," Stubbs had left Versailles, more to escape
the jibes of his fellow war correspondents than for
any other reason.

The afternoon of November 11 found him again
in Soissons, where he had parted from Hal and
Chester several days before.  The little man was
very morose, and not without reason.  So far he
had received no reply from his cablegram to The
Gazette, announcing that the previous information
was untrue; but he was expecting an answer momentarily.

And at last it came.  It read like this.

"Your error made us ridiculous.  Sending man
to relieve you.  In meantime, depend upon you to
keep us posted."

"Oh, I'll keep them posted, all right," said Stubbs,
"but it won't do me any good now."

It was late in the afternoon when Stubbs ran
into Hal and Chester, who had recently left Marshal
Foch after reporting to the latter on their
return from Hirson, where the armistice had been
signed.

"Why, hello, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester.  "What
are you doing here?  I thought you were in Versailles."

"I was," said Stubbs, "but I didn't stay very
long."

"What's the reason for your return here?"
demanded Hal.  "I thought you wanted to be where
you could save time when you got word of the
signing of the armistice."

"I did," said Stubbs, "and that's the trouble.  I
got word two days ago that the armistice had been
signed."

"But it hadn't," said Chester.

"Oh, I know that now," said Stubbs sorrowfully,
"but it would have saved me a lot of worry had I
known it then."

"You don't mean to tell me that you filed that
dispatch to your paper, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.

"I did," replied Stubbs briefly.

"Great Scott!  Then it's a wonder you haven't
been fired by this time."

"I have," said Stubbs, briefly again.

"What?" exclaimed Chester.  "Fired from The
Gazette, Mr. Stubbs?"

"Exactly; and I don't blame The Gazette, either."

"But how on earth did you come to file such a
report?"

"Because I had it from a source that should have
been authentic."

"From whom, may I ask?"

"Admiral W——"

"But the admiral should have known better," said Hal.

"Maybe he should have," said Stubbs; "trouble
is he didn't."

"Now that's too bad, Stubbs," declared Chester
sympathetically.  "I'm certainly sorry."

"So am I," declared Stubbs grimly.  "But that's
the trouble with the newspaper game.  You never
get any credit for what you do, but you are always
due for a wigging any time something goes wrong."

"And I suppose The Gazette put out an extra,"
remarked Hal.

"I'm dead sure of it," replied Stubbs grimly.
"Here, look at this cable I just received."

Hal read the cablegram and then passed it to
Chester.

"Pretty tough, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, after
scanning it hastily.  "Now, isn't there anything you
can do to redeem yourself?"

"Nothing that I can think of," was the reply,
"unless I could be fortunate enough to get first
word of the real signing of the armistice."

Hal and Chester both expressed their surprise.

"Great Scott, Mr. Stubbs!" said Chester, "didn't
you know the armistice had been signed?"

"No, I didn't know it," declared Stubbs, "have
you heard anything about it?"

"Have we?" exclaimed Hal.  "Why, man, we were
there when it was signed."

"Now listen here, Hal," said Stubbs, "I've been
in hot water once.  I don't want to get back there
again."

"But I'm telling you facts, Mr. Stubbs," declared
Hal.  "The armistice has been signed.  Chester
and I were there when General Herwigs and four
other German delegates affixed their signatures."

"Are you telling me the truth?" demanded Stubbs
excitedly.

"The absolute truth, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester.

Stubbs looked at them closely.

"By Jove!  I believe you are," he ejaculated at
last.  "And has this fact become generally known?"

"I don't see why it hasn't," replied Hal.  "The
armistice becomes effective at 11 o'clock to-morrow."

"Funny some of the other correspondents haven't
heard of it," mumbled Stubbs to himself.  "Some
of them returned to Soissons with me."

"Well, you'd better get busy, Mr. Stubbs," said
Hal, "or they will beat you to it."

"Then upon your advice," said Stubbs, "I'll get
busy.  Come with me, boys, and tell me what you
can on the way.  Hurry now."

Stubbs set out at a rapid pace for the nearest
cable office, Hal and Chester at his heels.

Now, as it chanced, there was but one place in
Soissons where, due to war conditions, a cable
dispatch could be filed.  The wire from there led direct
to Versailles, where messages were relayed.  It was
the only possible means of communication with
the outside world outside of military lines.

At the door of the cable office, Stubbs encountered
Jennings, correspondent of The New York
World, who had returned to Soissons at the same
time Stubbs had.

"Hello, Stubbs," he grinned.  "Armistice signed
again?  I see you're headed for the cable office."

"Never mind, Jennings," said Stubbs.  "You
think the laugh's on your side now.  Maybe it
won't be later."

"Perhaps not," Jennings admitted, "but if I were
you, I'd be almighty careful of the next dispatch
I sent The Gazette.  Chances are your people will
not relish being fooled a second time."

Now Stubbs was well aware of the fact that it
would be possible for only one message to be sent
out of Soissons at a time.  So he said:

"Jennings, you have been pretty decent to me,
so if you'll come along I'll do you a favor."

