odiest struggle of all time, up to
that period.

And it was in this battle that Hal and Chester, with the friend Anthony
Stubbs, war correspondent, and other friends, old and new, were to play
important roles. While each realized, as the three made their way to
General Petain behind the French officer who had interrupted their wild
automobile ride, that an important engagement was about to be fought,
neither had, of course, means of knowing that they were to take part in
one of the greatest of all battles.

It was with the satisfaction that they had arrived in time to prevent a
surprise attack that they made their way to General Petain's quarters.
But, as it transpired, they had arrived a trifle too late. For even as
they reached the general's tent the German guns spoke.

CHAPTER III

GENERAL PETAIN

To the soldier the voice of the great guns speaks plainly. Their ears
accustomed to the various forms of bombardments, Hal and Chester
realized as well as the rest that this was no mere resumption of an
artillery duel. It was not a single salvo from a single German position
that had been fired. The great guns boomed from north and south; and
continued to boom.

The officer who was conducting the three friends to the headquarters of
General Petain turned and called a single word over his shoulder:

"Hurry!"

He broke into a run and the others did likewise. A short turn or two and
they brought up before a tent somewhat larger than the rest. This the
lads knew was General Petain's field headquarters.

Even as the French officer approached the entrance, the general himself
rushed from the tent, followed by members of his staff. The officer who
had conducted the lads there accosted him.

"Sir," he said, "despatch bearers from General Durand at Marseilles."

General Petain waved them aside.

"I've no time for them now," he said, and made as if to move on.

Hal stepped forward.

"Sir," he said, "the despatches we carry have to do with the
impending action."

General Petain stopped suddenly and eyed the lad keenly. Then he
said abruptly:

"Come with me."

He led the way into the tent, and Hal, Chester and Stubbs followed
him. The general seated himself at a desk at a far end of the tent
and demanded:

"The despatches."

Hal produced several documents, which he passed to the general. The
latter broke the seals quickly and read. Then suddenly he sprang to his
feet and dashed outside. The lads could