GENERAL JOFFRE IS WARNED.
A great tumult arose in the German trench as the eyes of the soldiers
fell upon the two figures speeding toward the distant French line.
Stripped of their woman's attire the lads had exposed their French
uniforms and they were recognized in a flash by the enemy.
But, so sudden had been their dash that they were enabled to cover a
considerable distance before the troops, at a sharp command from their
officers, brought their rifles to their shoulders to fire a volley after
them. By that time the lads were perhaps a hundred yards beyond the
trench, and, glancing quickly over his shoulder, Hal perceived the
movements of the enemy.
"Drop, quick!" he called to Chester.
Without slackening their speed the lads threw themselves to the ground at
the very moment the Germans fired.
The bullets whistled harmlessly over the lads' heads.
They were up again in an instant and dashed forward. By a miracle, it
seemed, they escaped being shot down. Soon they were nearer the French
trenches than those of the Germans. Still the enemy rained bullets
after them.
Perceiving the forms of what appeared to be two French officers dashing
from the enemy's trenches, the French commander immediately ordered a
detachment of infantry to protect their flight. These climbed rapidly
from the trenches and dashed forward.
A moment later the Germans also threw out a detachment to drive
them back.
The French column fired a volley over the heads of the approaching lads,
and the latter once more dropped to the ground to avoid the return fire
of the Germans.
Two minutes later Hal and Chester were behind the French detachment and
were making hurriedly for the trenches. Immediately the small force of
French which had advanced to their support commenced to retire slowly,
and soon also were safe from the enemy's fire.
This little skirmish had resulted in severe losses to both sides,
although the French casualties were slightly heavier than those of the
enemy. Ten Frenchmen were left on the field, while but eight German
bodies strewed the ground.
Hal and Chester quickly sought out the French commander. Upon telling him
that they had important information for General Joffre, they soon had a
large automobile at their disposal and were dashing toward Soissons,
where the French commander-in-chief had established temporary
headquarters.
The distance was not great, and, as they now had no enemies to bar their
progress, the lads soon pulled up near General Joffre's quarters. An aide
accosted them, and carried the lads' names to the French commander. He
returned a few moments later and announced that General Joffre would
receive them immediately.
Hal and Chester followed the aide to the general's tent, where he stood
back and motioned for them to enter.
Inside stood General Joffre, surrounded by members of his staff. He
motioned for the lads to approach, which they did, and came to attention.
The general greeted them warmly.
"I am glad to see you again," he said. "I have not forgotten the valuable
service you rendered the French army recently. I am told you carry
important information."
"Yes, sir" replied Hal.
"Let me have it, then," said General Joffre.
In a few brief and well-chosen words Hal repeated what they had
overheard so recently in the German trench. The general listened to them
apparently unmoved.
"So!" he exclaimed, when Hal had concluded his narrative, "they are
planning to kidnap President Poincaré, eh? Well, we shall be ready for
them. But first I must take steps to thwart the proposed German drive. It
is to be delivered when, you say?"
"Two days after to-morrow, sir," replied Hal.
"And you say the Kaiser will return to the front the day after
to-morrow?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good! We shall be ready for him."
He turned to a member of his staff. "Colonel Mercer," he said, "my
compliments to General Rochelle, and repeat to him what you have just
heard. You will order him to fall back slowly when the German
offensive begins."
He turned to the others of his staff, who had manifested some surprise at
this command. "I do this, gentlemen," he explained, "that the Germans may
be drawn into a trap of our own setting. Not knowing that we have learned
their plans, they will probably push the attack with vigor. When we begin
to give way they will be confident of the success of their plan. In the
meantime reënforcements shall be hurried forward, and, when the Germans
have advanced to a point I shall select, we shall take the offensive with
redoubled vigor. The enemy, caught unprepared, will be crushed before
they can be sufficiently reënforced."
Exclamations of satisfaction escaped the group of staff officers, and Hal
and Chester were greatly impressed by the prompt action of the French
commander-in-chief.
"He allows no grass to grow under his feet," Hal whispered to Chester.
"I should say not," replied the latter.
General Joffre turned to Hal.
"It is your understanding, then," he said, "that the plot against the
President will not be tried until after the grand assault?"
"That is my understanding of the matter, sir," Hal replied.
"Good! In the meantime, then, we shall have time to take care of that."
