"All right," said the corporal, briskly. "Come with me, my lads. Step smartly when you're told or you may be shot," in a genial voice. They followed him through a field that seemed deserted, then came to a small cluster of tents, where they stopped. "Wait here," said the corporal. "I'll bring the lieutenant." They did not have long to wait before a young officer approached them. "My word!" he said, when he saw how young they were. "What are you youngsters doing here?" "We're looking for headquarters, sir," said Frank. "We are carrying despatches from Amiens." "All right! Give them to me, and I'll see that they're forwarded, my lads," said the officer, with a grin. "We can't do that, sir," said Frank. "Our orders are to carry them to headquarters--and to give the word Mezieres." "Ah, that's different, now," said the officer. "Corporal, give me two men to take these despatch-bearers through the lines," came the order. The giving of the word had made a great change in his attitude. It was plain that before that he had not taken them seriously, but had supposed them to be playing some prank. Now, however, he looked at them curiously. "Boy Scouts?" he suggested. "Yes, sir," said Frank. "Detailed to special duty, without uniforms." "I see! Jolly plucky of you, I call it. I say, you're not French, my lad, are you? How did you get here? Well, never mind! Here's your escort. Be off with you, now." Their troubles were over now. Within five minutes they were at headquarters. There a weary staff officer received them. They saluted. "Very well," he said. "Give me your despatches." Each of them produced his handful of marbles from his pocket, and laid them solemnly before the major. He stared, first at the marbles, then at them. "What sort of a silly prank is this?" he roared. "Do you think we've nothing better to do than to waste time in jokes? If you were men--" "We are obeying orders, sir," said Frank, quietly. "Those are the despatches Colonel Menier at Amiens gave us to deliver. He said that only one officer here would know what they meant, and how to get the despatches." "O, I beg your pardon," said the major. He took down his telephone. "Ask if despatches are expected from Amiens," he said, into the instrument. "And find out who is in charge." "There is another matter, sir," said Frank. "We saw German troops as we came here." "Uhlans. Yes, they're all around behind us. One squadron of them was cut up when it attacked a convoy. There aren't many of them." "No, sir, I didn't mean Uhlans. There is a force of infantry--five thousand men, we estimated--" "What?" thundered the major, springing to his feet, "You must be dreaming! Where did you think you saw them? And where were they?" Frank explained. "It sounds incredible," said the major, frowning. "Come! I'll take you to General Smith-Derrien. If that's true, it's highly important news. Here, show me on this map just the place where you say you saw them."