CHAPTER XXIV
PROMOTION
As Hal jumped from the automobile, he found his way barred by a Britishsentinel.
"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 likeit."
Hal laughed.
"We are friends nevertheless," he said. "Take us to your colonel andwe'll convince him soon enough."
"Well," said the Tommy, "you may be. I've seen some queer things in thiswar so I'll not dispute you. But I'll take my oath that man," and hepointed 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 toour army," said Smith.
The sergeant looked the four over. As his eyes fell on Harding hestarted.
"I'll take my oath it's Harding!" he exclaimed, and advanced withoutstretched hand.
"Right you are sergeant," said Harding. "How do you like my newuniform?"
"Fine, if you killed a Boche to get it," the sergeant made reply. Heturned to the colonel. "I'll be responsible for these men, Smith," hesaid.
The private walked away.
Harding explained the situation to the sergeant in a few words, leavingout, however, all reference to the lads' mission.
"I'll wake the colonel myself," said the sergeant, "if you say you mustbe on your way at once."
"We must, sergeant," said Chester.
"Very well then; follow me, but you there, Mr. Fritz, walk ahead andremember I've got my gun ready and would be glad to use it."
In this manner they reached the quarters of the British regimentalcommander, who received Hal and Chester immediately when he learned thatthere was need of haste.
"We carry dispatches for General Pershing, sir," said Hal, "and we wouldlike to be on our way at once. Otherwise we would not have disturbed youat this hour."
"Your names?" asked the colonel.
Chester told him.
"Very well," said the colonel. "I shall get in touch with GeneralPershing immediately by telephone. In the meantime, you must remainhere."
The colonel summoned his orderly and gave the necessary instructions.
Harding, meantime, had gone away with his friend the top sergeant, whoalso had volunteered to take care of the German officer. The boys hadpromised Harding that they would see him again before they left. He hadannounced his intention of joining his own regiment.
It was several hours later--after daylight--when the British colonelinformed 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 appropriateclothing than these German uniforms?"
"I think I can," he replied. "It's true you wouldn't make much progressin our lines with those uniforms. Also I can furnish you a British armyautomobile, which will help."
"Thank you, sir," said Hal.
Half an hour later they were attired in regulation British uniforms andstood talking to Harding just before they made ready to climb into theautomobile to continue their journey.
"I am certainly glad we ran across you, Harding," said Hal as the twoshook hands.
"No more than I am to have been with you both, sir," said Harding. "Iwish you luck in the matter you told me of and I feel that the offensivenow will not be long coming. In the meantime, however, in accord withyour wishes, I shall say nothing."
"I am sure it will be better that way," said Hal. "Well, we'll see youagain some time. Good-bye."
Chester also bade the Englishman farewell and the two boys climbed intothe machine. The car sped forward.
It was a long distance to General Pershing's headquarters in Soissonsfrom 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 gasolinetank, but it was well after eight o'clock that evening when they came tothe 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 eventfultrip and we've learned a few things about the enemy that we didn't knowbefore."
"Right," said Hal. "By the way, did you examine the papers we took fromthe 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 madesure 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 GeneralPershing. The two lads climbed out.
As they would have ascended the steps, they were stopped by an Americansentry.
"Have word sent to General Pershing that Lieutenants Paine and Crawfordare 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 halland entered General Pershing's private office.
General Pershing stood close to the door as the lads entered, and therewas 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. Nowtell me what you have learned."
Hal related the incidents leading up to the seizure of the Germanofficer's dispatches as briefly as possible and Chester passed over thepapers.
General Pershing hurried to his desk and beneath the glow of his desklight 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. "Icongratulate you both. You have done well."
Hal and Chester started at the title of "captain" and Hal would havespoken. But General Pershing stayed him with a gesture.
"Your promotions I made out before you started," he said simply. "Itwould have been no disgrace had you failed. I understand you werecaptains in the British army before you resigned to go to America andfight for Old Glory. Surely your own country is bound to treat you aswell as England."
The faces of both boys were red and they fidgeted nervously. The praiseof their general pleased them, but they would rather have done withoutit.
"Thank you, sir," muttered Hal.
Chester also stammered his gratitude.
"I will say this much more," continued General Pershing; "You are youngfor captains, it is true, but if before the war is over you do not rankstill higher I am a bad prophet."
Again the lads stammered their thanks.
"Never mind the thanks, sirs," said General Pershing. "I have bestowedno favor. You have won your promotions on your merits. Now leave me, forI have work to do. Report to Colonel Gibson, who will find quarters foryou for the night. I shall send for you to-morrow. Good night, sirs."
General Pershing stepped toward them and extended his hand to eac
h inturn.
Hal and Chester stopped at the door long enough to salute, and then leftthe room. They found Colonel Gibson without difficulty and that officerimmediately dispatched an orderly to find them quarters.
"Now," said Hal, when they were comfortably installed half an hourlater, "I intend to sleep until General Pershing sends for meto-morrow."
"And I," agreed Chester. "I don't feel as if I had had a good sleep fora 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 andthen there won't be time to sleep."
"It may not come for some weeks yet," Hal demurred. "Those things taketime, you know."
"I know that," Chester admitted, "but I'll bet General Pershing won'tlet 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 thisinformation. General Pershing is likely to act himself."
"And if he doesn't," laughed Hal, "one of our divisional commanders islikely to do it in the heat of excitement."
And that is exactly what happened.