But the agony ended finally. They discovered a couple of hastening figures, one of which could be recognized as the private who had gone away; while the other seemed to be an officer of some rank.
“Who are you young fellows, and what do you want here, where no one is allowed to come?” the latter demanded, half angrily as he came up.
Thad guessed that the French officer must believe them to be newspaper correspondents, rashly thrusting themselves into dangerous places in an eager desire for fresh news to send over to London, or American papers.
He had it all mapped out, and meant to explain in as few words as possible so as to save time.
“We are American boys, M’sieu,” he started in with, “who by accident were caught between the lines in this battle. We found a chance to assist the Red Cross Corps at a field hospital. One of our number even drove an ambulance all the way to Paris with a load of wounded. There was an American surgeon who did wonders for your brave men. One was brought in terribly battered. It turned out that he had been on a motorcycle bearing important messages for General Joffre when he ran into a van, and had his machine crushed. He may die from his hurts; but the thing that grieved him most was the fact that his dispatches were being held up. There did not seem to be any one else to intrust them with, and so the American surgeon handed them over to us. We have come through shot and shell to deliver the same to General Joffre; and please, M’sieu, get them in his hands in a hurry!”
CHAPTER XXII
THE MAN WHO SAVED PARIS
The officer stared, as well he might. It was a most unprecedented thing, and almost unbelievable, that important dispatches should have been given into the hands of a party of mere American boys who happened to be wearing the uniforms of Scouts, to be delivered, while there was yet a Frenchman alive to volunteer for the duty.
“Do you mean to tell me this is true, and that you have carried these precious papers all the way here to Headquarters?” he exclaimed.
For answer Thad drew forth the packet, and held it out to the officer.
“Here it is, just as the messenger gave it into our possession,” he explained.