 The Boy Allies At Verdun

 OR

 Saving France from the Enemy

 By CLAIR W. HAYES

AUTHOR OF "The Boy Allies At Ličge" "The Boy Allies On the Firing Line""The Boy Allies With the Cossacks" "The Boy Allies In the Trenches""The Boy Allies On the Somme"

 1917

CHAPTER I

THE EVE OF VERDUN

On the twenty-second of February, 1916, an automobile sped northwardalong the French battle line that for almost two years had held back thearmies of the German emperor, strive as they would to win their wayfarther into the heart of France. For months the opposing forces hadbattled to a draw from the North Sea to the boundary of Switzerland, until now, as the day waned--it was almost six o'clock--the hands of timedrew closer and closer to the hour that was to mark the opening of themost bitter and destructive battle of the war, up to this time. 

It was the eve of the battle of Verdun. 

The occupants of the automobile as it sped northward numbered three. Inthe front seat, alone at the driver's wheel, a young man bent low. He wasgarbed in the uniform of a British lieutenant of cavalry. Closeinspection would have revealed the fact that the young man was a youth ofsome eighteen years, fair and good to look upon. As the machine spedalong he kept his eyes glued to the road ahead and did not once turn tojoin in the conversation of the two occupants on the rear seat. Whetherhe knew that there was a conversation in progress it is impossible tosay, but the rush of wind would have made the conversationunintelligible, to say the least. 

This youth on the front seat was Hal Paine, an American. 

The two figures in the rear seat were apparently having a hard timeto maintain their places, as they bounced from side to side as thecar swerved first one way and then the other, or as it took a flyingleap over some object in the road, which even the keen eye of thedriver had failed to detect. But in spite of this, even as theybounced, they talked. 

One of the two figures was tall and slender and there was about him anair of youthfulness. He was in fact a second American boy. His namewas Chester Crawford, friend and bosom companion of Hal Paine. Likethe latter he, too, was attired in the uniform of a British lieutenantof cavalry. 

The second figure in the rear seat was built along different lines. Hewas short and chunky; also, he was stout. Had he been standing it wouldhave been evident that he was almost as wide as he was long. He had apleasant face and smiled occasionally, though upon each occasion thissmile died away in a sickly grin as the car leaped high in the air afterstriking a particularly large obstruction in the road, or veering crazilyto one side as it turned sharply. In each case the grin was succeeded bya gasp for breath. 

The figure was that of Mr. Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the NewYork _Gazette_, on the firing line in Europe to gather facts for hisnewspaper. He was attired in a riding suit of khaki. 

Said Mr. Stubbs:

"Well, we may get there and we may not. "

"Oh, we'll get there all right, Mr. Stubbs!" Chester raised his voice tomake himself heard. 

"We're likely to land out here in the ditch, " was Stubbs' reply. "The wayHal runs this car, there is no telling what may happen. "

"Not frightened, are you, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Chester, grinning. 

"Frightened?" echoed Stubbs. "Why should I be frightened? We can't begoing more than a couple of hundred miles an hour. No, I'm notfrightened. I'm what you call scared. Wow!"

This last ejaculation was drawn from the little man as he was pitchedover into Chester's lap by an extra violent lurch of the car. He threwout a hand, seeking a hold, and his open palm came in contact withChester's face. Chester thrust Stubbs away from him. 

"I say, Stubbs!" said the lad half angrily. "If you want to jump out ofhere, all right; but don't try and push me out ahead of you. Keep yourhands out of my face. "

"I wasn't trying to push you out, " gasped Stubbs. "I was huntingsomething to hang on to. "

"Well, my face is no strap, " declared Chester. 

The automobile slowed down suddenly and a moment later came to a stop ata fork in the road. 

"I'll have to have a look at this chart, " Hal called over his shoulder tohis companions, as he thrust a hand into a pocket. "Forget which way wehead from here. "

"We're headed for the happy hunting grounds no matter which road wetake, " mumbled Stubbs. 

"Don't croak, Mr. Stubbs, " said Hal. "Barring accidents, we'll reachGeneral Petain at Verdun in time to deliver these despatches before it'stoo late. "

"What I don't understand, " said Chester, "is why it is necessary todeliver these despatches by courier. What's the matter with the wire?"

"I don't know, " said Hal, as he returned the chart to his pocket after aquick scrutiny, "unless there is a leak of some kind. "

"Hardly, " said Chester. 

Hal shrugged his shoulders as he settled his cap more firmly on his headand laid a hand on the wheel. 

"You never can tell, " he said. 

"Well, " said Stubbs, "I don't--hey! what're you trying to do, anyhow?"

For the little man again had been hurled violently against Chester as Halsent the car forward with a lurch. "Trying to leave me behind? What?"

"Can't be done, Mr. Stubbs, " said Chester. 

Mr. Stubbs glared at the lad angrily, but deigned to make no reply. Sothe big army automobile continued on its way in silence. 

Darkness fell. Hal stopped the car and lighted the lamps. 

"Can't take any chances while going at this speed, " he said. 

Stubbs grinned feebly to himself, seemed as if about to speak, thenthought better of it and remained silent. But he waved a hand in disgust. 

A moment later the car was rushing through the darkness at the speed ofan express train; and while this journey in the night continues it willbe well to explain the presence of the three companions in the big armycar, how they came there and why, and the nature of the mission uponwhich they were bound. 

A month before the three had been in the Balkans. There the two lads, together with Anthony Stubbs, had gone through many dangerous adventures, finally reaching Greek soil in the nick of time, with a horde ofBulgarians just behind them. With them had been others--Ivan, a Cossack, a third British officer and a young girl. Ivan had elected to join theAnglo-French forces at Salonika; the other British officer had found hisown regiment there and the girl, whom it had been the good fortune of theboys to save from the Bulgarians, found friends in the Greek city who hadtaken her in charge. 

Hal, Chester and Stubbs had embarked on a French battleship, homewardbound. After due time they landed in Marseilles. 

"Now, " said Chester, when he once more felt French soil under his feet, "I suppose the thing for us to do is to return to the Italian lines andsee if we can learn anything of Uncle John, then return to Rome and toNew York. "

Uncle John was the brother of Chester's mother. All had been bound forhome when Hal and Chester had become involved in a matter that took themforward with the Italian troops. Uncle John had been along to keep themout of mischief, if he could. He hadn't succeeded and had fallen into thehands of the Austrians. The boys had saved him. Later they had beenforced to seek refuge in the Balkans, having found it impossible to getback into the Italian lines, and they had lost Uncle John. Their arrivalin Marseilles had really been the first step toward a return to Rome, where they intended to try and find their mothers. 

But their plans to return to Rome did not materialize. As Hal said: "Luckwas with us. "

In a little room in a Marseilles restaurant they had overheard aconversation between two men, plainly foreigners, that had resulted intheir once more being sent on active service. While they had been unableto gather all the details, they had learned enough to know that theGerman Crown Prince had laid careful plans for an attack on Verdun. Theyhad taken their information to the French commanding officer inMarseilles. The latter had been somewhat skeptical, but Colonel Derevaux, an old friend of the boys, had arrived at the psychological moment andvouched for them. 

Immediately the French officer decided that something must be done. Theplans of the Germans, so far as he knew, had not been anticipated. Forsome reason he did not wish to trust the information to the telegraphwires, and the two lads had volunteered to deliver it in person toGeneral Petain. Their offer had been accepted, which accounts for thefact that we find them upon the last leg of their journey to Verdun atthe opening of this story. 

Stubbs had elected to accompany them, for, as he said, "I've got to getthe news. "

The two lads had seen considerable active service. They had fought withthe Belgians at Ličge; with the British on the Marne; with the Cossacksin Russian Poland and in the Carpathians; with the Montenegrins andSerbians in the Balkans, and with the Italian troops in the Alps. 

They had been participants in many a hard blow that had been delivered bythe Allies. They had won the confidence of Field Marshall John French, commander of the British forces in France until he was succeeded byGeneral Sir Douglas Haig after the battle of the Champagne, and ofGeneral Joffre, the French commander-in-chief. 

While they ostensibly were British army officers, their titles werepurely honorary, but they held actual lieutenancies in the Belgian army, these having been bestowed upon them by King Albert in recognition ofservices accomplished in and around Ličge in the early days of the war. 

The boys had been chums since early childhood. They had been brought uptogether. They attended school together and were inseparable companions. Each spoke German and French fluently, and service with other armies hadgiven them a knowledge of other tongues. Both were strong and sturdy, crack shots, good with sword and sabre, and particularly handy with theirfists. These accomplishments had stood them in good stead in many a tightplace. But better than all these accomplishments was the additional factthat each was clear-headed, a quick thinker and very resourceful. Theydepended upon brains rather than brawn to pull them through ticklishsituations, though they did not hesitate to call on the latter force whenoccasion demanded. 

Hal, peering ahead by the glare of the searchlight on the large army car, suddenly slowed down; the car stopped. A group of mounted men rode up. Hal stood up and gave a military salute as one of the group advancedahead of the others. 

"I am from General Durand at Marseilles, sir, " he said. "I have importantdispatches for General Petain. "

The French officer returned the salute. 

"Follow me, " he said briefly. 

CHAPTER II

VERDUN

Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France. By reasonof its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invadingarmy have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance onParis can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that theGerman emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similaroffensive launched in the first days of the war. 

But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson. Verdun must be taken before heordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, uponFebruary twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determinedassault upon the historic French fortress. 

In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all otherindividual events of the war. For six months and more the defenders ofthe gateway to France withstood a storm at the fury of which the worldstood aghast. 

Foot by foot, almost inch by inch, the Germans forged ahead with areckless disregard of their lives, a tenacity and cool courage which wasonly equalled by the cool determination of the French. Five months afterthe opening of this great battle, the unofficial estimate of German deadwas a half million men. The assailants fought their way to within threemiles and a half of the fortress itself, but there they were finallyhalted. It was then that the tide turned; and though the Germans surgedforward day after day in heavy masses they progressed no further. It wasthe beginning of the end. 

The Germans advanced confidently. The destruction of the fortresspresented no hard problem to them. The utter worthlessness of similarlyfortified positions had been proven in the earlier days of the war--inthe destruction of Louvain, Ličge, Brussels and Antwerp, the latter themost strongly fortified city in the world, with the exception of Parisitself. The huge 42-centimetre guns of the Germans had battered them topieces in little or no time at all. 

It was with the knowledge of the effectiveness of these great guns thatthe Crown Prince opened the battle of Verdun. The fortress of Verdun andthe outlying fortifications, it was believed, would be shattered withlittle effort. With these facts in mind, the German Crown Prince openedwith his big guns, first upon the fortresses guarding Verdun itself. 

These approaches shattered, the Crown Prince ordered his infantry andcavalry to the attack. But where the onrushing Germans, according to thereasoning of the Crown Prince, should have found no resistance, theyencountered strenuous opposition. Abandoning the outlying artificialfortifications, the French had thrown up huge earthworks and from behindthese received the German attacks coolly. 

Against these great earthworks the heavy guns of the attacking forcesavailed little. The force of even the great 42-centimetres was not greatenough to penetrate the loosely built mounds of earth behind which theFrench reposed. The great shells struck the fresh earth, were embeddedthere and did no harm. The French general staff had realized theuselessness of fortresses as soon as had the Germans. 

Therefore, while the Germans were able to destroy forts and fortresses atwill, almost, it availed them little. The defenders were secure behindtheir breastworks of earth. True, German guns dropped huge shells in thetrenches, a veritable rain of death, but the gaps in the defending lineswere filled promptly. 

There remained naught for the Germans but to try and carry the trenches, under the support of their artillery. 

Day after day the Crown Prince launched assault after assault. The Frenchmet them bravely. But the Germans were not to be denied; and urged on bythe Crown Prince, and often by the presence upon the firing line of theGerman emperor himself, they continued the herculean task without regardto loss of life. 

Gradually the French were forced back. Hand-to-hand fighting forpossession of the greatest strategical positions, fought daily, for atime resulted in advantage to neither side. Among the chief objectives ofthe German attack were two particularly important positions--Hill No 304(so called to distinguish it from numerous other elevated positions) andLe Mort Homme (Dead Man's Hill). This name, which was fated to becomehistoric, was gained only after days and days of constant hand-to-handfighting and is now recalled as one of the bloodiest battlefields of thetitanic struggle. 

General Henri Phillip Petain, in direct command of the French operationsat Verdun, endeared himself to the hearts of all his countrymen by hisgallant conduct of the defense. While the decision of General Joffre, theFrench commander-in-chief, to give ground before the German attacksrather than to sacrifice his men in a useless defense of the fortresses, was criticized at first by the people, the resulting value of this movewas soon apparent and censure turned to praise. 

While the heaviest assaults of the Germans were launched in theimmediate vicinity of Verdun itself, the great battle line stretched farto the north and to the south. When it appeared at one time that theFrench must be hurled back, General Sir Douglas Haig, the Britishcommander-in-chief, weakened his own lines to the far north to take overa portion of the ground just to his right and thus relieved the Frenchsituation at Verdun somewhat. 

General Petain thus was enabled to shorten his own lines, and from thatmoment, with few exceptions, the French stood firm. 

It seemed that the Germans, beaten off time after time as they were, mustsoon abandon the attempt to break the French lines at Verdun; but eachrepulse brought a new assault mightier than before. The Germans racedacross the open ground under a veritable hail of lead. They fell byhundreds and thousands, but what few survived hurled themselves againstthe barbed wire entanglements of the French or into the trenches, thereto die upon the points of the foes' bayonets, or to be shot down as theytumbled over the breastworks. 

The German general staff drew heavily from its forces on the east frontand added these new legions to the already large army occupied beforeVerdun; but the result was always the same. So far they could progressand no farther. 

After almost five months of defensive tactics, General Petain began tolaunch assaults of his own. At first the Germans put these down withregularity, but at last the effort began to tell. The French madeheadway. Much of the lost ground was recovered. The French moved forwarda bit day by day, occupied new positions and consolidated them. It wasterrible work, but the French persevered. 

Around Hill No. 304 and Dead Man's Hill the fighting was especiallysevere. There men died by the hundreds and by the thousands that one ofthe opposing armies might advance a few yards. Gains even were counted byfeet--almost by inches. Gain of a few yards was accounted a day's workwell done. 

Not once did the French troops falter under fire; nor did the Germans, for that matter. Never was there greater bravery, loyalty and devotion. Called upon for tasks that seemed well nigh impossible, the men did nothesitate. They met death in such numbers as death was never met before. 

Almost daily, after the French had taken a brace three and a half milesfrom Verdun, it seemed that the Crown Prince must give up the effort. Itappeared incomprehensible that the useless sacrifice of men couldcontinue. But the attempt was not given up; rather, it was pressed withgreater vigor each succeeding day. 

But, after five months, the fury of the German assaults graduallylessened. They were not delivered with the same effectiveness as before. The great guns continued to rage, scattering death over the field formiles, but the massed attacks of infantry, and cavalry charges, becamemore uncommon. 

Then came a day when the Germans failed to attack at all. For more thantwenty-four hours there was a lull. Weeks passed with the Germanslaunching only occasional drives. The same held good for the French. Itappeared that each side was content to rest on its laurels, biding thetime when a grand assault could be delivered with some degree ofeffectiveness. 

The fighting was intermittent. It came spasmodically. Each side hadfought itself out and had paused for breath. What advantage there hadbeen, all things considered, rested with French arms. The losses on bothsides, in killed and wounded, had been enormous--almost beyondcomprehension. The number of prisoners taken by the French was large. Many French troops also had been captured, but not so many as Germans. Also, the French having been the defenders for the most part, they hadsuffered less in killed and wounded than had the foe. 

This, then, was the result of the battle of Verdun six months after ithad begun. There had been no decisive victory. Each side retained itspositions, but each was ready to strike whenever the opportune momentpresented itself. 

Even while the fighting at Verdun was at its height there came thewhisper of a grand offensive to be launched by the Allies. The whisperbecame louder as the days passed. There was more talk of Roumania andGreece throwing their armies to the support of the Allies, thus forming asteel cordon around the Central powers and their smaller allies, Bulgariaand Turkey, and forcing the Germans to shorten their lines. In theeastern war theater the Russians again were on the advance and werepushing the Germans and Austrians hard, threatening for a second time toinvade Galicia and the plains of Hungary. It began to appear that the endwas in sight. 

Italy, too, had launched a new offensive with Trieste as the objectiveand the driving power of the Italian troops was beginning to tell. Itbegan to appear that the Central powers must before long be placed uponthe defensive in all war zones. 

The world waited impatiently for the opening of the grand alliedoffensive that, it was expected, would be delivered simultaneously on allfronts. It was felt that it would not be long coming. There was talk of anew great field gun perfected by Great Britain--a gun that would be moreeffective than the German 42-centimetres--but so far it had come to playno part in the struggle. 

But of all battles, land or sea, that had been fought in the greatest warof history, the battle of Verdun stood head and shoulders as the mostimportant. It was the greatest and bloodiest struggle of all time, up tothat period. 

And it was in this battle that Hal and Chester, with the friend AnthonyStubbs, war correspondent, and other friends, old and new, were to playimportant roles. While each realized, as the three made their way toGeneral Petain behind the French officer who had interrupted their wildautomobile ride, that an important engagement was about to be fought, neither had, of course, means of knowing that they were to take part inone of the greatest of all battles. 

It was with the satisfaction that they had arrived in time to prevent asurprise attack that they made their way to General Petain's quarters. But, as it transpired, they had arrived a trifle too late. For even asthey reached the general's tent the German guns spoke. 

CHAPTER III

GENERAL PETAIN

To the soldier the voice of the great guns speaks plainly. Their earsaccustomed to the various forms of bombardments, Hal and Chesterrealized as well as the rest that this was no mere resumption of anartillery duel. It was not a single salvo from a single German positionthat had been fired. The great guns boomed from north and south; andcontinued to boom. 

The officer who was conducting the three friends to the headquarters ofGeneral Petain turned and called a single word over his shoulder:

"Hurry!"

He broke into a run and the others did likewise. A short turn or two andthey brought up before a tent somewhat larger than the rest. This thelads knew was General Petain's field headquarters. 

Even as the French officer approached the entrance, the general himselfrushed from the tent, followed by members of his staff. The officer whohad conducted the lads there accosted him. 

"Sir, " he said, "despatch bearers from General Durand at Marseilles. "

General Petain waved them aside. 

"I've no time for them now, " he said, and made as if to move on. 

Hal stepped forward. 

"Sir, " he said, "the despatches we carry have to do with theimpending action. "

General Petain stopped suddenly and eyed the lad keenly. Then hesaid abruptly:

"Come with me. "

He led the way into the tent, and Hal, Chester and Stubbs followedhim. The general seated himself at a desk at a far end of the tentand demanded:

"The despatches. "

Hal produced several documents, which he passed to the general. Thelatter broke the seals quickly and read. Then suddenly he sprang to hisfeet and dashed outside. The lads could hear him delivering sharp ordersto 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 movedtoward the exit. 

"Hold on, " said Hal. "We're under General Petain's orders now. We hadbetter remain here until he returns. "

"You and Chester may be, " said Stubbs, "but I'm not. I'm going out andhave a look around. "

"Better stick around, Stubbs, " said Chester grimly. "If they find youwandering about you're liable to be put under arrest. You can't gosnooping around without permission, you know. "

"Snooping!" repeated Stubbs. "Snooping! Who's going snooping? I want tofind 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'sbusiness, " 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 onover here. "

"I'm afraid General Petain wouldn't agree with you, Stubbs, " interposedHal. "He doesn't care what the people in the United States want. All hecares about right now is to lick the Germans. "

"Well, maybe you're right, " Stubbs admitted, "but just the same--I wantyou fellows to know that hunting news is not snooping. "

"Stubbs, " said Chester, "I've got to give you credit. In my opinionyou're a first class snooper. "

"What?" exclaimed the little man, fairly dancing with rage. "Snooper? Mea snooper? What do you mean?"

