Hal and Chester were greatly flattered by this high praise, but they simply saluted and said:
"Thank you, sir."
"Now," said the general, "you may as well go about the work at once. Further delay is useless. But you cannot go in those uniforms. Didn't you lay in some other clothes, as you suggested?"
"We did, sir," replied Hal, "but the officer who conducted us here wouldn't let us go after them."
"True," said the general. "I didn't explain the situation to him, because I feared that he might possibly give the coup away. Perhaps I can fix you up here, however."
He struck a little bell on his desk a sharp tap. Immediately an orderly entered and to him the general spoke briefly. The orderly saluted and departed, returning a few moments later with a bundle of ragged clothing.
"You may go into the next room and change," said the general, and the lads hastened to obey.
Ten minutes later, dirty, ragged and unkempt, they once more stood before
General Gallieni. The latter surveyed them critically.
"You'll do," he said at last, with an approving nod. "Now—are you armed?"
"Two automatics each, sir, and a good supply of cartridges," said Hal.