"
Hal and Chester both smiled.
"And you want to give us the first chance at it, sir?" said Hal.
"Yes; I know that if you accept the mission it is more certain of success
than if I entrusted it to other hands."
"We shall be glad of the chance, sir," said Chester, quietly.
General Petain clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"I knew it," he said, "and yet I did not like to order you to perform it.
You boys are true blue."
Both lads flushed with pleasure at this remark, but they made no
reply. They stood quietly waiting until the general should tell them
what was required.
"Boys," said the general, "it is absolutely essential to the success of
this campaign that I have a more accurate knowledge of the enemy's lines
and strength. My aviators have been sent in search of such information,
but they have met with little success. The only man who got close enough
to learn what I am after, according to others who followed him, was shot
down. He failed to return. What he learned, of course, I do not know.
But it is that which I must know. Do you think you can gain this
information for me?"
"We can at least have a try at it," said Chester, with a smile.
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