Jennings looked at Stubbs peculiarly.

"Something up?" he demanded.

"Considerable," returned Stubbs.

"Then I'll go along," said Jennings.  "I haven't
anything else to do."

He accompanied Stubbs and the two lads into
the cable office.

"Now, Jennings," said Stubbs, "I'm not going
to tell you what's up until I have filed my dispatch.
But you'll have the next chance at the wire."

"Fair enough," said Jennings smiling.  "I guess
your stuff is not so awfully hot."

"Maybe not," said Stubbs.  "Wait."

Briefly he scribbled on a cable blank, and passed
the message to the operator.  What he wrote was
this:

"Armistice signed this P.M. at Hirson by
General Foch, General Herwigs, representing Chancellor
Ebert, and four other delegates.  Information
absolutely authentic.  Trust me this time."

"Now," he said, turning to Jennings, "I'll tell
you my news."

"Let's have it," said Jennings, somewhat indifferently.

"The armistice has been signed."

Jennings started, then recovered himself.

"That's what you said before," he declared with
a grin.  "Guess I'd better wait and get my
information first-handed."

"That's what I've done this trip," replied Stubbs
calmly.

"What do you mean?"

"Why," said Stubbs, "my friends here, Majors
Paine and Crawford, were at Hirson when the
armistice was signed this afternoon."

Jennings wheeled on the two lads, his face flushed
with excitement.

"Is that true?" he demanded.

"Absolutely," said Hal.

Without further words, Jennings rushed toward
the operator.  But Stubbs was ahead of him.

"Hold on, now," said the little man.  "I'm first
at this wire, and I haven't finished my message yet."

"Hurry then," said Jennings, "and give me a chance."

"You stick close," said Stubbs, "and you shall
have the second chance at the wire.  But I haven't
half finished yet."

"Great Scott, man!  You've sent your flash,
haven't you?"

"Yes; but I want to add a few details."

"Well, let me get in a few words ahead and I'll
gladly relinquish the wire again."

"Not much," said Stubbs.  "I have the wire now
and I intend to keep it for the next hour if I have
to file the first chapter of Genesis."

"Stubbs," pleaded Jennings, "don't be a hog.  I've
got to get word to The World.  You know that."

"Then you should have got your own information,"
declared Stubbs.

Meantime, the little war correspondent had been
scribbling busily, from time to time passing sheets
of paper to the operator, who sat with his hand on
the key.

Suddenly there was the sound of confusion
without.  A moment later half a dozen men rushed
into the room.  Stubbs smiled, as he recognized
other war correspondents.

"I'm a little ahead of you, fellows," he said
good-naturedly.  "Now, I intend to keep this wire for
the next hour.  Then I shall release it to Jennings
here.  He'll probably do his best for you."

The other correspondents smiled sickly smiles.
They were beaten and they knew it.  True to his
words, Stubbs ceased writing an hour later and
Jennings captured the wire.  Stubbs turned to Hal and
Chester.

"Come," he said, "let's be moving.  I think I
have redeemed myself."

And he had, as later events were to prove; for
The New York Gazette was the first paper in
America to announce the fact that the armistice had
been signed.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE END DRAWS NEAR`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXVIII


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE END DRAWS NEAR

.. vspace:: 2

"WHEE-E-E-E-E-OU-O-O-O-O—BANG!"

Chester raised himself to a sitting position in his
funk hole and looked over at Hal.

"Gosh all fishhooks!  Looks like this was all a
fake about the war being over at 11 o'clock this
morning," he said.  "Those shells don't sound like
the end of the war to me.  Do they to you?"

Hal admitted that they did not.  The burst had
almost covered both lads with earth and had been
to close to allow either of them any peace of mind.
"Down!" shouted Chester and again Hal rolled
himself into a knot and wished that his funk hole
was as many inches deeper.  He had seen days
when such a funk hole would have been sufficiently
deep, but on that day of all days—half an hour
before the end of the war—a forty-foot well wouldn't
have been any too deep.

Hal's calculation was a bit off.  The shell came
whistling in, like the weird cry of a hungry beast,
and exploded in the hollow below the funk holes
in which Hal and Chester found themselves, throwing
up a geyser of earth and rocks that did no harm
to anyone.

"That guy's as wild as a hawk," came a cry from
a nearby hole.  "I could do better than that
myself, and I ain't no artilleryman, either."

"You talk like you wanted him to shoot closer,"
Hal called back.  "That was plenty close enough
for me."

The next shell broke on the brow of the hill.
Then came a whole shower of them, each one singing
its own little tune that struck terror to the
hearts of the bravest.

Chester squirmed down into his funk hole until
he could see the dial of his wrist watch.  It was
10.35.  In twenty-five minutes more the war would
be over.

A moment later American batteries behind them
began sending over reprisal fire.  The 75's
passing over their heads whined savagely, but not so
savagely as those boche shells coming in.

