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."
*CHAPTER XXV*
*A BATTLE*
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.
*CHAPTER XXVI*
*THE CONFERENCE RESUMED*
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."