*CHAPTER XVI*
*AN UNEXPECTED HONOR*
"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 intothe town from the east, gesticulating excitedly as he rode along. Wordsthat he shouted as he dashed forward seemed to create great excitementamong the villagers, who, all day, had been parading the streets incelebration of the American occupation of the city.
"Don't know," said Hal. "We'll try and get close enough to hear what hesays."
As the man drew close, the lads saw that he was a German cavalryman. Itappeared 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 himimmunity.
"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 stophis wild ride."
Chester needed no urging. The lads stepped directly in front of thegalloping 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 somethingon 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 myinformation has not been substantiated, but I know enough of conditionsin Germany to credit the report."
"Well, you come with me," said Hal. "We'll take this matter to GeneralLejeune."
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 inGermany are fast approaching a crisis, but I believe this report ispremature. However, I have no doubt that something like that will happenwithin 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 liveto 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 trueor not, it has given me an interesting moment. Colonel O'Shea, will youturn 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 justbeen in communication with General Rhodes, and he wishes you to reportto him at once."
The lads saluted the commander of the Second division and left hisquarters.
Half an hour later they reported to General Rhodes as he rode into Sedanto establish his own quarters, as the Second division was soon toadvance again. General Rhodes greeted the lads warmly.
"I am certainly glad that you both came through safely," he said, afterreturning their salutes, "and I must say that I didn't expect it. Youhave 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 likelyto be so dangerous. Don't worry, though," he added, as the faces of thelads fell, "I believe I may safely promise you some interestingmoments."
"We're glad of that, sir," declared Chester.
"I wonder," said General Rhodes, "whether you have heard of the reportedupheaval in Germany?"
"Yes, sir," said Hal. "Only a few moments ago we captured a man whodeclared the kaiser had abdicated."
"That," said General Rhodes, "is probably untrue; however, I know thatthe kaiser has considered abdicating. In fact, his abdication is beingurged by his military leaders--his erstwhile friends, Hindenburg andLudendorff."
"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 tosigning 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 absolutelypositive of that, but in view of recent German reverses I do not see howthe enemy can do aught else."
"Well, sir," said Chester, "we'll impose terms on them that will maketheir 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 bedone, if you ask me."
"Perhaps," said General Rhodes. "Now, I suppose you are wondering why Icalled you here?"
"Yes, sir," returned Hal.
"Well," said General Rhodes, "I have been summoned to report to thecommander-in-chief and I want a couple of officers to go with me who canbe useful as well as ornamental."
Both lads flushed.
"I know that you drive an automobile exceedingly well, Major Paine," thegeneral continued, "and for that reason I am selecting you as mychauffeur 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'dlike to go."
"And so I would, sir," answered Chester.
"It may be," General Rhodes continued, "that before our return we shallbe 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 summoningme for some purpose other than because he wants to see me. It wouldseem that matters have reached a point where something is likely tobreak at any minute."
"By George! I hope so, sir," declared Chester.
"I shall expect you to be ready in an hour," said General Rhodes endingthe 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 theyhurried 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 timeallowed 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. Hemotioned 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. Youknow 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 todrive an automobile. He was a fast though careful driver and his handsand nerves both were like steel when he clutched a wheel.
He had been over the road before, and his excellent memory served him ingood stead now.
It was after 3 o'clock on the afternoon of November 7 when theautomobile
flashed into the outskirts of Rheims. Hal stopped the carlong enough to inquire the way to General Pershing's headquarters, thenmoved forward again.
"You are a good driver, Major," said General Rhodes, as he alighted andmotioned both boys to follow him.
"Thank you, sir," returned Hal. "I've had experience enough, sir, Ishould be, at all events."
General Rhodes vouchsafed no reply, as he mounted the short flight ofsteps to General Pershing's offices, with Hal and Chester at his heels.
Apparently his arrival was expected, for an orderly saluted and told himthat he was to proceed to the commander-in-chief immediately.
"You gentlemen stay here until I send for you, or return," he instructedthe 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 hadgone.
"It would seem so," Hal agreed. "If anything happens, I'd like to be inat the finish."
"So would I. We've been in the war from the first. It would be no morethan 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 desiresyour presence at once. Kindly follow me."