"Hal’s lost his map," he told himself. "Oh, well, I guess it won’t make any difference. We’ll get there safely enough. Hal is as full of tricks as a magician. Besides, we seem to be leaving those fellows in the lurch." It was true. The pursuing flotilla was falling behind. And directly Hal was so far in advance of his pursuers that he knew he was safe. "Now for Hirson!" he muttered. The remainder of the journey was made without incident, and several hours later the airplane landed only a few yards from where it had started the day before. *CHAPTER XXVI* *THE CONFERENCE RESUMED* The mayor of the village was there to greet the German envoys when they stepped from the airplane. He announced that they would be conducted at once into the presence of Marshal Foch. He signified that Hal and Chester were to accompany the party. The lads saw, as the mayor led the way, that the conference was to be resumed in Marshal Foch’s private car, which still stood on a side track in the station yards. Upon the platform of the car stood General Dupree. He greeted the German delegates stiffly. "It is late," he said. "We had begun to fear perhaps you would not return. However, you are within the allotted time." "We are later than we expected to be for unavoidable reasons, sir," said General Herwigs. "In fact, we came with difficulty." He explained the trouble within his own lines, but for some reason he said nothing of the pursuit by the allied airplanes. "I hope he forgets all about it," Hal murmured to himself. "It was gross carelessness on my part, and I should get a wigging. However, if he says nothing about the matter, it’s a sure thing I won’t." General Dupree now showed the delegates into the car. As before, Marshal Foch sat at his desk, immersed in a pile of papers. He looked up as the delegates approached. "Ah, gentlemen," he said, "pray, be seated." He motioned the five men to seats at his table. Besides these, there were also seated there three or four members of the marshal’s staff. "I trust you had a pleasant trip, gentlemen?" said Marshal Foch politely. "Not so very pleasant, sir," said one of the envoys, and explained what had befallen. Marshal Foch expressed his condolences, then added: "And now to business, gentlemen." "We are ready to discuss terms, sir," said General Herwigs. "Ah," said Marshal Foch, "but there shall be no discussion. I have stated my terms. It is for you to say whether Germany will accept." "You have the terms in writing, Marshal?" "I have, sir. They are here," and Marshal Foch extended a paper to General Herwigs. General Herwigs read the several sheets of foolscap carefully. Then, without a word, he passed them to his associates, who scanned them carefully in turn. The paper was passed back to General Herwigs. "They are very severe, sir," said General Herwigs.