(It is a well-known fact that a shell going out
has a different whine than a shell coming in, also
a different effect on one's nerves.)

Twenty-five minutes is a long time when a man
is hiding from death.  To know that in twenty-five
minutes, providing you are alive at the end of that
time, death's shadow will have ceased to follow in
your footsteps, is a great inducement to live.

Hal and Chester found it so.

They were back with their own command again
after the trying days they had spent with Marshal
Foch and the German envoys whom they had
accompanied to and from their own lines and back
again.

After leaving Stubbs in Soissons, following the
little man's triumph in flashing first word of the
signing of the armistice to his paper in America,
they had reported to General Pershing in Rheims.

The American commander-in-chief had, of course,
been informed some time before that the armistice
had been signed.  So, in fact, had all other officers
in the allied armies.  This had been necessary in
order that there would be no doubt as to the hour
upon which the armistice would become effective.

General Pershing expressed his pleasure at seeing
the boys again, and his gladness that they had
been so fortunate as to be present at the signing
of the armistice.

"It is an honor that I would have been glad to
have had myself," he declared.

After a brief interview with the commander-in-chief,
the lads were dispatched by him with a message
to General Rhodes, their old commander, with
the Forty-second division, still quartered at the
front, just to the south and east of Sedan.

Following the capture of Sedan, the American
lines had been pushed forward in the face of
determined resistance.  Though the fighting was severe,
the Germans did not have such a stiff front as they
had formerly.  It apparently was a well-known fact
all through the German army that armistice
proceedings were in progress, and consequently it
appeared that the German officers were not willing to
sacrifice their men needlessly.

So the American positions had been advanced
despite enemy efforts to halt them.

After reporting to General Rhodes and delivering
the communication they carried from the
commander-in-chief, the lads repaired to the quarters
of Colonel O'Neil.

"By George!" exclaimed the colonel, "I certainly
am glad to see you fellows again.  You have been
gone so long that I feared you had come to grief.
Where have you been?"

"Well, Colonel," said Hal briefly, "we saw the
armistice signed."

"You don't mean it," was the colonel's ejaculation.
"You were certainly confounded lucky.  It's
an event I would like to have seen myself.  You
must feel pretty important, eh?"

"Not so important that we cannot do a little more
before the war ends," Chester said quietly.

"There is still work to be done," returned Colonel
O'Neil quietly.  "Hear the firing?"

The lads did not need to strain their ears to hear
the distant rumble of big guns and the sharp crack
of infantry firing, nearer at hand.

"Still at it, eh?" murmured Chester.  "You
would think that with the end of the war so close
at hand, officers and men alike would be content
to sit quiet."

"On the contrary, though," laughed Colonel
O'Neil, "it would appear that each side is determined
to wreak what death and destruction it can before
a few written words shall stop this business of
wholesale killing and ruin."

"So it would seem," Hal agreed.  "But in the
meantime, Colonel, is there nothing we can do?
We would like to be in this war right up to the
finish, you know, sir."

The colonel considered briefly.

"Well, yes, there is a little work you may do,"
he said.  He turned to his desk and scribbled briefly.
Turning again, he passed a paper to Chester.

"Major Lawrence," he said, "has not yet been
informed at what hour the armistice becomes effective.
This message will enlighten him.  Will you
deliver it for me?"

"Yes, sir," said Chester briefly.

"And me, Colonel, what am I to do?" demanded Hal.

"Oh, you, Major," laughed the colonel, "you
accompany Major Crawford and see that my
instructions are carried out."

"It shall be done, sir," said Hal.

The two lads left their colonel and hurried
towards Major Lawrence's detachment, at the
extreme front.

"Well," said Chester as they hurried along,
"looks like our fighting days are over."

"It certainly does," Hal agreed, "but you never
can tell, you know."

"True enough.  It's as likely as not that one of
us may fall yet before the war ends."

"I guess not," Hal said.  "We've gone through
four years of it now.  I've begun to believe we
bear charmed lives."

"It does seem so, but it only takes one bullet,
in the proper place, to settle that argument."

"That's right enough," Hal admitted, "but I've
a feeling that we shall both live to spend many
pleasant days in the United States."

"Oh, I'm not thinking of getting killed," Chester
declared.  "I'm just remarking on what is possible."

"Anything is possible at this age of the world,"
said Hal sententiously.

The lads now had come within sight of Major
Lawrence's detachment.  Bullets were flying thick
and fast among the American troops, who had
sought the shelter of long lines of funk holes, until
recently in possession of the enemy.  Chester
delivered his message at once.

"Well," said Major Lawrence, "I guess we'll be
about here when the war ends.  Believe me, I am
not going to order an advance when I know the
war's about over, and I don't think the enemy will."

"They seem bent on doing all the mischief they
can while they have a chance, Major," said Hal.

"So it seems; but I've decided to squat here in
these holes and let them fight to their heart's
content.  Of course, should they rush us, we'll give
them more than they bargained for; but I'm not
going to attack myself."

