They advanced directly west toward the extreme German front.

“We’ll have to depend on boldness to take us through,” said Hal.  “It is unlikely that we shall be questioned until we reach the outposts and then we’ll have to make a break for it.”

“Suits me,” said Chester.

They walked along leisurely, passing countless German soldiers standing about; but little attention was paid to them.  Occasionally a man nodded to them and the lads returned the salutation.

Gradually they drew away from the main body of troops and neared the outposts.  Here German troopers were engaged in throwing up breastworks against a possible attack by the French in the morning.

“Guess we won’t have far to go if we can get beyond the outposts,” muttered Hal.  “These preparations indicate the Germans have just won this ground.  The French can’t be far away.”

Chester nodded in token of assent, and at that moment they came up to the workers.  Casually they stood and watched the German soldiers digging for a few moments; then wandered in among them, keeping close together.

“When I give the word!” whispered Hal.

Chester nodded.

“Now!”

Hal gave the word suddenly.

Immediately the two lads took to their heels.

For a moment the Germans were stunned by the very audacity of the two lads.  Then entrenching tools dropped to the ground and the men seized their rifles and fired a volley after the two boys.  But in the time it had taken them to lay aside their tools and pick up their weapons the lads had disappeared in the darkness and now hurled themselves to the ground, anticipating such a volley.

In the darkness the Germans could hope to hit them only by accident.

Springing to their feet again, the lads ran forward, bearing off slightly to the north, and soon felt they were safe.

They slowed down and approached the French lines cautiously.  Presently they beheld the first French entrenchment.  As they drew close a French soldier poked up his head and levelled a rifle at them.

“Halt!” he cried.  “Who goes there?”

“Friends!” returned Hal.

“Advance friends,” came the soldier’s next words while he still held his rifle ready.

Hal and Chester advanced to the very edge of the trench.  There the soldier took a good look at their faces and noticed the German uniforms.  Up went his rifle again and he would have pulled the trigger with the gun aimed squarely at Hal had not Chester leaped quickly forward and struck up the weapon.

The two clinched.

“You fool!” cried Chester.  “We are not Germans!”

Other soldiers now came running up.  They gathered about the two figures in German uniforms.  An officer approached.  Fortunately, he recognized the two boys and waved the men away.

“These men are all right,” he said.

The soldiers drew off, satisfied, all but the man who would have fired point blank at Hal.  He stood there and eyed the lad sullenly.  Then, for the first time, Hal obtained a good look at him.  The lad recognized him instantly.  He was the same man who had directed the hazing of young Jules Clemenceau a short time before.