out a hand, seeking a hold, and his open palm came in contact with
Chester's face. Chester thrust Stubbs away from him.

"I say, Stubbs!" said the lad half angrily. "If you want to jump out of
here, all right; but don't try and push me out ahead of you. Keep your
hands out of my face."

"I wasn't trying to push you out," gasped Stubbs. "I was hunting
something to hang on to."

"Well, my face is no strap," declared Chester.

The automobile slowed down suddenly and a moment later came to a stop at
a fork in the road.

"I'll have to have a look at this chart," Hal called over his shoulder to
his companions, as he thrust a hand into a pocket. "Forget which way we
head from here."

"We're headed for the happy hunting grounds no matter which road we
take," mumbled Stubbs.

"Don't croak, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal. "Barring accidents, we'll reach
General Petain at Verdun in time to deliver these despatches before it's
too late."

"What I don't understand," said Chester, "is why it is necessary to
deliver these despatches by courier. What's the matter with the wire?"

"I don't know," said Hal, as he returned the chart to his pocket after a