"Rats!" said Frank. "I've heard that before. I guess you're a bit premature, Chester."
"Not a bit of it," declared Major Chester Crawford emphatically. "I had the news from Colonel O'Neil himself. He says Austria has made overtures for an armistice, looking toward a permanent peace."
"Oh, an armistice," said Major Paine. "That's a horse of another color."
"But it means peace soon," protested Chester.
"It might ordinarily," Hal agreed, "but you must remember that dealing with enemies such as we have now, there is no telling what may happen. I don't know so much about the Austrians, but the Germans are a treacherous lot, and I've no doubt that long association with men of that ilk has taught the Austrians a thing or two. No, Chester, take my word for it, there is nothing to your news. Even if the Austrians have made such overtures, you may be sure there is a trick in it some place."
"By Jove! You're an optimistic sort, aren't you?" said Chester.
"Well," said Hal. "I'm not quite as credulous as you seem to be. Besides, why should Austria sue for peace now? It's true that she is getting the worst of the argument, as is Germany; but to my mind she is a long way from being compelled to throw up the sponge. Then, too, she wouldn't have the nerve to leave Germany in the lurch."
"All the same, I'm taking the news for true," declared Chester.
Hal shrugged his shoulders.
"To whom were these overtures addressed?" he asked at length.