“And you have gone through all this unwounded?” he asked.

“Well, no,” said Chester; “we have both been wounded, but we are all right now.”

“And to-night,” said Hal, “we have further work to do.”

“Well,” said Uncle John grimly, “I think your fighting days are over.”

“Over!” echoed both lads in consternation.

“Yes.  You will accompany us back to the United States the day after to-morrow.  In the meantime I shall make it my business to see that you stay in the hotel and are not allowed to go gallivanting about.”

“It can’t be done, Uncle John,” said Chester quietly.  “We have duties to perform.”

“So you have,” returned Uncle John, “and the chief one is to return home where you belong.”

Chester was about to reply, but thought better of it, and remained silent.  At Uncle John’s request, Hal filled in the details of their adventures, and, as the account progressed, Uncle John became more and more surprised.

At length the machine drew up in front of one of the largest hotels in the city and the three alighted and went in.  Five minutes later Chester was in the arms of his mother and Hal was in the arms of his.  Both mothers wept tears of joy at having their sons with them again.

“We’ll go home immediately,” said Mrs. Paine.

“On the first steamer,” agreed Mrs. Crawford.

“I’ll go now and see about accommodations,” said Uncle John.

He left the room.

“I am sorry, mother,” said Hal, “but we cannot go home now.”

“Cannot go home!” exclaimed Mrs. Paine.  “Why?”

“Because we have duties to perform here,” replied Hal quietly.

“Duties?  What have you to do with this war?  You are an American.”

“Nevertheless,” said Hal, “we have taken the oath of allegiance, and we must stay, at least until we have accomplished the mission we are now on.”

“What is the mission?” asked his mother.

“I am sorry, mother, but I cannot say,” was Hal’s reply.

“Is it dangerous?”

“Well, not particularly so,” said Hal.

“And you won’t tell me what it is?”

“I cannot.  It is not my secret to tell.  It belongs to France.”

“In that event,” said Mrs. Paine, who had been a soldier’s wife, “I will not press you.”

“Thank you, mother,” said Hal gratefully.

A similar conversation had ensued between Chester and Mrs. Crawford, with like result.

“But, if we let you go on this mission, will you then return home?” asked Mrs. Crawford.

“We can’t promise, mother,” said Chester.

“Then,” said Mrs. Crawford, “I shall not permit you to go.”

Chester made no reply to this.

Mrs. Paine also refused her consent unless Hal would promise to return home after the termination of the mission on which they were now engaged, and Hal would make no such promise.