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.
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