"Yes."

"He has recovered, then?"

"Practically! Therefore, the grand offensive will be resumed around Soissons two days later, which will be Sat.u.r.day. The French--absolutely unprepared for any such movement--will be caught unawares, and a wedge will be driven into them."

"And the object of this new offensive?" queried one of the voices.

"The object," was the reply, "will be the same as was the object when we first moved into France."

"Paris?" asked a voice.

"Paris," was the brief reply.

"Good! And there is no chance of failure, you say?"

"Not unless our plans come to the ears of General Joffre. If he knew of the plan he might, of course, hurry up reenforcements enough to stop it."

"And if, by any chance, this offensive fails, the other plan will be put into execution, you say?"

"Yes, it has been arranged, I understand, down to the last detail. The Paris Apaches, as you know, have neither love of country nor love of fellow-men. They seek only gold. Well, a man, Pierre Duval, by name, the King of the Paris Apaches, has been reached by one of our agents.

I am told he has 500 underworld denizens at his command. These, at an auspicious moment, will seize the president, who will be hustled into a closed automobile surrounded by the army of Apaches, and the rest will be easy."

"But Poincare's bodyguard?"

"_Ach_! It will not be strong enough to cope with the Apaches. Besides, the surprise itself augurs well for the success of the plan."

"Well, I hope neither plan fails."

"You may rest easy on that score. If one fails the other is sure to succeed."

Hal and Chester, from their concealment, heard the men rise and move off in the opposite direction.

"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "Do you know what that means?"

"I do," said Hal simply. "It means that, unless General Joffre is warned, the French army may suffer a crushing blow; also, if President Poincare is not warned, he may be kidnapped by the enemy!"

"Exactly," said Chester. "But what are we to do?"

"We must make a dash for it," was the quiet response.

Quickly the lads stripped themselves of their woman's garments, and advanced to the very edge of the German trenches.

"Now!" cried Hal, and, jumping from the shelter, they darted across the open field to where the tricolor of France fluttered aloft.

CHAPTER XV.

GENERAL JOFFRE IS WARNED.

A great tumult arose in the German trench as the eyes of the soldiers fell upon the two figures speeding toward the distant French line.

Stripped of their woman's attire the lads had exposed their French uniforms and they were recognized in a flash by the enemy.

But, so sudden had been their dash that they were enabled to cover a considerable distance before the troops, at a sharp command from their officers, brought their rifles to their shoulders to fire a volley after them. By that time the lads were perhaps a hundred yards beyond the trench, and, glancing quickly over his shoulder, Hal perceived the movements of the enemy.

"Drop, quick!" he called to Chester.

Without slackening their speed the lads threw themselves to the ground at the very moment the Germans fired.

The bullets whistled harmlessly over the lads' heads.

They were up again in an instant and dashed forward. By a miracle, it seemed, they escaped being shot down. Soon they were nearer the French trenches than those of the Germans. Still the enemy rained bullets after them.

Perceiving the forms of what appeared to be two French officers dashing from the enemy's trenches, the French commander immediately ordered a detachment of infantry to protect their flight. These climbed rapidly from the trenches and dashed forward.

A moment later the Germans also threw out a detachment to drive them back.

The French column fired a volley over the heads of the approaching lads, and the latter once more dropped to the ground to avoid the return fire of the Germans.

Two minutes later Hal and Chester were behind the French detachment and were making hurriedly for the trenches. Immediately the small force of French which had advanced to their support commenced to retire slowly, and soon also were safe from the enemy's fire.

This little skirmish had resulted in severe losses to both sides, although the French casualties were slightly heavier than those of the enemy. Ten Frenchmen were left on the field, while but eight German bodies strewed the ground.

Hal and Chester quickly sought out the French commander. Upon telling him that they had important information for General Joffre, they soon had a large automobile at their disposal and were dashing toward Soissons, where the French commander-in-chief had established temporary headquarters.

The distance was not great, and, as they now had no enemies to bar their progress, the lads soon pulled up near General Joffre's quarters. An aide accosted them, and carried the lads' names to the French commander. He returned a few moments later and announced that General Joffre would receive them immediately.

Hal and Chester followed the aide to the general's tent, where he stood back and motioned for them to enter.

Inside stood General Joffre, surrounded by members of his staff. He motioned for the lads to approach, which they did, and came to attention.

The general greeted them warmly.

"I am glad to see you again," he said. "I have not forgotten the valuable service you rendered the French army recently. I am told you carry important information."

"Yes, sir" replied Hal.

"Let me have it, then," said General Joffre.

In a few brief and well-chosen words Hal repeated what they had overheard so recently in the German trench. The general listened to them apparently unmoved.

"So!" he exclaimed, when Hal had concluded his narrative, "they are planning to kidnap President Poincare, eh? Well, we shall be ready for them. But first I must take steps to thwart the proposed German drive. It is to be delivered when, you say?"

"Two days after to-morrow, sir," replied Hal.

"And you say the Kaiser will return to the front the day after to-morrow?"