Both lads heaved a sigh of relief and left their refuge.

“May as well go in and tell His Lordship he can finish his nap,” said Hal.

But there was no need for this.  When the lads entered the room His Lordship lay sleeping peacefully, one hand still grasping his rifle.

“Well,” said Chester, “he’s the limit.  However, he’s some fighter, too.  You’ll have to give him credit for that.”

A few moments later the squadron of British, which had advanced again in the wake of the cavalry, came into sight.  The sergeant dashed rapidly toward the house where he had left the boys.

The latter greeted him at the door.

“We didn’t miss you until we had gone too far to come back,” said the sergeant.  “I feared you had been killed.”

“We are all right,” replied Hal, “but there is no telling what might have happened to us had it not been for His Lordship, who is sleeping in the next room.”

“What!  His Lordship sleeping while all this was going on?” exclaimed the sergeant, pointing to the bodies of the dead Germans that lay scattered about.

“Oh, that!” exclaimed Chester.  “His Lordship did most of that between naps!”

The Allies were now in force enough to hold the town, which they did all that day with Hal and Chester in command.  With the coming of night, however, an officer appeared to relieve them.  He also informed them that General Joffre desired their presence immediately.

Accordingly the lads left the little village, and midnight found them back in their own quarters.  They retired immediately to rest, for General Joffre had left word that he would postpone his interview with them until the morrow.

Bright and early the next morning, however, the lads were admitted to his presence.

“This,” said the French commander, placing a paper in Hal’s hands, “is an important communication for the French prime minister.  I have selected you two lads to place it in his hands immediately.  Since you told me of the plot to kidnap the President, I have investigated.  From a prisoner I have learned additional facts, which I have put into the paper you hold.”

“The prime minister is in Paris, is he not?” asked Hal.

“He is.  I have informed the prime minister, by wireless, that you are on the way with the message; also, that if there is any work to be done, he could not do better than to give you chaps a hand in it.”

“Thank you, sir,” said both lads in one voice.

“Make all possible haste,” said General Joffre, waving them from his presence.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The road to Paris.

“How far are we from Paris, Hal?” asked Chester, when they were once more on the outside.

“Not more than eighty miles,” was the reply.  “You heard what the Kaiser is said to have told his troops, didn’t you?”