"I am afraid it is too late even now," declared the first speaker.
At this juncture Hal came from beneath the airplane with the announcement that the machine was fit to resume its voyage.
"Please get in at once, gentlemen," he said. "We have not much time."
The German envoys stepped aside to permit Chancellor Ebert to return to them. This the chancellor did a few moments later, but what was the surprise of the others when the chancellor announced that he would not accompany them.
"My duty is here, it seems," he said quietly. "Events that have just transpired seem to prove that. No, gentlemen, I shall not go with you."
Chancellor Ebert stayed the protest with upraised hand.
"I have decided," he said quietly. "You, General Herwigs, I have designated as my representative. These gentlemen," and he included Hal and Chester with the others, "are witnesses to the fact."
"That is all, gentlemen," said the chancellor. "You would better be on your way."
General Herwigs seemed to realize that further protest was useless. He drew himself up stiffly, as did the other envoys, and saluted the chancellor. Then, without another word, he re-entered the airplane.
The others took their seats, and Hal climbed again into the pilot’s seat.
Chester glanced around to make sure that all the passengers were ready for the trip.
"Let her go, Hal," he said a moment later.
The airplane sped across the ground. Directly it began to ascend. Soon Hal turned it a trifle so that its nose pointed toward the distant village of Hirson, where Marshal Foch and staff were awaiting the return of the two lads and the German envoys.
"And I hope," Hal muttered to himself, "that there will be no other delays."
But in this he was doomed to disappointment, and it was due to the lad’s own carelessness that the trouble came about.
Looking now for the map given him by General Dupree, which was to mark out for Hal the safety zones in the allied lines, the lad was unable to find it.
Frantically he explored his pockets, the while keeping one hand on the wheel. He could not find the map.
"Now what do you think of that?" he muttered. "By Jove! I’ve just naturally got to have that map."
He slowed down the speed of the craft to enable him to make a more careful search of his pockets. The search was futile. The map was not there.