PROMOTION
As Hal jumped from the automobile, he found his way barred by a British
sentinel.
"It's all right; we're friends," he said.
The Briton eyed Hal and his German uniform dubiously.
"You may be," he said, "but the uniform you wear doesn't look much like
it."
Hal laughed.
"We are friends nevertheless," he said. "Take us to your colonel and
we'll convince him soon enough."
"Well," said the Tommy, "you may be. I've seen some queer things in this
war so I'll not dispute you. But I'll take my oath that man," and he
pointed to the German colonel, "is a German."
"You're right, my man," said Hal, "but he comes as a prisoner."
"And you'll all go to the colonel as prisoners," declared the sentinel.
He raised his voice in a shout: "Hey, sergeant!"
A British sergeant came forward at a run.
"What's the matter, Smith?" he demanded.
"Four chaps here in German uniforms and three of 'em say they belong to
our army," said Smith.
The sergeant looked the four over. As his eyes fell on Harding he
started.
"I'll take my oath it's Harding!" he exclaimed, and advanced with
outstretched hand.
"Right you are sergeant," said Harding. "How do you like my new
uniform?"
"Fine, if you killed a Boche to get it," the sergeant made reply. He
turned to the colonel. "I'll be responsible for these men, Smith," he
said.
The private walked away.
Harding explained the situation to the sergeant in a few words, leaving
out, however, all reference to the lads' mission.
"I'll wake the colonel myself," said the sergeant, "if you say you must
be on your way at once."
"We must, sergeant," said Chester.
"Very well then; follow me, but you there, Mr. Fritz, walk ahead and
remember I've got my gun ready and would be glad to use it."
In this manner they reached the quarters of the British regimental
commander, who received Hal and Chester immediately when he learned that
there was need of haste.
"We carry dispatches for General Pershing, sir," said Hal, "and we would
like to be on our way at once. Otherwise we would not have disturbed you
at this hour."
"Your names?" asked the colonel.
Chester told him.
"Very well," said the colonel. "I shall get in touch with General
Pershing immediately by telephone. In the meantime, you must remain
here."
The colonel summoned his orderly and gave the necessary instructions.
Harding, meantime, had gone away with his friend the top sergeant, who
also had volunteered to take care of the German officer. The boys had
promised Harding that they would see him again before they left. He had
announced his intention of joining his own regiment.
It was several hours later--after daylight--when the British colonel
informed the lads that they were at liberty to depart.
"I have satisfied myself of your identity," he told them.
"I wonder, sir," said Hal, "if you could supply us with more appropriate
clothing than these German uniforms?"
"I think I can," he replied. "It's true you wouldn't make much progress
in our lines with those uniforms. Also I can furnish you a British army
automobile, which will help."
"Thank you, sir," said Hal.
Half an hour later they were attired in regulation British uniforms and
stood talking to Harding just before they made ready to climb into the
automobile to continue their journey.
"I am certainly glad we ran across you, Harding," said Hal as the two
shook hands.
"No more than I am to have been with you both, sir," said Harding. "I
wish you luck in the matter you told me of and I feel that the offensive
now will not be long coming. In the meantime, however, in accord with
your wishes, I shall say nothing."
"I am sure it will be better that way," said Hal. "Well, we'll see you
again some time. Good-bye."
Chester also bade the Englishman farewell and the two boys climbed into
the machine. The car sped forward.
It was a long distance to General Pershing's headquarters in Soissons
from the point where Hal and Chester had re-entered the Allied lines,
and Hal knew that he could not hope to cover the distance before dark.
Nevertheless, he kept the car going at a fair speed all during the day.
The lads made only two stops, both times to replenish their gasoline
tank, but it was well after eight o'clock that evening when they came to
the outskirts of Soissons.
Hal slowed down the car.
"Well, we'll soon be there," he said.
"And I'll be glad of it," declared Chester. "It's been quite an eventful
trip and we've learned a few things about the enemy that we didn't know
before."
"Right," said Hal. "By the way, did you examine the papers we took from
the German to make sure that they were what he said?"
"Yes. I have the dispatch, and it is as he represented it to be. I made
sure of that, all right."
"Good; then our mission has been successful."
"It has if Marshal Foch lives up to his word," said Chester.
"He'll do that, all right. You heard him make the promise, didn't you?"
"Yes; but maybe he'll say this is not sufficient proof."
"He can't very well, to my mind. Hello, here we are!"
The car came to a pause in front of the villa occupied by General
Pershing. The two lads climbed out.
As they would have ascended the steps, they were stopped by an American
sentry.
"Have word sent to General Pershing that Lieutenants Paine and Crawford
are here to report," said Hal.
The man passed the word to a second sentinel, who entered the building.
He was back in a few moments.
"The general directs that you come to him immediately," he said.
Hal and Chester mounted the steps rapidly, passed through the long hall
and entered General Pershing's private office.
General Pershing stood close to the door as the lads entered, and there
was an expression of eagerness on his face. The lads saluted.
"What luck?" demanded the American commander-in-chief.
"The best, sir," replied Hal quietly.
"Good!" thundered the American commander. "I knew you would do it. Now
tell me what you have learned."
Hal related the incidents leading up to the seizure of the German
officer's dispatches as briefly as possible and Chester passed over the
papers.
General Pershing hurried to his desk and beneath the glow of his desk
light ran through the papers quickly. A smile stole over his features.
"It is enough," he said, getting to his feet again.
The lads flushed with pleasure.
"Captain Paine, Captain Crawford," said General Pershing. "I
congratulate you both. You have done well."
Hal and Chester started at the title of "captain" and Hal would have
spoken. But General Pershing stayed him with a gesture.
"Your promotions I made out before you started," he said simply. "It
would have been no disgrace had you failed. I understand you were
captains in the British army before you resigned to go to America and
fight for Old Glory. Surely your own country is bound to treat you as
well as England."
The faces of both boys were red and they fidgeted nervously. The praise
of their general pleased them, but they would rather have done without
it.
"Thank you, sir," muttered Hal.
Chester also stammered his gratitude.
"I will say this much more," continued General Pershing; "You are young
for captains, it is true, but if before the war is over you do not rank
still higher I am a bad prophet."
Again the lads stammered their thanks.
"Never mind the thanks, sirs," said General Pershing. "I have bestowed
no favor. You have won your promotions on your merits. Now leave me, for
I have work to do. Report to Colonel Gibson, who will find quarters for
you for the night. I shall send for you to-morrow. Good night, sirs."
General Pershing stepped toward them and extended his hand to each in
turn.
Hal and Chester stopped at the door long enough to salute, and then left
the room. They found Colonel Gibson without difficulty and that officer
immediately dispatched an orderly to find them quarters.
"Now," said Hal, when they were comfortably installed half an hour
later, "I intend to sleep until General Pershing sends for me
to-morrow."
"And I," agreed Chester. "I don't feel as if I had had a good sleep for
a month. And I'll bet we won't get much more sleep, either."
"Why?" demanded Hal.
"Why?" echoed Chester. "Why, because an advance will be ordered soon and
then there won't be time to sleep."
"It may not come for some weeks yet," Hal demurred. "Those things take
time, you know."
"I know that," Chester admitted, "but I'll bet General Pershing won't
let any grass grow under his feet."
"Trouble is, it's not up to him entirely," said Hal.
"Maybe not," declared Chester, "but if Marshal Foch doesn't act on this
information. General Pershing is likely to act himself."
"And if he doesn't," laughed Hal, "one of our divisional commanders is
likely to do it in the heat of excitement."
And that is exactly what happened.