"
"I don't think so," replied Hal. "There are probably more French troops
ahead of us."
"I am sure I'm right," persisted Chester.
"Well, it's not worth while taking a chance," said Hal. "We'll turn
south here."
At a cross road he swerved toward the south again. But, although neither
lad realized it then, they had penetrated right through the German lines
where they had been thinnest and most greatly scattered. They were still
north of the Aisne, and the main German line lay between them and the far
shore, where the French were massed in strength. They could have turned
west again at this point and probably have reached safety by the way they
had come; but neither realized his danger, and so the big car sped south
directly toward the enemy.
It was night now, and the machine was forced to travel more slowly,
running along at a snail-like gait until the first signs of dawn appeared
in the eastern sky. An hour later the lads made out in the distance a
mass of troops. They were still too far away to make out plainly, but
neither doubted that they were French.
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