The German envoys, returning to their own lines, were silent as the big airplane driven by Hal sped across the allied lines. Eyes below were strained as the craft dashed along, for news traveled swiftly among the soldiers and word that the preliminary meeting between the German delegates and Marshal Foch had not been entirely satisfactory had spread among the troops.
As General Dupree had told Hal, firing ceased in the zone that the airplane traversed. Guns snorted and bullets flew on all other sides, but Hal, laying his course by the map General Dupree had given him, avoided all danger.
From the spokesman of the German delegates Hal had learned that their destination was the little German village of Spa. It was there that the German emperor and the High Command was quartered. Hal laid the nose of the airplane in that direction.
Now, in flying, great distance can be covered in a very short period of time. The plane that Hal drove was capable of making almost 200 miles an hour under proper conditions. Hal, however, did not attempt to get that speed out of the machine. Flying well above the ground, the craft sped quietly along at something like 100 miles an hour.
It was dark when they passed across the brief expanse of No Man's Land. Looking down, Chester saw a few twinkling lights. These, he knew, came from the German positions. Some were signal lights for the enemy aircraft, others just the lights usually to be found in a great army encampment.
Chester leaned forward and touched Hal on the shoulder.
"Sure you have the right course?" he asked.
"Perfectly," was Hal's response, his voice raised almost to a shout to make himself heard above the humming of the motor and the purr of the giant wings of the aircraft.
Chester sat back, apparently satisfied.
The lights displayed among the German troops disappeared as the plane continued its journey toward the northeast. Soon, however, other lights came into view below.
"This," said Hal, "should be Spa, unless my geography and sense of direction are all wrong. I'll take a chance, at all events."
Almost above a score of the lights, Hal shut off the motor and the machine began to descend. A short time later it came quietly to earth just beyond the village. Hal scrambled out and spoke to the Germans.
"This should be Spa, according to my calculations," he said. "Correct me if I am wrong."
"You are right, sir," said one of the German delegates. "You have done well in bringing us here in such a short period of time."
The Germans alighted, and Chester also scrambled out.
"If you will come with us," said the spokesman of the enemy mission to the lads, "we will see that you are provided with quarters for the night. It is hardly possible that we will return before to-morrow at noon, if at all."
The lads followed the Germans into the town. Before a building somewhat larger than the rest, the men stopped and the one who appeared to be leader of the party said:
"You gentlemen wait here. I will go within and see that quarters are provided for the young Americans."
He motioned the lads to follow him, which they did. Inside a German officer barred their progress, but the German soon set the man's doubts at rest, and the latter stepped aside.
"Captain," said the German envoy, "these gentlemen have brought us back from the allied lines, and will conduct us there again to-morrow should it be necessary for us to go. You will kindly see that they have all necessary accommodations for the night."
"Yes, sir," said the captain.
"Then I shall leave them to you. I will return for them to-morrow some time."
"Very well, sir."
The German bade the lads good night and took his departure. The German captain addressed them.
"Kindly follow me, sirs," he said.
The lads did so. Along a long hall they were led. Then they turned into a large room at the far end of the hall. Inside were a dozen or more German officers. The captain led the way toward a door across the room. All eyes were turned on the lads as they stepped across the room.
Suddenly there came an exclamation from a man who sat near, as Hal and Chester passed. A chair scraped the floor and a man sprang up and confronted them. Hal and Chester looked into the eyes of General Knoff, the German general whose daughter Chester had befriended in Sedan some weeks before.
"So," said the general confronting the lads with a gleam of anger in his eyes, but his gaze resting particularly upon Hal, "so you made fools of me in Sedan, eh?"
Hal smiled. He was perfectly safe now and he knew it. Not a man there nor in the German lines any place for that matter would dare harm the officer who had piloted the German envoys back from their tryst with Marshal Foch.
"It had to be done, General," said Hal, still smiling.
"But," protested the general, "why was it necessary for you to pick me for your tool?"
