CHAPTER XIII
A PIECE OF LUCK
Eight o’clock Thursday morning found Hal and Chester, in a large army automobile, returning from the quarters of General Lawrence, where they had been sent by General Allen, who commanded the division in which the boys served.
As they rode along, Hal, turning a sharp curve, applied the emergency brakes and brought the car to a stop only a few feet from a second machine, which appeared to be stalled in the middle of the road.
There were only two figures in the second automobile, and as Hal looked quickly at the man in the tonneau he jumped to the ground and came to attention. Chester, with a quick look at one of the occupants of the car, did likewise.
Both lads had recognized General Pershing.
General Pershing returned the salutes and spoke sharply.
“You drive somewhat recklessly, sirs,” he said.
“Had you not been prompt in applying your brakes you would have run us down.”
“I’m very sorry, sir,” said Hal.
“It can’t be helped now,” said General Pershing, “and it is good fortune that brings you here now. My own car has run out of ‘gas,’ due to the carelessness of my driver. I have sent him for another car, but now that you are here I shall change. Come, Colonel Gibson.”
The American general and his companion alighted and took seats in Hal’s car. General Pershing motioned Hal to the wheel and Chester was also waved into a front seat.
“You will drive me to General Lawrence’s quarters,” said General Pershing, “and this will give you an opportunity to do all the speeding you care to. I must see General Lawrence and be back at my own headquarters by noon.”
“Very well, sir,” said Hal.
He turned the car quickly and soon was speeding in the direction from which he had come.
Neither Hal nor Chester said a word as the car sped on. The trip to General Lawrence’s quarters was made in record time, and Hal and Chester remained in the car while the two generals talked alone.
Half an hour later General Pershing, still accompanied by Colonel Gibson, re-entered the automobile.
“You know where my temporary quarters are in the city of Soissons?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” replied Hal.
General Pershing leaned forward in the car and gazed at the two lads closely.
“Surely I know you two officers,” he said. “Your faces are very familiar.”
“Yes, sir,” said Hal. “We had the pleasure of going to Berlin for you, sir.”
General Pershing clapped his hands.
“I know you now,” he said. “Colonel, these are the young officers who went to Berlin and brought back the list of German spies in America.”
“That so, sir?” said Colonel Gibson. “Seems to me they are very young to have been entrusted with such a task.”
“Young they are in years,” said the American commander-in-chief, “but they are older than a good many of us in experience, so far as this war is concerned. If my memory serves me right, I believe they put in several years with the French and British before the United States entered the conflict. Am I right?” he asked of Hal.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, sir,” said General Pershing, “you will make all haste toward my headquarters.”
Hal sent the car forward with a lurch and in a moment they were speeding toward Soissons at a rate of speed close to sixty miles an hour.
From time to time, they passed a car going in the opposite direction, and several times going around curves they seemed in imminent danger of running into another machine. But Hal was a careful, though swift, driver, and his hands were perfectly steady on the wheel.
They flashed through several little villages so fast that the natives stared in open-mouthed wonder.
Hal’s sense of direction stood him in good stead, and he did not find it necessary to stop once and ask directions. He had been over the road many times before and he swerved from road to road with unerring certainty.
In the rear seat, General Pershing and Colonel Gibson talked guardedly and neither Hal nor Chester could understand what they said had they wished to eavesdrop. But such was not their intention. Both lads were highly elated at their good fortune, for both realized perfectly that it was no small honor to drive and ride in the car occupied by the commander-in-chief of all the American forces in France.
Two hours passed and Hal began to recognize the familiar landmarks of the city of Soissons. He breathed a sigh of relief, for while he was confident in his own mind that he had kept to the right road, there was always the possibility that he might mistake it.
He slowed the car down a trifle.
“We should reach your headquarters in fifteen minutes, sir,” he called to General Pershing over his shoulder.
The American commander made no reply, but Hal had expected none.
It was less than fifteen minutes later that Hal drew the automobile to a stop before the handsome villa that General Pershing occupied as his headquarters.
