"The quicker I find the main army and lose myself among the rest of the officers the better off I shall be," he told himself. He espied a small squadron of Germans approaching him at a quick trot. Making sure that his revolvers were ready for instant action, the lad trudged bravely on. The mounted troops passed him at a distance of perhaps a hundred yards, and the officer in command waved his sword in greeting as they went by. "So far, so good," muttered the lad to himself. Small bodies of troops passed him at more frequent intervals now. But feeling perfectly safe in his German uniform, with shoulder straps of captain, the lad continued boldly on. At last, some distance ahead, he made out a large encampment. "Guess this is the place I am headed for," he told himself. He approached boldly and soon mingled with the German officers, who were taking life easy, war, seemingly, being far from their thoughts. The place, to Hal, looked as if it might be a drill ground, with a large body of troops on parade. He walked about for an hour or more and was not challenged once, although once or twice passing officers nodded pleasantly to him. "Either they mistake me for someone else, or they are a very pleasant and courteous set," the lad told himself. "However, I didn't come here to learn how they behave themselves. I won't get any information this way. I wonder who is in command here, but I can't afford to ask." Continuing his stroll, he at last mingled with a crowd of officers who were idling about talking. "I heard General Beulow say that we were likely to be ordered forward within a few hours," said one of the group of officers. "So?" questioned another. "I had forgotten that you are now a member of his staff." "What's up, do you know?" "Nothing that I can talk about," replied the other with a pleasant smile. "All right," said another. "The sooner the better." The little group broke up and Hal continued his stroll. "Good," he said to himself. "At least I have learned that General Beulow is in command here." And he had learned not a moment too soon, as it turned out. At that moment an officer approached him. "I can't seem to place you," he said. "Is your regiment here?" "No," returned Hal, in excellent German, without the slightest accent. "I am attached to General Von Kluck's command. I came here with him to-day." "Oh," said the German officer, "then you are on his staff?" "Yes." "In that event I am in luck. Evidently you are the very man I have been sent to seek. You are Captain Dersam?" Hal took a long chance. "Yes," he replied. "Good," said the German officer. "Come to my quarters. I have documents to deliver to you." Hal followed the German officer to the latter's tent. There the German took from a small express box a small package of papers, which he placed in the lad's hands. "These," he said, "you are to deliver to General Von Kluck. I suppose you knew that he had already returned to his command?"