"I don't blame you, Major," declared Chester.
"But now I've a favor to ask."

"Consider it granted, sir," replied Major Lawrence.

"We have been assigned to no particular duty,"
Chester continued, "and we should be glad if you
would allow us to pass the remaining hours of the
war with you, sir."

"I shall be glad to have you with me," was the
reply.

This is the reason, then, that Hal and Chester
found themselves again in the front lines, a scant
hour before the armistice ending the greatest war
of history went into effect.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE LAST ZERO`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXIX


.. class:: center medium bold

   THE LAST ZERO

.. vspace:: 2

The boche shells were now breaking in the hollow
below the spot where Hal and Chester found
themselves.  Hal was congratulating himself on
having a lucky spot in which to witness the closing
minutes of the war, when, just on his right, a
geyser of earth and rock was hurled up by a mighty
explosion.

His first thought was of Chester.  But after he
had successfully dodged several falling stones, he
peered over the edge of his funk hole and there was
Chester, grinning broadly.

"How are they coming, Chester?" he called out.

"Closer than I like," Chester answered.  "But
here is an old friend of yours and I am afraid
he has got his."

"Who is he?" demanded Hal.

"Sergeant Bowers."

"What?  Bowers here?"

"Yes, but he's rolling on the ground right now,
and I can't get to him.  He seems to be about all in."

"Is he dead?" Hal asked.

Chester listened for a moment to make sure that
a shell wasn't headed his way, then he took
another peep.

"No, I think he is still alive, but is badly
wounded."

Hal and Chester, braving the enemy fire, both
crawled out of their funk holes and started for
Sergeant Bowers, who had fallen just outside the
funk hole in which he had sought refuge.  But
they were back quicker than a man could say "Jack
Robinson."

A shell can be heard coming when it is passing
to one side or overhead, but when it is headed
straight toward you its cry is heard usually after
the explosion, or is drowned out by the explosion.
Common mathematics will show why.  Air conditions
also help.  If the wind is traveling with the
shell, one stands a fair chance of hitting the earth
before the shell explodes.  But if the wind is traveling
against the shell, one hasn't much salvation.

In this case the wind was in the lads' favor.  As
they both heard the shell coming, they moved like
lightning.  It is surprising sometimes how fast one
can move at a time like this.

In taking their places in the funk holes, which
had been dug by the Germans when they were in
possession of that piece of ground, Hal and
Chester had calculated on just one thing—having time
to fit themselves into the holes before shells should
find them.  And now that both found it necessary to
make a quick fit of it, they were disgusted with their
laziness in not spending enough energy and taking
the chances necessary to making them big enough
in the first place.

"Why didn't I?"

That was the question each lad asked himself a
dozen times during the brief space of a moment
they lay there half exposed and waiting for that
which they feared.

It broke at last.  The earth boiled, up, a mass of
clods and stones, only a few yards in front of Hal.
A piece of shell fragment struck his helmet a
glancing blow; another buried itself in the earth only
a few inches from his nose.

Hal crawled out of his funk hole and reinserted
himself, making sure this time that he was below
the surface.  By his watch it lacked still five
minutes of 11 o'clock.  Almost time for all this
business to stop.

At intervals for several seconds, Boche shells
came screaming in, exploding hither and yon.

"Gas!  Gas!" came the startling cry down the line.

Chester crawled deliberately into his gas mask,
for the bursts, which he recognized on the moment
as being gas shells, had been too far away to cause
them any immediate alarm.

There followed then a strange, unbelievable silence,
as though the world had died.  It lasted but
a moment, for perhaps the space that a breath may
be held.  Again Hal glanced at his watch.

"Eleven o'clock!"

He uttered the words aloud.

Eleven o'clock.  The armistice was now effective.
Fighting should cease.

Came suddenly such an uproar of relief and
jubilance, such a shrieking of claxons—gas claxons
that shrieked now with pure joy—and such a shout
from both lines that only men possessed of sheer
happiness can utter.

Chester pulled off his gas mask and shouted with
the rest.  And even as he did so he caught a faint
odor which he knew to be that of mustard gas.  But
nothing mattered now.

Hal and Chester piled out of their funk holes with
the rest, waving their helmets and shouting at the
top of their voices.  Then, like a covey of quail
scurrying from a hawk's shadow, they piled back
again.

"Whizz—bang!"

Scarcely ten yards from Chester's hole a shell exploded.

"Wow!" exclaimed a voice.  "Who said the war
was over?  Marshal Foch'll have to come out and
tell me himself before I believe it."

Another brief silence.  A 75 barked behind Hal
and Chester.  Then the battle seemed to start anew,
one of the American batteries firing and then
another; the contest seemed to be between two
batteries of 75's.

Chester could never remember which battery fired
last, but he heard, a few days later, that two second
lieutenants of artillery were haled blushingly before
a general and severely reprimanded for disregarding
the rules of the armistice.

