Consequently they did not approach the river bank for upward of two hours.

Perhaps a mile from the river the lads came upon thousands of sleeping men, housed in little tents.  Here and there sentries flitted about in the dark and campfires blazed merrily.

Keeping their horses well out of the glare of the fires, and going very slowly, so as to make no sound, they drew nearer and nearer to the river.  The Germans were some distance back from the water’s edge, to escape the danger of being bombarded by the heavy guns of the French during the night, and consequently there was quite an open space between the river and the most advanced German outpost.

Their horses made no sound, and they crept between the sleeping thousands, evading, by careful vigilance, the eyes of the enemy’s sentries.

At last they were beyond the German line.  Urging their mounts on with low words, they at length reached the edge of the little stream.

Without a moment’s hesitation they forced the animals into the icy water, and the big German chargers, after shivering once or twice, struck out for the opposite shore.

The water was bitterly cold, and the lads drew themselves out as much as possible, holding their arms aloft, weapons in hand, that they might keep the revolvers dry.

There was no sound from the German side of the river until they were in midstream.  Then one German sentry, chancing to cast his eye over the distant water, made out the two forms in the moonlight.

Instantly he brought his rifle to his shoulder and fired.

But the distance was too great for accurate shooting and he missed.  At the sound of the shot the lads urged their horses to even greater efforts, and soon were upon the opposite shore, in comparative safety.

“Well, we are over here at last,” said Chester gleefully, in spite of the fact that he was shaking with the cold.

“Right,” said Hal; “and the thing to do now is to find a fire before we freeze to death.”

They rode forward.

Suddenly in the moonlight a squad of armed men sprang up before them as though by magic.

“Halt!” rang out a command.

The lads drew up their horses and raised their hands above their heads.

“Who are you?” came a voice.

“British officers,” replied Hal, “on our way to Soissons with a dispatch for General Joffre.”

“Advance!” came the command, and the two lads obeyed.

An officer approached and looked at them closely.  At sight of their civilian clothes he stepped back.

“How do I know you are British officers?” he asked.

“Because I say so,” replied Hal angrily.  “Take us to your commanding officer at once.  We have just come across the river.  Do you want us to freeze to death here in the cold?”

“But he was not to be disturbed,” replied the officer hesitatingly.

“Well, you lead us to his tent and we’ll do the disturbing,” said Chester gruffly.  “Hurry up, man.”