"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 their way. Now they reached the first line of the advancing host, and an officer hastily rode toward them.
Upon a glance at their uniforms, now unkempt and dirty, he saluted.
"What is your business here?" he demanded.
"We are seeking General French. Can you direct us to him?"
The officer did as requested and the lads made off in the direction he indicated. It was fully two hours later before they were admitted to the presence of the commander-in-chief of the small though mighty host of Britain.
For once the English field marshal lost his habitual calm and greeted them warmly.
"I had made sure that you two lads were lost," he said. "Come, give an account of yourselves."
Chester did so as briefly as possible, and General French listened to the lad's recital in unfeigned amazement.
"And so you are the two who created such havoc in the ranks of the enemy," he exclaimed when Chester had concluded his account of their adventures. "I learned through some of my scouts that a wild engine had dealt a heavy blow to the Germans, but I had never thought that you two were aboard it."
Then it was that Hal told his commander of his encounter with young Dersi, and of what the latter had told him concerning General Tromp, of General Joffre's staff.