"Of course you are, " replied Chester; "and a good one. Why, I canremember once or twice that if you hadn't been a good snooper Hal and Iwouldn't be here now. Remember?"

"Well, yes, " said Stubbs, somewhat mollified, "but I don't know whetherthat'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 endof the tent. 

"Now see what you've done, Chester, " said Hal, in a whisper meant forStubbs to overhear. "You've made him mad. "

Stubbs whirled about angrily. 

"You bet you've made me mad, " he declared. "You can bet, too, that Iwon't ever do any more snooping on behalf of either of you. The next timeyou get in trouble you'll have to depend on someone besides AnthonyStubbs to get you out of it. "

"See, " said Hal. "I told you not to do it, Chester. He's liable to let usboth get killed. He--"

Stubbs could stand no more. He turned on his heel and made his way fromthe tent. But even as he would have moved away he became involved inmore trouble. 

With head down and not looking where he was going, he collided withanother figure and was pushed violently backwards. Stubbs looked upangrily and was about to say something when he glanced at the other. Itwas General Petain. The latter spoke before Stubbs could apologize. 

"What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "Can't you see where you'regoing? What were you doing in my tent, anyhow? Who are you? What's yourbusiness here?"

The questions, came so fast that Stubbs was confused. 

"I--why--I--" he stuttered. 

"Come inside here, " said the general. 

He stretched forth a hand, seized Stubbs by the collar and pushed him inthe tent. Stubbs, caught off his balance, went stumbling and almost fellinto Hal's arms. General Petain entered the tent immediately behind him. 

When his eyes fell upon Hal and Chester he gave a start of surprise. Evidently he had forgotten all about them. Then he remembered. 

"So you're still here?" he said. "I had forgotten all about you. "

"We are awaiting your orders, sir, " said Hal. 

"I don't know as I have any for you, " was the reply. "I have taken whatprecautions I can. Had you arrived a day earlier it might have beendifferent. I would have had more time. "

"We came as fast as we could, sir, " said Chester. 

"I've no doubt of that, " said the general. "Your information is of greatvalue, of course. I suppose you will return to Marseilles?"

"We had rather remain here a while, sir, " said Hal. 

"So, " said the general. "It's fighting you want, eh? Well, I guess I canaccommodate you. I probably shall need every man I can get hold of. Ishall attach you to my staff temporarily. But tell me, who is this manhere?" He pointed to Stubbs. 

"War correspondent, " replied Hal briefly. 

"What?" roared the general, "and in my tent! I'll have him courtmartialed!"

Stubbs quailed visibly. 

"A war correspondent, eh, " continued the general, "and walking aboutwithin my lines as free as air. He may be a spy. I'll have him shot. "

"Look here, general, " said Stubbs, "I--"

"Silence!" thundered General Petain. He turned to Hal. "Your name, sir?"

"Paine, sir. "

"A lieutenant, I see. "

"Yes, sir. "

General Petain turned to Chester. 

"And your name?"

"Lieutenant Crawford, sir. "

"Good. I'll turn this man over to you. You may do as you please with him. I see he is a friend of yours. "

"Yes, sir, " returned Hal. "He's a good friend of ours, sir. He's renderedus several valuable services. Also, sir, he is to be trusted. He willseek to send out no information which you desire suppressed. "

"I never heard of one like that, " said the general. 

"He's the only one in captivity, sir. His name is Stubbs, sir, of the NewYork _Gazette_"

"His name will be Mudd, sir, if he doesn't conduct himself properly whilewithin my lines, " declared General Petain. "Take him with you. FindLieutenant Maussapant and tell him to find quarters for you. Report to meat midnight. I probably shall have work for you. "

The lads saluted and made their way from the tent. Stubbs followed them. Chester glanced at his watch. 

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "I had no idea it was so late. "

"How late?" asked Chester. 

"Ten-thirty. "

"Nor I, " said Chester. "Where do you suppose we are going to findMaussapant?"

"You've got me. However, here comes a young officer; we'll ask him. "

Hal did so. 

"That is my name, " was the young man's smiling response. 

"Then we're in luck, " said Hal. "General Petain requests that you findquarters for me. "

"As it happens, " said the young Frenchman, "two of my brother officershave been transferred and I can ask you to bunk with me. "

"How about Stubbs?" asked Hal. 

"Stubbs?"

"Yes; our friend here, a war correspondent. "

"Oh, I guess we can find room for him. Come with me. "

The three friends followed the young Frenchman and presently wereinstalled in a large, comfortable tent. 

"Turn in whenever you're ready, " said the Frenchman. 

"We must report to the general at midnight, " was Hal's reply. 

"What's up?"

"You've got me, " said Hal. "Hope it's something good, though. "

"Probably is, or he wouldn't want you at that hour. "

"Well, " said Stubbs at this point, "you boys can do what you please. I'mgoing to get a little sleep. "

"All right, " said Chester. "If we shouldn't be around in the morning, don't worry. We'll turn up sooner or later. "

Stubbs nodded and made ready for bed. 

At five minutes to twelve o'clock, Hal and Chester started for theheadquarters of General Petain. 

"Here's where we get busy again, old man, " said Chester. 

CHAPTER IV

THE BATTLE OPENS

For forty-eight hours the greatest of modern artillery duels had ragedincessantly. German guns swept the French positions in all sections ofthe Verdun region. Fortresses protecting the approach to the city ofVerdun had been shattered. The Germans had hurled two and three shells toeach one by the French. 

But after the first day the French had entrenched themselves behindtheir earth breastworks, hastily dug and thrown up, and now remainedsecure. Into these the German guns now poured their fire. The defenderswere ready for the first attack by infantry, which it was realized wouldcome soon. 

And it came even sooner than was expected. 

Hal, with a despatch for the officer in command of the first line troopsjust to the north of Verdun, was about to return when there came asudden shout:

"Here they come!"

Hal turned quickly. 

There, perhaps half a mile away, stretched out a long thin line, barelyvisible through the dense cloud of smoke that overhung the ground. Haltook in the situation, instantly. The German infantry was advancing tothe charge under artillery support. 

Behind the first long line stretched out a second and beyond that a thirdand a fourth and many more. They advanced slowly in the face of a rain oflead turned on them by the men in the trenches. Men fell to the right andto the left, Hal could see, but the gaps were filled instantly and thelong lines pressed forward. 

Now they were within three hundred yards and the heavy German guns becamesilent. The advance now must be made without further artillery support, for the German batteries could not fire without imminent danger ofshooting down their own men. The Germans broke into a run. 

From behind the French earthworks was poured a hail of lead, but it didnot serve to check the approaching foe. On to the breastworks they cameand clambered up. Behind the first line came many more and they swarmedupon the defenders like bees in a hive. 

Bayonet met bayonet and revolvers cracked. Men struggled with their barehands. Friend and foe went down together, struggling to the last. On theright and on the left, though Hal could not see these actions, similarscenes were being enacted. The Germans had made their initial advanceupon a front of almost fifteen miles. 

A bugle sounded. 

French reinforcements were rushed forward to aid the hard-pressed men inthe first line trenches. More Germans poured in. The struggling masssurged backward and forward. Then the French broke and fled, and Halfound himself among a panic-stricken mass of humanity, running for lifefor the protection of the second line trenches. From behind, thevictorious Germans fell to their knees and poured a steady rifle fireupon the vanquished. Over the heads of their fleeing countrymen thesecond line French troops returned the fire. 

Hastily the Germans fell to work throwing up earthworks facing the secondFrench line. Under experienced hands the breastworks sprang up as if bymagic. They entrenched calmly under the rifles of the French infantry andthe heavy guns of the French batteries, though men fell upon all hands. 

Far away, but coming closer, the German batteries now opened fire on thesecond French trenches, firing above the heads of the victorious Germaninfantry. The infantry action subsided. The duel of big guns was resumed. 

Chester, who had been despatched by General Petain with orders, arrivedthere to witness a scene similar to the one Hal had seen in the center. The German assaults had been successful all along the line. The Frenchhad lost their first line trenches on a front of approximately twelvemiles. Only at one or two isolated spots had the Germans met reverses;and these few points that the French still held were doubly dangerousnow. They could not be given the proper support. Later in the day theywere abandoned. 

Hal and Chester returned to their posts about the same time. Each wassadly disappointed at the result of the first infantry fighting. Forseveral hours they were kept on the jump carrying despatches, and it wasafter dark before they found themselves alone together after thestrenuous day. 

"Pretty hard, " said Hal, shaking his head sadly. 

"I should say so, " Chester agreed. "It seems to me that those fellowscould have been stopped. "

"It doesn't to me, " declared Hal. "The way they swept into our trenchesseemed to me beyond human power to stop. I'm glad they stopped when theydid. They probably could have gone farther. "

"They'll try again to-morrow, " said Chester positively. 

"I'm afraid so, " agreed Hal; "and if they do, I'm afraid they'll drive usback again. "

"And what's the reason?" demanded Chester. 

Hal shrugged his shoulders. 

"I don't know, " he said. "Of course they can only progress so far. They'll wear themselves out by their own exertions. They lost a greatdeal more heavily than we did to-day; but certainly it seemed as ifnothing could stop them. "

There was little rest for Hal and Chester that night. It seemed to boththat they had hardly closed their eyes when they were again summoned toGeneral Petain. Assembled there they found the entire staff. The Frenchcommander was reviewing the events of the day and issuing orders andinstructions rapidly. He realized that there would be more and probablyharder fighting on the next day and he was laying his plansaccordingly. Hal and Chester received their instructions for the morrowalong with the rest. 

Returning to their own quarters again, they were attracted by the soundof confusion a short distance away. 

"Something up, " said Chester. "Let's have a look. "

Nothing loath, Hal followed his chum. 

In the light of a large camp fire they made out a crowd of soldiersgathered about in a large circle. Howls of amusement and hilariouslaughter rose on the air. Hal and Chester pushed closer and were able toascertain the cause of merriment. 

In the center six French soldiers held a blanket and in the center ofthis blanket was a man. He rose and fell as the six men alternatelyreleased the blanket and then drew it taut again. He was yelling at thetop of his voice to be let alone and threatening dire vengeance on histormentors when he would be able to get at them. But he was laughing andtaking the joke good naturedly. 

Hal and Chester joined the circle of spectators and derived as muchamusement as the others from the proceedings. At length, tiring of theirpresent victim, the men lowered him to the ground. One of them, a large, strapping fellow, perhaps thirty years of age, cast his eye around thecircle of faces. 

"Let's get another one, " he shouted. 

There was a chorus of assent from the others and all six set to lookingabout for a victim who would not prove too willing. As Hal said toChester, apparently there was no fun tossing a man who took it goodnaturedly. 

At last the big fellow gave a howl of delight and dashed forward. Halgazed after him. As the big fellow bounded forward, a slight figure inthe first row turned and ran. But the big fellow overtook him anddragged him back. 

"Here's one, men, " he cried. "See, he doesn't want to come with me. Hedoesn't know what a good time he is going to have. We'll give him agood one. "

The others lent a hand and dragged the unwilling captive forward. As theywould have put him on the blanket, the youngster--for such the captiveproved to be--protested. 

"Some other time, fellows, " he said. "I'm sick to-night. I hadn't oughtto be out at all, but I couldn't stay in the tent any longer. I'll letyou toss me in the blanket some other time, but please let me aloneto-night. "

From where Hal and Chester stood it was plain to see that the boy wastelling the truth. His face was deathly pale and he looked very ill. 

"Great Scott, " said Hal, "they shouldn't torment him. He is tellingthe truth. "

"Certainly he is, " Chester agreed. "I believe the boy is very ill. "

But the young French boy's protest fell on unheeding ears. 

With loud guffaws the men grabbed hold of the blanket and sent thecaptive spinning aloft. Two, three times he rose and fell, and upon thelast was still in the blanket. Apparently the men who held the blankethad not noticed this, however, for they were preparing to toss him aloftagain. But Hal had detected the lad's condition. He decided it was timefor some one to interfere, and as no one else apparently was ready tocall a halt on the proceeding, he determined to take a hand himself. 

Quickly he shed his overcoat and then tossed off his jacket and passedthem to Chester. 

"Hold 'em!" he said, and sprang forward. 

At the edge of the circle he halted and gazed at the big Frenchman, whohad chanced to turn in his direction. 

"Let the boy go, " he said. "Can't you see that he is unconscious?"

The big Frenchman grinned at him. When Hal had taken off his coat, he hadremoved all signs of his rank and the soldier had no means of knowing hewas an officer. 

"One more toss, " said the Frenchman. 

Hal stepped close to him. 

"The boy is unconscious, " said the Frenchman, and added: "Then we'lltake you. "

He nodded to the others in signal that it was time to toss; but before hecould move, Hal had seized him by the wrist and whirled him around. 

"You heard me, " the lad said quietly. "I meant what I said. "

He gave the Frenchman's arm a quick twist and the man dropped his hold onthe blanket. The Frenchman's hold on the blanket released, the lad uponit tumbled to the ground, where he lay still. Instantly several othersbent over and gave their attention to bringing him to. The man whom Halhad confronted turned on him angrily. 

"What do you mean by that?" he demanded. 

"I told you to let the boy alone and I meant it, " said Hal quietly. 

For answer the Frenchman struck at him. Hal dodged the blow and steppedback. He would have avoided a fight if possible. But the Frenchmanstepped after him and struck again. Again Hal dodged and the blow passedharmlessly over his head. The lad struck out quickly with his right andcaught the Frenchman a hard blow upon the side of the neck. Big manthough he was, the Frenchman toppled over. Hal walked back to where hehad left Chester, donned his coat and the two moved away. 

Behind them, as the big Frenchman staggered to his feet there was a howlof merriment. The Frenchman shook a fist angrily at Hal's back. 

CHAPTER V

THE BLACK PEAS

The howling without continued when Hal and Chester reached theirown quarters. 

"Well, you've made another enemy, Hal, " said Chester. 

"Can't help that, " was his chum's reply. "It had to be done. By the way, I wonder what's happened to Stubbs?"

"Oh, I guess he is spooking around some place. He'll turn upbefore long. "

The lad was right. Hal and Chester had hardly composed themselves tosleep when the flap to the tent was lifted and Stubbs' head appeared. Hestruck a match and looked at the two lads. 

"Asleep?" he asked. 

Neither lad was, but neither replied. They were both too sleepy tocare to enter into a conversation with Stubbs, so they maintained adiscreet silence. 

"All right, then, " said Stubbs, "if you're asleep I'll soon be with you. "

He removed his clothing and went to bed. 

Stubbs was up early the following morning and when the lads aroseentertained them with an account of his wanderings. 

"And, " he concluded, "I've stumbled across a story that's a wonder. "

"A story?" repeated Chester. 

"Yes. A 'story' is a newspaper man's way of expressing something big. "

"Something to do with the battle?" asked Hal. 

"It may have and it may not, " declared Stubbs. "It may have something todo with the whole war--and it may not. I don't know. "

"What is it, Stubbs?" asked Chester. 

Stubbs winked one eye at him. 

"As I happened to stumble across this while I was snooping, " hesaid, "and as you don't think much of snooping, I am going to keepthis to myself. "

"Come, Mr. Stubbs, " said Chester, "you know I was just fooling. "

"Well, I may be just fooling now, for all you know, " said Stubbs. 

In vain did the lads plead to know what he was talking about. Stubbs wasobdurate and took his departure, announcing that he was going to do somemore "snooping, " without enlightening them. 

Hardly had he gone when the lads received a caller. It was none otherthan the young French boy whom Hal had rescued from the hands of histormentors the night before. 

"They told me you came to my aid, " he said to Hal, "so I have come tothank you. "

"Who are they?" asked Hal. 

"Some of the men. It was true that I was ill last night. Jules Clemenceauwill not forget. "

The young French boy had stood with one hand in his pocket, and nowwithdrew the hand and extended it to Hal. As he did so, two small objectsfell from his pocket. Apparently Jules did not notice them. Hal shookhands with the boy and the Frenchman took his departure. 

Chester, in the meantime, had picked up the two little objects and now hecalled to Jules, but the young Frenchman did not hear him. 

"Oh, I guess he doesn't want these things, anyhow, " the lad muttered. 

"What things?" asked Hal, who had not seen the objects drop fromJules' pocket. 

Chester passed one of the objects to him. 

"Know what it is?" he asked. 

"Sure, " returned Hal, "don't you?"

"No. What is it?"

"A pea. "

"I never saw a pea like that. "

"Probably not. They are rather rare. A black pea, that's what it is. Where did you get it?"

"Jules dropped it out of his pocket. "

"Well, as he seems to think I have done him a favor, I am just going tokeep this. I guess he won't mind. I'll carry it as a pocket piece. "

"Then I'll carry the mate to it, " said Chester. 

He put the little round pea in his pocket and Hal followed suit. 

Although neither could possibly have suspected it, these two little peaswere to be the means of getting them into all kinds of trouble. 

There was heavy fighting that day and when night fell it found theGermans safely entrenched in the French second line trenches along aseven-mile front. For some reason or other Hal and Chester did not get tothe front, their duties confining them close to General Petain'sheadquarters. They were kept busy most of the day, however, and weretired out when they returned to their own quarters late that night. 

Ready as they were for bed, they consented to sit up a while and talkwith Stubbs, who announced that he had a wonderful tale to unfold. 

"Well, " said Stubbs, "I have discovered a strange thing. It's a bigthing and there are many men in the French army implicated in it. Mostlikely in the British, too, and I know that it has touched the ranks ofthe enemy. "

"What is it, a conspiracy?" asked Chester. 

"It is, " said Stubbs, "and it's a whopper. I haven't been able to findthe names of any of the leaders and I wouldn't know what to do if I didlearn who they are. This one thing, rather than anything else, is likelyto disrupt the aims of the Allies. "

"Then you had better tell General Petain about it, " declared Hal. 

"I suppose I should, " said Stubbs, as he drew out his pipe and proceededto fill it. 

He was quiet a moment as he ran his fingers in his vest pocket, seeking a match. 

"Say, I'm a good one, ain't I?" he demanded, forgetting his grammarabsolutely. 

"What's the matter now?" asked Hal. 

"Matter is that I can never keep a match. Have you got one?"

"Fortunately for you, I have, " said Chester. "I don't carry them, as arule, having no use for them, but I chanced to find a box of safetymatches to-day. "

He reached in his pocket and produced the box; and as he did so thelittle black pea rolled from his pocket. It rolled toward Stubbs and thelittle man caught it. He would have returned it to Chester, but as hestarted to do so he took a close look at it. He gave a sudden start andthe box of matches Chester had extended to him dropped to the floor evenas his fingers would have closed on it. 

"H-m-m-m, " he muttered to himself. "I wonder. I suppose it would be agreat thing. I wonder. "

Stubbs picked up the box of matches and proceeded to light his pipe withdeliberation. 

"Well, now that you have that pipe puffing, " said Hal, "what's the restof this story of yours?"

"On second thought, " said Stubbs calmly, "I have decided to keep itto myself. "

"You're not going to tell us?" demanded Chester. 

"No, " said Stubbs. "By the way, here's your black pea, " for Chester hadnot noticed that he had dropped it. 

