Two hours later they were upon the identical spot from which they had wirelessed headquarters in the morning. It was midnight now as two of the Germans, working under Jerry's orders while Slim kept a weather eye on the others, set up the pack-set. Jerry worked the key half a dozen times and then got an almost immediate response. The first query after he had identified himself was: "This is Joe; where are you?" "Just got back to where we left you this morning," Jerry ticked off into the air. "Bringing in a German lieutenant and four of his men as prisoners. Should arrive by daylight, as we have horses." "Great," was Joe's radio response. "Have letter from Brighton and fine news. Will make your report." And the pack-set was put back in its compact case, and, paired off as before, the journey was resumed. "Say," said Jerry, as they urged their horses down the side of the mountain leading to fairly level ground all the way into camp, "I'm hungry enough to eat dog meat, but I guess we can hold out now until we reach our lines." "Yes, I suppose so," Slim answered. "But how'd you like to have some sausage, and some plum pudding, and----" "Don't," pleaded Jerry. "The idea is too much. My stomach is accusing me of gross carelessness now." "Wonder what's in that letter from Brighton, and who wrote it?" said Sum, glad to change the subject and forget his own hunger. "Can't imagine, but my own curiosity has been as to whether the fine news Joe mentioned comes from there or refers to something at headquarters." And so, sore, tired and hungry, but happy withal, they continued on. The moon waned and set, and tradition proved itself--it became darkest just before dawn. "Wait!" said Jerry, just at this stage of the journey, and he jumped from his horse to recover something that he had seen the German lieutenant drop. It proved to be a packet of papers, bearing the official German army seal. "Ah-ha!" Jerry cried, riding up to the officer and thrusting the documents out before him. "So you thought to get rid of them, eh? Well, we'll just take these along to headquarters, too. They may contain something of interest to our commanders. Yes?" The lieutenant gave an ugly, menacing grunt, but refused to say a word. Daylight came, and with it a clear view of the American lines. A quarter of an hour later they saw two horsemen coming toward them. Slim examined them carefully with his glasses. "The lieutenant and Frank," he announced. "Guess Joe's still on duty." And Joe was. He was just relaying to the commander of the American forces in France orders forwarded from London, and they were of the greatest import to the three boys from Brighton. CHAPTER XX THE GREAT NEWS "Well, Sergeants, how are you?" Lieutenant Mackinson greeted them, as he and Frank came galloping up and swerved their horses around. "Corporals, you mean, Lieutenant," Jerry corrected. "No, I thought I meant sergeants," the lieutenant repeated. "In fact, I'm quite sure I did."