After scrawling his name to several documents, General Pershing swung about in his chair.
“As you know,” he said, addressing both lads without preliminaries, “my regular driver has been left far behind. It is imperative that I reach the headquarters of Marshal Foch by four o’clock this afternoon and for that reason I have decided to impress you into service as my driver, Lieutenant Paine.”
“Very well, sir,” said Hal, saluting.
“And you, Lieutenant Crawford,” continued the American commander, “will accompany your friend because I know how inseparable you are.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Chester.
“Will you overhaul the car, lieutenant, and see that it is perfectly fit?” instructed General Pershing.
Hal saluted again, and would have turned on his heel to depart, but his commander stayed him.
“One moment,” he said. “I have done some thinking in the last few minutes and I am convinced that you young men are the ones I may have need of for a certain piece of important work. I can’t say as much as I would like to right now. But I can say this: I shall confer with Marshal Foch and Marshal Haig this afternoon on a certain matter. If the conference results as I hope it will, I shall not have need of you; or if I fail to make my point I shall have no need of you. If the conference, however, fails to reach a definite decision I shall have need of at least two courageous and daring spirits. In view of your past successes, I believe that I may depend on you.”
General Pershing paused.
“We will do the best we can, sir,” said Hal.