le?"
"Why, yes," said Frank. "I've ridden one a good deal. I won a race on
Camport Fair Grounds a couple of years ago."
"Then you're just the man the general wants to see," replied Wilson.
"He sent a message to the colonel asking for the services of a man who
was cool and plucky, and who could also ride a motorcycle. I don't
know of any one else who can fill the bill better than you."
"I'll be glad to do whatever's wanted of me," replied Frank, and with a
word of farewell to his comrades he accompanied the corporal to
headquarters.
Here he was ushered into the presence of a group of officers who were
poring over a large map spread out upon a table.
"Is this the young man you were telling me about, Colonel?" asked the
general, a tall, powerfully built man, looking sharply at Frank from
beneath a pair of bushy eyebrows.
"Yes, General," replied the colonel. "Captain Baker vouches for his
coolness and courage and his quick thinking in an emergency. And I'm
told he understands all about motorcycles."
"Just the man," commented the general. "I want you," he continued,
addressing Frank, "to carry a message for me to the British commander
on our right. Our division has lost touch with him and the field
telephone is not working. Probably it has been cut by the enemy. The
message is most important and I want you to make all the speed you can.
Go and get ready now and report to your captain, who will hand you the
papers. He will have a machine ready for you. That is all."
Frank hurried back and made his preparations, which were brief. While
he worked he told his eager companions of the errand with which he had
been entrusted.
"Wish I were going with you," remarked Bart.
"Same here," said Billy.
"That would be dandy," agreed Frank.
He shook hands with them and hurried away to the captain's quarters,
where he found that officer waiting for him with the papers.
"There's no answer," he said, as he handed them over. "When you've
delivered the papers your work is done. Good luck."
Frank thrust the papers in his pocket after receiving full directions
as to his route. The motorcycle was standing at the door. It was a
powerful machine of the latest make and everything about it suggested
strength and speed. He noticed that there was a saddle in the rear and
a thought came to him.
"I see that this machine will carry double," he said. "Would you mind
if I took a companion with me? The machin
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