"You heard what the Kaiser
is said to have told his troops, didn't you?"
"No; what was it?"
"He told them that they were but two hours' ride, by automobile, from
their goal; by which he meant the French capital."
"Great Scott! I didn't realize they were so close."
"It is pretty close; but still, when you stop to think, not so close
after all; for the road to Paris, for the Kaiser's troops, at least, is
strewn with insurmountable obstacles, and death and danger lurk on
every hand."
"True," said Chester. "Besides which, the Kaiser is considerably farther
from his goal than he was some months ago."
"Yes," agreed Hal, "he has been forced a long way down the field, as we
would say on the gridiron."
Besides the document which they were to carry to the French Prime
Minister, General Joffre also had given the lads an order for one of
the large army automobiles, that they might make the trip with all
possible haste.
Hal accosted the proper officer, and soon the lads had the huge car at
their disposal. The officer also offered to furnish them with a
chauffeur, but Hal declined this offer, electing to drive the machine
himself.
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