The lads saw, as the mayor led the way, that the conference was to be resumed in Marshal Foch's private car, which still stood on a side track in the station yards.
Upon the platform of the car stood General Dupree. He greeted the German delegates stiffly.
"It is late," he said. "We had begun to fear perhaps you would not return. However, you are within the allotted time."
"We are later than we expected to be for unavoidable reasons, sir," said General Herwigs. "In fact, we came with difficulty."
He explained the trouble within his own lines, but for some reason he said nothing of the pursuit by the allied airplanes.
"I hope he forgets all about it," Hal murmured to himself. "It was gross carelessness on my part, and I should get a wigging. However, if he says nothing about the matter, it's a sure thing I won't."
General Dupree now showed the delegates into the car. As before, Marshal Foch sat at his desk, immersed in a pile of papers. He looked up as the delegates approached.
"Ah, gentlemen," he said, "pray, be seated."
He motioned the five men to seats at his table. Besides these, there were also seated there three or four members of the marshal's staff.
"I trust you had a pleasant trip, gentlemen?" said Marshal Foch politely.
"Not so very pleasant, sir," said one of the envoys, and explained what had befallen.
Marshal Foch expressed his condolences, then added:
"And now to business, gentlemen."
"We are ready to discuss terms, sir," said General Herwigs.
"Ah," said Marshal Foch, "but there shall be no discussion. I have stated my terms. It is for you to say whether Germany will accept."
"You have the terms in writing, Marshal?"
"I have, sir. They are here," and Marshal Foch extended a paper to General Herwigs.
General Herwigs read the several sheets of foolscap carefully. Then, without a word, he passed them to his associates, who scanned them carefully in turn. The paper was passed back to General Herwigs.
"They are very severe, sir," said General Herwigs.
"So they are," agreed Marshal Foch, "but under the circumstances I can do no better."
"But surely, sir," said General Herwigs, "you realize that they are more harsh than have ever before been imposed upon an enemy by a civilized nation?"
"Perfectly," said Marshal Foch. "At the same time, sir, never has a civilized nation wrought such ruin on the world at large as has Germany in the last four years. He who plays, must pay the fiddler, you know, sir."
"Is there no hope, sir," asked General Herwigs, "that the terms may be modified?"
"None," said Marshal Foch briefly.
For the space of perhaps five minutes General Herwigs was silent. Then he said:
"You will grant me a few moments' private conversation with my associates, sir?"
"As many as you choose," replied Marshal Foch.
The German delegates retired to the far end of the car, where they conversed in low voices for perhaps ten minutes. Then they returned to their seats.
"Since you insist upon these terms," said General Herwigs, "I want to record formal protest against their severity."
"It shall be duly recorded, sir," said Marshal Foch gravely.
"And," continued General Herwigs, "as you refuse to modify them, there is only one thing Germany can do."
There was an air of expectancy in the car. Hal felt his breath coming quickly. Chester's hands clenched and unclenched nervously.
At General Herwigs' last words, it seemed to both lads that he was about to defy Marshal Foch. Neither lad was able to place any other construction on his words.
"And that is?" asked Marshal Foch, answering General Herwigs' last statement.
"That is to accept the terms, sir!"
General Foch got to his feet and took a step forward.
"I am glad," he said simply. "There can be no one more glad than I that peace shall rest again upon earth after four years of war."
There was a subdued cheer from the allied officers in the car, but these were quickly suppressed.
"There remains, then," said Marshal Foch, "nothing now except the formal signing of the terms, which accomplished, I shall order an armistice effective from 11 o'clock to-morrow morning."
General Herwigs bowed.
"I am ready to sign now."
"You have the authority to speak for the German people?" asked Marshal Foch.
"I have, sir. Since the formal abdication of the kaiser and the Crown Prince——"
There were exclamations of surprise from all parts of the car. Even Marshal Foch seemed moved.
"The emperor has abdicated?" he questioned.
"Yes, sir, and the Crown Prince has declined to take the throne. Chancellor Ebert, now acting head of the government, has authorized me to sign the armistice terms in the name of the German people."
"It is well," said Marshal Foch.
The paper was spread out on the table. Once more General Herwigs read, as his associates grouped themselves about him.
"It is hard thus to sign away virtually the freedom of a mighty nation," he said, "but there is no help for it."
He signed.
Then the other German delegates affixed their signatures as witnesses, and Marshal Foch wrote his name.
So the armistice was signed. While formal peace negotiations would not be begun for perhaps months, the war was over so far as actual fighting was concerned.
In signing Marshal Foch's terms, Germany virtually had signed away her rights to be classed as one of the great powers. Besides agreeing to surrender the bulk of her arms and ammunitions, she had announced she would give up her most effective weapon of warfare—the submarine—the majority of her undersea craft to be turned over to the allied navies at a specified time.
By the terms of the armistice, Germany agreed to withdraw her armies from occupied territories to the east bank of the Rhine. It was stipulated that mooted questions, such as the disposition of the captured German colonies and the amount of indemnity Germany would be required to pay, would be left to the formal peace council of the allies. But, to make it absolutely certain that Germany would have to accept the decisions of the peace council, Marshal Foch, in imposing his stringent armistice terms, had tied the hands of the foe. Germany, once the terms of the armistice had been carried out, would have practically nothing with which to fight should she desire to resume the struggle.
Marshal Foch, having pocketed the document, indicated that the conference was adjourned.
"There is no other business before us, I believe, gentlemen," he said, "so I shall detain you no longer. I have much work to do in the next twenty-four hours and I must get about it."
At the door to the car the German envoys saluted the French commander-in-chief before taking their departure. Marshal Foch returned the salute stiffly. Upon suggestion of General Dupree, Hal and Chester were to take the German envoys back to their own lines. Neither lad was greatly pleased with the task, but there was no use of protest. The trip was made in record time, but when Hal and Chester returned to Hirson in the airplane, they found that Marshal Foch and his staff had gone to Soissons.
"Did the commander-in-chief leave any instructions for us?" Hal asked of the mayor.
"None," was the reply.
"Then we must report to him in Soissons," declared Chester. "We may not return to our own command without his permission, Hal."
"Right you are, Chester. Well, as long as we have this plane at our disposal, we shall continue to Soissons in it, if our good mayor here has no objections."
"None, sir," said the burgess of Hirson. "I am proud to be honored, as is every one of my fellow citizens. This has been a great event for Hirson."
"And for the world," said Hal briefly.
"Very true, sir," replied the burgess; "and for the world. But the plane is yours, if you will have it. After 11 o'clock to-morrow morning, we will have need of no such messenger of the air."
"Not for warlike purposes, at all events, I trust. Many thanks, Mr. Mayor. With your permission, we will be on our way at once."
The mayor bowed and insisted upon shaking hands with each. Then the lads repaired again to their machine and climbed in.
"Here's one trip we'll take without fear of danger," said Chester, as Hal touched the controls.
"Right," Hal agreed. "By the way, the mayor made us a present of this airplane. I've a good mind to keep it and take it back to America."
"Guess the French government would have something to say about that," laughed Chester. "However, you can try it if you want to."
"No," returned Hal, "guess I'd better leave it here. I've had trouble enough in the last few years and every German is my enemy. I don't want to make any more, particularly among our friends, the French."
The plane was now speeding through the air.
"Step on her, Hal!" cried Chester. "I want to get back to Soissons and then to our own command. Remember, the armistice doesn't become effective until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. The fighting is not over yet. We may have a chance for a little more fun before it's all over."
"By Jove!" Hal ejaculated. "You're right. I hadn't thought of that."
The plane dashed forward faster than before.