"Thanks, " said Chester, taking the pea and dropping it in his pocket, "Iwouldn't want to lose it. "

"No, I guess not, " said Stubbs mysteriously. "Pretty scarce articles. Idon't suppose you could find another one in some distance. "

"Oh, yes, you could, " said Hal. "I have one myself. "

"That so?" said Stubbs, and added to himself: "I thought so, but I wantedto make sure. "

Hal produced his black pea. Stubbs examined it carefully and passed itback to him. 

"Better keep it in a safe place, " he said. "As I say, they are scarceand it never does a fellow any good to lose anything when there isanyone around. "

Hal and Chester started guiltily. How could Stubbs know they had foundthe peas when they fell from the pocket of Jules Clemenceau? Stubbs, whohad been watching the two closely, observed these sudden starts andinterpreted them to his own satisfaction. 

"Come now, Stubbs, " said Chester, "tell us the rest of this storyof yours. "

"No, " said Stubbs, "I am going to keep it to myself. " He added under hisbreath: "The young cubs! Trying to pump an old-timer like me to see howmuch I know!"

"You mean you are not even going to tell the general?" asked Hal. 

"That's what I mean, " said Stubbs. 

Hal and Chester exchanged glances. They wondered what had come over thelittle man so suddenly. Stubbs caught the interchange of glances andagain he read it wrong. To Stubbs it appeared that there was relief ontheir features. 

Stubbs shook his head. 

"I'm going to turn in, " he said. 

Not another word could the lads get out of him, try as they would. ButStubbs, on his cot, did not sleep immediately. Covertly he watched thetwo lads as they talked in tones too low for him to hear, strain his earsas he would. 

"Well, I guess I don't need to hear 'em, " he told himself. "I can guesswhat it's all about. "

He rolled over and went to sleep. 

But the nature of the lads' conversation was a whole lot different fromwhat Stubbs thought it was, though it concerned the little man himself. 

"Something wrong with him, " said Chester. 

"Right you are, " agreed Hal. "Talks like we had offended him orsomething. "

"Maybe he just wants to keep us guessing. "

"That might be it. Anyhow, if he doesn't tell us to-morrow, I'm going totell him what I think of him. "

"Then he won't talk, " said Chester. 

"We might be able to get him mad enough to make him talk, " returned Hal. 

"By Jove! so we might, " said Chester. "We'll have a try at it to-morrowif it's necessary. "

"All right. Then let's turn in. I've a feeling it's going to be astrenuous day to-morrow. "

And it was; though not strenuous in the way Hal had expected. 

CHAPTER VI

A PERILOUS SITUATION

Hal and Chester held no conversation with Anthony Stubbs the followingday, and therefore were unable to learn more than they already knew ofthe war correspondent's great "story. "

Before they rose Stubbs was up and gone, and when he returned, severalhours later, Hal and Chester were receiving orders from General Petain. 

The German advance had continued the day before in spite of the heroicstand of the French troops. Successive charges by the Teuton hordes haddriven the defenders back along practically the entire front. Here, withthe coming of night, they had taken a brace with the arrival ofreinforcements and had stemmed the tide; but not a man failed to realizethat there would be more desperate work on the morrow. 

The French lines now had been pushed back well to the west of the cityof Verdun itself and the civil population of the town had fled. The townhad been swept by the great German guns until hardly one stone remainedupon another. North of the city, the French had been bent back as theGermans thrust a wedge into the defending lines almost to the foot ofDead Man's Hill. 

This hill was of particular importance to the Germans, for it commandedthe approach on all sides; and now the German Prince had determined uponits capture. General Petain anticipated the move and acted promptly. 

It was toward this point, then, that Hal and Chester found themselvesmoving upon the sixth day of the great battle. They bore despatches fromGeneral Petain and each bestrode a high-powered motorcycle, which theFrench commander had placed at their disposal. The two lads rode swiftly, for there was no time to be lost. 

Even above the "pop-pop" of their motorcycles could be heard theterrible roar of the German guns as they were brought to bear on DeadMan's Hill, paving the way for an infantry advance, which was to come afew hours later. It was risky business upon which the lads were bent, for the great shells struck on all sides of them, throwing huge massesof dirt in the air like giant fountains and digging immense excavationsin the hard ground. 

But the lads reached their destination in safety; and here, for thefirst time, Hal and Chester were to come in contact with a new methodof fighting. 

General Domont, in command at Dead Man's Hill, having read the despatchesthe lads carried, announced that they would remain with him during theday, acting as members of his staff. He ordered Hal forward withinstructions for the troops holding the crest of the hill to the northand Chester was despatched upon a similar mission to the south. 

Hardly had Chester delivered his message when a shout told him the Germaninfantry was advancing to the attack. The lad glanced around, and as hedid so, a sharp order rang out and a moment later the French troopsclamped queer-looking devices over their faces and heads. 

Chester knew what they were--gas masks to protect the defenders fromthe poisonous vapors of German gas bombs, which, had the defenders notbeen protected by masks, would have killed them instantly. A passingofficer said something unintelligible to the lad as he passed andpointed to the ground. Glancing down, the lad perceived a mask and thenunderstood that the officer had meant for him to put it on. Chester didso, though not without some difficulty, for he had trouble adjustingit. But with his nostrils protected at last, Chester turned to watchthe approach of the enemy. 

The Germans came forward in a dense mass, despite the fearful executionworked in their ranks by the French guns. In the lines of the defendersdropped huge bombs that sent up dense vapors--the deadly gasses of thefoe--but they caused little harm, for the French were protected. Now andthen a man fell, however; perhaps he had failed to adjust his helmetproperly, or perhaps it was not perfect. But for the most part the gasbombs had little effect. 

The first concerted attack of the German troops availed little; and aftertrying for half an hour to gain a foothold in the French lines theywithdrew. But a second attack followed a few moments later. This also wasbeaten off. A third attack, however, met with better success. 

This time the Germans succeeded in gaining a hold in the French lines, and this they retained in spite of repeated counter assaults by theFrench. Bravely the men charged, but they could make no impression on thepositions so recently won by the foe. The troops of the German CrownPrince stood firm. 

The French were forced to retreat toward the summit of the hill. 

Here the big French guns opened violently upon the enemy, but theinvaders remained in spite of the hail of death. 

Chester had been carried back with the French retreat and he now foundhimself almost in the first line. He was sadly disappointed, for he hadfelt sure that the French effort to repel the attack would be successful. 

His men still falling back before the German advance, General Domontdetermined upon a bold stroke. Orders were given thick and fast. Hal andChester, returning from their first missions of the day, found themselvesagain near the front. The orders to the various French divisionalcommanders were explicit. As the Germans advanced again to the attack, the French, too, all along the line, were to take the offensive. 

The men awaited the word eagerly. 

At last it came. With a shout the French, still wearing their gas masks, hurled themselves forward with the troops. 

Halfway down the hill the lines met with a crash. Rifles and small armswere fired point blank into the very faces of the foe and then the menfell to the work with bayonets. Both sides fought desperately. 

Hal and Chester had drawn their swords and found themselves engaged withthe troops. So close was the fighting that had it not been for thedifference in uniform it would have been practically impossible todistinguish friend from foe. 

Hal found himself engaged with a German officer of huge stature, who wasendeavoring to bring the lad to earth by fierce sweeping blows of hisofficer's sword. Hal was hard pressed to defend himself. 

As the German's sword descended in a stroke of extra violence, Halstepped lightly aside and evaded the blow. Before the German couldrecover himself, Hal moved quickly forward. There was a sudden, quickmovement of his arm and the German officer toppled over, to rise no more. 

Hal turned just in time to see a second German officer level a revolverstraight at his head. The lad ducked and the ball passed harmlessly overhis head. Before the German's finger could press the trigger again Halhad raised his arm and struck. 

Chester, in the meantime, had his own hands full. He had accounted for aGerman trooper who had sought to bring his rifle butt down on the lad'shead and was now engaged with two other troopers, who sought to end hiscareer with bayonets. 

Chester sprang nimbly back as the two men advanced on him. One trippedand stumbled over a fallen comrade and as he did so Chester tookadvantage of his misfortune to strike with his sword. But the secondGerman protected his fellow by catching Chester's stroke with his bayonetand for a moment Chester was at a disadvantage. 

Even as the bayonet of the first trooper, who had regained his balance, would have pierced him, however, Chester dropped flat on the ground andseized one of the man's legs. The German dropped his bayonet and crashedto the ground. Chester sprang up quickly and jumped to one side to escapethe point of the bayonet in the hands of the second trooper. 

Chester thrust with his sword, but the effort was futile. The point ofthe lad's sword fell short. Again the lad was at a disadvantage and theGerman grinned as he stepped forward to end the combat. His bayonet waspointed straight at the lad's breast and it seemed as though nothing buta miracle could save the boy. 

But the miracle happened. Suddenly the German dropped his bayonet with acrash and threw up both arms. He spun on his heel and then fell to theground without an outcry. A stray bullet had done what Chester had beenunable to accomplish, and for the moment the lad was safe. 

The second trooper now returned to the attack and engaged Chesterfiercely. All this time the French were gradually being forced back, andof a sudden Chester found himself the center of a mass of German troops. 

But the lad had no mind to give up. Throwing caution to the winds, he nowstruck out swiftly and sharply with his sword. Once or twice the thrustswent home. Chester felt a sting in his left shoulder. The bayonet of aGerman trooper had pricked him slightly. Chester whirled about and seizedthe bayonet with his left hand. A powerful wrench and it was wrested fromthe hands of the German soldier, who had been caught off his guard. 

Without taking time to reverse the weapon, Chester hurled it in the facesof the foe who pressed in about him. It struck one man squarely on theforehead and he toppled over with a groan. 

Again Chester laid about him with his sword, retreating slowly as he didso. The gas helmet that he wore impeded his progress somewhat, for it wasstrange to his head and felt uncomfortable. Now the lad realized for thefirst time that the Germans before him also wore the heavy helmets. 

He aimed a blow at one man's breast and it went home. At the same momenta second German brought his rifle butt down upon the lad's sword and theweapon snapped off. Chester felt a second sting in his arm and then hefelt a blow across the helmet. 

There was a sudden roaring sound, Chester saw a million stars flashthrough the air; then he threw up his arms, made a move to step forwardand crashed to the ground. 

The last blow had broken open Chester's gas helmet and the lad was at themercy of the poisonous vapors!

CHAPTER VII

HAL TO THE RESCUE

At the same moment that Chester fell to the ground, the clear note ofa bugle rang out from the German rear, sounding the recall. Theattack was to be given up. The resistance of the French had been toomuch for the foe. 

Hal, who had been retreating with the other French troops, turned asecond before the recall was sounded just in time to see a single formthat had been struggling with a knot of the enemy crash to the ground. Hal gave a loud cry, which was stifled by his gas helmet, for he feltsure that it was Chester. 

It was at that moment the German bugle sounded the recall. 

Hal dashed toward the spot where Chester had fallen. A score of enemytroops, perceiving his approach, stayed their retreat and offered himbattle. Hal was nothing loath. He dashed toward them at top speed. 

Other French troops, seeing one of their numbers dashing forward, andperceiving his peril, jumped to the rescue. Still more Germans turned andmore French dashed forward. For a moment it seemed that the strugglewould be renewed in spite of the order for a German recall. 

Hal dashed among the foe with sword flashing aloft. Right and left heslashed and the Germans gave way before his fury. Then they closed in. Almost at the same moment the French troops came to his assistance. Again the recall was sounded from the German rear. The few of the foewho apparently had Hal at their mercy heeded this second callreluctantly. They drew off slowly, opening upon the advancing Frenchwith their rifles as they did so. The French returned the fire and theGermans retreated faster. 

Apparently it was not the plan of General Domont to follow up theretreating Germans, for there came no order for a charge. Instead, theFrench commander apparently was satisfied with having broken down theGerman attack. He had no intention of sacrificing more of his men in auseless pursuit that would bring them again under the mouths of the bigGerman guns. 

Quickly Hal bent over Chester. The latter had fallen with his face on theground, and this fact undoubtedly had saved his life. He was unconsciousand his nose was buried in the dirt. He had almost suffocated, but thisfact had saved him from the poisonous gases. Hal stripped the gas helmetfrom a dead French soldier and slipped it over Chester's head. Then helifted his chum from the ground and started toward the rear, supportingthe unconscious figure as well as he could. 

Several French troopers ran to his assistance. Hal lowered Chester to theground and put both hands under his chum's head. He motioned one of theFrench soldiers to take Chester's feet, and in this manner they carriedChester from the danger zone. 

Hal did not rest easily until after a French surgeon had pronouncedChester little the worse for his experience. Two bayonet wounds in thelad's arm were found to be mere scratches. 

"He'll pull round in a day or two, " said the surgeon. "In themeantime it would be well to keep him as quiet as possible, though heis in no danger. "

Hal thanked the surgeon, and leaving Chester in safe hands, sought outGeneral Domont and explained the circumstances to him. 

"And I would like to get him back to my own quarters, " he concluded. 

"Very well, " said General Domont. "I shall place an automobile at yourdisposal. "

The French officer was as good as his word and in a high-power motor carHal and Chester, the latter having regained consciousness, were soon ontheir way to headquarters, Hal bearing General Domont's report on themorning's encounter. 

Hal went first to the quarters of General Petain, where he deliveredGeneral Domont's report; then he accompanied Chester to their ownquarters, where he made Chester as comfortable as possible. 

He was just about to leave Chester alone, when another figure entered thetent. It was Stubbs. 

"Hello, Mr. Stubbs, " said Chester from his cot. "Where have you beenall summer?"

"Summer?" said Mr. Stubbs, removing his overcoat. "This is the month ofFebruary. "

"All right; have it your own way, " said Chester. 

"Well, I've just been having a look around, " said Stubbs. 

"Find out anything more about the conspiracy?" asked Hal. 

"What conspiracy?" demanded Stubbs. 

"Why, the one you were telling us about the other night, " exclaimedChester. 

Stubbs looked at the lad critically. 

"Wounded to-day, weren't you?" he asked. 

"A trifle, " returned Chester. 

"Any fever?" asked Stubbs. 

"No, " said Hal. "Why?"

"Why? He's dreaming things. What's this conspiracy he's talking about?"

Chester sat up in his cot. 

"You don't mean to tell me you don't remember what you told us about it?"he demanded. 

Stubbs tapped his head with a significant gesture and nodded to Hal. 

"Did you have a surgeon look at him?" he asked. 

"Look here, Stubbs--" began Chester angrily. 

"Here, here, " interposed Hal. "You lie down there, Chester. I'll talk toour friend here. "

At this Mr. Stubbs moved toward the outside. 

"I've got to be going now, " he announced. 

"Well, you're not going to go until you tell me what all this foolishnessis about, " declared Hal. 

"Foolishness?"

"Yes, foolishness. You can't deny, can you, that you told us the othernight you had unearthed a conspiracy of some kind?"

"I can, " said Stubbs, "but I won't. It's my belief that there issomething wrong with both of you. What would I know about a conspiracy?"

"That's what I would like to know, " returned Chester, from his cot. "If you won't tell us, I've a notion to tell General Petain whatyou told us. "

"I wouldn't if I were you, " said Stubbs. "It wouldn't do you anygood. He probably would think your wound had affected your mind. That's what I think. "

"Oh, no you don't, " said Hal. "You are just trying to keep the thing toyourself, whatever it is. Maybe you're going to slip it by the censor tothe _Gazette_, eh?"

Stubbs made no reply. 

"If I thought that, I would tell General Petain, " declared Chester. 

"It must be a great thing to have such imaginations, " said Stubbs withsomething like a sigh. "Some of these days, if you like, I'll get youboth jobs on the _Gazette_. "

"Now look here, Stubbs, " said Hal. "Laying all joking aside, are yougoing to tell us about this thing or not?"

"What thing?" demanded Stubbs. 

"By George!" ejaculated Hal in exasperation. "You're the limit, Stubbs. "

"Sure I am, " was the little man's smiling response. "Otherwise, Iwouldn't be in this tent with you. "

"Stubbs, " said Chester, a sudden idea striking him, "have we donesomething you don't like?"

"You have, " was Stubbs' reply. 

"By Jove!" said Hal. "We're sorry for that, Stubbs. We apologize. Willyou tell us what we've done?"

Stubbs looked at the lad with a peculiar smile on his face. He was silentseveral moments before replying:

"You don't know, eh?"

"Of course not. "

Stubbs shrugged his shoulders and started out of the tent. 

"Say!" Chester called after him, "are you going to tell us or not?"

"Not!" said Stubbs briefly, and was gone. 

"Now what do you think of that?" demanded Chester of his chum. 

"There's something wrong with him, " was Hal's reply. "I haven't any ideawhat it can be. "

"Suppose it is because we were poking fun at him the other night?"

"I don't know. I don't believe he would take a thing like that to heart. However, you can't tell. "

"Anyhow, " said Chester, "we're not likely to find out what it's all aboutuntil he gets good and ready to tell us. "

"You're right, there, " returned Hal. "He can be as mum as an oyster whenhe wants to. Well, old boy, I'll leave you alone now and go out and lookaround a bit. Maybe I can stumble on this conspiracy Stubbs talks about. "

"You mean the one he won't talk about, " said Chester with a smile. "Allright. Go ahead. I'll take a little snooze. "

He rolled over on his side as Hal left the tent. 

How long Chester slept he did not know, but it was dark in the tent whenhe opened his eyes. 

"Wonder what can be keeping Hal?" he muttered to himself. 

He had hardly had spoken the words when a form came through the entranceto the tent. Chester was about to speak, for he thought at first that itwas Hal, but something seemed to tell him to remain silent. The lad, therefore, said nothing. 

At second glance Chester realized that the figure that had entered thetent was not Hal. Neither was it Stubbs. 

"Great Scott!" muttered the lad to himself. "Wonder who he is andwhat he wants here? He hasn't seen me though. Guess I'll wait and seewhat happens. "

The lad stretched out a hand carefully and drew toward him a camp stoolupon which he had laid his clothes before going to bed. Without a soundhe secured one of his revolvers and straightened to a sitting posture. 

"I'm ready for whatever happens, " he told himself. 

The intruder had now taken up such a position in the tent as to command aview of the entrance, shielded from sight himself. Chester saw somethingglisten in the man's hand. 

"Gun, " said the boy to himself. "Guess I can beat him to it. "

Came footsteps without. They stopped just outside the tent. Chestersaw the nocturnal visitor in the tent raise his revolver arm. Chesterdid likewise. 

"I'll just shoot that gun out of your hand, my friend, " he said quietly. 

He took deliberate aim. 

CHAPTER VIII

AN UNKNOWN ENEMY

The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance. Chester's fingertightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in thetent draw himself taut. 

At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance. 

There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and twospurts of flame in the darkness. Came a cry of pain from the stranger inthe tent and Hal dashed forward. 

"Quick, Hal! Grab him!" shouted Chester. 

But quick as he was, Hal was not quick enough. With a snarl the manjumped toward Hal even as Hal leaped himself. The stranger was of muchgreater bulk than Hal and the lad was hurled to the ground. When heregained his feet the stranger had disappeared. 

Chester, unmindful of his wound, had leaped from his cot and now ranoutside. Some distance away he saw a figure disappear in the darkness. The lad did not fire a second shot, for at that distance he could not besure of a hit and he did not wish further to alarm the camp. 

Hal struck a light and the two chums looked at each other. 

"Did you get a look at him, Hal?" asked Chester. 

"No, did you?"

