They soon reached the colonel’s quarters, and the latter then confided Frank to the charge of a young lieutenant, with instructions that he should be given refreshments and be treated with every courtesy and attention. The young fellow was of about the same age as Frank, and was delighted to find that the latter spoke French almost as perfectly as himself. They were soon chatting together like old friends. Throughout the regiment there was an attitude of solemnity and expectation. The men had been told of what was coming and it had thrilled them with a feeling too deep for words. They stood at rest in the darkness, and few words were interchanged. Each was realizing that the end of the four years of agony was in sight. France and her Allies had won their fight. The brutal, beastly power that had sought to drench the world in tears and blood and sow it with graves had been brought to its knees. Right had conquered. Men could stand erect instead of crouching as slaves. The would-be oppressor, cowed and cringing, had come to beg for mercy. Suddenly at a turn of the road a stream of light flashed out, and there was a stir in the ranks. The light came nearer, and it could be seen that it came from a large automobile that was rapidly approaching. Other cars followed and the landscape was flooded with light. But the thing that thrilled Frank to the marrow was this: _Over every car floated a white flag._ CHAPTER XIV VICTORY The Hun was beaten at last. Those white flags meant surrender, defeat. The bully of Europe was whipped. Germany’s wild and wicked adventure was ended. She had appealed to force and force had answered her. The pirate flag, the flag of the skull and crossbones, had been hauled down. In its place was the white flag that admitted defeat and sued for terms. The cars drove up to where Colonel Pavet and his officers were standing. There they came to a stop. One by one, the German peace delegates descended from the car. They were received with cold and ceremonious politeness. One of the men, the leader of the party, was in civilian dress. The others were in military or naval uniforms. The formalities were soon over. They had reached the French lines and from now on would be in the custody of French officers. One by one the delegates were blindfolded, so that they might gain no information of military importance as they passed through the French lines. Then the delegates were helped into their seats, the French officers who were to accompany them gave the signal, and the cars started off on their long journey to the forest of Compiegne, where in a railroad car, drawn up on a siding, there was waiting for them the grave, stern soldier, whose genius had struck a deathblow to the German cause just when its prospects seemed brightest, and who had kept hammering at the crumbling lines until the end had come in the blackness of utter and absolute defeat.