ross the lines, will be set down back of Neuvilly
and will then begin the great adventure. I am to be back within five
days, or--" he shrugged his shoulder expressively.

One of the officers banged his fist on the table. "It is a fool's
errand, I repeat, a fool's errand! If this operative, with the
Americans, is back of Neuvilly, what is he doing there? Perhaps the
Americans are there in force, preparing to strike here."

"Impossible!" the senior officer snorted. "Attack the Hindenburg Line?
The Americans are stupid, but not so stupid as that. We know that a few
Americans are in the sector south of Vauquois Hill. They are relieving
the French there. And for what reason? So that the French may be moved
up in the Champagne, east of the Meuse. That is where the blow will be
struck. But, even so, I have not the faith in this Operative Number
Eighty-one which the High Command seems to place in him."

"He has brought us much information," one of the others reminded.

"Yes, erroneous and tardy information. Not one thing have we learned
from him but what was too late to be of value. And much of it
inaccurate."

"Not always," von Herzmann replied. "He brought correct and timely
information concerning the movement of that new American pursuit
squadron, you will recall. And but for the accursed luck that brought
those French Spads upon us at the wrong time, my Circus would have
potted half of them."

"Luck!" the senior officer retorted, heatedly. "You call it luck! It was
luck that we did not lose you and that you got your crippled plane back
across the line. But can you be sure that those Spads came upon the
scene, at the right moment, by chance?"

Count von Herzmann shook his head. "No, _Herr Hauptmann_, in this
war we can be sure of only one thing--death, if the war continues. It
must be brought to a speedy close. Daily, now, we lose ground. It is
because of this that I made the urgent request to be permitted to
undertake this mission. But," he smiled expansively, "be not too fearful
or alarmed. If I fail, if there be trickery in it, you shall have the
privilege of avenging me."

"How do you mean, avenge you?"

"_Herr Hauptmann_, war is a world-old game, with modern
applications. You have read, doubtless, how in the olden times hostages
were held?"

"Yes, but--"

"It is not always effective, but it furnishes the crumb of revenge and
retaliation. I am not without some fear for my safety, and because of
that I will