After the two batteries had ceased firing and the
roar of the last cannon died out across the valley,
there came a silence that was even more appalling
than the first.  It was something like the lull that
follows a terrific thunderstorm, only this storm
had been raging for nearly fifty-two months.

In the midst of this ghastly silence, a startling
thing occurred.  The sky line of the crest ahead of
the American troops grew suddenly populous with
dancing soldiers, and, down the slope, all the way
to the barbed wire entanglements, straight for the
Yankees, came the German troops.

For a moment there was confusion in the American
ranks.  It seemed that the enemy was launching
his troops forward in a desperate charge.
Yankee officers shouted hoarse commands.  Gunners
sprang to their batteries, and these were trained on
the advancing foes.

But the excitement soon died out.  No danger
threatened.

The Germans came with outstretched hands, grins
and souvenirs to trade for cigarettes, so well did
they know the weakness of their foes.

But neither Hal nor Chester had time for the
Germans.  They were thinking of Sergeant Bowers,
who still lay just beyond his funk hole,
apparently badly wounded.

Hal hurried to his side.  His face was chalky
white, but his eyes were wide open.  Chester also
hurried to Sergeant Bowers' side.  The sergeant
recognized them immediately and greeted them with
a faint smile.  The lads smiled back at him.

"Is the war over?" he asked.

"It's all over, sergeant," Chester said, "and the
Germans are licked," Hal explained.  "Look at
them out there—" and Chester waved his arm in
the direction of his erstwhile enemies.

"That's good," said Sergeant Bowers.  "Great
sight, isn't it?  It's tough though, to be killed on
the last day of the war, and almost at the last minute."

But Sergeant Bowers did not die.

Tenderly Hal and Chester helped him back of the
lines where he could receive proper medical
attention.  His wounds were dressed and within two
hours the sergeant of marines announced that he
was feeling as fit as ever.

"Nevertheless, you'd better lie quiet for several
days," said Hal.

"I guess not," declared Sergeant Bowers.  "Why
should a big healthy man like me be idle when there
is so much work to do.  Of course, I'll admit I'm
naturally lazy and all that, but I don't like to stand
around and see the other fellows do all the work."

"All the same," said Chester, "I'll venture to
say that when you get to bed you won't want to get
up again in a hurry."

"As for that," said Sergeant Bowers, "I never
do want to get up."

When night fell on the battlefield the clamor of
the celebration waxed rather than waned.  It seemed
that there was no darkness.  Rockets and a ceaseless
fountain of star shells made the lines a streak
of brilliancy across the face of France, while by
the light of flares, the front with all its dancing,
boasting, singing soldiers was as clearly visible as
though the sun were still high in the heavens.

When morning dawned again, peace and quietness—the
quietness that was strange and unbelievable—had
transformed the front from a roaring, seething
strip of madness into a rest camp.  Rather, it had
that appearance until a bugler broke the spell.

Hal was sleeping in the corner of what had once
been a church.  Chester was resting comfortably
upon a pile of green camouflage a few feet away.
Sergeant Bowers, despite his wounds, also slept
near by.

"I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up—" said
the bugler.

"You sure can't," said Chester.  "Not me, anyway."

Then he turned over and went to sleep.

Hal did likewise, after one sleepy look at the sun.

Sergeant Bowers merely rolled over.

It was almost noon when the sergeant finally
crawled out from under his blanket.  Hal and
Chester were standing nearby.

"What's the use of getting up?" Sergeant
Bowers complained.  "The war's over, ain't it?"

When the sergeant and the two lads finally
emerged from the shattered church, the former soon
discovered that life on the front line had become
suddenly complicated by the presence of a young
lieutenant.

"Where have you been all day?" the lieutenant
demanded of Sergeant Bowers the moment he saw him.

"Sleeping," replied Sergeant Bowers briefly.

"Well," said the lieutenant, "you're on guard.
You go on duty right now."

Sergeant Bowers bit of a chew of tobacco and
strode off.  But before he went he delivered this
parting shot, addressed to Hal and Chester:

"This old armistice," said he sadly, "isn't what
it's cracked up to be, is it?"





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`CONCLUSION`:

.. class:: center large bold

   CHAPTER XXX


.. class:: center medium bold

   CONCLUSION

.. vspace:: 2

Thus ended the greatest war in the history of the
world.  True, no formal treaty of peace had been
signed, and none was signed until months later.
But fighting ceased on the western front and in
virtually all quarters of the globe on the moment the
armistice became effective.

In the days that followed, Hal and Chester did
their full parts with the American troops.  They
were with the American army of occupation that
marched to the west bank of the river Rhine soon
after the armistice.  As usual, they saw considerable
excitement, but of their adventures with the
Yankee troops in the German interior we have not
space to speak here.

And yet there is one incident that is worthy of
particular mention.

The American army had crossed the Rhine and
the Thirty-second division, with which the lads now
found themselves, was stationed in the little city of
Frankfort, only a few miles within German territory.