He turned to another of his officers. "Colonel Devore," he said, "you
will see that these two lads are given suitable quarters."
The colonel saluted.
"I shall ask them to share mine, sir," he replied.
"_Bien_," returned General Joffre. "I shall probably have need of you
again, soon," he added, to Hal and Chester.
He sat down at his desk and turned to a mass of papers and maps, and the
lads realized that the interview was ended.
Colonel Devore motioned them to follow him, and, saluting the French
commander, the lads filed out of the tent.
Colonel Devore introduced them to his own quarters and, waving his hand
airily, exclaimed:
"You will make yourselves perfectly at home here as long as you
may stay."
"Thank you, Colonel," said Chester. "We appreciate your hospitality."
The colonel waved aside the thanks with a gesture and strode from the
tent.
The lads immediately composed themselves to rest, for it was a long time
since they had closed their eyes in slumber.
Greatly refreshed by a short sleep they arose two hours later and took
a walk about the camp. At a distant part of the trenches they saw a
large number of troops gathered about, and the sounds of laughter rose
on the air.
"Wonder what's up?" asked Hal.
"I don't know," replied Chester, "but we may as well have a look. Come
on."
He led the way and Hal followed him.
Coming closer the lads cried out in astonishment. Their eyes fell upon a
body of troops that they knew in an instant could have hailed but from
one part of the world. They were English--but a mere handful of them--not
more than a single squad.
"By Jove!" said Hal. "I didn't know there were any British troops in this
part of the field."
"Nor I," said Chester. "But what do you suppose all those fellows are
laughing at?"
They drew closer. Coming upon the circle of troops that surrounded a
single man, the lads stared in astonishment, and then they, too, broke
into a loud laugh.
There, right in the foremost trench and therefore in the more danger from
the enemy's fire, a tall, lank Englishman lay, stretched at full length
upon the ground. His arms were above his head, and he appeared to be
resting in perfect comfort, at peace with the world.
But it was something that protruded from the legs of his army trousers
that had caused the merriment of the troops gathered about. The lanky
Englishman had removed his puttees and exposed to the view of the
astonished Frenchmen two silk-clad feet, and red silk at that.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "Silk socks! and in this weather!"
"Silk socks," said Chester, "are clearly against the army regulations."
They approached closer.
Now the lanky Englishman sat up, and apparently unconscious of the gaze
of the troops about him, produced a nice leather box, opened it,
extracted an instrument, and proceeded to manicure his nails. He did it
coolly and paid no attention whatever to those about him.
"Well!" said Hal. "What do you think of that?"
"That's the best I have seen yet," said Chester, laughing.
The lads pushed through the crowd of curious French soldiers and soon
were in the midst of the British. They approached a sergeant.
"What sort of a freak is this?" asked Hal, indicating the long
Englishman.
"By Jove!" exclaimed the sergeant. "You're English, aren't you?"
"Yes," replied Hal. "But who is this gentleman with the manicure set?"
The sergeant smiled.
"That," he said, "is His Lordship."
"'His Lordship'? But what's his name?"
"Well, I have forgotten his name. We all call him 'His Lordship.'"
"But why do you permit all this funny business?"
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders.
"What can I do?" he exclaimed. "If I forbid one thing he bobs up with
something else. Look at him! He's the laziest man I ever saw. We named
him 'His Lordship' the moment of his arrival in our midst, and bets were
made that he would succumb after the first day's march. Not a bit of it!
He looked tired at the start, but he looked no more so at the finish. We
were finally placed in the trenches. His Lordship did everything
ungrudgingly, but he could not sleep without a pillow. What do you
suppose he did?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," said Hal. "What did he do?"
"Why, he made a bargain with a big fat fellow, who, for four packs of
cigarettes a day, agreed to let his lordship use his stomach as a pillow.
He's lazy, yes, but just the same he's a fighter. We began to respect him
on the day he laid low sixteen Germans with eighteen cartridges. He did
it as nonchalantly as though he were in a shooting gallery. But lazy!
Why, he was so lazy he would not brush the perspiration off his forehead.
He asked a neighbor to do it for him!"
The sergeant stopped and eyed His Lordship.
"Look," he said, "he's going to bed again."
It was true. His Lordship had stretched out on the cold, hard ground.
"Great Scott! Can he sleep there?" asked Chester, in surprise.
"His Lordship," said the sergeant calmly, "can sleep anywhere!"