The German officer also smiled faintly.

“You are bold lads,” he said quietly.  “Come, I will take you to General Von Kluck.”

The lads followed the officer, and presently came before the German commander, the man whose great military genius some days later saved his wing of the army from probable annihilation.

Standing beside the German commander was another officer, somewhat younger, recognizing whom, Hal’s heart leaped into his throat.  This second officer was none other than the man who, some days before, had placed in Hal’s hands dispatches for General Von Kluck—­papers that, through Hal’s bravery, had been turned over to General French, and had thus foiled the coup planned by the Kaiser himself.

The German recognized Hal almost immediately, in spite of his British uniform.  He stepped forward, and, with a sneering smile, said: 

“How do you do, Captain Dersam?”

General Von Kluck, who had been looking silently at the two lads, turned to the officer.

“You know these prisoners?” he questioned.

“Well, I know one of them,” was the reply.  “That is, I thought I did once.  It seems that I was mistaken.”

“Explain yourself.”

“This,” said the German, pointing to Hal, “is the young man to whom I told you I delivered the dispatches intended for you.  He represented himself to me as Captain Dersam, of your staff.  Later we found Captain Dersam gagged and bound on the banks of the Marne.  Therefore, this officer must be a traitor.”

General Von Kluck rose to his feet excitedly.

“So,” he exclaimed, “you are the man whom we have to thank for the defeat of our plan, eh?” He turned to the officer.  “And you say he was in German uniform?”

“Yes, sir.”

The general turned to Hal.

“Do you know what that means?” he asked.

Hal nodded his head.

“It means,” continued the general, “that you are a spy.  You shall pay the penalty.”

“But,” Hal protested, “I was not captured within your lines in German uniform nor in disguise.  You cannot treat me as a spy.”

“I can’t, eh?” cried General Von Kluck angrily.  “Well, you shall see.”

“The boy is right,” came a stern voice from behind him, and, turning, Hal started back in amazement.

“The Emperor!” he cried.

And from other throats in the group came the time-worn salutation: 

“Hoch der Kaiser!”

CHAPTER XXIX.

German hospitality.

“Yes,” continued the Emperor of Germany, “the boy is right.  He has spoiled our plans, I will admit; but it takes a brave man to wander into our lines as he did.  It takes a brave one to have made a dash in the armored cars I have just witnessed; and it takes a brave man to raid right into the heart of our arms and destroy twenty-five aeroplanes, as I have no doubt he did.”