"Here we are," said Hal. "Now to get over."
As they would have climbed up, however, the figure of a soldier appeared above them. He saw them instantly and levelling his rifle cried:
"Halt! Who goes there?"
"Friends," said Hal briefly.
"Advance, friends, and be recognized," said the sentinel.
Hal and Chester obeyed and the sentinel scanned them closely.
"You look all right," he growled at last, "but I'm not sure of you."
"Do you think we'd be coming in here if we didn't belong?" demanded Chester.
"I don't know about that; but I can't see any good reason why you should be prowling around out in No Man's Land if you are not bent on mischief."
"Don't be absurd, man," said Hal. "We come from General Rhodes with a message for General Lejeune."