“And I shall see that he is rewarded for it!” exclaimed the captain.  “But your gallant conduct also shall be made known.  Certainly I made two good friends when I met you two boys.  At some time I hope to be able to repay you in some slight measure, although I know I can never entirely cancel my indebtedness to you both.”

In the hut of the officer commanding the division Captain Derevaux went into detail concerning the gallant actions of our two boys.

The general congratulated them.

“I shall see that your conduct is brought to the personal attention of the King,” he declared.  “You shall both be rewarded if I live long enough to write out my report.”

“Thank you, general,” both lads replied, and then accompanied Captain Derevaux to his quarters, where his wound, which was found to be slight, was attended to.

It was the next afternoon that the general again summoned the lads to his hut.

“I have a mission of importance,” he said, “and I am seeking volunteers.  It is somewhat dangerous, and I am loath to order anyone to go.  But in view of your gallant conduct, I thought I would give you the first chance.”

“We shall gladly undertake it, general, no matter what it is,” replied Hal.

“Yes, sir,” agreed Chester, “we shall always be glad to aid the cause of the Allies, no matter what the dangers.”

“Well, then,” replied the general, taking a paper from his desk.  “I want this paper put into the hands of General Givet, at Louvain.  If there is any danger of your being captured, destroy it.  It contains information that would be invaluable to the enemy.

“In view of your past resourcefulness, I am putting great confidence in your ability to get through.  The country between here and Louvain, while not precisely in the hands of the Germans, is being constantly overrun with parties of raiders.  You will bring General Givet’s reply to me here.”

The lads saluted and departed.

“You certainly have made a great impression upon the general,” said Captain Derevaux, when the boys informed him of their mission.  “Just keep as cool as you have been in the past, and I am sure you will get through without trouble.”

It was late that night when the lads made their way from the young captain’s quarters, passed beyond the outposts, and made their way into the forest beyond, following the road, but keeping well within the shadow of the trees.

“This is the best summer vacation we have ever had,” declared Hal, as they went slowly along.

“You are right, there,” replied Chester.  “Of course, war is a terrible thing, but as long as there is a war I would rather be over here where I can see what is going on than to be sitting home reading about it in the newspapers.”

“Yes; and then you couldn’t be exactly sure you were getting the facts.”

Shortly after sunrise the boys came upon a large farmhouse.