"No. He was in the tent for some time, but I waited until I was surewhat he was going to do before I fired, though I had him covered allthe time. "

"You must be losing your eye. At that distance you should you should havepotted him without trouble. "

"I guess I could have done it this time had I tried, " returned Chester. "I shot at his revolver. "

"Well, I guess you hit it, " said Hal. "There it is, right where hedropped it. But his bullet whistled pretty close to my ear. "

"I suppose I shouldn't have taken a chance, " said Chester. "Next timeI'll shoot to hit something better than a pistol. "

"Well, it doesn't make any difference now, " said Hal. "He didn't get me. I wonder who he is and what he wanted to shoot me for?"

"You've got me, look at the gun and see if there is any mark ofidentification on it. "

Hal stooped over and picked up the revolver. He examined it carefully andthen passed it to Chester. 

"Can't find anything, " he said. 

Chester examined the weapon with no better success. 

"Well, " he said at last, slowly, "there is one thing certain. You've anenemy of some kind in the camp. It will behoove you to be careful inthe future. "

"I suppose the bullet was meant for me, " said Hal, "although, of courseit might have been meant for either you or Stubbs. "

"Great Scott! What would anybody want to shoot Stubbs for?"

"Well, you can search me, " said Hal with a shrug of his shoulders, "whichmay not be very good English, but expresses my sentiments just the same. "

"How about Stubbs' conspiracy? Maybe one of the conspirators has caughtStubbs nosing about. "

"By Jove! It might be that, after all, " said Hal. "I wonder!"

"At all events, we shall all have to be on our guard, " declaredChester. "We don't know for which of us the bullet was meant. We'llhave to warn Stubbs. "

"So we shall, and if I mistake not here he comes now. "

Hal was right. A moment later the rotund face of the little warcorrespondent appeared in the tent entrance. 

"Stubbs, " said Hal gravely, "you missed getting killed by just aboutfive minutes. "

The little man started back in alarm. 

"Wha--what's that?" he demanded. 

"I said you just escaped getting killed. "

"But who would want to kill me?" demanded Stubbs, plainly very nervous. 

"It might have been one of your conspirators, " said Hal. He displayed theweapon from which a bullet had sped toward his own head. 

"Hey!" shouted Stubbs. "Put that gun down! Don't shoot!"

The little man was so visibly frightened that Hal looked at him insurprise. 

"Surely you didn't think I was going to shoot you, Mr. Stubbs?" he askedin some surprise. 

"I don't know, " returned Stubbs, wiping a moist brow with hishandkerchief. "I don't understand you fellows at all. First you said youwanted to kill me five minutes ago and there you stand with a gun in yourhand. What am I to think?"

"Stubbs, you're crazy, " said Hal, calmly. "I didn't say I wanted to killyou. When I came into the tent just now there was a man took a shot atme. I don't know whether he wanted to kill me, or whether he wanted tokill you. He may even have been trying to kill Chester. He didn't taketime to investigate. He fired at the first figure to enter the tent. Idon't know who he was. Have you any enemies?"

"I--I--Why I don't know, " said Stubbs. 

"How about the conspirators. Do any of them know you?"

"What conspirators?" demanded Stubbs, and added, "I wish you would quitharping on that subject. It's all right to have a little fun with me oncein a while. I don't mind it; but enough is enough. "

Chester was about to make an angry retort, but Hal stayed him with aword. 

"All right, Stubbs, " he said. "If you don't know anything about aconspiracy you don't and that's all there is about that. But if you do, Ishould advise you to be careful. I believe that shot was meant for you. "

"I am afraid that this tent is going to be dangerous for me, " saidStubbs, slowly. "I shall remain here no longer. "

"What! Not going to leave us, Stubbs?" exclaimed Chester. 

"Yes, " returned the little man quietly. "If I remain here I'm liable towake up dead some morning, and I wouldn't like that. There's anexpression in New York that hits me just right. 'Safety first!' I'm goingto get out of this tent, and I'm going to get out right now, while I'mall together. "

He hurried to the far side of the tent and got his belongings together. Then he moved toward the door. There he paused a moment, as if undecided, then walked up to Hal and extended a hand. 

"Good-bye, Hal, " he said quietly. "I may not see you for some time andthen again it may be soon. "

Hal took the hand as he said:

"Look here, Stubbs, we don't like to lose you. "

"I know, I know, " said the little man, "but it will be better for allconcerned. "

He approached Chester and extended a hand to him also. 

"Come now, Stubbs, " said Chester. "Drop those things back down there andgo to bed. "

"Not much, " replied Stubbs grimly. "I'm going to hunt a safer spotthan this. "

He released Chester's hand and made his way to the door. There, justbefore moving away, he turned and spoke. 

"Boys, " he said, "we've been pretty good friends, the three of us, haven't we?"

"You bet we have, Stubbs, " returned Chester warmly. 

"We certainly have, Mr. Stubbs, " Hal agreed. 

"All right, then, " said the little man. "You both have been good enoughto tell me once or twice that I have been of some service to you. "

"You certainly have, Mr. Stubbs, " declared Hal, "and anything we can doto repay you--"

"Never mind that, " said Stubbs with a wave of the hand. "All I want tosay is this: If, at any time, within a day or two or within a month ortwo, I do anything you don't like, anything that puts you to someinconvenience--you will know that I am doing it for your owngood--because I am fond of both of you and don't want to see you getin trouble. "

"Say, Stubbs, what on earth are you talking about?" asked Chester ingreat surprise. 

"Never mind what I'm talking about, " returned Stubbs, half angrily. "Ijust want you to remember what I am saying. "

"We'll remember, if that will do you any good, " said Chester, "but I wishyou would tell me what it is all about. "

"I may not be talking about anything, and then I may be talking about awhole lot, " was Stubbs' enigmatical response. "Time will tell. "

"Time will tell what, Mr. Stubbs?" demanded Hal. 

"Oh, rats!" said Stubbs. "I haven't time to stay here and talk to youfellows all night. Just remember what I said. That's all. "

He stepped out the tent and was gone. 

Hal and Chester gazed at one another in the utmost surprise. 

"What in the time of the Czar do you suppose he was talking about?"asked Chester. 

"I'm not good at conundrums, " replied Hal. "He's got something on hismind, all right. "

"Providing he has a mind left, " agreed Chester. 

Hal smiled. 

"From the way he talked that fact is open to doubt, " he replied. 

"I didn't think he was a drinking man, " said Chester. 

"Oh, he was sober enough. By the way, did you notice his hesitation whenI asked him if he had any enemies?"

"By George! I did. He couldn't answer. I'll bet he knows more about theman that fired that shot at you than he is willing to admit. "

"It looks like it, " Hal agreed. "From his actions, I would judge that theshot was meant for him. "

"Exactly, " said Chester, "and he knows who it was that fired it. "

"Well, there is no use talking about it, " declared Hal. "We can'tpossibly figure it out ourselves. One thing, though, we shall have to beon our guard. The unknown enemy may not know that Stubbs has moved andmay try again. "

"Right, " said Chester. "We'll have to sleep with one eye open. "

"Oh, we're safe enough to-night, " said Hal. "He'll figure we'll be on thewatch and will postpone his next visit for a day or two. By the way, oldman, how do you feel?"

"First rate. I'll be as good as new in the morning. "

"I hope so. In that event we had better get a little sleep. "

"Then you don't think it necessary for one of us to stand watch?"

"No; here goes for bed. "

CHAPTER IX

IN THE TRENCHES

In some manner, known only to himself, Anthony Stubbs, war correspondentof the New York _Gazette_, had ingratiated himself with General Petain, the French commander at Verdun. General Petain, upon Stubbs' request, agreed that the little war correspondent should be allowed to make a tourof the city of Verdun and the surrounding fortifications and view forhimself the effects of the siege thus far. 

An officer of the general staff was assigned by the French commander toshow Stubbs about. It was the first time a war correspondent had beenadmitted to Verdun and the surrounding fortifications; and because of thethings that Stubbs learned on the tour, it is fitting that the readertake the trip with him. 

The officer first led Stubbs to the highest point on the walls encirclingVerdun and there explained the lay-out of the contending forces. Fromthis point of vantage, commanding the battlefield, Verdun looked like thecenter of a huge saucer, with the town lying very low, while all aroundrose an even circle of crests forming the outer edge of the saucer. 

The dangerous proximity of the Germans was apparent. At the time thatStubbs viewed the battlefield the armies of the Kaiser held a goodlyportion of these crests, though the battle of Verdun was less than twoweeks old. 

An intermittent bombardment was in progress from Fort Tavennes, FortSoueville, Fort St. Michael and Fort Belleville, which were barkingsteadily and giving off jets of black smoke. The German cannonade soundedlike a distant roar. The shelling of Verdun was continuing. 

Three hundred shells a day had been hurled into Verdun itself during thebattle, Stubbs was informed by the French officer, upon one day as manyas 750 having been counted; but the average was 300. As the two stoodthere a French aeroplane was attacked by a German gun, shrapnel burstingall around as the machine turned from the German positions and dartedback to French cover. 

The terrible course of the destruction was pointed out by the Frenchofficer. The town itself had been abandoned by the civil population, and even few troops were to be found there. Such shops and houses ashad escaped the shells were closed and barricaded; and the shellscontinued to fall. 

The streets were crumbling ruins, with only jagged walls remaining hereand there. The cathedral had two shell holes in the roof; the main altarwas a mass of debris and the side altar was littered with brokencarvings, statues and chandeliers. 

One wing of the handsome military club was torn off and the wholeestablishment was a wreck. The archbishop's residence had its famoussculptured walls peppered with shell holes and the adjoining College ofMarguerite had its delicate stone filigree reduced almost to powder. The houses along the Meuse, flanking the principal bridge, wereliterally wrecked. 

Sixteen great shells had struck the town hall; one corner of the buildinghad been torn off and the clock tower smashed. The mayor's office wasbeing used as an emergency butcher shop. 

Stubbs' guide now led him to one of the inner forts of thefortifications, which was still shelling the Germans. From here Stubbsgained a view of the fighting ground of Fleury at close range. Over theentrance of the fort was a notice to the garrison that the fort was to belevelled in extremity and never surrendered. 

Fleury, lying to the right of Verdun, showed not a house standing. Thegreat German guns had carried all before them. The whole village was amass of ruins. At the moment the village was in the hands of the French. It had been occupied twice by the Germans, but only the day before hadagain been captured by the French. Although Stubbs did not know it, thelittle village was to change hands a score of times more in the monthsthat were to follow. 

As Stubbs' guide pointed out the various points destroyed by Germanshells, he gave the little man an account of the fighting in each spot. He pointed out the advantages of earthen breastworks as against the solidwalls of fortresses. The effectiveness of the former was very plain. 

Stubbs and his guide now returned to the citadel of Verdun, whereStubbs thanked General Petain for being allowed to make the tour ofinspection. Gathered about the commander were many members of hisstaff, who joined in the conversation. Stubbs could not but beimpressed by the confidence manifested by the officers that Verduncould be kept from the Germans, and this in the face of the reverses ofthe past few days. The feeling was summarized in the closing word ofGeneral Petain, as he bade Stubbs farewell. 

"_Au revoir_, Monsieur Stubbs, " he said, "until you come back when ourvictory is complete!"

By a series of fierce counter assaults, the French now had driven theseasoned veterans of the German Crown Prince from Dead Man's Hill; fromHill No. 265, to the north, from Chattancourt and Charny. Back across theMeuse the Germans fled from the vicious attacks of the French. Second andthird line trenches were re-won. 

But the French did not stop there. The third day of March found themstill pushing the Germans and as darkness fell that night, the troops ofGeneral Petain entrenched themselves just to the east of Thiaumont farmand Hill No. 320. A trifle to the south, Fleury was once more in Germanhands, the opposition in this sector having been too much for the Frenchto overcome. Almost due east, German guns, wheeled into position at FortVaux, captured the preceding day, shelled the reconquered positions ofthe French; but the latter stood firm. All night the artillery duel ragedand the coming of morning found both armies ready for the day's work. 

The French opened the day by concentrating heavy artillery upon theGerman positions at Fort Vaux. After a two hours' bombardment, theinfantry was ordered to the attack. Fresh troops took the places inthe trenches vacated by the attacking forces and heavy guns coveredtheir advance. 

A hundred yards or so from the hastily constructed German trenches, thethin French lines charged. Their ranks had been sadly depleted as theymarched across the open ground, but they stuck to the work bravely. Clearto the German trenches they ran, a second and still a third line closebehind; and then the Germans swarmed out to meet them. A fiercehand-to-hand encounter ensued with victory crowning German arms. What wasleft of the French attacking party scurried back to their own lines. 

The Germans did not wait for a second attack. German buglers sounded anadvance. Again the Germans swarmed out of their trenches in countlessthousands and rushed the French trenches. 

Hal and Chester at this moment found themselves at the front with ordersfor respective divisional commanders. They remained as the Germanscharged, sheltered by the huge earthen breastworks. 

The fate of the German charge was the same as that of the French a shortwhile before. Beaten off after a half hour of fierce fighting, theGermans retired to the shelter of their own lines. The great German guns, silent while the infantry was engaged, opened up anew on the Frenchtrenches, dropping shells in profusion. 

Hal and Chester stood elbow to elbow watching the destructive work of thegiant shells. Of a sudden a shell dropped close to them. Hal uttered acry of alarm and made a desperate attempt to drag Chester out of harm'sway. In this he was partly successful and they had dashed forward a fewyards before the shell exploded. 

With the fury of the blast, great clouds of earth flew high in the air. Hal and Chester felt the ground open up beneath them and they gasped forbreath as they were precipitated into what seemed a bottomless pit. Howfar they fell they could not tell, but it seemed a long ways; and hardlyhad they struck bottom when a shower of earth fell upon them. 

Fortunately for them, they were in a section of the trench that wasprotected on either side by artificial abuttments of hard dirt and stonesthrown up by the troops and these caught heavy beams and rocks and otherdebris that would have showered down upon them and crushed them to death. A great log, or such it appeared, came down lengthwise and struck theabuttments on either side of the pit into which the lads had fallen; asecond did likewise and these prevented the shower of rocks and pieces ofbig guns from going through. It was all that saved the lads. 

Then more earth fell and covered these and the pit was effectuallysealed. Below there was no light, and when Hal and Chester regained theirfeet neither could see light above. They groped for each other in thedark and at last clasped hands. 

"Great Scott! What's happened?" gasped Chester. "Where are we?"

"We are in a pit caused by the explosion of that shell, " said Hal, quietly. "The next question is how to get out. "

He put a hand above his head, but could touch nothing. He tried jumping, but with no better success. 

"I can't reach the top, " he said. 

The lads felt around the sides of the pit. The walls were sheer. It wasuseless to think of getting up that way. 

"Well, we're up against it, " said Hal. "I don't know how we are to getout of here. By Jove! It's lucky we weren't killed by the shell. "

"We might just as well have been as to die down here, " said Chester. 

"Buck up, old man, " said Hal. "We're not dead yet and while there's lifethere's hope. We've been in some ticklish positions before and pulledthrough all right. "

"We were never in a hole like this before, " said Chester. 

Hal had made his way to one side of the pit. 

"Here, " he called to Chester, "you climb up on my shoulders and see ifyou can reach the top. "

Chester did as Hal suggested and his efforts were rewarded by touchingsomething overhead. 

"What luck?" asked Hal. 

"Good, " said Chester. "I have touched something. Feels like a log. "

"Can you pull it loose?"

"If I do we're likely to be crushed down here. "

"If you don't we're likely to suffocate down here, " returned Hal. "I canscarcely get my breath now. We'll have to take a chance. "

"Then I'll have a try at it, " said Chester. "Be ready to crouch close tothe side of the pit when I give the word. I'll come down on top of youand we'll trust to luck that the debris falls clear. "

"All right, " said Hal. "Yell when you're ready. "

Again Chester tested the covering with his hands. At last he struck aspot where he could obtain a grip. He decided to throw his weight on itand see if it would come down. He took a firm hold and then called:

"All right, Hal! Stoop quickly!"

CHAPTER X

UNEXPECTED VISITORS

Came a low, rumbling sound from overhead and a shower of dirt poureddown on Hal as he crouched in his corner. Chester still swung to and frofrom above. The lad felt something give, and believing that the massabove was about to fall, he dropped quickly alongside Hal and buried hisface in his arms. 

But nothing happened. 

Directly Chester rose to his feet. 

"I thought it was coming, " he said to Hal. "Guess I didn't hang on longenough. I'll have another try. Lend me your shoulders again. "

Hal also stood up and took his position. Chester clambered up and againexplored the covering with his fingers. At the first touch there wasanother shower of earth. 

"Won't take a whole lot to move it, I guess, " he said. 

"Hurry, then, " enjoined Hal. "The air is stifling down here. "

Chester himself felt that he was suffocating and realized the needfor haste. 

"All right, " he said. "Here's hoping we're not crushed to death. Downwhen I give the word. "

Again his fingers found a hold and he braced himself for the shock. 

"Down!" he cried suddenly. 

Hal dropped. 

A second time came the dull rumbling from above as Chester swayed to andfro in his precarious position. Then the lad felt the covering give. Oneinstant longer he hung on, for he felt that he would have no strength fora third attempt should this fail. 

And then, with a roar, the mass of debris above came tumbling down. 

Chester swung himself close to the side of the pit even as he felt thecovering give and came down a short distance from Hal. He covered hishead as well as he could and waited for he knew not what. 

It was not long coming. 

Something struck the lad a sharp blow upon the shoulder, numbing it. Behind him the lad heard rocks and other debris crashing to the bottom. Holding his breath, he waited for the blow he felt sure must come fromabove and unconsciously his right hand stretched out toward where he knewHal to be. 

But nothing struck him. After five seconds of the terrible roaring, therewas silence. Chester looked up. There was light above. Chester uttered ashort prayer of thankfulness and rose to his feet. 

"All right, Hal, " he said, still looking above, while he rubbed hisinjured shoulder. 

There was no reply. 

Chester looked quickly about him. There was no sign of Hal. 

"Great Scott! What can have happened to him?" he asked himself anxiously. 

Quickly he fell to hands and knees and explored the bottom of the pit. There, where he knew Hal should be, he felt a mound of earth. 

"Great Scott! He's buried!" cried Chester. 

Frantically he set to work with his bare hands to uncover Hal. 

In a few moments his efforts were rewarded. He exposed Hal's arm. Fromthe position the arm was in Chester was able to locate his chum's head. This he uncovered quickly, for he feared that his friend might suffocate. Then he bent over Hal and listened. 

Hal was breathing faintly. 

Chester uttered a cry of relief and proceeded to uncover the rest of hisfriend's body. This done, he set about reviving Hal, who was unconscious. 

Chester rubbed Hal's hands vigorously, and was at last rewarded byhearing Hal sigh. A moment later Hal spoke. 

"What's happened?" he asked. 

"Well, it looks like the world caved in on you, " returned Chester. "Fortunately, appearances are deceitful. I yanked the log loose fromabove and you were buried in the dirt. Fortunately, I got you out intime. How do you feel?"

"I don't feel very chipper, " was the faint reply; "but I guess I'mall right. "

"Can you get up?"

"Don't know; I'll try. "

He made the effort, and with Chester's assistance, soon stood leaningagainst one side of the pit. He looked up. 

"Quite a ways up there, " he said. "How are we going to make it?"

"Think you can climb up on my shoulders, pull yourself out and then lendme a hand?"

"I don't believe so. Guess I can brace myself while you climb up, though. "

"Good, we'll try it. "

Once more Chester climbed to Hal's shoulder while the latter bracedhimself against one wall of the pit. He took a firm hold on the edgeabove and drew himself up with little difficulty. He was about to reachdown and lend Hal a hand when he happened to look toward the east. 

"Good night!" he exclaimed and disappeared into the pit in a hurry. 

"What's the matter?" demanded Hal, who had not overheard his friend'sejaculation. 

