CHAPTER XXIX
THE END OF MATIN
"You have done well, sirs. President Poincare shall hear of this."
The speaker was General Petain. Before him stood Hal, Chester and Anthony Stubbs. Hal, acting as spokesman, had just concluded an account of their adventures within the enemy lines, a venture from which they had returned successfully and safely only an hour before.
For, after the aeroplane had descended above the French lines and headed for the French positions, the journey had been without important event. True, there had been a brush with one enemy aircraft; but this had been worsted. A second, which had given chase, was distanced with ease and the three friends had returned to the French lines unscathed.
"So!" said General Petain, "you blew up the enemy's ammunition depot, eh? The explosion was felt even here. We knew the foe had suffered some hard blow, but I had no idea that it had been delivered by your hand."
Both lads flushed at the praise of General Petain. Stubbs was pleased.
"Now tell me what else you did, if anything," said the general. "Did you get the information after which you went?"
"We did, sir," returned Hal.
He passed to the general the documents he had taken from the young German aide. General Petain scanned them carefully.