They stepped from the tent.
"You are under arrest!" were the French officer's next words.
Hal and Chester stepped back in complete bewilderment.
"Wha--what's that, sir?" asked Hal, believing that he could not have
heard aright.
"You are under arrest," was the sharp reply. "I am ordered to conduct you
before General Petain at once."
Both lads had recovered themselves by this time; they stepped forward
coolly enough, in spite of the fact that their hearts were fluttering
strangely.
"The general might have spared himself the trouble of sending for us,"
said Hal, quietly. "Even now we were about to report to him."
The French officer said nothing. He motioned to the file of soldiers whom
he commanded and Hal and Chester stepped in between the men.
"One moment," said the French soldier.
He approached the lads.
"I must ask for your swords and revolvers," he said.
Without a word the lads surrendered their weapons.
"Good!" said the French officer. Then to his men: "Forward, march!"
And in this manner Hal and Chester came before the French commander at
Verdun. The latter was busy with a pile of papers when they entered his
quarters and did not look up immediately.
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