month before, he
would have entrusted to an older head now fell to the lot of either Hal
or Chester; and the boys did not complain. In fact, the more they had to
do the better they liked it.

Nor, for the matter of that, was there complaint from any of the men in
the French army, officers or men. They stood to their work bravely and
never flinched under fire. Nor did they protest when they were forced to
go for long hours without sleep, other than that they could catch between
the battles that raged almost incessantly and seemed to be nothing less
than one continuous struggle.

Now came the day when the Germans had been pushed far east of the
Meuse. For the moment the French, flushed with victory, paused for a
breathing spell. It had been work well done, in the days that had just
passed, and men and officers alike realized it. Preparing their lines
against attacks, under the command of General Petain, the French paused
for breath.

The German Crown Prince, realizing the cause of this lull by the French,
thought to take advantage of the foe, and launched assault after assault;
but, tired out as the French were, there was still energy and courage
enough among them to resist successfully the fierce charges of the foe.

And after awhile the Crown Prince gave up these attacks, realizing that
he could not hope, at that moment, to penetrate the French positions,
and, for once, doing away with the needless sacrifice of men.

Upon an afternoon when the battle of Verdun was a little more than three
months old, Hal and Chester were summoned to the quarters of General
Petain. They went eagerly, for they realized that there was important
work ahead.

"Boys," said General Petain, for thus he had come to address them when
alone, after the official salutes had been returned, "I have here a piece
of work, that, because of the danger attached, I hesitate to select a
man, or men, to perform."

Hal and Chester both smiled.

"And you want to give us the first chance at it, sir?" said Hal.

"Yes; I know that if you accept the mission it is more certain of success
than if I entrusted it to other hands."

"We shall be glad of the chance, sir," said Chester, quietly.

General Petain clapped his hands in satisfaction.

"I knew it," he said, "and yet I did not like to order you to perform it.
You boys are true blue."

Both lads flushed with pleasure at this remark, but they made no
reply. They stood quietly waiting until the gene