"We wouldn't have done that, General," said Hal, "had you not been so insistent upon our having breakfast with you."
"Well," said General Knoff, "it would appear that the fates are just, after all. I have no doubt that it was information you gained from me that spoiled our plans."
"I have no doubt of it either, sir," Hal smiled.
"And such being the case," the general continued, "I shall see to it that you are tried as spies."
"But we are in American uniform now, sir," said Hal.
"You weren't then," was the reply, "as I stand willing to prove. No; I shall have you shot. No man can make a fool of me and live."
"You can't do that, sir," said Hal, quietly.
"I can't, eh?" exclaimed the general. "I would like to know what is to prevent me?"
Hal's smile seemed to infuriate the general.
"Captain," he said, "you will place these men under arrest."
The German captain saluted respectfully, but he shook his head.
"It is impossible, sir," he said.
"What's that?" demanded General Knoff angrily. "Do you dare dispute my orders?"
"Only when I have previously received commands from your superiors, sir," was the reply.
"What do you mean?"
"These young Americans," the captain explained, "have safe conduct in our lines. I only know they have piloted our delegates who have been discussing an armistice with the French commander-in-chief. I cannot arrest them, sir."
"I see," said General Knoff. "You are perfectly right, captain."
He stepped close to Chester and extended a hand.
"As a military measure," he said, "I would have you shot for what I know, but I want to thank you again for a service you rendered me in Sedan."
Chester was taken absolutely by surprise. Nevertheless he grasped the general's hand, for that was what seemed to be expected of him.
"I am glad I was on hand at such an opportune moment, sir," the lad replied.
"So am I," said the general. "You know my name, of course. When the war is over, should you chance to be in Berlin, it would give me pleasure to entertain you at my home in Berlin."
"Thank you, sir," said Chester. "Should I chance to be in Berlin at any time, I shall avail myself of your offer, sir."
The general bowed slightly, insisted on shaking hands with Hal also, and then said:
"Well, gentlemen, you are probably tired from your trip, so I will not detain you longer. Captain, I leave the young Americans to you."
The lads followed the German captain from the room.
Their quarters for the night were commodious, though not richly furnished. However, as Hal said: "I have slept in whole lot more unpleasant places and thought I was doing well."
"It's plenty good for me," Chester agreed. "By the way, Hal, has it occurred to you that we may return to Hirson to-morrow alone?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why, that the German high command may refuse to accept Marshal Foch's terms, and refuse to negotiate farther."
"Hardly likely," said Hal. "My view is that the Germans are so anxious for peace that they will accept almost any terms."
"I hope I'm wrong, of course," said Chester. "but I am simply judging by what one of the envoys said about 'if' they returned to-morrow."
"I heard him," said Hal, "but at the same time I don't take much stock in any such statement. In the first place, these envoys don't have any more to say about what terms they shall accept than I do."
"Oh, they don't, eh?"
"Of course not. It is the German high command, that will make that decision. The delegates will do whatever they are instructed to do. They are merely the representatives of the powers that be."
"Nevertheless," said Chester, "if they sign terms, the terms will be binding."
"Of course; unless it should be that the Germans consider the agreement simply another 'scrap of paper,' as they did the Belgian treaty."
"I think the Germans have learned a thing or two," said Chester. "I don't believe they'll ever try such tactics again. They have at least learned that the majority of nations are honorable, and that they are in honor bound to respect treaties."
"Let us hope so," said Hal. "Now we've talked enough. I vote we turn in. We may have a hard day to-morrow."
"All right. It suits me. And here is one night we will sleep within the German lines in comfort, for we will not have to be on the watch for enemies and fear possible discovery."
"Right," agreed Hal, "and at the same time we are here in the line of duty. Well, me for the hay."
"Not a very elegant expression, perhaps," said Chester with a grin, "but very much to the point. Me for the hay, too."
Ten minutes later both lads were fast asleep.