"
Hal and Chester were greatly flattered by this high praise, but they
simply saluted and said:
"Thank you, sir."
"Now," said the general, "you may as well go about the work at once.
Further delay is useless. But you cannot go in those uniforms. Didn't you
lay in some other clothes, as you suggested?"
"We did, sir," replied Hal, "but the officer who conducted us here
wouldn't let us go after them."
"True," said the general. "I didn't explain the situation to him, because
I feared that he might possibly give the _coup_ away. Perhaps I can fix
you up here, however."
He struck a little bell on his desk a sharp tap. Immediately an orderly
entered and to him the general spoke briefly. The orderly saluted and
departed, returning a few moments later with a bundle of ragged clothing.
"You may go into the next room and change," said the general, and the
lads hastened to obey.
Ten minutes later, dirty, ragged and unkempt, they once more stood before
General Gallieni. The latter surveyed them critically.
"You'll do," he said at last, with an approving nod.
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