What seemed strange in the minds of Hal and
Chester, and other American officers as well, was
the fact that the Americans were most cordially
received in the German towns through which they
passed.  It is true that they were able to relieve the
privation of some German families by distributing
food to the needy, but it is probable they would
have been welcomed anyhow.

It was because the allied staff believed the
Americans would be more welcome than British or French
troops that the Yankees were selected to form the
bulk of the army of occupation.  The presence of
an Anglo-French force on German soil, it was
realized, would arouse the resentment of the Germans,
and this the allies were anxious to avoid.

Already rioting had broken out in Berlin and
other German cities.  The German emperor,
following his abdication, had fled to Holland, where
he sought refuge under the laws of neutrality.  There
was some talk in allied countries of demanding his
surrender and bringing him to trial on a charge of
murder, but this was still being debated when the
American army of occupation was called home.

The bolsheviki movement, which had originated
in Russia, had spread to several of the German
states and was particularly rampant in the capital.
In fact, there was hardly a town in the German
empire, or in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, either,
for that matter, that was not struggling in the
throes of riot and revolution.

Several times American troops had been called
upon to assist the German military authorities in
preventing bloodshed in some of the border towns.
So far, there had been little loss of life, but things
were to change as the revolutionists gained power.

The German Crown Prince also had fled to Holland,
where he remained secure.  The Empress, soon
after the kaiser's flight, also crossed the frontier
of The Netherlands and joined her husband.

In the meantime, at Versailles, a peace council
of the allies had been summoned.  This council
was to decide upon the amount of indemnity to be
paid by Germany, what was to be done with the
enemy country and other things that would go
toward making a permanent peace.  These matters,
it was realized, however, would take time.  In
order to facilitate matters, President Wilson crossed
the ocean to be present at the conferences.  His
presence helped a lot.

Hal and Chester, walking through the streets of
Frankfort on the Main one night, were attracted
by the sounds of confusion in the river section.

"Another riot, I guess," said Hal.  "We'd better
steer clear of it.  You know orders are not to
mix in unless we are molested."

"Right," Chester agreed.  "Then we'll head the
other way and let 'em fight it out."

Accordingly they turned to retrace their steps.
But at that moment Chester caught the sound of
a cry in English.

"Help!" came the voice.

"Hear that, Hal?" he demanded.

"Yes; sounds like one of our own men in trouble."

"Then orders or no orders," said Chester, "we've
got to help him out."

"Come on then," cried Hal.

The lads turned quickly and dashed toward the
river.

Rounding a corner, they came upon a crowd of
struggling figures.  Apparently, three men in the
center of the crowd were fighting for their lives
against a mob of German soldiers, who were armed
with clubs and knives.  (Under the terms of the
armistice, certain soldiers had been deprived of all
but their side arms.)

Against the weapons of their assailants, the lads
saw that the figures in the center offered two
revolvers each.  With these they were attempting to
stand off their assailants without firing.

"Why don't they shoot?" demanded Chester, as
he dashed forward, Hal at his side.

Hal did not reply, but the reason was clear.  The
three Americans, for such the figures proved to
be, did not fire for fear of arousing greater
resentment among the Germans.  They were perfectly
cool, and it was plain they would shoot if it
became necessary.

As Chester came closer he realized what stayed
the fingers of the American officers.  Nevertheless,
he produced his own revolvers before dashing into
the crowd.  Hal followed suit.

"Don't shoot unless you have to, Chester," the
latter warned.

The crowd gave ground as Hal and Chester,
bringing football tactics into play, bore down on
them; and soon the lads were beside the officers in
the center of the circle.

"Well, there are five of us now," said one of
the officers, "but you would have shown better
judgment, Major, had you gone for reinforcements
rather than coming to our aid."

"I didn't stop to think of that," Hal confessed.
"But you are right, sir."

"Never mind," said another.  "We can fight our
way out of here if it becomes necessary."

"But we don't want to use force," said the first
speaker.  "It would be much more wise to overawe
them with a show of force."

"It's no time to talk about that now," said the
other.  "But come, I'm in favor of getting out of
here."

"And I," agreed the third man.  "See, the crowd
is increasing."

"I'll tell you," said Hal.  "Five of us should be
able to fight our way through that crowd without
shooting.  We'll club our revolvers, and make a
break for it, keeping as close together as possible."

"As good a way as any," agreed the first officer,
a colonel of infantry.  "As I am the senior of this
party, I suppose it is up to me to take command.
All ready, gentlemen?"

"All ready, sir," came the reply from each of the
other four.

"Then let's go.  Forward!"

With revolvers upraised, but without a sound,
the five Americans stepped forward.  They did not
seem to hurry; they were perfectly cool.  But it
was apparent to every German in the crowd that
they were in deadly earnest.

For a moment the crowd gave way; then closed
in again.

Knives flashed in German hands; clubs were
raised.

