Of course he may be a prisoner, and unharmed, but we much fear that he was killed." "I beg to report, sir," Dick broke in smilingly, as he saluted, "that I was not so indiscreet as to be killed." Like a flash Major Wells turned upon him.

"Prescott!" he cried, "I can't believe it." But he did, just the same, and, coming to his senses, went on hastily: "General, I have the great happiness of presenting Captain Prescott!" Again Dick came to the salute, and when it was finished he stood very erect, hands straight at his sides, for he had caught sight, above the horizontal braid on the general's coat, of four stars, instead of the two stars of a major-general.

There was but one officer in the United States service who could wear four stars---the American Commander-in-chief.
Under the general's questioning Prescott and Reade, who was also presented, told their stories with soldierly brevity and directness.
"And how do you feel now, Captain ?" inquired the Commander-in-chief smiling.
"Utterly happy, sir, for I've realized my sole ambition for months," Captain Dick answered fervently.
"And what was that ?" "To be in France, with General Pershing, and at grips with mankind's enemies." "You've made a gallant start, Captain," smiled the Commander-in-chief.
"And in that I include your friend, Lieutenant Reade.

You are officers after my own heart." Captain Greg Holmes coming upon this scene, stood back as long as etiquette in the presence of a general demanded, then rushed forward to give joyous greeting to both chums.
Dick and his friends were destined to go even further in the realization of their fondest hopes.

Up to this moment the United States was only in the infancy of her part in the great war.
Greater days were coming, and did come, and what happened then will be found truthfully set forth in the next volume in this series, which will be published under the title: "_Uncle Sam's Boys Smash The Germans; Or, Helping the Allies Wind Up the Great World War_." THE END.