Part 2 (2/2)
There were four negative answers.
Five minutes later the four were safe in the American trenches.
CHAPTER III
A DANGEROUS MISSION
It was noon of the following day. Hal and Chester stood at attention before General Pers.h.i.+ng, the American commander-in-chief. The latter gazed at them long and earnestly. With a half shrug he muttered, as he turned to his desk:
”But they are so young.”
The words were not meant for the lads' ears, but Hal and Chester overheard them. Hal spoke:
”If you please, Sir,” he said quietly, ”we are not so young as you seem to believe. To me, Sir, our experience seems very old.”
General Pers.h.i.+ng glanced up from a pile of papers he was perusing.
Again he looked at the two lads in silence. The two boys bore the close scrutiny unflinchingly. At length General Pers.h.i.+ng got to his feet, and, approaching Hal and Chester, laid a. hand on the shoulder of each.
”You are brave youngsters,” he said quietly. ”From what you have done since the American troops reached France, I know that Marshal Joffre and General Haig have not spoken too highly of you; and yet,” here the American commander hesitated a moment before continuing; ”and yet the piece of work I have in sight will entail, perhaps, more danger, more finesse, and more resourcefulness than any mission you have ever undertaken.”
”You will find that we shall not be found wanting, sir,” said Chester respectfully.
”I am sure of that,” was General Pers.h.i.+ng's response. ”It isn't that I question your courage or your resourcefulness; but, because of your youth, in this particular business, I question your wisdom. It is a task for older and wiser heads, but--”
General Pers.h.i.+ng broke off and became silent. Hal and Chester did not interrupt his meditations. At length the general continued:
”I wish to say before going any further that this mission, if you undertake it, in all probabilities, will mean death for one of you. It is for this reason that the task in hand requires the services of at least two men. One to go and come back, and the other to go--and come back if he can. It may be that neither will return, and yet one must return if the safety of his country is to be maintained.”
”We shall do our best, sir, if we are entrusted with the mission,” said Chester quietly.
Again General Pers.h.i.+ng hesitated. Then he took his decision.
”Draw up stools here,” he said, and made room at his desk.
The lads did so. General Pers.h.i.+ng spoke in a low voice.
”You both undoubtedly know,” he said, ”that since the American declaration of war on Germany, the activity of German agents and spies in the United States has grown to startling dimensions?” The lads nodded and General Pers.h.i.+ng continued: ”Very good. Now, I have before me a cable, in code, from the state department, which advises me that the department of state must have, at all hazards, a list of the most important German agents in America. It is essential. Here,” the general pushed a slip of paper in front of the lads, ”is the translation of the code message.”
Hal and Chester glanced at the paper. It read:
”German prime minister has lists of agents and spies in United States.
Realize it is not in your province to get list, but would enlist your aid, because our diplomatic agents have all left Germany. List is essential to safeguarding coast defenses and munitions plants. Do what you can.”
The message was signed by the secretary of state.
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