Hal, walking close to Chester's side, caught a
slashing knife arm with his left hand, still gripping
his revolver, and twisted sharply.  There was a
screech from the German, followed by a snap that
announced the man would not use the arm for some
time to come.

The Germans sprang forward, and despite the
unbroken front presented by the five Americans,
they were borne back by the force of numbers.  It
appeared that the Yankee officers had underestimated
the temper of their foes.

They retreated fighting, until their backs were
against a house.

"We can defend ourselves here, using our
revolvers if necessary," said the colonel.

"I've a better plan, sir," said Chester.

"What is it?"

"We'll back up the steps just to our left, sir, and
take possession of the house."

"And then what?"

"Then I'll run the gauntlet of the crowd and bring
reinforcements, sir."

"Not a bad idea," said the colonel.  "We'll try it."

The little party moved to the left and mounted
the steps, still presenting an unbroken front to their
foes.  Chester tried the door.  It was unlocked.  The
lad opened it and the Americans stepped inside.

"Bolt the door!" cried the colonel.

"One moment," said Chester.  "Let me out first."

"I'm going along, Chester," said Hal quietly.

"All right," said Chester.  "Come on.  The rest
of you cover us with your revolvers.  Tell you what.
Fire a couple of shots over their heads.  That will
give us time to make a break.  Then bar the door
behind us."

He waited for no reply, but darted directly toward
the crowd of Germans, both revolvers levelled directly
into their midst.  Hal, keeping close beside
his chum, did likewise.

"Crack!  Crack!  Crack!"

The three American officers left behind had
followed out Chester's injunction and fired over the
heads of the crowd.  Instantly confusion swept the mob.

It was the moment for which Chester had hoped.
Into the crowd he dashed, reversing his revolver
and striking right and left.  Hal was right beside
him, his own arms flying about like flails.

And almost before they knew it, so sudden had
been their actions, they burst clear of the crowd.

"Now run!" shouted Hal.

Chester needed no urging.  The lads sped over
the ground, while from behind came cries of anger.
Balked of their prey, about half of the Germans
nevertheless gave chase.  The other half, as though
by prearrangement, remained to guard the Americans
who had sought shelter in the house.

But Hal and Chester were too fleet of foot for
their pursuers.  They outdistanced them easily.  The
rest was simple.

Fifteen minutes later a company of American
soldiers marched to the house where the officers
were hiding and cleared the streets of Germans.

As Hal walked through the dispersing crowd, a
hand caught him by the arm.

"Aha!" said a voice, "Major Paine, eh?"

Hal glanced into the countenance of General
Knoff, whom he had seen first at Sedan.

"And," continued the general, "Major Crawford,
too, eh?"

"The same, general," said Chester, smiling.

"It is good," said General Knoff.  "You may
remember recently, at Spa, I invited you to see me
when you come to Berlin?"

"Yes, sir," said Chester, "and so we shall, when
we get there."

"But," protested the general, "my daughter and
Frau Knoff are in Frankfort.  Even now, looking
from the window, my daughter saw you, which is
the reason I am here.  I came to aid, but I was too
late."

"But we do not like to impose—" began Chester.

"Impose?" exclaimed the general.  "Did you not
once render me a service I shall never forget?
Come, now."

Laughingly, Hal and Chester accompanied the
general to a house nearby.

"It is my wish," said General Knoff, "that my
family shall be better acquainted with the
Americans.  They are a brave race."

The lads bowed their thanks.

Both the general's wife and daughter expressed
pleasure at meeting the lads again.  Hal nudged
Chester slyly.

"A real pretty girl, even if she is German," he
said.

Chester flushed angrily, then smiled as he added:

"All we need now to complete the party is
Stubbs."

At the same moment General Knoff, glancing
from the window, uttered an exclamation, jumped
to his feet and left the room hurriedly.  Five minutes
later he returned, accompanied by another figure.
It was Stubbs.

"Well," said Chester, "if this isn't a miracle there
never was one."

"I saw him passing," General Knoff explained.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Stubbs?" asked
Hal.  "I thought you were fired.  You might as
well return home."

"No," said Stubbs.  "It's true I was fired, but
I've been hired again.  You see, The New York
Gazette scooped every paper in the United States
on the signing of the armistice."

"Scooped 'em twice, in fact, you might say,
Mr. Stubbs," Chester put in slyly.

Stubbs frowned.

"Never mind that," he said.  "The war's over and
we are all glad.  And I'm glad to be with you here
at this minute.  I am assigned to stay with the
American army of occupation, and I suppose I shall
see considerable of you.  And it is my hope that
we may all return to America together."

The general's daughter now placed tea and cakes
on the table, and the general invited all to pitch in.

"Now," he said, "we all are friends once more, eh?"

Neither Hal nor Chester replied; they looked
back over four years of war, and in memory they
saw the ruin and destruction wrought in many lands;
and Chester expressed the sentiment of the American
nation when he said to himself in answer to
General Knoff's query:

"No, we are not all friends once more—not yet."

