"I would like to have let a little lead into that big German lieutenant who battered me up with his fist."
"Don’t blame you," said Chester. "I’d like a shot at him myself."
"Well," said Hal, "I left my mark on his throat, and that’s some satisfaction. Also, I disposed of the colonel who was responsible, and there’s more satisfaction there, too."
"I saw you," replied Chester. "It was a neat shot."
"Well," said Hal, "we’ve done something that a couple of other couriers sent out by General Rhodes failed to accomplish—we have passed through the German lines. The general’s plans will not go wrong if we can help it."
"Right," agreed Chester. "And I figure that the sooner we report to General Lejeune the better."
"Correct as usual. But I don’t know that I care to try and repeat the feat of getting through. Besides, we have General Rhodes’ permission to stay here until after the big battle if we like."
"Think I’ll cast my own ballot that way," declared Hal. "We’ll stick, unless something turns up to change our minds."
"Now for the American lines, then," said Chester.
They hurried on through the darkness and directly the dim outline of the American trenches loomed up ahead.
"Here we are," said Hal. "Now to get over."
As they would have climbed up, however, the figure of a soldier appeared above them. He saw them instantly and levelling his rifle cried:
"Advance, friends, and be recognized," said the sentinel.
Hal and Chester obeyed and the sentinel scanned them closely.
"You look all right," he growled at last, "but I’m not sure of you."
"Do you think we’d be coming in here if we didn’t belong?" demanded Chester.
"I don’t know about that; but I can’t see any good reason why you should be prowling around out in No Man’s Land if you are not bent on mischief."
"Don’t be absurd, man," said Hal. "We come from General Rhodes with a message for General Lejeune."
"A likely story," said the sentry. "How’d you get through the Germans?"
"Walking and running," said Chester. "But are you going to keep us standing here all night? I tell you we bear an important message from General Rhodes."
"What’d you both come for?" the sentry wanted to know.
"That," said Chester, thoroughly exasperated, "is none of your business, my man! Will you call the sergeant of the guard, or shall I?"