"Matter!" echoed Chester. "There are about ten millions coming this wayon the dead run. The French have retreated!"

"Hm-m-m, " said Hal; "and what are we going to do?"

"Bide here for a spell, I expect, " was Chester's answer. 

"Guess you're right. They may not notice us down here. We'll play we're acouple of mice and see how still we can keep. "

"Good! Listen! I hear 'em coming!"

Above them, to one side, they could hear the trampling of many feet asthe Germans passed the pit. 

"Guess we're safe enough so long as we stay down here, " said Chester. 

"But we're going to have trouble reaching the French lines if the Germansare permitted to camp out hereabouts, " declared Hal. 

"Well, maybe the French will chase them back again, " said Chester, hopefully. 

"Maybe, " Hal repeated, "and then maybe not. Now, if we--hello!"

He broke off suddenly. From above there had come muttered exclamations ofalarm, two bodies came hurtling through space and struck the bottom ofthe pit with loud thumps. 

"Grab 'em, Hal!" shouted Chester, and leaped across the pit. 

Hal followed suit, for the two bodies that had tumbled through spacewere nothing less than German soldiers who had failed to see theopening above. 

They were taken by surprise when two forms leaped on them below, but theyput up a fight. 

"Tap 'em over the head with your gun!" shouted Chester. 

He had drawn his revolver as he leaped forward and now suited the actionto the word. The German toppled over with a groan. 

Hal, however, had not drawn his weapon, and was now locked in the arms ofthe second German, as they rolled over and over in the bottom of the pit. Weakened by his recent experience he was getting the worst of it. 

Chester took in the situation at a glance and leaped forward. At themoment Hal was on top and the German stared up at Chester. Seeing asecond foe he raised a loud cry for help. 

This was what Chester had been afraid of. He didn't want any more Germansdown there if he could help it. 

"Turn him over, Hal!" he cried. "Let me get a whack at him with my gun. "

By a desperate effort Hal obeyed and the German rolled on top of him. Onemore loud cry he gave and then Chester silenced him with a sharp blow ofhis revolver butt. 

Chester stepped back with an exclamation of relief and Hal draggedhimself from beneath his now unconscious adversary. 

"A tough customer, that fellow, " he remarked. 

"You'd have done for him if you hadn't been so weak, " Chester replied. "Ididn't think we might have callers down here. "

"Neither did I, " returned Hal, "but I'm glad they came. "

"Why?" demanded Chester in surprise. 

"We can borrow their uniforms if it's necessary, " Hal explained. 

"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that, " exclaimed Chester. "A good plan. "

"Of course it may not be necessary, " said Hal. "If the Germansshould be driven back it would be unnecessary. We'll wait untilafter dark and see. "

"In the meantime we had better tie these fellows up, " said Chester. "Oneof them is coming to now. He may not know when he's properly licked andwant to continue the fight. "

"Better gag 'em, too, " said Hal. "I noticed that one fellow had prettygood lungs. "

The lads removed their belts and with these bound the hands of theircaptives. They had nothing to tie their legs, but they didn't feel therewas much danger of the men crawling out of the pit with their arms bound. They gagged them with their handkerchiefs. 

A few moments later one of the Germans staggered to his feet and gazed atthe two lads in astonishment. The second also soon regained consciousnessand apparently was no less surprised. Both lads kept their revolvershandy, for they weren't sure whether the Germans might not attack them, bound and gagged as they were. 

Hal addressed them. 

"We expect to keep you company for some time, " he said, "and we don'twant any foolishness. The first false move will be your last. Get overthere in the corner. "

The men obeyed, growling to themselves. 

Hal and Chester listened for sounds above that would indicate the retreatof the Germans and the advance of the French. No such sounds came; andwith the fall of darkness Hal said:

"Well, I guess we had better change clothes with these fellows and make abreak for it. "

"Good!" agreed Chester. "We'll have to unbind them while they disrobe. We'll strip one at a time. You hold the gun while I do the work. "

"Well, I guess everything is all ready, " said Chester, when they were atlast garbed in the German uniforms and the men were safely tied up again. "We may as well be moving. "

"All right, " said Hal, "climb up on my shoulders. I'll keep my gun onthese two fellows in the meantime. Can't trust 'em. "

Chester followed Hal's instructions and a moment later gazed out ofthe pit. Ahead he could see moving forms, but there was no one closeto the pit. 

"Coast clear, " he called to Hal. "Here I go. Be ready when I reachdown for you. "

He pulled himself up. 

CHAPTER XI

THROUGH THE LINES

"Ready, Hal?"

"All ready. "

Hal stretched up his hands, and Chester, leaning far over the pit, seizedthem and pulled. Hal came slowly upwards. 

Suddenly he gave a cry of pain and twisted and squirmed vigorously. Chester became alarmed. 

"What's the matter?" he asked quickly. 

"One of those fellows bit me in the leg!" exclaimed Hal. 

It was true. 

As Hal had soared upward, one of the Germans had sprung forward, andbeing unable to free his hands, had seized the fleshy part of Hal's legbetween his teeth. Evidently the gag had not been properly adjusted. 

"Kick him loose!" cried Chester. 

Hal obeyed instructions. The German uttered a loud cry--another sign thatthe lads had gagged him too carelessly. 

In kicking out at the German, Hal had used too much violence and hadjerked loose from Chester's hold. Down into the pit he plunged again. Apparently believing that Hal had come back with the intention ofsilencing him forever, the ungagged German gave vent to a series ofloud cries. 

"Quick, Chester!" called Hal. "Pull me out of here before this fellowbrings down the whole German army. "

Chester leaned over and again seized Hal by the hands and pulled. Oncemore the German below sprang forward and attempted to sink his teeth inHal's leg. Hal, realizing what the man was about, kicked out suddenlybefore the German could obtain his hold, and the lad's heavy shoe caughtthe man squarely in the mouth. One more cry the German gave and thentoppled over. 

"Quick Chester!" cried Hal, again. 

With an effort Chester dragged Hal from the pit. 

Hal stood up and both lads dusted the dirt from their clothes. 

"Now the sooner we get away from this spot the better, " said Chester. 

They advanced directly west toward the extreme German front. 

"We'll have to depend on boldness to take us through, " said Hal. "It isunlikely that we shall be questioned until we reach the outposts and thenwe'll have to make a break for it. "

"Suits me, " said Chester. 

They walked along leisurely, passing countless German soldiers standingabout; but little attention was paid to them. Occasionally a man noddedto them and the lads returned the salutation. 

Gradually they drew away from the main body of troops and neared theoutposts. Here German troopers were engaged in throwing up breastworksagainst a possible attack by the French in the morning. 

"Guess we won't have far to go if we can get beyond the outposts, "muttered Hal. "These preparations indicate the Germans have just won thisground. The French can't be far away. "

Chester nodded in token of assent, and at that moment they came up to theworkers. Casually they stood and watched the German soldiers digging fora few moments; then wandered in among them, keeping close together. 

"When I give the word!" whispered Hal. 

Chester nodded. 

"Now!"

Hal gave the word suddenly. 

Immediately the two lads took to their heels. 

For a moment the Germans were stunned by the very audacity of the twolads. Then entrenching tools dropped to the ground and the men seizedtheir rifles and fired a volley after the two boys. But in the time ithad taken them to lay aside their tools and pick up their weapons thelads had disappeared in the darkness and now hurled themselves to theground, anticipating such a volley. 

In the darkness the Germans could hope to hit them only by accident. 

Springing to their feet again, the lads ran forward, bearing off slightlyto the north, and soon felt they were safe. 

They slowed down and approached the French lines cautiously. Presentlythey beheld the first French entrenchment. As they drew close a Frenchsoldier poked up his head and levelled a rifle at them. 

"Halt!" he cried. "Who goes there?"

"Friends!" returned Hal. 

"Advance friends, " came the soldier's next words while he still held hisrifle ready. 

Hal and Chester advanced to the very edge of the trench. There thesoldier took a good look at their faces and noticed the German uniforms. Up went his rifle again and he would have pulled the trigger with the gunaimed squarely at Hal had not Chester leaped quickly forward and struckup the weapon. 

The two clinched. 

"You fool!" cried Chester. "We are not Germans!"

Other soldiers now came running up. They gathered about the two figuresin German uniforms. An officer approached. Fortunately, he recognized thetwo boys and waved the men away. 

"These men are all right, " he said. 

The soldiers drew off, satisfied, all but the man who would have firedpoint blank at Hal. He stood there and eyed the lad sullenly. Then, forthe first time, Hal obtained a good look at him. The lad recognized himinstantly. He was the same man who had directed the hazing of young JulesClemenceau a short time before. 

As the Frenchman leered at him evilly, Hal walked close to him. 

"It's my belief you knew me all the time, " he declared quietly. 

"What of it?" the Frenchman demanded. 

"Why, " said Hal, "only that if I were sure, I'd pull your nose for you. "

"Ha!" exclaimed the Frenchman. "I'd like to see you try it. You caught meoff my guard the other night. You can't do it again. "

"I don't particularly care to do it, " returned Hal, quietly, "becauseyou're not worth it; but if I start I'll probably go through with it. "

Again the Frenchman sneered at him. 

Further conversation was prevented by the appearance of a Frenchlieutenant who had observed the trouble. 

"Matin!" he ordered. "Back to your post at once, sir. "

The latter saluted respectfully enough, but he gave Hal another evil lookas he walked away. 

"He's no friend of yours, that's sure, " said the young French officer toHal, with a smile. 

"I am glad to say he's not, " replied Hal, quietly. "I don't believe I'dcare for a friend like that. "

"I don't blame you, " was the young officer's response. "Matin has a badreputation and I would advise you to keep your eye on him. "

"Thanks, " said Hal. "I shall remember that. By the way, can you tell mejust where we are?"

"Thiaumont farm, " returned the French officer; "or, rather, I should say, just east of Thiaumont farm. You two fellows look somewhat done up. Ifyou will go to the farm you will find a place to sleep in the farmhouse. By some trick of fate the house and barn still stand, although everythingelse in this vicinity has been knocked to pieces by the big guns. "

"Thanks, " said Hal, again. "We shall take your advice. We are prettytired and a sleep will help out. It's too far back to our own quarterswhen there is a place to bunk so handy. "

The two lads left the young officer and made their way to the farmhouse. Here they found a number of French officers already installed, but thelatter gladly made room for them. 

"No beds, " said one with a laugh, "but there is plenty of room onthe floor. "

"I guess a bed would be too much to expect, " said Chester, alsolaughing. "Besides, it's been so long since I slept in one I don'tbelieve I could rest. "

"The floor is plenty good enough for me, " Hal agreed. 

"Help yourselves then. You can pick out your own room. "

"Guess we'll go upstairs then, " said Hal. "It'll probably be more quietup there. These fellows down here are having too much fun to care aboutsleep, " and he waved his arm toward one corner of the room, where a groupof young French officers were engaged in a game of cards. 

The two boys made their way upstairs and found a room to their liking inthe rear of the house. Here they stretched themselves out on the floorand were asleep immediately. There were no other occupants of the room. 

Outside the moon was shining, and it cast a beam of light into the roomwhere the two chums lay asleep. Several hours after the boys had closedtheir eyes in sleep, the figure of a man appeared in the window without. After some experimenting he opened the window softly and came in. Heclosed the window gently behind him. 

Chester stirred in his sleep and the man shrank back against the wall inthe darkness. For perhaps five minutes he remained there, and then, asthere was no further move by the sleeper, he advanced into the center ofthe room. The light fell upon his face, and had the boys been awake, theywould have recognized in the intruder, Matin, the man who had attemptedto shoot Hal a short time before. 

Matin approached the two sleepers quietly, seeking to make sure which wasHal. He examined each closely and then grinned as he stepped back a paceor two, apparently satisfied. 

From the next room there came the sound of footsteps and again Matinshrank back against the wall. Directly the footsteps moved away and Matindrew a breath of relief. 

From his pocket now he produced a knife, examined it carefully andgrinned again. Looking carefully about to make sure that there was no onein the room to observe him, he stepped forward. 

Had he turned his head at that moment he would have seen a second figurelowering itself just inside the room. But so intent was Matin upon thedark deed ahead of him that, after his one observation of the room, hedid not look again. 

The second figure was creeping after Matin now. He was not far behind, but still he was not close enough to touch the first intruder. Matin tooktwo quick steps forward and raised his arm. Then he bent on one knee. 

The arm flashed down!

CHAPTER XII

THE BATTLE OF THIAUMONT FARM

But the knife never reached its mark. 

There came a sudden loud report, a flash of flame and the knife clatteredto the floor. Matin reeled and fell backward, and as he did so the secondintruder pounced upon him and pinned him down. 

Hal arose to his feet slowly. In his hand he held a smoking revolver. Chester, awakened by the shot, leaped quickly to his feet and hisrevolver flashed in his hand. 

"What's happened?" he exclaimed. 

"My friend Matin here tried to do for me, " said Hal, pointing. "Ishot him. "

Chester rushed to the side of the two figures across the room. Then, forthe first time, the identity of the second figure was established. It wasJules Clemenceau. 

Hal also approached and bent over. He took Jules by the arm. 

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. 

"I followed Matin, " replied Jules, rising to his feet. "I saw you whenyou entered the trench from the German lines. After you had gone Iheard Matin threaten to kill you. We were relieved at the same time, and suspecting that he might be up to some mischief, I followed him. Iwas too far behind to do any good. I was so frightened that I couldnot cry out. "

"How did you happen to see him, Hal?" asked Chester. 

"I don't know, " was Hal's reply. "I was awakened just as Jules here camethrough the window. I was about to call out when I saw Matin comingtoward me with drawn knife. I drew my revolver quietly and waited. Iwanted him to get close enough so I would not miss. My arm was doubledunder me and I wasn't certain at that distance. "

"Is he dead?" asked Chester as Hal bent over the body. 

"No, " said Hal. "I didn't shoot to kill him. I shot him through theshoulder. "

"Then he should regain consciousness pretty quick, " declared Chester. 

"Oh, he's conscious right now, " said Hal. "He's just shamming a bit. Isn't that so, Matin?"

Matin sat up. 

"What of it?" he demanded. 

"Nothing, " returned Hal, "except that the next time you come near me, except in the performance of duty, you will not get off so lightly. "

"Are you going to let him go?" asked Jules, in surprise. 

"What did you expect me to do with him?" demanded Hal. 

"Shoot him again. "

Hal was forced to smile at the grimness of the boy's tones. 

"No, " he said quietly, "I have done him injury enough for one time. Let him go. "

"But he will try to kill you again!"

"If he does, he will wish he hadn't, " was Hal's reply. 

He turned and prodded Matin with the toe of his boot. "Get up and get outof here, " he said sharply. 

Cringingly, Matin obeyed. He slunk out of the room without a word. 

"Now I can breath easier, " declared Hal. "His presence contaminatedthe air. "

"I am afraid you let him off too easily, Hal, " said Chester. "You atleast should report him and have him put in a safe place. "

"I guess I am big enough to fight my own battles, Chester, " said Hal. "The French officers have enough to do without worrying about men likeMatin. Besides, I don't really believe he will bother me again. "

And so the subject was dismissed. Jules took his departure and Hal andChester again lay down to sleep. Chester was just about to doze when asudden thought struck him. 

"I say, Hal, " he called. 

"What's the trouble now?"

"Do you suppose it could have been Matin who shot at you that night inour quarters?"

"I don't know. I hardly think so, though. I believe that gentleman calledto pay his respects to Stubbs. "

"But--"

"Come, Chester, " said Hal, "it's getting late and I am going to get sixgood hours' sleep. "

But Hal was mistaken. There was to be yet another interruption to theslumber of the two lads. It came suddenly and unexpectedly. 

It was still an hour before dawn when the German artillery broke forthafresh, thousands of guns hurling death upon the sleeping French lines. The men were awake in an instant and rushed to their positions. Out ofthe first confusion order came promptly as officers issued sharpcommands. Officers and men had the same thought. The heavy bombardmentpresaged a new German assault. 

Hal and Chester had sprung from the floor at the sound of the firstsalvo. Rushing from the farmhouse, they watched the troops form and moveforward. The defenders of the first line trenches already were engaged bythe German infantry when Hal and Chester reached the open, andreinforcements were being rushed forward as rapidly as possible. 

Unassigned for the moment, Hal and Chester were undecided as to what todo. Chester settled the matter. 

"We'll stay here, " he decided. "There is no need of our going forward. Wewill only be in the way now. If we are needed, of course, it will bedifferent. "

Hal agreed with his chum and the two remained where they were. 

The terrible thunder of the great guns ceased now and there broke out thecrash of rifle fire. This told Hal and Chester that the German infantrywas charging the trenches. 

And this was indeed the case. In great waves of humanity the Germanassault poured on. Into the trenches the men threw themselves, dying bythe hundreds; but there were always more to take their places. While theattack had not been exactly a surprise, the French nevertheless had beencaught off their guard and the first advantage was with the Germans. 

As wave after wave of humanity poured into the trenches, the French brokeand fled. Toward Hal and Chester they came, making for the protection ofthe next line of entrenchments just beyond Thiaumont farm. Hal andChester stepped within the farmhouse to watch the flight. 

"We can't remain here long, " Chester shouted to make himself heard abovethe din and crash of musketry. 

Hal nodded his understanding and turned again to the window. 

At that moment a body of French infantry, perhaps 200 strong, dasheddirectly for the farmhouse. Through the doors they poured and rushed tothe windows and manned them. 

Some rushed upstairs, under the direction of the single officer with themand others descended into the basement. 

"By Jove! They are going to make a stand here!" cried Chester. 

"Right!" Hal agreed. "Here is a chance for us to do some good. We'lloffer our services to this officer. "

The lads had discarded their German uniforms soon after their return tothe French lines and were again attired in regulation French costume, with which they had been provided. They now approached the French officerwho was busy directing the disposition of his men. 

"We would be glad, sir, " said Hal, "if you would put us to work. "

The officer glanced at them keenly. 

"Officers, I perceive, " he said. "Your names, please?"

The boys gave them. 

"Good, " said the Frenchman. "Lieutenant Paine, you shall take charge ofthe second floor. Lieutenant Crawford, you will command in the basement. I have orders to hold this position, come what may. "

"Very good, sir. "

The two boys saluted. 

"To your posts, then!"

Hal dashed upstairs and Chester descended quickly below. 

Hal gazed quickly about the front room upstairs as he entered it. There were three windows. It was the only room facing east. There weretwo other rooms on the floor, and Hal quickly posted men at thewindows of each. 

In the basement Chester found that the only two windows fronted east. Hehad not much to guard. He gazed upon the men under his command andquickly selected five. 

"The rest of you go upstairs, " he commanded. "Six of us will be enoughhere. The hard fighting will be done above, if it is done at all. "

The five men selected nodded their approval of the boys' understanding ofthe situation. They could see he was young in years, but from the way inwhich he issued orders they realized that he was old in experience. 

A moment later the French officer in command came downstairs. Heapproached Chester. 

"In the excitement, " he said, "I forgot to tell you my name. I am CaptainLeroux. I came down to see if you are all ready. "

"All ready, sir, " said Chester, saluting. 

"Good!" The officer took his departure. 

On the first floor he attended to several important details in the matterof placing his men to best advantage and then ascended to where Hal wasin command. He gave his name to the latter and commended the manner inwhich Hal had stationed his men. 

"Very good, Lieutenant Paine, " he said. "I see that I may dependupon you. "

"And upon my friend below, sir, " replied Hal; "and upon the menwith me here. "

The soldiers gave a cheer at these words and Hal knew that they wouldfight to the last. 

Captain Leroux peered from the window. 

