“You are a brave lad,” he said, at last.  “I had figured on sending my answer by another courier; but perhaps your plan is better.  You may report to me at midnight, and I shall have the answer ready.”

Hal saluted and turned to leave the hut.

“Wait a minute,” commanded the general.  “Tell me something of yourself.  How comes it that you, an American, I take it, have been selected for such perilous work?  Why, you cannot be more than eighteen years old.”

“Seventeen, general,” replied Hal, with a smile; and then he told the Belgian officer of his experiences since leaving Berlin.

The old general was amazed.

“Remarkable! remarkable!” he repeated, time after time.

Finally he called an officer, and commanded that the latter find Hal a place to sleep.

“Remember, midnight,” called the general, as Hal was leaving the hut.

Hal saluted again.

“Yes, general,” he replied, and followed the young officer.

Promptly at midnight Hal, greatly refreshed by a sound sleep and hearty meal, once more entered the general’s quarters and came to attention.

“The answer you are to carry back is simply:  ’I shall act upon your plan,’” said General Givet.  “Good luck to you on your journey, and I have only one command:  Make all possible haste.”

Hal saluted and set out on his return, journey to Liege.

It was early morning when he came once more to the farmhouse where he had fought so nobly the day before.  His fear for Chester’s safety increased as he approached, and it was not without some misgiving that he ascended the porch steps and knocked softly at the door.

He heard a light footstep within, the door swung open, and Edna peered forth at him.

“What!  Back so soon?” she exclaimed gladly.

“Yes, I made pretty good time.  How is Chester?”

Hal’s doubts were soon set at rest.

“He is much better this morning than could have been expected,” replied the girl.  “He ate a hearty breakfast, and says he is feeling fine.”

Hal followed her up the steps to where Chester lay, impatiently awaiting his coming.  Edna went downstairs to see about getting him something to eat.

“Will you be able to leave to-day?” asked Hal, of Chester.

“I am ready to go right now.  I am still weak, but I am sure I can make it all right.  I’m bandaged up fine.”

“You are sure you are feeling fit?”

“Certainly.  Besides, I don’t want to be left behind again.  You are having all the fun.  I want to get in on a little of it myself.”

And so it was arranged that the boys should leave immediately after luncheon.  They sought long and earnestly during the morning to prevail upon Edna to accompany them, or to make her way to Louvain; but she declared her intention of remaining where she was.

“I am much safer here than I should be on the road,” she said.  “No one will harm me.  Besides, I must take care of the house.”