the Allies. They had won the confidence of Field Marshall John French,
commander of the British forces in France until he was succeeded by
General Sir Douglas Haig after the battle of the Champagne, and of
General Joffre, the French commander-in-chief.

While they ostensibly were British army officers, their titles were
purely honorary, but they held actual lieutenancies in the Belgian army,
these having been bestowed upon them by King Albert in recognition of
services accomplished in and around Liège in the early days of the war.

The boys had been chums since early childhood. They had been brought up
together. They attended school together and were inseparable companions.
Each spoke German and French fluently, and service with other armies had
given them a knowledge of other tongues. Both were strong and sturdy,
crack shots, good with sword and sabre, and particularly handy with their
fists. These accomplishments had stood them in good stead in many a tight
place. But better than all these accomplishments was the additional fact
that each was clear-headed, a quick thinker and very resourceful. They
depended upon brains rather than brawn to pull them through ticklish
situations, though they did not hesitate to call on the latter force when
occasion demanded.

Hal, peering ahead by the glare of the searchlight on the large army car,
suddenly slowed down; the car stopped. A group of mounted men rode up.
Hal stood up and gave a military salute as one of the group advanced
ahead of the others.

"I am from General Durand at Marseilles, sir," he said. "I have important
dispatches for General Petain."