"Correct as usual. But I don’t know that I care to try and repeat the feat of getting through. Besides, we have General Rhodes’ permission to stay here until after the big battle if we like." "And I vote that we stay," said Chester. "Think I’ll cast my own ballot that way," declared Hal. "We’ll stick, unless something turns up to change our minds." "Now for the American lines, then," said Chester. They hurried on through the darkness and directly the dim outline of the American trenches loomed up ahead. "Here we are," said Hal. "Now to get over." As they would have climbed up, however, the figure of a soldier appeared above them. He saw them instantly and levelling his rifle cried: "Halt! Who goes there?" "Friends," said Hal briefly. "Advance, friends, and be recognized," said the sentinel. Hal and Chester obeyed and the sentinel scanned them closely. "You look all right," he growled at last, "but I’m not sure of you." "Do you think we’d be coming in here if we didn’t belong?" demanded Chester. "I don’t know about that; but I can’t see any good reason why you should be prowling around out in No Man’s Land if you are not bent on mischief." "Don’t be absurd, man," said Hal. "We come from General Rhodes with a message for General Lejeune." "A likely story," said the sentry. "How’d you get through the Germans?" "Walking and running," said Chester. "But are you going to keep us standing here all night? I tell you we bear an important message from General Rhodes." "What’d you both come for?" the sentry wanted to know. "That," said Chester, thoroughly exasperated, "is none of your business, my man! Will you call the sergeant of the guard, or shall I?" "Oh, I’ll call him," said the sentry, "but I’ll tell you right now I don’t think it will do you any good. Kindly step up here, will you?" Hal and Chester did so. Then, for the first time, the sentry saw that they were officers in the American army. He looked flabbergasted. "I—I—I beg pardon, gentlemen," he said. "I didn’t know you were officers. Why didn’t you tell me?" "You didn’t give us a chance," said Hal shortly. "Kindly summon the sergeant of the guard." The sentry argued no longer. He raised his voice in a shout that brought the sergeant of the guard on the dead run. "What’s the matter with you, you bonehead?" demanded the sergeant as he came lumbering forward. "Want to arouse the whole camp?" "It’s all right, sergeant," said Hal. "He only did as ordered. We have come from General Rhodes with an important message for General Lejeune. Will you direct us to his quarters?" The sergeant saluted stiffly. "Follow me, sirs," he said briefly. Five minutes walk brought the three to the headquarters of the commander of the Second American division. There the lads were accosted by a member of the general’s staff, Colonel O’Shea. "We desire to see the general at once on a very urgent matter," said Hal. Colonel O’Shea scowled.