“You two lads already have been of invaluable service.  Perhaps I should not again call upon you so soon, although I know your hearts are in the success of the arms of France and England.  But you have so often proved your fitness for dangerous missions that you seem the ones needed.”

“We shall be glad to undertake the work, general, no matter what it is,” said Hal.

“Indeed we shall,” agreed Chester.

“What I must know,” said General French, “is the approximate strength of the enemy on the other side of the Marne, the positions of his troops and so on.  I could ascertain this possibly by means of the flying corps; but in that event the enemy would know that I had learned.  It must be done some other way.  Are you lads willing to undertake this task?”

“Yes, sir,” said Hal and Chester, almost in a single breath.

“Good,” said General French.  “I shall leave the means to you, for I have already come to know your resourcefulness.  I have only one injunction:  Be back at the earliest possible moment.”

The two lads saluted and left the tent.  They immediately returned to Lieutenant Anderson, where they apprised him of the nature of the work before them.

“You two youngsters certainly do have all the luck,” said the lieutenant, “while we old heads sit back here and do nothing.”

“It seems to me that you have been doing your share,” said Hal.

“And to me, too,” Chester agreed.

“Oh, well,” laughed the lieutenant.  “I have seen considerable action.  I don’t suppose I should complain.  But how do you propose to gather this information?  I suppose you realize that you have quite a sizable job on your hands?”

“Yes, we realize that,” Hal replied, “and we thought perhaps you could help us with an idea or two.”

The lieutenant was silent for some moments.  Finally he said: 

“I believe that I should not go alone, were I in your place.  The enemy will be constantly on the lookout for spies.  My plan would be to make quite a detour along the river, crossing by a bold dash and riding right into the heart of the enemy’s country, at whatever point it might be practically unprotected.”

“A good idea,” said Hal.  “But, in that event, we should have to have a larger party.”

“Exactly,” said Lieutenant Anderson.  “And I, for one, offer my services.  I suppose we should have at least twenty-five men.”

A few moments later Hal was back in General French’s headquarters.

“General,” he said, “I should like to have your permission to pick twenty-five men, and permission to use one of the highest power automobiles in the army.”

The general looked at him in silence for a while before speaking, but finally said: 

“You have my permission.  Here,” turning to his desk and writing a few words, “is a written order.  I shall not ask the nature of your plan.  Good luck to you.”