“I should say you did,” declared Chester, also shaking the officer’s hand. “A few moments later and we would have been goners, sure.”
“Well, I am glad we arrived so opportunely,” said the officer, laughing a little. “We heard shooting in this direction last night, but we did not get an order to advance until this morning. As you may perhaps have surmised, we are part of the advance guard of the army.”
“Do you mean the French and English have both assumed the offensive in force?” demanded Hal.
“Exactly,” replied the British officer. “We are not far in front, and are pushing slowly along, that we may take the Germans by surprise, if possible. Perhaps you may have gathered some information as to the German position and strength?”
This last was in the form of a question, and the lads made haste to answer in the affirmative.
“We have not learned a whole lot,” Chester continued, “but we have a little information that may be of value.”
“Then you had better hasten back to General French and report,” said the officer. “I am sure he will be glad to have any information you may be able to give him.”
The lads thanked the officer, and soon the little troop was on the advance again. Hal and Chester resumed their journey in the opposite direction. For an hour they hurried along, occasionally meeting a detachment of mounted troops going forward, but they had traversed at least five miles before they made out in the distance the first long line of the British advance.
It was indeed an imposing sight, this long line of khaki-clad men, marching rapidly toward them, and Hal and Chester were not unmindful of it, and their hearts swelled with pride at the thought that they themselves were a part of this great fighting machine.