"Not in sight yet, " he muttered. He turned again to Hal. "Two hours, Lieutenant, " he said. 

"We'll hold 'em, sir, " was Hal's quiet response. "We'll hold them if itcan be done. "

"My instructions, " returned the captain, "are that they must be held. "

"Very well, sir. Then they shall be held. "

Hal saluted and turned to the window. 

And now there hove into sight in the early morning light countlessnumbers of German infantrymen at a charge. They had discovered the factthat the French held the farmhouse, and although their officers had nomeans of ascertaining the French strength at that point, they realizedthat it must be won before there could be a general advance. So theyordered the charge. 

"Here they come, sir, " said Hal, quietly. 

Captain Leroux dashed down the stairs without making reply. 

"Let them come close, men, " ordered Hal, "and when I give the word letthem have it for all you're worth. Make every shot count. "

His words were greeted with a cheer. Each man was in position. Each man'sfinger was on the trigger. A moment of silence and then Hal ordered:

"Fire!"

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIGHT

The front of the farmhouse broke into a sheet of flame. 

At almost the same moment, Captain Leroux on the floor below, and Chesterin the basement, gave the command to fire and the first line ofapproaching Germans seemed to crumple up. 

But the men behind came on. 

Again and again effective volleys were fired from the farmhouse; butdespite their heavy losses and urged on by commands of theirofficers, the Germans pressed forward until they were at the veryside of the house. 

As they approached they fired volley after volley at the windows behindwhich the defenders stood calmly; and the French had not gone unscathed. 

In the basement, where Chester was in command, no German bullet had goneso far, but Hal had lost three men and Captain Leroux five. As quickly asthese fell others took their places at the windows and continued to firesteadily into the German ranks. 

Came a heavy battering at the front door. A force of Germans had reachedthis point in spite of the fire of the French and now were attempting tobatter it down. Without exposing themselves too recklessly the Frenchcould not reach this party of Germans with rifle fire. 

Captain Leroux quickly told off ten men to guard the entrance the momentthe door should give beneath the kicks and blows of the enemy. 

"Ten men should be as good as a hundred there, " he explained. "Pick themoff as they rush through. Aim carefully and make every shot count. "

He turned back to the work of directing the fire from the windows. 

The battering at the door continued. One of the defenders, thinking todispose of a member of the enemy in such close proximity, stuck his headout and brought his rifle to bear upon the foe in the doorway; but beforehe could accomplish his object he fell back inside with a groan. A Germanbullet had done its work. 

"No more of that!" ordered Captain Leroux, sharply. "I need every man Ihave. No need to expose yourselves uselessly. "

After that no French head appeared above the window sill farther than wasnecessary to aim and fire. 

In the basement Chester and his men had had little to do so far. True, they had been able to pick off a German or two, but their position wassuch that they could be of little value at the moment. Their time was tocome later. 

On the top floor Hal, because of his position, was better able to commanda view of the open field ahead than Captain Leroux in the room below. Thefire of Hal's men, therefore, was more effective than of the French onthe ground floor. 

Below there was a crash as the door splintered beneath the batteringtactics brought into play by the Germans who had gained the shelter ofthe house and were able to continue work without molestation. The tenFrenchmen told off by Captain Leroux to defend the entrance held theirrifles ready, waiting for the first German head to appear in the opening. 

But the door was of stout oak, and though it seemed on the point ofgiving under each succeeding blow, it still held. Hoarse guttural criesfrom without indicated that the Germans were becoming impatient to get atthe French within. Came an extra violent crash and the door suddenly gaveway. Three Germans, who had been leaning against the door, caught offtheir balance, were precipitated headlong into the room. It wasunfortunate--for them. 

Before they could scramble to their feet, the French had placed thembeyond all hopes of further fighting. Their days of war were over. 

But other Germans poured into the door behind them and leaped forwardover the prostrate forms of their comrades. Calmly, the ten Frenchsoldiers, far back against the wall and a little to one side, so as to beout of direct line of fire from the open doorway, fired into the surgingmass of humanity. And their fire was deadly and effective. In almost lesstime than it takes to tell it the doorway was choked with German dead. 

It was a gruesome sight and even the French soldiers, used as they wereto such spectacles, shuddered inwardly. It seemed foolhardy for the enemyto seek entrance to the house through that blocked door. Even the Germansrealized it and would have drawn back but for the fact that theirofficers, farther back, urged them on with cries and imprecations. 

Again there was a concerted rush for the door. 

The pile of prostrate German forms served as a shield for the defendersand behind this barrier of bodies the men took their posts and poured awithering fire into the ranks of the attackers. This deadly fire was morethan the Germans could face, and in spite of the frantic efforts of theirofficers, they drew off. 

"I didn't think they could make it, " shouted Captain Leroux. "Goodwork, men!"

A cheer went up from the defenders. But the men knew the calibre of theseGerman veterans and they realized that the attack had not been given up. They knew that the Germans, with their superior numbers, would not desistand that eventually they must be overwhelmed. 

"Two hours!" Captain Leroux had said. 

Hardly a quarter of that time had flown and in it had been crowdeddesperate work that well would have been enough for the day. The men weretired, but they were not willing to admit it. Each had told himself thathe would die at his post rather than surrender. 

There came a lull in the fighting. 

To the war-seasoned veterans of France this lull told a story of its own. It presaged a new and more violent attempt on the part of the Germans toforce the farmhouse. Captain Leroux knew it. So did Hal and Chester, andat their various stations they gave quick commands to their men. 

Taking care not to expose himself too much, he gazed from the window. Hisaction did not even bring a shot. This increased the lad's suspicions. 

"Trying to draw us out, " he muttered. "Want us to think they have givenup the attempt. Never mind, Mr. German, you are not shrewd enough. "

The defenders waited patiently; and presently the Germans again advancedto the attack, even as Hal and Chester had known they would. 

Forward came the Teuton horde in a charge. From a distance of perhaps 500yards, they dashed across the open at full speed, apparently bent uponoverawing the defenders by the very appearance of such numbers. 

But the French did not quail. The weight of numbers meant nothing tothem. It was not the first time they had stood firmly againstoverwhelming odds, and there was not a man in the farmhouse who did notfully expect to survive the present battle and be ready to faceoverwhelming odds again. Each man knew well enough that before thefighting was over it was ten to one that there would be but a handfulof the defenders left, but each man was confident he would be one ofthat number. 

They poured a galling fire into the ranks of the Germans as they advancedto the charge. 

The effect of this steady stream of rifle fire, accurate and deadly atsuch close range, was bound to tell. In spite of the urging of theirofficers, the Germans wavered. The lines behind the first surged forward, however, pushing the men in front closer to the deadly fire of theFrench. Those in front pushed back and for a moment there was wildconfusion without. 

In vain German officers rushed in among the troops, trying to rally them. It was too late. The Germans had become demoralized. A moment and theybroke and fled. It was every man for himself. 

The French within the farmhouse raised a wild cheer and poured volleyafter volley into the fleeing Germans. Men tumbled right and left. TheGerman losses in the retreat were greater even than they had been inthe advance. 

Hal, who had been working like a Trojan, wiped the beads of perspirationfrom his forehead with his shirt sleeve--the work had become so hot thatthe lad had removed his coat, though it was still cold without--and spokewords of encouragement to his men. 

"Good work, boys, " he said quietly. "A few more like that and they willbother us no more. "

Even as he spoke the lad knew that his words meant nothing. He knew theGermans would not give up until they had captured the farmhouse or hadbeen driven back by the weight of superior numbers, and at that moment itdid not appear that reinforcements would arrive. 

The troops also knew that Hal's words meant nothing, but they cheeredhim anyhow. They realized that he had spoken as he did merely toencourage them; and they liked the spirit that inspired the words. Theyknew that Hal was fully competent of judging the hopelessness of thetask ahead of them. 

"The captain said to hold them two hours, sir, " said one grizzled oldveteran to Hal. "How long has it been now, sir?"

Hal glanced at his watch. "One hour exactly. "

"Good!" exclaimed the French soldier. "One half of the work done and mostof us are still here. We'll hold them!"

"Of course we'll hold them, Francois, " exclaimed another. "Surely youdidn't think we couldn't do it?"

"Well, " was the reply. "It's a pretty big job and--"

"But we were ordered to hold them for two hours, " protested the other. 

"Of course, " returned the man addressed as Francois. "That settles it. Two hours are two hours. "

"Right, " said the other. "Also two hours are only two hours, which makesit that much better. "

"But at the end of two hours, then what?" asked a third soldier. 

The man who had first engaged Francois in conversation shrugged hisshoulders. 

"That, " he said, "is not for us to decide. But we will not be forgotten, you may be sure of that. Our general will see that we are relieved. "

"You may rest assured on that score, " Hal agreed. "Having picked you asthe men to defend this important position, it is not to be expected thathe will see you all sacrificed. "

There was another cheer from the men, followed a moment later by a shoutfrom one at the front window. 

"Here they come again, sir!"

CHAPTER XIV

HAL LEADS A SORTIE

Hal sprang forward and gave a quick look at the enemy. 

Apparently, the assault was to be made on the same plan as before. Afterthe last retreat of the enemy, their officers had succeeded in re-formingthem beyond the zone of French fire and now were about to hurl the troopsforward in another grand offensive against the farmhouse. The Germansmoved forward silently and doggedly. 

"It'll be a little warmer this time, " Hal muttered to himself. 

And the lad was right. 

Straight on came the Germans at the charge in spite of the withering firepoured in among them by the French; straight up to the side of the housethey rushed, though there were many men who did not get that far; andthen the German troops deployed. 

While perhaps a hundred men remained at the front of the house, apparently to seek entrance through the doorway blocked with their owndead, the others divided and dashed round the house, some to the rightand some to the left. 

Now, for the first time, French troops who had not been posted at thefront windows came into action. 

As the Germans rushed around the house, these French troops leaned fromtheir windows on the side of the house and poured volley after volleyinto the German ranks. They were almost directly above the Germans andthe latter were at a great disadvantage; for they could not return thefire of the French without pausing in their mad rush; and when they didpause and bring their rifles to bear upon the windows above, there wereno French heads to be seen there. 

But when they dashed on again, the French heads reappeared and again theGermans fell in large numbers. 

But the losses of the French by this time, in spite of the comparativesafety afforded by their position, had been extremely heavy, consideringthe size of the original force. Chester, in the basement, still hadsuffered no casualties, but fully a third of the men on the two floorsabove had been killed or wounded. 

And there had been no time to care for these wounded, except for thebrief respites occasioned by the retreat of the Germans. Now that thefighting was on again the wounded were left to shift for themselves; andthe air was filled with moans and groans. 

The Germans in front of the house again had tried in vain to force apassage of the doorway, choked with their own dead and dying. This hadfailed, for the French, under the direction of Captain Leroux, had pouredin such a galling fire that the Germans dropped as fast as they appearedin the doorway. 

From above, the defenders at the front of the house, also, had done heavyexecution among the enemy below. Again the Germans wavered; thenretreated; and the French mowed them down as they ran. 

Suddenly Hal bethought himself of a daring plan. Dashing down stairs heconfided it to Captain Leroux. The latter clapped his hands in approval. 

"You shall direct the move, " he exclaimed. "I'll take your post and seethat the Germans in front continue to fall back; also I shall be able tocover you to some extent. "

He ran quickly upstairs. 

Quickly Hal picked fifty men. 

"Clear away those bodies, " he said, pointing to the German dead thatblocked the doorway. 

It was the work of but a few minutes. 

"Now, " said Hal, "when we go out the door, I want half of you to goaround the house to the left. The others follow me. "

He divided the men into two squads. 

"We'll catch the fellows who got behind us by surprise, " the ladexplained. "They are still engaged with the men at the windows above. Wecan't afford to be surrounded. We must drive them off. "

Silently, the men filed from the house. 

The strategy of Hal's plan was at once apparent. The Germans who hadcircled the house, after dividing after the grand assault, still wereunaware of the retreat of their fellows. They did not know that thissupport had been lost to them. Therefore, they were sure to be at a greatdisadvantage when attacked from a position that they believed to be heldby their comrades. 

Above, the defenders still continued to fire rapidly, seeking to keep upthe delusion. 

There was only one thing that worried Hal--one thing that he feltpossibly might bring disaster following his surprise attack. He knew thatthe Germans who had recently retreated from before the farmhouse wouldunderstand his plan the minute he led his men from the farmhouse. Thiswould mean another grand assault. The question in Hal's mind was whetherhe could get his men back inside the house before the main force of theenemy could advance and cut him off. 

But he was depending upon the French still within the house to hold thefoe off until he could get back. 

As the French dashed suddenly around the house, there came a wild cryfrom the distant German lines to the east. The ruse had been discoveredand Hal realized that the bulk of the enemy would be upon them beforelong. Therefore, he knew he must hurry. 

"Quick!" he cried to his men. 

The latter needed no urging. 

Swiftly they dashed around the house in either direction and fell uponthe Germans, who had sought shelter at the far side, with their bayonets. The enemy, taken completely by surprise, uttered cries of consternationand sought to retreat; for their officers had no means of telling thenumbers of these new foes. 

But the French pressed them closely. Although the Germans were taken at agreat disadvantage because of the suddenness of the attack, they, nevertheless fought bravely. 

No quarter was asked. 

For safety's sake the enemy pressed close to the French, engaging themhand-to-hand. In this was their only hope of success, for every time aman strayed from the struggling mass, a keen-eyed French soldier abovedropped him with a rifle bullet. 

But the struggle could have only one end. Bewildered by the suddenappearance of the French, the Germans never gained time to recoverthemselves. The French pushed the fighting; and soon it was all over. 

There remained now only half a score of Germans standing. 

"Surrender!" called Hal. 

With the exception of one, the men threw down their weapons. Theexception was a German officer, who evidently had been in command. Hesprang toward Hal with a cry and thrust with his sword. 

The move had been so unexpected that the lad was caught completely offhis guard and the sword must have pierced him had it not been for thequickness of a French soldier who stood near. Without taking thought tohis own danger, this man sprang forward and grappled with the German. 

The latter hurled the French soldier from him with a sudden powerful moveand again advanced on Hal. But now the lad was ready for him and hissword met the sword of the German officer neatly. 

In vain the German officer sought to break down Hal's guard. Hal foiledhim at every turn. The German was furiously angry, but Hal was smilingeasily. The lad realized that he probably owed his life to the German'sanger, for at the first touch of swords the lad had realized that theGerman was clearly his master. Therefore, the lad jeered at the officeras he fought. 

Hal became more certain of the outcome of the duel as it continued, forwith every thrust and parry the German became more and more angry becausehe could not overcome this boy. Perspiration rolled down his face and hepanted with rage. 

"I'll get you!" he cried. 

"Oh, not for some time yet, " Hal grinned back at him. 

The German swore. 

"Now! Now!" said Hal. "That's no way for a nice German officer to do. What would the emperor say?"

The duel was interrupted at this point by a sudden cry from thefarmhouse. 

"Never mind him, Lieutenant! Back into the house quickly!"

It was the voice of Captain Leroux and the tone told Hal how urgent wasthe call. Taking a quick step forward, he caused the German officer toretreat a few paces. Then Hal lowered his sword, and calling to his mento follow him, dashed toward the front of the house. 

Behind, the German officer broke into a torrent of abuse and would havecontinued it had not a French soldier, who cared nothing for theetiquette of duelling, put an end to him with a rifle bullet. 

To the half score of men who had thrown down their arms, Hal cried:

"Back to your own lines quickly or you shall be shot down! No, " pausingand levelling his revolver as one of the Germans sought to stoop and pickup his discarded rifle, "never mind the gun. Another move like that andyou'll all be shot down. Move, now!"

The Germans wasted no further time and made for the shelter of their ownlines at top speed. 

And their own lines were advancing rapidly to meet them. 

"Quick, men!" cried Hal. "Into the house!"

They had now reached the front door again and Hal stood to one side thathis men might enter first. 

Above, the fire of the defenders had broken out afresh, but the Germansrushed forward in spite of it. Bullets hummed close about Hal's head ashe stood beside the doorway, but none struck him; and at last all the menwere inside. 

Hal went in after them. 

From without came a cry of rage as the advancing Germans realized that, for the moment, at least, they had been deprived of their prey. 

"Guard the door there, men!" shouted Hal. "Get back and to one side outof the line of fire. Save your bullets until they cross the threshold, then shoot them down. "

The men moved into position. Hal glanced quickly around to make surethat all was in readiness and at that moment Captain Leroux descendedthe stairs. 

"Good work, Mr. Paine, " he said quietly. "If I live, I shall report thispiece of work. I will take command here now. Return to your post above. "

Hal saluted and did as commanded. 

Hardly had he reached position above when he heard Captain Leroux belowgive the command:

"Fire!"

CHAPTER XV

LEFT BEHIND

The Germans had drawn off again. 

The last assault had met with no better success than had the attacks thathad gone before. True, the defenders had suffered considerably, for theGerman fire had been accurate; but the losses of the French had been asnothing compared with those of the Teutons. 

This last assault had been more severe than the others. The Germans hadshown even greater tenacity and courage than before. In vain had theirofficers sought to hold them to the attack. Once, twice, thrice had thehuman sea surged against the farmhouse, only to be thrown back; so atlast the Germans had withdrawn. 

Dead and wounded men strewed the floor. There were still some who had notbeen touched by the bullets of the foe, but the majority of the defendersof the top floor lay prone. 

Hal shook his head sadly. 

"Don't believe we can withstand another such charge, " he said aloud. 

"How long yet, sir?" asked the grizzled old veteran, Francois, who, though he had kept his place at the window through the last attack, hadescaped the German bullets. 

Again Hal gazed closely at his watch. 

"Twelve minutes to go, " he said quietly. 

The face of Francois brightened. 

"Then we are all right, sir, " he said. "They will hardly attack again inthat time, sir. "

Hal shook his head. 

"They are likely to attack at any moment, " he replied slowly. "Besides, if we do succeed in beating them off once more, there is nothing toassure us that we will be relieved then. "

"Nothing sir, " returned Francois, "except Captain Leroux's word that wehave only to hold this house two hours, sir. "

"True, " said Hal, brightening visibly. "I shouldn't have spoken as I did. We must trust to the others, and if they fail, why, we'll know it is nottheir fault. "

"Right, sir, " said Francois. "If they fail, it will not be their fault. "

He returned to his place at the window. 

On the floor below Captain Leroux also had taken account of hiscasualties. Merely a handful of men remained unwounded. Some of themen who had felt the effects of the German fire were still incondition to continue the fight should their services be necessary, but their number was few. 

The captain shook his head dubiously as he glanced at his watch. 

"Ten minutes, " he muttered. "Well, we'll hold it that long, butafterwards I can't be held accountable, there will be none of us left. "

In the basement Chester and his five men still were unmarked. Though theyhad stood at the small windows and fired at whatever German forms camewithin view, they had had little work to do, the men were beginning tomurmur among themselves. 

"We're not needed down here, " said one. "We should be upstairs where thefighting is being done. No Germans will seek to come in here. "

"That's right, " said another, "we might do some good above. Here we aredoing nothing at all. Why, we have hardly seen a German. I don't believeany of the enemy have spotted this opening yet, either. "

"Nor I; wish they had let me stay upstairs. "

"What's all this?" demanded Chester, suddenly. "You men have been in theranks long enough to know better than to question your officers' orders. You have been posted here and here you shall remain until I get orders tothe contrary. "

"But, sir, " said one of the men, "we would like--"

"Silence!" said Chester. "Back to your places. "

The men obeyed, though they continued to murmur. Chester softened a fewminutes later and again addressed his men. 