“A fine piece of driving, lieutenant,” said General Pershing to Hal, as he alighted, followed by Colonel Gibson.
“Will you both report to me in my private office in fifteen minutes?”
“Yes, sir,” said Hal and Chester almost in one voice.
They, too, had alighted from the car and now stood at attention as General Pershing and Colonel Gibson ascended the few steps to the door of the old French villa.
“Wonder what he wants with us now?” said Hal, after the American commander had disappeared within.
“Maybe he wants us to drive him to Marshal Foch’s headquarters in time for the conference Stubbs mentioned,” replied Chester.
“By Jove! Maybe that is it,” exclaimed Hal. “But I’d like to go farther than that. I’d like to be present at the conference.”
“Guess that’s asking a little too much,” smiled Chester.
“Perhaps, but I’d give a whole lot to be there.”
The lads continued to speculate until Hal, after a glance at his watch, announced that it was time to report to General Pershing. They ascended the steps and gave their names to the orderly at the door. They were ushered immediately into their commander’s private office, thus indicating that the latter had given word to expect them.
General Pershing was seated at his desk in the far corner of the room when Hal and Chester entered. His back was to the door and he did not see them. The lads came to attention and waited.
After scrawling his name to several documents, General Pershing swung about in his chair.
“As you know,” he said, addressing both lads without preliminaries, “my regular driver has been left far behind. It is imperative that I reach the headquarters of Marshal Foch by four o’clock this afternoon and for that reason I have decided to impress you into service as my driver, Lieutenant Paine.”
“Very well, sir,” said Hal, saluting.
“And you, Lieutenant Crawford,” continued the American commander, “will accompany your friend because I know how inseparable you are.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Chester.
“Will you overhaul the car, lieutenant, and see that it is perfectly fit?” instructed General Pershing.
Hal saluted again, and would have turned on his heel to depart, but his commander stayed him.
“One moment,” he said. “I have done some thinking in the last few minutes and I am convinced that you young men are the ones I may have need of for a certain piece of important work. I can’t say as much as I would like to right now. But I can say this: I shall confer with Marshal Foch and Marshal Haig this afternoon on a certain matter. If the conference results as I hope it will, I shall not have need of you; or if I fail to make my point I shall have no need of you. If the conference, however, fails to reach a definite decision I shall have need of at least two courageous and daring spirits. In view of your past successes, I believe that I may depend on you.”
General Pershing paused.
“We will do the best we can, sir,” said Hal.
“Because you must be familiar with my views to render the best possible service,” General Pershing went on, “I am inclined to believe that it would be well to have you present at the conference.”
Hal’s heart leaped into his throat with joy. Chester had hard work repressing a wild hurrah. But neither said a word nor moved a facial muscle.
“You will learn at the conference,” said General Pershing, “what I am not at liberty to say now.”
“We know what we shall learn, all right,” said Hal to himself.
“Now,” continued the American commander, “if you will look over the car carefully, I will be with you inside of ten minutes.”
Hal and Chester saluted their commander, wheeled on their heels and marched from the room.
“Hurrah, Hal!” shouted Chester when they were out of earshot of their commander’s office. “What do you think of that?”
“I am afraid it’s too good to be true,” declared Hal. “I’m afraid I shall wake up and find it only a dream. Better pinch me so I know I’m not asleep. Ouch!” he cried, as Chester applied thumb and forefinger to his arm. “I didn’t mean for you to take me literally. Guess I’m awake all right. Now for the car.”
Hal went over the car carefully. It was in perfect shape. The gasoline tank was replenished and Hal gave the car a “drink.” Hardly had he completed his task, when Chester cried:
“Quick, Hal! Here he comes!”
A moment later General Pershing, accompanied by two of his staff, climbed into the car. Hal took his place at the wheel. Chester sat beside him.
“A little speed, lieutenant!” said General Pershing, with a half smile.
Hal sent the big automobile forward.