les and turned to run.
But now the advancing British were in full view, and a voice of
command rang out:

"Fire!"

A volley rang out. Not in all the world were there better marksmen
than those British troopers. Four Germans reeled in their saddles and
tumbled to the ground.

Hal and Chester descended from their place of refuge.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON A NEW MISSION.

The two lads hurried up to the officer in command of the English
troops.

"You arrived just in time," cried Hal, grasping the hand the officer
extended.

"I should say you did," declared Chester, also shaking the officer's
hand. "A few moments later and we would have been goners, sure."

"Well, I am glad we arrived so opportunely," said the officer,
laughing a little. "We heard shooting in this direction last night,
but we did not get an order to advance until this morning. As you may
perhaps have surmised, we are part of the advance guard of the army."

"Do you mean the French and English have both assumed the offensive in
force?" demanded Hal.

"Exactly," replied the British officer. "We are not far in front, and
are pushing slowly along, that we may take the Germans by surprise, if
possible. Perhaps you may have gathered some information as to the
German position and strength?"

This last was in the form of a question, and the lads made haste to
answer in the affirmative.

"We have not learned a whole lot," Chester continued, "but we have a
little information that may be of value."

"Then you had better hasten back to General French and report," said
the officer. "I am sure he will be glad to have any information you
may be able to give him."

The lads thanked the officer, and soon the little troop was on the
advance again. Hal and Chester resumed their journey in the opposite
direction. For an hour they hurried along, occasionally meeting a
detachment of mounted troops going forward, but they had traversed at
least five miles before they made out in the distance the first long
line of the British advance.

It was indeed an imposing sight, this long line of khaki-clad men,
marching rapidly toward them, and Hal and Chester were not unmindful
of it, and their hearts swelled with pride at the thought that they
themselves were a part of this great fighting machine.

They hurried on toward the advancing army. Already the lads had been
challenged several times, but upon explaining their predicament had
been allowed to continue on t