As there was an end to the great world war, so
there must be an end to all things—even to Hal
Paine and Chester Crawford.  So, seated comfortably
about a table in the temporary home of General
Knoff, once a general of the kaiser, we shall
take our leave of them, knowing that, in due course
of time, they will return to their homes in America,
where they will live the lives of useful citizens.

There is no need telling of the voyage home, of
the honors showered upon them.  Suffice to say
that when they reached the shores of America, each
wore the United States distinguished service
cross—for bravery and valor in action; and when their
friends address them now, it is not as major.

For out of four years of war emerged Colonel
Hal Paine and Colonel Chester Crawford.

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   THE END.

.. vspace:: 3

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   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center x-large bold

   The Boy Allies

.. class:: center small bold

   (Registered in the United States Patent Office)

.. class:: center x-large bold

   With the Navy

.. vspace:: 1

.. class:: center medium bold

   By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE

.. class:: center small bold

   Handsome Cloth Binding, Price 60 Cents per Volume

.. vspace:: 2

Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American
lads, meet each other in an unusual way soon after the
declaration of war.  Circumstances place them on board the
British cruiser "The Sylph" and from there on, they share
adventures with the sailors of the Allies.  Ensign Robert
L. Drake, the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he
describes admirably the many exciting adventures of the two
boys.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or,
Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the
Enemy from the Seas.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or,
The Naval Raiders of the Great War.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA;
or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing
Submarine.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of
Ice to Aid the Czar.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval
Battle of History.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or,
Convoying the American Army Across the Atlantic.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The
Fall of the Russian Empire.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or,
The Fall of the German Navy.

.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center x-large bold

   The Boy Allies with

.. class:: center small bold

   (Registered in the United States Patent Office)

.. class:: center x-large bold

   the Army

.. class:: center medium bold

   By CLAIR \W. HAYES

.. class:: center small bold

   Handsome Cloth Binding, Price 60 Cents per Volume

.. vspace:: 2

In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads
unable to leave Europe after war is declared.  They meet the
soldiers of the Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them.
Their experiences and escapes are many, and furnish plenty of
the good, healthy action that every boy loves.

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THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days
Battle Along the Marne.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild
Dash Over the Carpathians.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot
and Shell Along the Aisne.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian
Army in the Alps.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The
Struggle to Save a Nation.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and
Bravery Rewarded.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from
the Enemy.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES;
or, Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The
Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or,
Over the Top at Chateau Thierry.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or,
Driving the Enemy Through France and Belgium.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing
Days of the Great World War.



.. vspace:: 3

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   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center x-large bold

   The Boy Scouts Series

.. class:: center medium bold

   By HERBERT CARTER

.. class:: center small bold

   Handsome Cloth Binding, Price 60 Cents per Volume

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMP FIRE; or, Scouting with
the Silver Fox Patrol.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned
Among the Moonshiners.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through
the Big Game Country.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New
Test for the Silver Fox Patrol.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The
Search for the Lost Tenderfoot.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of
the Hidden Silver Mine.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned
Among the Game Fish Poachers.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange
Secret of Alligator Swamp.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA.  A
story of Burgoyne's defeat in 1777.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The
Silver Fox Patrol Caught in a Flood.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or,
Caught Between the Hostile Armies.

.. vspace:: 1

THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With the Red
Cross Corps at the Marne.



.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 3

.. class:: center x-large bold

   Our Young Aeroplane Scout Series

.. class:: center small bold

   (Registered in the United States Patent Office)

.. class:: center medium bold

   By HORACE PORTER

.. class:: center small bold

   Handsome Cloth Binding, Price 60 Cents per Volume

.. vspace:: 2

A series of stories of two American boy aviators in the
great European war zone.  The fascinating life in mid-air is
thrillingly described.  The boys have many exciting adventures,
and the narratives of their numerous escapes make up a series
of wonderfully interesting stories.

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OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND
BELGIUM; or, Saving the Fortunes of the Trouvilles.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA; or, Lost
on the Frozen Steppes.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY; or,
Bringing the Light to Yusef.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND; or,
Twin Stars in the London Sky Patrol.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ITALY; or, Flying
with the War Eagles of the Alps.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT VERDUN; or,
Driving Armored Meteors Over Flaming Battle Fronts.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE BALKANS;
or, Wearing the Red Badge of Courage.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE WAR ZONE;
or, Serving Uncle Sam in the Cause of the Allies.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS FIGHTING TO THE
FINISH; or, Striking Hard Over the Sea for the
Stars and Stripes.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT THE MARNE;
or, Harrying the Huns From Allied Battleplanes.

.. vspace:: 1

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN AT THE VICTORY;
or, Speedy High Flyers Smashing the Hindenburg Line.

.. vspace:: 2

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   For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid
   on receipt of price by the publishers

.. vspace:: 1

.. class:: center medium

   \A. \L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York

.. vspace:: 6

.. pgfooter::