"I have no doubt you fellows will have all the fighting you want beforethis thing is over, " he said quietly. "As nearly as I can make out fromhere the men upstairs must be about done for. I question whether theywill be able to beat off another attack. "

"And are the two hours up, sir, " asked one of the men. 

Chester glanced at his watch. 

"Not quite, " he returned. 

"How much to go, sir?"

"A little more than five minutes. "

The man's face darkened. 

"And we'll be relieved at the end of that time without having done anyfighting, " he said. "Here we sit down here in the dark and the otherfellows have all the fun. "

"You're liable to get yours yet, " said Chester. "If I mistake not, the Germans are returning to the attack. I hear the sounds of firingfrom above. "

Chester was right. The Germans again had advanced to the charge. 

Above, Hal and Captain Leroux were issuing orders to their men for whateach believed would be the final effort. Should this attack be repulsed, both had some slight hopes that they would not be compelled to faceanother--that French reinforcements would arrive before the Germans couldadvance again. But, also, neither was sure in his own mind that theapproaching attack of the foe could be beaten off. 

And this time the Germans seemed to be advancing in even greater numbersthan before. 

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!" came the spatter of German bulletsagainst the side of the house; and occasionally a bullet struck home andleft no sound, unless it was the sound of a man toppling over backwardsto the floor, or a man as he clapped his hand to his head. The riflebombardment was having its effect. 

The sharp crack of French rifles answered the challenge of the Germans, though, because of the fact that the ranks of the defenders had beensadly depleted, their weapons spoke not so often. But when they didspeak, men fell; for, at this crucial stage of the battle, they weremaking every shot count. 

But this time, it seemed, the Germans were not to be denied. Men aswell as officers understood the slowness of the French fire. TheGermans were flushed with the spirit of victory, despite the fact thatthe field on all sides of the farmhouse was covered with their own deadand dying. The German soldiers realized, as did their officers, thatthe end of the courageous defense was near. Another effort and thefarmhouse would be theirs. 

For some reason, in spite of the fact that the German troops appeared tobe making fair progress, their advance was suddenly stayed. At somedistance they halted and continued to pepper the house with riflebullets, doing little damage at that distance. 

Horses dashed suddenly into view, dragging behind them a rapid-fire gun. 

Hal guessed the answer. 

"That's to mow us down when we try to run, " he told himself. "Well--"

He broke off and shrugged his shoulders. 

Now the Germans came on again, the rapid-fire gun covering theiradvance. A moment later the side of the farmhouse resembled a sieve, itwas so full of holes. For a man to stick his head out the window meantinstant death. 

But as the Germans drew closer, the rapid firer became silent, for, without risking the lives of Germans as well as French, it was of novalue now. At the same moment the heads of the defenders againappeared at the windows and renewed the work of picking off theGermans as they charged. 

For some reason Hal took the time to glance at his watch once more. 

"Time's up!" he told himself gravely, "and no help in sight. "

But the lad was wrong; for, could he have looked from the rear of thehouse at that moment, he would have seen advancing several columns ofFrench cavalry, coming to their relief. 

The Germans saw the approach of reinforcements and redoubled theirefforts to gain the farmhouse before the reinforcements could arrive. Butit was too late. With wild cries, the French cavalrymen swept down andabout the house. Cheers from the defenders greeted them. The men lefttheir places at the windows and ran from the house. Hurriedly the woundedwere carried out and the retreat begun. 

And at that moment the Germans, also reinforced, charged again. Greatlyoutnumbered the French retreated, firing as they went. 

Then, for the first time, Hal noticed Chester's absence. 

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed to Captain Leroux, "we have come away withoutnotifying the men in the basement. "

Quickly the two made their way to the French commander and laid thesituation before him. The latter shook his head sadly. 

"It's too late now, " he said quietly. "Look at the number of the foe. Wecould not make headway against them. "

He was deaf to all Hal's entreaties that he make the effort. 

In the basement, Chester and his five men had been unable to ascertainthe cause of the increased firing at one moment and the lull a momentlater. Chester had about decided that the defenders had given up and thathe and his men in the cellar were all that remained. 

From his window he could see the Germans only when they came into acertain position; and what went on above he had no means of telling. Butthat the others would go and leave him and his men behind had not enteredhis head. Therefore, he decided to remain quiet with his men. 

But when an hour had passed and there came no more sounds of firing fromabove, Chester decided it was time to investigate. Accordingly, heascended the steps quietly. 

There was no one above. The lad gazed about quickly. Except for the dead, there was no Frenchman in the house. Bloodstains on the floor showed thatthe wounded had been removed. 

Then Chester realized what had happened. 

Quickly he ran to the door and peered out. Far in the rear he could seethe French retreating, pursued by the foe. Chester uttered an exclamationof dismay and called to his men. He explained the situation to them. Allwere dumbfounded. 

At that moment Chester espied an object a short distance from thefarmhouse. There was no living form near. With a sudden cry of hope, Chester dashed from the house. 

"Come on, men!" he called over his shoulder. 

CHAPTER XVI

CHESTER'S GALLANT FEAT

The object upon which Chester's eyes had fallen and which was the causeof the sudden activity on the lad's part was nothing less than therapid-fire gun the Germans so recently had brought up to bombard thefarmhouse and cut off the retreat of its French defenders. Its crew hadbeen killed, picked off by the accurate shooting of the French beforethey abandoned the house, and the gun had not been remanned. Apparentlythe Germans had overlooked the small field piece in their haste to givechase to the retreating French. 

The horses were standing a short distance away, unhurt, as Chester couldsee. The lad dashed toward the gun at top speed, his five men followinghim as fast as they could run. 

There was a light of anticipation on Chester's face as he reached the gunand examined it carefully. 

"Plenty of ammunition, " he said with a grin, as his men came up to him. 

The others grinned also. 

"What are you going to do with it, sir?" asked one. 

Chester waved his arm in the direction of the retreating French andpursuing Germans. 

"Give those fellows a little surprise party when they turn back, " hesaid. 

The men caught the idea and were immediately filled with enthusiasm. 

"We'd better get away from here before we're discovered, though, " saidChester. "Catch those horses, some of you. "

This was an easy matter, for the horses stood still as two of the Frenchsoldiers approached them. 

"Hook 'em up, " cried Chester. 

This, too, was the work of a moment. 

"I'll do the driving, " said Chester. "You fellows climb aboard. "

The others needed no urging and a moment later this strange battery movedtoward the French lines at a gallop. 

The Germans in pursuit of the French were still in plain view and Chesterintended to keep close behind. He reasoned that the distance was toogreat for the Germans to make out the uniforms of the men on the gun andhe intended to turn off the roadway at the first sign that the Germanswere ready to give up the chase. 

Along the road ran a fringe of trees, sparse in some places and thickerin others. It was Chester's plan to wheel the gun in among the trees atthe proper moment and open on the foe when they came back. 

And the plan was to be put in execution sooner than the lad hadhoped for. 

Chester saw the Germans slow down. Then they turned and came toward him. The lad could not make out at once the cause of their sudden decision toretreat, but it came to him a moment later with the sound of heavy riflefiring. Apparently, French infantry had advanced to the support of thecavalry and the Germans were not strong enough in numbers to contesteffectively. 

Immediately, Chester swung the horses to the right in among the trees, which, fortunately, happened to be dense at this particular point. 

"Guess we'll give 'em a little surprise, " said Chester, with a grin. 

Dismounting, he motioned the men to unhitch the horses, which was done. Then the gun was whirled into position where it commanded the roadway. 

"We're ready for them, " said Chester, quietly. 

The Germans drew on apace. Suddenly a thought struck Chester. 

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "I can't shoot them down in cold blood, I'llhave to give them a chance. Here!" he motioned to one of his men and thelatter approached. "Take this gun, " the lad commanded. "I'm going to givethese fellows a chance to surrender. If they refuse I'll duck back hereand you let them have it. I'll keep out of range, but don't turn this gununtil I get back. Understand?"

The man signified that he did. 

Chester walked some distance back to where the road curved a bit. He wasout of the direct line of fire, but still in such position to make hisdemand for the surrender of the Germans without allowing them to pass thesweep of the rapid-firer. 

With the Germans still some distance down the road, Chester steppeddirectly into the highway and raised a hand. 

The leading Germans pulled up and an officer demanded:

"What's the matter?"

"Surrender!" exclaimed Chester, "or you shall all be killed. "

The German officer gave a great laugh. 

"Hear the boy talk, " he exclaimed. "He asks us to surrender when we havejust chased all the French back to their own lines. "

There was a roar of laughter from the troop. 

"Surrender!" called Chester again. 

Again there was a laugh and the German officer called:

"Throw up your hands, boy, or you shall be shot!"

"Well, " said Chester, "I've done all I can. I've warned you. Your bloodbe upon your own heads. "

With a sudden leap he disappeared among the trees. With a fierce cry, theGerman officer made after him, firing as he did so. 

At the same moment there was a crash as of a thousand rifles. Germans fell from their saddles like chaff before a storm. Horsesreared, screamed, stampeded and fell down dead, crushing theirriders beneath them. 

By this time Chester had returned to his men and took charge of therapid-fire gun himself. He turned it this way and that, sweeping theroadway clear, where the foe was in range. 

And from far behind the German line at this moment broke out the crack ofrifles. The French infantry had advanced in pursuit of the Germans, asquadron of cavalry showing the way. 

The Germans were caught between two fires. 

Unable to estimate the number of men in the force that had ambushed them, the Germans threw down their arms. 

"We surrender!" cried a German officer. 

Instantly the fire of the machine gun ceased and Chester advanced to theroad again. The same German officer who, a moment ago, had scorned thelad's warning, now advanced and tendered his sword to Chester. 

"Tell your men to throw down their arms, " commanded Chester. 

The officer did so, and swords and pistols rattled to the ground. 

"Now, " said Chester, "you will about face and march toward the Frenchlines. There must be no foolishness. My army here is rather small, but westill have the rapid-fire gun and it will be trained upon you until youare safe. "

The lad signalled to his men, who had already hitched up the horses, andthese now advanced. 

"What!" exclaimed the German officer, when he had taken a glance atChester's "army, " "are these all the men you had when you attacked us?"

"They seemed to be enough, " said Chester, with a smile. 

"No wonder we haven't beaten you a long while ago, " the German officermumbled to himself. "When five men and one a boy perform a feat likethis, I begin to have my doubts as to the outcome of this war. "

"Well, " said Chester, "I don't have any such doubts. But come, now;forward march. "

Slowly the German troopers marched ahead, Chester and his machine gunbringing up the rear. 

And in this manner they came directly upon the French cavalry andinfantry advancing in pursuit of the Germans. 

Great were the exclamations among the French troops when it was foundthat five men and a young officer had made such an important capture, tosay nothing of the terrible execution inflicted upon the enemy with theirown rapid-fire gun. The French officers were loud in the praises ofChester's gallantry. 

And with the troop of French cavalry Chester found Hal and CaptainLeroux. 

"By Jove! I'm glad to see you, Chester, " said Hal, advancing withoutstretched hand. "I was afraid we wouldn't get back in time. "

"I guess you wouldn't have, if we had waited for you, " said Chester, dryly. "I wasn't going to take any more chances if I could help it. Whenyou left us there by ourselves, I was sure if we wanted to come away, we'd have to do it by ourselves. "

"We didn't do it intentionally, " said Captain Leroux. 

"Who said you did?" demanded Chester, somewhat angrily. 

The French captain flushed. He drew himself up, seemed about to make anangry reply; then cooled down and said:

"I'm sorry. "

With that he walked away. 

"Look here, Chester, " said Hal, "you know that I wouldn't have leftyou behind for anything if I had only thought of it. But in theexcitement and--"

"That's it, " said Chester. "There was too much excitement and you werehaving it all. I get buried down in a cellar with five men and sit therein the dark till the fun's all over. Then you don't even take the troubleto tell me it's time to go home. I don't like it. "

"Great Scott! You're not mad, are you, Chester?"

"Mad? Sure I'm mad. Next time you get in a hole I'm going to walk awayand leave you there. "

Hal smiled. 

"Oh, I guess not, " he returned. 

"You do, eh? Well, you try it and see what happens. "

"Come, now, Chester, you know how this thing happened, " said Hal. "Wedidn't do it purposely. "

Chester seemed about to make an angry retort; but a moment later a smilebroke over his face and he extended a hand to his chum. 

"I know you didn't, " he replied, "but can't a fellow have a little fun?"

Hal took the hand as he exclaimed:

"You've offended Captain Leroux. "

"Well, " said Chester, "Captain Leroux has offended me. "

CHAPTER XVII

A QUEER SITUATION

"Somebody following us, Hal!"

"That so?" said Hal; "and why should we be followed along here?"

"I don't know, " was Chester's reply, "but I have noticed a shadowfollowing us wherever we go. "

"We'll see about it, " was Hal's rejoinder. 

It was the night succeeding the day on which the lads had taken part inthe defense of Thiaumont farmhouse. They had returned to their quarterslate in the day, had reported to General Petain and had been relieved ofduty until the following morning. It was now after 8 o'clock and theywere strolling about the camp. 

They had made their way well back into the heart of the armed settlementwhen Chester had made the announcement that they were being followed. 

With Hal to reach a decision was to act. Chester let his friend do theleading in this instance. 

Hal quickened his steps and walked quickly down the row of tents, which, well back of the trenches, were laid out in the form of streets, and which, in fact, were called streets by the soldiers themselves. Chester followed. 

At the first cross street, for so they may be called, Hal led the waysharply to the left and stopped suddenly. A moment later a figure cameslinking around after them. Hal reached out an arm and grabbed him. 

"Here, " he said, "what are you following us for?"

The man tried to free himself, but Hal held him tight. 

"If you'll let me loose, I'll explain, " he said finally. 

Hal considered this a moment; then with a shrug of his shouldersreleased his hold. 

"Stand behind him, Chester, " he said. 

Chester followed Hal's injunction, but the man made no effort to escape. 

"Well?" said Hal, questioningly. 

The man thrust a hand into his pocket. 

"Hold on there!" cried Hal, sharply, producing his revolver. "Notricks now. "

The man smiled and withdrew his hand from his pocket. 

"I wasn't after a gun, " he said. 

He opened his hand and in the palm Hal saw a little round object. 

"Can you match that?" the man demanded. 

Hal peered closer and made out the nature of the object in theman's hand. 

"A black pea!" he exclaimed. "Yes, I can match it. "

He thrust a hand in his pocket and produced a black pea, which not manydays before had rolled from the pocket of Jules Clemenceau. 

The stranger looked at it closely. 

"All right, " he said. He turned to Chester. "And you?" he demanded. 

Chester's reply was to produce his black pea, which he exhibitedto the man. 

"Good!" said the stranger. "Follow me. "

"Follow you where?" Chester wanted to know. 

"Yes; what's all this funny business, anyhow?" demanded Hal. 

The man smiled enigmatically. 

"Best to be careful, " he said. "Come on. "

Chester looked at Hal and the latter nodded. 

"Might as well see what it's all about, " said the latter. 

They fell into step behind the stranger. 

With many turns and twists the man walked for perhaps half an hour. Apparently he was bent on beclouding the lads' sense of direction. 

"I say!" Hal called a halt finally. "Where are you taking us?"

"It's not much farther, " the man protested, "and I have been instructedto bring you. "

"Instructed to bring us?" echoed Chester, "and by whom?"

"You'll learn that later, " was the stranger's response. "Are you coming?"

Again Hal and Chester exchanged glances. The latter shrugged. 

"We've started; may as well see it through, " he said. 

"All right, " Hal agreed and turned to the stranger, "but cut out all thiswinding about, " he demanded. "There is a quicker way of reaching ourdestination, wherever it may be. "

The stranger smiled, but made no reply. He moved off and the boysfollowed him, and at last they came to their journey's end. 

Before an army tent the man stopped a few moments later. 

"In here, " he said. 

He entered and Hal and Chester paused long enough to look at each other. 

"I guess it's all right, " said Hal. "Can't much happen right in the heartof the camp. Come on. "

He entered the tent with Chester close behind him. 

Within powerful arms seized them and dragged them down; and before theycould cry out gags were stuffed in their mouths. In vain the ladsstruggled to free themselves. They were soon safely bound. 

Up to this time the tent had been in darkness, but now someone struck alight. Hal and Chester gazed at their captors. All were attired inregulation army uniforms, but their faces were masked. One man, whoseemed to be the leader, was short and chunky. The others were taller. The small man approached the lads and spoke. 

"If you will give me your words to make no outcry, I shall have the gagsremoved, " he said in a shrill, quavering voice, plainly disguised. 

Hal considered this point a moment; then nodded his head in token ofassent. Chester did likewise. 

"All right, " said the little man and beckoned the others to remove thegags. 

Their mouths free of the evil-tasting cloths, Hal and Chesterbreathed easier. 

"Now, " said Chester, "perhaps you will explain what this is all about. "

The little man shook his head. 

"No, " he replied, "all I can tell you is this! You shall be kept confinedhere until your removal to Paris can be arranged. Then you will be sentto London and put aboard a vessel for New York. That's all I can say. "

"But what for?" demanded Hal, angrily. 

"That you will not be told, " was the reply, "although I guess you don'tneed to be told. "

"By George!" exclaimed Chester, "I don't know what you are talking about, but you can take my word that somebody is going to suffer for thisnight's work. How long do you intend to hold us here?"

"I can't say. Possibly a day or two; at all events, until your removalcan be arranged. "

"Do you know who we are?" demanded Hal. 

The little man nodded. 

"Perfectly, " he replied. 

"You know that we are attached to the staff of General Petain?"

Again their captor nodded. 

"And still you've got the nerve to hold us here?"

"Yes, I've got the nerve. "

"Don't you know you shall suffer for this?"

The man shrugged his shoulders. 

"At least I shall have done my duty, " he replied. 

"Duty! Great Scott! Duty! What are you talking about?" demanded Hal, angrily. "Are you a German sympathizer?"

"No, my sympathies are French, " was the reply. 

"Well, if you call this doing your duty, " said Chester, sarcastically, "let's hope you don't have too many duties to perform in the service ofFrance. For if you do, the Germans certainly will win. "

"Well, " said their captor, "I guess I shall have to leave you now. I mustmake my report. "

"Who are you going to report to?" demanded Hal, suddenly, thinking totake the man off his guard. 

The latter only grinned. 

"I'm too old a bird for that trick, " he said, showing that he understoodwhat had been in Hal's mind. "I'm going to report to the proper person. "

"Improper person, I guess you mean, " Chester growled. 

"At any rate, I must report, " said their captor. "Now if you'll promiseto make no outcry while I'm gone, I will not have the gags replaced inyour mouths. Otherwise, I am afraid--"

He closed with a shrug of the shoulders. 

"You put one of those things in my mouth again, and I'll make you eatit--some day, " said Chester. 

"Not for some time to come, I'm afraid, " was the little man's rejoinder. "I believe I can guarantee you will be kept out of mischief for theduration of the war. "

Hal had been gazing at the little man closely. 

"Seems to me, " he said at last, "that I have seen you some place before. There is something familiar about you. "

"You've probably seen me, " was the reply. "I've been around here forsome time. "

Chester was now struck with a sudden thought. 

"Is Matin mixed up in this thing?" he demanded, believing that, afterall, the capture might have been concocted by the French soldier who hadsought to kill Hal. 

"Matin? Who is Matin?" asked their captor. 

Chester explained. 

"No, he has nothing to do with it, " was the reply. 

"Then, in the name of the Great Czar, what's it all about?"

"I can't tell you, " was the firm reply. 

Chester groaned. 

"Of all the fool predicaments, " he said, "this is the worst. "

The little man had now moved toward the door of the tent. 

