“Never mind the thanks, sirs,” said General Pershing. “I have bestowed no favor. You have won your promotions on your merits. Now leave me, for I have work to do. Report to Colonel Gibson, who will find quarters for you for the night. I shall send for you to-morrow. Good night, sirs.”
General Pershing stepped toward them and extended his hand to each in turn.
Hal and Chester stopped at the door long enough to salute, and then left the room. They found Colonel Gibson without difficulty and that officer immediately dispatched an orderly to find them quarters.
“Now,” said Hal, when they were comfortably installed half an hour later, “I intend to sleep until General Pershing sends for me to-morrow.”
“And I,” agreed Chester. “I don’t feel as if I had had a good sleep for a month. And I’ll bet we won’t get much more sleep, either.”
“Why?” demanded Hal.
“Why?” echoed Chester. “Why, because an advance will be ordered soon and then there won’t be time to sleep.”
“It may not come for some weeks yet,” Hal demurred. “Those things take time, you know.”
“I know that,” Chester admitted, “but I’ll bet General Pershing won’t let any grass grow under his feet.”
“Trouble is, it’s not up to him entirely,” said Hal.