etter."

The little group broke up and Hal continued his stroll.

"Good," he said to himself. "At least I have learned that General
Beulow is in command here."

And he had learned not a moment too soon, as it turned out.

At that moment an officer approached him.

"I can't seem to place you," he said. "Is your regiment here?"

"No," returned Hal, in excellent German, without the slightest accent.
"I am attached to General Von Kluck's command. I came here with him
to-day."

"Oh," said the German officer, "then you are on his staff?"

"Yes."

"In that event I am in luck. Evidently you are the very man I have
been sent to seek. You are Captain Dersam?"

Hal took a long chance.

"Yes," he replied.

"Good," said the German officer. "Come to my quarters. I have
documents to deliver to you."

Hal followed the German officer to the latter's tent. There the German
took from a small express box a small package of papers, which he
placed in the lad's hands.

"These," he said, "you are to deliver to General Von Kluck. I suppose
you knew that he had already returned to his command?"

"Yes," replied Hal firmly. "I was simply waiting for these. My horse
is yonder," and he waved his hand.

"Oh," continued the German. "Then perhaps you know that Von Kluck, Von
Moltke and the Emperor himself had a brush with a bunch of British or
French spies a while back. The Emperor was much put out. He believed
that information of an expected coup had leaked out, so all generals
were hurried back to their posts to see that everything was
shipshape."

"Yes," said Hal briefly; "I know."

He placed the papers in his pocket.

"Auf Wiedersehen," said the German officer, bowing Hal from his tent.
"Your orders are to put those papers into General Von Kluck's hands at
the earliest possible moment."

"It shall be done," said Hal as he walked rapidly away.

"Great Scott!" he said to himself. "I am in luck. I wouldn't be
surprised if these papers were orders concerning the movement which I
overheard in the farmhouse."

Quickly he sought out a quiet spot, and broke the Imperial seal. It
was even as he had expected--only more. For the papers contained the
present troop positions, their expected movements and the number of
men and how stationed.

Hal whistled softly to himself.

"Won't General French be surprised when he sees these?" he said
softly. "Now to get back."

It was growing dusk, and as Hal walked along toward the outpos