General Petain stopped suddenly and eyed the lad keenly.  Then he said abruptly: 

“Come with me.”

He led the way into the tent, and Hal, Chester and Stubbs followed him.  The general seated himself at a desk at a far end of the tent and demanded: 

“The despatches.”

Hal produced several documents, which he passed to the general.  The latter broke the seals quickly and read.  Then suddenly he sprang to his feet and dashed outside.  The lads could hear him delivering sharp orders to members of his staff.  A moment later his voice became inaudible.

After fifteen minutes’ waiting, Chester grew fidgety.

“Wonder where he went?” he said.

“Don’t know,” returned Hal with a shrug.

“Let’s go out and see what’s going on,” said Stubbs, and moved toward the exit.

“Hold on,” said Hal.  “We’re under General Petain’s orders now.  We had better remain here until he returns.”

“You and Chester may be,” said Stubbs, “but I’m not.  I’m going out and have a look around.”

“Better stick around, Stubbs,” said Chester grimly.  “If they find you wandering about you’re liable to be put under arrest.  You can’t go snooping around without permission, you know.”

“Snooping!” repeated Stubbs.  “Snooping!  Who’s going snooping?  I want to find out what’s going on.”

“Same thing,” said Chester.

The little man was offended.

“Call it snooping when I go out hunting news for my paper?” he asked.

“It’s snooping when you go sticking your nose into other people’s business,” declared Chester.

“This is my business,” exclaimed Stubbs.

“Oh, no, it’s not.  It’s just a plain case—­”

“I tell you it is my business.  It’s the business of the New York Gazette.  The people in the United States want to know what is going on over here.”

“I’m afraid General Petain wouldn’t agree with you, Stubbs,” interposed Hal.  “He doesn’t care what the people in the United States want.  All he cares about right now is to lick the Germans.”

“Well, maybe you’re right,” Stubbs admitted, “but just the same—­I want you fellows to know that hunting news is not snooping.”

“Stubbs,” said Chester, “I’ve got to give you credit.  In my opinion you’re a first class snooper.”

“What?” exclaimed the little man, fairly dancing with rage.  “Snooper?  Me a snooper?  What do you mean?”

“Of course you are,” replied Chester; “and a good one.  Why, I can remember once or twice that if you hadn’t been a good snooper Hal and I wouldn’t be here now.  Remember?”

“Well, yes,” said Stubbs, somewhat mollified, “but I don’t know whether that’s what you meant or not.”

“Why, Stubbs,” said Chester, “what else could I have meant?”

Stubbs looked at Chester coldly; then turned and walked to the far end of the tent.

“Now see what you’ve done, Chester,” said Hal, in a whisper meant for Stubbs to overhear.  “You’ve made him mad.”