took it as his headquarters.

In this fashion they gradually cut down the space separating them from
the object of their concern. Tom it was this time who made a discovery.
He came to a stop, and putting his head close to that of his chum
whispered in his ear:

"We're in great luck, Jack. I can make out two cars standing in the
road before the chateau. The general must be holding a regular council
of war up here, to settle some big matters."

"He'll settle them, all right, believe me," muttered Jack. "But it'll
have to be a scuttle policy. Those Huns are licked, yes, licked good and
hard. They're just beginning to know it, too. We're proving too much for
their backbone to stand. Well, two cars means we're going to have a
double chance to get our little bucket filled with the juice, Tom."

"Seems like it," was all the other allowed to pass his lips, as he once
more commenced to advance.

They kept to the side of the road. Here trees were growing, and while
the leaves were coming down fast after a frost, at the same time plenty
still remained capable of affording shade in the daytime and making
shadows at night.

Under the trees they could glide along without much danger of detection
in case a sentry had been posted in front of the chateau. Both boys
looked sharply again, striving to find out whether either of the
military cars had an occupant.

So far as they could see, this did not happen to be the case, although
cautious Tom would not wholly believe it until he had looked further.
Wearied by the long wait, the drivers might have gone to sleep inside
the closed cars.

Like a couple of creeping ghosts the air service boys now advanced. The
cars stood close together, facing the same way, which Jack considered a
lucky thing for their designs.

Tom pressed him back as if to bid him wait, pail in hand, while he took
upon himself the task of learning what they might expect. Making his way
to the nearest car he peeped in. To his satisfaction there was no
occupant. Repeating his action he ascertained that the second car also
was empty.

So he gave a low chirp. Jack recognized an old signal, often used
between them in days past. It meant he could come on without fear of
trouble. And Jack, eager, as he was, to secure some of the petrol, did
not linger a second longer than was absolutely necessary.

"Let's get busy, Jack," his chum told him, as he came up behind the
nearest car. "I'll keep watch, and you try your han