"I hope I’m wrong, of course," said Chester. "but I am simply judging by what one of the envoys said about ’if’ they returned to-morrow." "I heard him," said Hal, "but at the same time I don’t take much stock in any such statement. In the first place, these envoys don’t have any more to say about what terms they shall accept than I do." "Oh, they don’t, eh?" "Of course not. It is the German high command, that will make that decision. The delegates will do whatever they are instructed to do. They are merely the representatives of the powers that be." "Nevertheless," said Chester, "if they sign terms, the terms will be binding." "Of course; unless it should be that the Germans consider the agreement simply another ’scrap of paper,’ as they did the Belgian treaty." "I think the Germans have learned a thing or two," said Chester. "I don’t believe they’ll ever try such tactics again. They have at least learned that the majority of nations are honorable, and that they are in honor bound to respect treaties." "Let us hope so," said Hal. "Now we’ve talked enough. I vote we turn in. We may have a hard day to-morrow." "All right. It suits me. And here is one night we will sleep within the German lines in comfort, for we will not have to be on the watch for enemies and fear possible discovery." "Right," agreed Hal, "and at the same time we are here in the line of duty. Well, me for the hay." "Not a very elegant expression, perhaps," said Chester with a grin, "but very much to the point. Me for the hay, too." Ten minutes later both lads were fast asleep. *CHAPTER XXIII* *THE KAISER ABDICATES* It was another historic conference that Hal and Chester attended the following morning. It is true they were not invited guests; neither, perhaps, were they supposed to overhear the nature of historical facts as they were written that day. It was, most likely, an oversight that permitted them to be near when the German emperor signed a formal decree of abdication. It still lacked a few minutes of 7 o’clock on the morning of November 10 when Hal and Chester turned out, greatly refreshed by a good night’s sleep. They strolled from the house where they had spent the night, and for perhaps an hour took in the sights about the German city. Then they returned to their temporary quarters, for, as Hal said, "there is no telling when we shall be wanted and it is just as well to be there." It was half an hour later when a German officer appeared and instructed them to follow him. This the lads did without hesitancy. Their guide led them to a distant part of the village, where an extraordinary array of tents told the lads that they were near important personages in the German ranks. The guide showed them into a tent somewhat smaller than the rest, where he left them. After they had been alone perhaps twenty minutes, Hal explored.