He turned and scribbled for a few moments, and gave each a paper.

“Make yourselves entirely at home,” he said.  “I shall always be ready to give you an interview providing the press of other work does not interfere.”

Again the three gave the stiff German military salute and the general rose to his feet as he returned it.

Then the three friends followed the orderly from the tent.

An hour later found them established in large and pretentious quarters—­a handsomely appointed tent not far from the first-line troops, but still far enough back to be safe from the Italian artillery shells that ever and anon came hurtling across the open.

“Well,” said Chester, in a low voice, “we were fortunate.”

“We were, indeed,” returned the colonel.  “I can’t imagine yet what possessed the general to let us have a look at that map.”

“Nor I,” said Hal.

“Well, I’ve got a picture of it in my mind that will keep for a week,” said Chester.  “I don’t need to draw it.”

“And it would be well not to,” declared the colonel.  “For if anything should happen and you had such a map, you would be shot without a moment’s notice.”

“There is one thing sure,” said Hal.  “We’ll have to get out of here before the Kaiser arrives.  He’ll naturally want to have a look at his secret agents and then it would be good night.”

“Rather,” replied Chester dryly.  “Besides, it seems to me that we know enough right now.”

“Well, we’ll look about another day, anyhow,” said the colonel.  “We may be able to gather a few more details.”

“It won’t hurt anything,” said Hal.  “That’s sure.”

“Then we’ll make our dash for the Italian lines to-morrow night,” said Chester.

“Agreed,” said Colonel Anderson and Hal.

There was a call from without and a moment later a pleasant, dapper little officer stuck his head in the tent.

“General Brentz has told me to put myself at your service,” he said.  “Perhaps you would like me to conduct you through the camp?”

The three friends were glad of this chance and followed him.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Uncle John “Butts in.”

“Well,” said Chester to the young Austrian officer, as they were returning to their quarters an hour later, “you hold a remarkably strong position here.  And still, if you are forced to fall back, then what?”

The Austrian smiled.

“We have considered all possibilities,” he replied.  “Back there,” sweeping his arm about in a comprehensive gesture, “lies Gorizia, the key to Trieste, which naturally is the Italian goal in this section.  Gorizia is exceptionally well fortified, as you well know.  We could defend ourselves there indefinitely in the face of overwhelming numbers.”

“But,” interrupted Hal, “it is not necessary to capture Gorizia to take Trieste?”