"But I am afraid I shall not be so useful, sir," said Chester.
"Well," said the general, "I am taking you along because I thought you’d like to go."
"It may be," General Rhodes continued, "that before our return we shall be present at a very momentous gathering."
"Exactly," he replied. "I mean that the commander-in-chief is summoning me for some purpose other than because he wants to see me. It would seem that matters have reached a point where something is likely to break at any minute."
"By George! I hope so, sir," declared Chester.
"I shall expect you to be ready in an hour," said General Rhodes ending the interview suddenly. "I shall have a car here at that time."
"Now, this is what I call a regular mission," declared Hal, as they hurried to their quarters.
"Something tells me it will develop," said Hal.
The lads were back at General Rhodes’ headquarters well within the time allowed them. A large army automobile stood without.
General Rhodes appeared a few moments later and took his seat. He motioned Chester to a place beside him. Hal took the wheel.
"Where to, sir?" he asked of the general.
"Rheims," was the reply. "The commander-in-chief is there now. You know the road, of course?"
"Then you will take us there as speedily as possible."
Now if there was one thing Hal did better than anything else it was to drive an automobile. He was a fast though careful driver and his hands and nerves both were like steel when he clutched a wheel.
He had been over the road before, and his excellent memory served him in good stead now.
It was after 3 o’clock on the afternoon of November 7 when the automobile flashed into the outskirts of Rheims. Hal stopped the car long enough to inquire the way to General Pershing’s headquarters, then moved forward again.
"You are a good driver, Major," said General Rhodes, as he alighted and motioned both boys to follow him.
"Thank you, sir," returned Hal. "I’ve had experience enough, sir, I should be, at all events."
General Rhodes vouchsafed no reply, as he mounted the short flight of steps to General Pershing’s offices, with Hal and Chester at his heels.
Apparently his arrival was expected, for an orderly saluted and told him that he was to proceed to the commander-in-chief immediately.