"Wonder what he is doing here?" said Hal. "He was attached to General
Joffre's staff when we left. Remember?"

"Yes," replied Chester. "Must be some momentous move under way."

Other officers now began to appear. They dashed up to the British
commander, made their reports and immediately dashed away again.

"Lieutenant Paine! Lieutenant Crawford!"

It was General French summoning them and the boys approached and came to
attention. Because of past experience, both lads realized instantly that
the General had some ticklish work cut out and that he had selected them
to carry it through.

"Take a troop of cavalry," came the command, "and make a reconnoissance
of the northeast!"

Quickly two officers nearby sprang from their horses and offered them to
the lads, for the latter had not yet had time to find steeds. The lads
sprang into the saddle, saluted their commander, and dashed away. To the
nearest cavalry force they hurried, where upon repeating General French's
order to the commander, they soon had a troop at their disposal.

A troop of cavalry is composed of one hundred men. It is usually
commanded by a captain.

Now it is very unusual for a commanding officer to have two lieutenants
on his staff, as had General French in the persons of Hal and Chester;
but the General had commissioned them as such on the spur of the moment,