"Bien! Here," the general handed each a little silver whistle, "should you ever be in a tight place and in need of assistance, blow these, and, if help is near, you will get it."
The lads shoved the whistles out of sight in the clothes.
"I guess that is about all," said the general. "Remember, the main thing I want is Duval. Establish his true identity and learn where he can be found and you will have done enough. The rest of the work will be for other hands. By the way, if I were you, I would go first to the Quartier Latin, and loiter about there. You know where it is?"
"No, sir," said Hal.
The general gave them the necessary directions and then rose.
"That is all," he said, and the lads, realizing that their interview was at an end, saluted and took their departure.
For an hour they walked along the streets, and at last found themselves in the midst of the Latin Quarter of the French capital. Here they saw many others of their own apparent ilk, dressed in rags, dirty, and carrying a certain hangdog and famished look.
"Guess we are in the right place," said Hal to Chester in a low voice.
"Looks like it," said Hal, "but the question is, how are we going to find out anything?"
"We'll have to trust to luck," said Chester.