s children were still guarding
her. Day after day and night after night the constant vigil was kept
up; never for one moment did these human machines relax their caution.
Everywhere throughout the length of the long battle-line, sharp eyes
kept watch.

Winding through the numerous trenches the three soldiers finally came
to their destination. A moment's delay and they were ushered into the
dug-out which served as Captain Le Blanc's quarters. A short time
before, this same shelter had served a corresponding purpose for some
German official.

Seated at a table were three men. One of them the brothers immediately
recognized as Captain Le Blanc but the other two were strangers. The
officer on the captain's right turned to him.

"Are these the two young men of whom you spoke?" he inquired.

Captain Le Blanc turned and glanced questioningly at Jacques who stood
nearby. The young Frenchman nodded his head slightly.

"These are the ones, General," said the captain, facing again the man
who had questioned him.

"Very good," exclaimed the general, a keen-eyed soldier with white hair
and a white mustache. "They are friends of yours I take it?" he
remarked to Jacques.

"Yes, sir," replied Jacques with a prompt salute.

"Young men," said the general now addressing Leon and Earl, "I have a
mission to be performed; it requires the services of an experienced
aviator and we have decided that it is best for him to be accompanied
by two men. It is dangerous but it is necessary. We have chosen you
three young men from among many and we rely on you to carry the
enterprise through to a successful conclusion.

"You will start at dawn; Private Dineau will be the aviator and he will
have as aides the brothers Platt. You will be conducted to the machine
you are to use and as dawn is not far distant I advise you to prepare
yourselves at once. Good luck to you."

He turned away and the three boys, realizing that they were dismissed,
immediately withdrew. Captain Le Blanc's orderly followed them.

"I will conduct you to your machine," he announced and set out at once,
closely followed by the three young soldiers. Back from the front they
walked, proceeding through the winding maze of communicating trenches.
Few words were spoken until they emerged from the trenches entirely and
came to the open road.

A small motor-car with a chauffeur seated at the wheel stood near the
entrance to the trench.

"For us," announced the