“There you go croaking again,” said Hal. “Never yell until you’re hurt. That’s a good axiom.”
“It’s too late then,” declared Chester with a grin.
“Well,” said Hal, “there is no use talking about it. Either we are going ahead or we are going to stay here.”
“Let’s be going then,” said Chester. “I’m going to vote for you to lead this expedition, and whatever you say goes. That stands until we return to the American lines.”
“Very good,” said Hal. “So as long as I am the boss of the outfit, I’ll give my orders. Get back into the automobile and we’ll be moving.”
Chester took his seat and Hal jumped to the wheel.
The automobile moved toward the front again.
The lads were hailed several times by American outposts as they went rapidly forward. To the Americans it must have seemed foolhardy for the two young officers to be driving directly toward the enemy’s lines. But Hal did not slow down when hailed, so there was nothing for the American soldiers to do but let them pass.
And at the last the last American position had passed and the automobile moved into No Man’s Land beyond.
A short distance away, Hal saw the German trenches.