"Nor me," agreed Chester. "Let him snore."
So the lads also crawled between the sheets.
"Guess we’d better get all the rest we can," said Chester. "Things are liable to happen from this time on."
An air of confusion and extreme activity pervaded Marshal Foch’s headquarters when Hal and Chester presented themselves to the French commander-in-chief the following morning.
The lads awakened early in spite of the fact that they had not gone early to bed. Stubbs already had taken his departure, but he had left a note which read:
"Good-bye. You were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t wish to disturb you. You’ll hear from me after I land the big scoop. Stubbs."
Upon entering the office of Marshal Foch the lads stood at attention for some moments before the marshal noticed their presence. Then he motioned them to approach.
"I’m very busy now," he said, indicating a mass of papers on his desk, "so I will ask you to sit down and await my pleasure. I am expecting momentarily to have news upon which to base a communication to General Pershing."
He turned back to his desk, and Hal and Chester found seats in the far end of the room.
From time to time, French officers hurried in, reported to Marshal Foch and departed again as hurriedly.
Marshal Foch tapped a bell on his desk. An officer who answered the part of private secretary arose from a desk across the room and hurried to his commander’s side.
"Any word from General Marcel?" asked Marshal Foch.
"Strange. My information indicated that developments would begin before now. What day is this, Colonel?"
"The eighth of November, your excellency."
"So it is, I had forgotten. In times like these, it seems I cannot keep track of the days. If General Marcel has not reported in the next half hour, you will send a messenger to ascertain why."
The officer resumed his seat and Marshal Foch again plunged into the mass of papers on his desk.
Half an hour passed and in the interval no one had entered the room. Marshal Foch’s secretary arose and approached his commander.
"I shall send a messenger to General Marcel now, your excellency," he said.
Marshal Foch nodded, but did not raise his head from his work.
The secretary left the room. He returned five minutes later and resumed his seat without a word.