“All right,” said another.  “The sooner the better.”

The little group broke up and Hal continued his stroll.

“Good,” he said to himself.  “At least I have learned that General Beulow is in command here.”

And he had learned not a moment too soon, as it turned out.

At that moment an officer approached him.

“I can’t seem to place you,” he said.  “Is your regiment here?”

“No,” returned Hal, in excellent German, without the slightest accent.  “I am attached to General Von Kluck’s command.  I came here with him to-day.”

“Oh,” said the German officer, “then you are on his staff?”

“Yes.”

“In that event I am in luck.  Evidently you are the very man I have been sent to seek.  You are Captain Dersam?”

Hal took a long chance.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Good,” said the German officer.  “Come to my quarters.  I have documents to deliver to you.”

Hal followed the German officer to the latter’s tent.  There the German took from a small express box a small package of papers, which he placed in the lad’s hands.

“These,” he said, “you are to deliver to General Von Kluck.  I suppose you knew that he had already returned to his command?”

“Yes,” replied Hal firmly.  “I was simply waiting for these.  My horse is yonder,” and he waved his hand.

“Oh,” continued the German.  “Then perhaps you know that Von Kluck, Von Moltke and the Emperor himself had a brush with a bunch of British or French spies a while back.  The Emperor was much put out.  He believed that information of an expected coup had leaked out, so all generals were hurried back to their posts to see that everything was shipshape.”

“Yes,” said Hal briefly; “I know.”

He placed the papers in his pocket.

“Auf Wiedersehen,” said the German officer, bowing Hal from his tent.  “Your orders are to put those papers into General Von Kluck’s hands at the earliest possible moment.”

“It shall be done,” said Hal as he walked rapidly away.

“Great Scott!” he said to himself.  “I am in luck.  I wouldn’t be surprised if these papers were orders concerning the movement which I overheard in the farmhouse.”

Quickly he sought out a quiet spot, and broke the Imperial seal.  It was even as he had expected—­only more.  For the papers contained the present troop positions, their expected movements and the number of men and how stationed.

Hal whistled softly to himself.

“Won’t General French be surprised when he sees these?” he said softly.  “Now to get back.”

It was growing dusk, and as Hal walked along toward the outposts in the direction from which he had so recently come, he whistled blithely to himself.  It was a mission well done, and the lad, although by no means egotistical, was well aware of it.

He passed the farthest outpost of the camp unchallenged, and made off in the darkness.  Then, still feeling safe in his German uniform, and more confident at having not been recognized during his stay in the German camp, he paid no heed to footsteps that were now approaching.