"I go now, " he said, "to make my report. Pleasant dreams to you. "

"Hold on a minute, " shouted Hal. 

"No; I think I had better go. Good-bye, boys!"

There was such a familiar ring to these words that Hal was struck with agreat light. He uttered a loud exclamation, so loud, in fact, that thelittle man came running back in the tent. 

Even Chester was surprised--but for a moment only--for the words thatescaped Hal were these:

"By all that's holy! If it isn't Stubbs!"

CHAPTER XVIII

STUBBS REFUSES TO EXPLAIN

With two bounds the little man covered the distance to Hal's side andbent over. Quickly he placed a hand across Hal's mouth and whispered:

"Sh-h-h. Not so loud!"

Hal shook his head free--his hands were tied--and exclaimed:

"So! This is the thanks we get from you, eh! Why, you little fat--"

"Names won't help any, " said Anthony Stubbs, quietly. "I've got you hereand, as I told you, here you are going to stay until I arrange for yourtransportation back to the good old town where stands the _Gazette_. "

"New York, eh?" said Chester. "But why, Stubbs, that's what I want toknow. Come on, be a good fellow and tell us what this is all about. "

"If I wasn't so sure you know, I might be tempted to do so, " said Stubbs. "But you do know and there is no need to ask me again. I refuse. "

"But I tell you, Stubbs, we don't know, " declared Hal. "What's gone wrongwith you? Are you in the employ of the Kaiser?"

"Not by a long shot, " was the answer. "That's one reason I want to getyou away from here. I want to see the Kaiser licked properly. "

"You don't mean to insinuate--"

"That you are aiding the Kaiser?" Stubbs broke in. "I guess not. But youknow as well as I do that with you here something is sure to go wrong. Nosir. You've got to go back to the old U. S. A. And you're going to go if itlies in my power to get you there. "

"By Jove!" said Chester, suddenly. "I know the answer. "

"Well, you're a good guesser if you do, " said Hal, dryly. "Let's hearit. "

"Uncle John is the answer, " declared Chester. "In some manner he haslearned we are here; he has come up from Italy and bribed Stubbs to getus sent home. "

"By Jove!" exclaimed Hal. "Is that it, Stubbs?"

Stubbs grinned at them. 

"Come, " he said, "I'm too old to be fooled with such innocence as that. You know what you're here for and that's all there is about it. Now I'mgoing to arrange for your removal. "

"Stubbs, " said Hal, quietly, "I wonder if you could guess what Ithink of you?"

"I'm afraid I could, " returned the little man seriously. "But now let meask you something. Do you remember, not so many nights ago, that I toldyou both that if ever you found me doing something you didn't approve of, I would be doing it for your own good--because I am fond of you? Do youremember that?"

"You bet I remember it, " declared Hal; "and all I've got to say is thatif you call this thing for our own good you're mightily mistaken. If wedon't report to General Petain to-morrow morning we're likely to be courtmartialed. "

"Oh, no, you're not, " said Stubbs. 

"Oh, yes we are. "

"I say you're not. "

"Say, " said Hal, "you talk like you knew something about it. "

"I do, " returned Stubbs. 

"Well, Stubbs, " interposed Chester, "if you are bent on showing yourfondness for us in this manner all right; but I want to say that, for mypart, you can take all your affection and go hang with it. "

"Same here, " growled Hal. 

"I'm sorry you feel that way about it, boys, " said Stubbs, seriously, "but I know that some time you will forgive me. Of course, you areangry now because I have spoiled your plans, but some time you willoverlook it. "

"But where do you come in for all this fairy godfather stuff, Stubbs?"demanded Chester. "What iron have you in the fire? You've got some reasonbesides just trying to keep us out of trouble, now haven't you?"

"Why, yes, I have, " was Stubbs' quiet reply. 

"I thought so. Would you mind telling me what it is?"

"I've already told you. I want to see the Kaiser properly licked. "

Chester was about to make an angry retort; then changed his mind and gavea snort of pure disgust. 

"Stubbs, " said Hal, "I know what it's all about. If I ask you a questionwill you answer it?"

"Depends on the question, " was the reply. "Let's hear it. "

"Well, here it is, and I think it's the answer to the whole thing: Areyou crazy?"

Stubbs gave a snort. 

"Crazy!" he shouted. "No, I'm not crazy! Who says I'm crazy?"

"I do, Stubbs, " declared Hal. 

"And I agree with him, " exclaimed Chester. 

The little war correspondent became suddenly very angry. He stamped upand down the tent muttering to himself. Then he whirled on the lads. 

"You make me tired!" he exclaimed. "Here I've gone and got myself in amess just to keep you two out of trouble and what thanks do I get for it?You say I'm crazy! Why, you ought to bow down and thank me for doing whatI am doing. You both make me sick. "

"Well, we're not going to do any bowing down to you, Stubbs, " said Hal;"but there is one thing I'll promise you. "

"What's that?" demanded Stubbs, eagerly. 

"That, Mr. Stubbs, " said Hal, "is a good first-class thrashing when I gethold of you again. "

"Guess we had better make it two, " declared Chester. "Remember he's gotme here with you, Hal. "

"All right, Chester. We'll make it a double-handed affair. Hearthat, Stubbs?"

Stubbs snapped his fingers at them. 

"You can do what you please when you get free, " he declared. "But I'mgoing to make it a point to see that you don't get free on this side ofthe English Channel. Now, good-night. "

The little man turned, ordered his men out ahead of him and disappearedfrom the tent. 

For some moments Hal and Chester lay silent without a word. Then Halsaid:

"Chester, if you can tell me what's at the bottom of all this, I'll giveyou a million dollars. "

"If you had the million, Hal, you'd lose. "

"You don't mean to tell me--"

"Of course I know. I thought you did by this time. There are two thingsat the bottom of this and they are--two little black peas!"

"Well, by Jove!" said Hal, "and to think I didn't get that through myhead sooner. Then you think these peas--"

"Yes; there is some kind of a conspiracy brewing and Stubbs thinks wehave a hand in it. Whatever it is, he's against it. You remember how heshut up in the middle of his tale that night when he first saw the peasin our possession?"

"By Jove! That's so!"

"Sure; but have you any idea what the conspiracy may be?"

"Not the slightest; but if we can get out of here we'll have a look. Weknow one of the band, I think. "

"You mean?"

"Jules Clemenceau. I don't suppose he ever missed the two peas. Heprobably had more. At the first opportunity we'll display our peas wherehe can see them and then maybe he will say something that will tip us offwhere to look next. "

"Not a bad idea; but he seems to be so young to be mixed up insuch a thing. "

"He's no younger than we are; and we've been mixed up in a whole lotof things. "

"That's so, too. I would like to know, though, what this plot is. I don'tbelieve it has anything to do with treachery. "

"Depends upon what you mean by treachery. I suppose you mean nothing thatwill aid the Germans to defeat us?"

"Exactly; then, too, don't you remember, when Stubbs was telling us aboutthe conspiracy, that he said he had reason to believe there were plottersin the German ranks as well as the British and French?"

"He didn't say it just that way, I think, but I remember what you mean. By Jove! I wonder what it can all be about?"

"Well, it's too deep for me; and unless something happens, I am halfafraid Stubbs may be as good as his word and have us sent back toNew York. "

"By George! We can't stand for that. "

"I should say not. See if you can wiggle your hands loose. "

Hal tried. So did Chester. 

"They did a pretty fair job, if you ask me, " said the latter. 

"I should say they did. However, we'll keep trying. Something may give. Perseverance is a great medicine, you know. "

And they did keep trying; but here was one place where it seemed thatperseverance was about to fail. An hour's tugging at their bonds failedto loosen them to any noticeable degree. 

"I guess it's no use, Chester, " said Hal. 

"I'm not having much luck, either, " was Chester's reply. 

They took a brief rest and then fell to tugging at their bonds again. Butthey had no better luck than before. 

"Well, it's no use, " said Chester at last. "I'm going to sleep. "

Hal was also forced to admit that he was unable to loosen his own bondsand he followed Chester's example and sought repose. 

How long they slept neither knew, but both were awakened by a hand ontheir shoulders. Looking up in the darkness the lads saw a form bendingover them. They could not distinguish the features. 

"Hello!" said Hal, in a whisper. "We have company, Chester. "

"So we have, " was the latter's reply. "Wonder what he wants?"

The figure in the darkness explained his presence in the tent in afew words. 

"Come with me!" he whispered. 

"Can't. We're tied up, " said Hal. 

"I have unloosened your bonds, " said the voice in a whisper. "Come, andmake no noise. "

The lads found that their deliverer had told the truth. They were nolonger bound. They got to their feet and followed him from the tent. Theyhad not recognized the voice that had called them; but as they passedwithout, Hal caught sight of the man's features. 

"Jules Clemenceau!" he exclaimed. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE CONSPIRATORS

Chester, who had been unable to catch a sight of their deliverer's face, was surprised. 

"Great Scott! Jules, " he exclaimed. "You have a knack of turning up inthe nick of time. "

"Sh-h-h!" whispered Jules. "No talk until we get away from here. "

The others obeyed this injunction to keep silence and followed the youngFrenchman without further words. 

Jules approached his own quarters and led the way inside. 

"Make yourselves at home, " he said with a wave of his hand. "In here wemay talk. "

Hal and Chester found seats and then the former asked a question. 

"How did you happen to find us, Jules?"

"I chanced to be near when the stranger showed you his pea, " returnedJules. "I knew that there had been no summons sent out for an immediatemeeting and that something must be wrong. Therefore, I followed you. Having learned where you were held I returned later to release you. That's all. "

"Well, we certainly thank you, " said Chester. "There is no telling whatwould have happened to us. "

"I was never more surprised, " said Jules, "than when I saw you bothexhibit black peas. I had no idea that you were with us. "

"Then you, too, " said Hal, "are--"

"Yes, " Jules interrupted. "I am one of you. I suppose you have receivedthe summons?"

"Summons? What summons?" asked Chester. 

"Why, for the meeting to-night, or, rather, I should say in the morning. "

"No, we have received no summons, " said Hal. 

"Then it is twice good that I arrived, " said Jules. "You shallaccompany me. "

"And where is the rendezvous?" asked Chester. 

"I'll show you, " said Jules. He drew his watch from his pocket andglanced at it in the semi-light of the tent. "Twelve fifteen, " he said. "We have forty-five minutes still, but it will do no harm if we are a fewminutes early. Come. "

He picked up his cap from the cot where he had thrown it and led the wayfrom the tent. Hal and Chester followed without a word. The same thoughtwas in the mind of each. At last they would be able to learn the natureof the conspiracy which, although they knew nothing of it, had causedthem so much trouble. 

After a walk of perhaps twenty minutes, in which time they had not beenchallenged, Jules pulled up before a tent somewhat larger than the rest. 

"General Pombrey's quarters, " he said, "and for that reasoncomparatively safe. "

"You mean that the general is one of us?" demanded Hal in nolittle surprise. 

"Yes, " said Jules, briefly. 

Chester gave a low whistle. Evidently this conspiracy, whatever it mightbe, was more widespread than he had imagined. 

Jules entered the tent and the two lads followed him. 

Inside a large number of men already had assembled. Apparently, theiranticipation had been so great that they had been unable to control theirimpatience until nearer the appointed hour. The lads were impressed withone peculiar feature. Unlike most plotters--and Hal and Chester alreadyhad come into contact with many--these men wore no masks. Apparently, they were not afraid of their identities being known by their fellowconspirators. 

There were no remarks when Jules and Hal and Chester entered the tent. The former led the way to the far side and there stood quietly in thehalf light. Hal and Chester took their places beside him. 

As time passed other men appeared in the tent and Hal and Chester weresurprised to see that some were officers of high rank; but neither ladsaid anything aloud. 

Came the voice of a sentry without:

"One o'clock and all's well!"

A moment later the apathy that had gripped the interior of the tent wherethe conspirators were assembled disappeared. General Pombrey addressedthe others. 

"I am glad to see so many of you here to-night, " he said earnestly. "Inote several new faces amongst us and I am pleased to know that othersare joining this great movement every day. It shows that even in themidst of this warlike camp the spirit of peace has not died. "

His words were greeted with a murmur of approval, though no man spoke. 

The general continued:

"Now, I have to inform you that the crisis is near. I have had word fromthe enemy's lines that the spirit of peace there has grown. It wouldappear that we are on the eve of success. Another battle or two--a fewthousand more lives lost--and this great war may end. When the spirit ofpeace has overcome the spirit of war in the ranks, then will the war end. I have called you together to-night to instruct you to sound even deeperthan you have done the sentiment of the men who stand by your side. Thetime to stop this war is almost at hand. "

Again there was a murmur of approval as the general became silent. Hegazed upon the faces about him a few moments in silence, and thenspoke again:

"I need not caution you to silence. A false move and all would be lost. But if we can command 10, 000 more men when the crisis arrives, men who, like the rest of us, will refuse to fight more when the word is given, weshall be strong enough; and if I told you how many already are pledgedyou could scarcely believe me. Now here, " the general exposed to view alarge box, "I have many more of the little peas that are our bond ofmembership. I want each of you to take as many as you please; and passthem around when you have convinced yourselves the men you approach areacting in good faith. "

One after another the men in the tent stepped forward and dipped a handinto the box of peas and put the little round pellets into their ownpockets. Then the general signified that he had yet a few remarks tomake. The men stood about respectfully as he addressed them. 

"Men, " he said, "there may be some among you who question the justice ofthis move. To those I say that we are engaged in a great effort. Toprevent further war and bloodshed among ourselves and our enemies is agreat duty; for nothing can possibly be gained by the loss of millions oflives and the destruction of billions of dollars worth of property. However, if there are any among you who would draw out of this movement, I would ask that you do so now. "

The general paused and looked keenly at the faces about him. Noman spoke. 

"Good, " said the general, "then I know you are with me. "

"And the time? When will the time come?" asked one man in the crowd. 

"That I cannot say, " responded the general, quietly. "But I can assureyou that it will be before long. You will all be notified by themessengers, that you may be ready. Now are there any other questions?"

"If we fail, then what?" asked another man. 

General Pombrey shrugged his shoulders. 

"Probably court martial and a firing squad, " he said indifferently. "Butyou will have died in a glorious cause, whereas now--"

A glimpse of happiness stole over the general's face. To Hal and Chesterit meant but one thing. General Pombrey was a fanatic; and the men whohad come under his spell were fanatics. In that instant Hal and Chesterboth realized that this matter must be brought to General Petainimmediately. 

After some few other words, General Pombrey signified that the meetingwas over, and the men filed from the tent singly and in pairs, discussingthe matter in low tones. 

Outside Hal and Chester were accosted again by Jules Clemenceau. 

"And what do you think of General Pombrey?" asked the young Frenchman, his face shining. 

For a moment Hal considered what was best to say. Should he try andconvince Jules that his present course was wrong; that there was to beconsidered the honor of his country rather than the opinion of GeneralPombrey? The lad decided on the side of caution. 

"A good man, " he replied quietly. "A man who will face a firing squadwithout a tremor, secure in the belief he is dying for a good cause. "

"And do you not think the cause good, and just?" demanded Jules, anxiously. 

"If not, why should I be the bearer of a pocket-full of black peas?" wasHal's reply. 

Jules, apparently, was satisfied. 

Alone in their own quarters later Hal and Chester discussed the situationseriously. 

"To tell the truth, " said Chester, "I am half inclined to agree withGeneral Pombrey. But if for no other reason, there is one thing thatwould make me reveal this plot to General Petain. "

"And that?" asked Hal. 

"That, " said Chester, "is the fact that General Pombrey and the othersengaged in this conspiracy are lacking upon the German troops to throwdown their arms and refuse to fight at the same moment the French andBritish do. "

"Well?" asked Hal, but he was beginning to catch Chester's drift. 

"Well, " said Chester, "you and I know the Germans won't do that. It's aten to one bet that the German general staff knows all about thisconspiracy. The peace talk has been carried from one army to the other bythe prisoners. The Germans will take advantage of it. Should the Frenchreally follow General Pombrey's plan, they would be slaughtered by thethousands. The Germans could not keep faith. You know that. "

"Yes, I know it, " said Hal with a nod of his head. "They have neverkept faith in this war, save in individual cases. It doesn't seem tobe in them. "

"Exactly, " agreed Chester. "Then, if for no other reason than to savethese deluded French and British soldiers, the matter must be brought tothe attention of General Petain, that he may act promptly and not onlysave them, but the whole army of France; and the cause of the Allies. "

"Good!" Hal agreed. "Then we shall see that it's brought to hisattention. "

"The first thing in the morning, " said Chester. 

"Right you are, Chester. The first thing in the morning. "

CHAPTER XX

UNDER ARREST

It was morning. Hal and Chester, refreshed by a good night's rest, hadjust completed their toilets and were about to repair to the quarters ofGeneral Petain, there to report for the day's duty and also to inform theFrench commander of what they had learned the night before. But, as ittranspired, their good intentions were to go for naught and they were tobe ushered into the presence of General Petain in a manner that neitherwould have believed possible. 

Came the sound of many footsteps approaching without. They stopped beforethe boys' tent. A French officer thrust his head in the entrance. 

"Lieutenant Crawford! Lieutenant Paine!" he said sharply. 

"Sir!" exclaimed both lads in a single breath. 

They stepped from the tent. 

"You are under arrest!" were the French officer's next words. 

Hal and Chester stepped back in complete bewilderment. 

"Wha--what's that, sir?" asked Hal, believing that he could not haveheard aright. 

"You are under arrest, " was the sharp reply. "I am ordered to conduct youbefore General Petain at once. "

Both lads had recovered themselves by this time; they stepped forwardcoolly enough, in spite of the fact that their hearts were flutteringstrangely. 

"The general might have spared himself the trouble of sending for us, "said Hal, quietly. "Even now we were about to report to him. "

The French officer said nothing. He motioned to the file of soldiers whomhe commanded and Hal and Chester stepped in between the men. 

"One moment, " said the French soldier. 

He approached the lads. 

"I must ask for your swords and revolvers, " he said. 

Without a word the lads surrendered their weapons. 

"Good!" said the French officer. Then to his men: "Forward, march!"

And in this manner Hal and Chester came before the French commander atVerdun. The latter was busy with a pile of papers when they entered hisquarters and did not look up immediately. For perhaps fifteen minutes thelads stood there, firmly erect, their eyes upon the general. 

Suddenly General Petain wheeled about. 

"Leave these men with me, " he instructed the French officer whohad escorted the lads to his tent; "but attend me outside withincall, Captain. "

The French officer saluted and withdrew. 

General Petain gazed frowningly at Hal and Chester for perhaps a fullminute. The lads returned his look without flinching, though there wasnothing that might be construed as defiance in their manner; rather, nothing but respectful attention. 

"So!" said General Petain at last. "So! I find you two lads, whom I havetrusted, among a band of conspirators, eh?"

"Among them, sir, " said Hal, quietly, "but not of them. "

"What's that?" demanded the general. "You admit you were with them andthen claim innocence? Impossible!"

"I beg your pardon, sir, " said Hal, "but it is not impossible. It isthe truth. "

"But I have it on high authority, " returned the general, "that you havebeen the possessors of the emblem of the conspirators for some days now. "

"That is true enough, sir, " Hal agreed; "but we came into the possessionof those black peas accidentally and with no thought of theirsignificance. "

The general sniffed contemptuously. 

"My information regarding you boys comes from a source that I am afraid Imust believe, " he said. 

"Will you tell us the source, sir?" asked Hal. 

General Petain shook his head. 

"It would do no good, " he returned. "It would not alter the facts in thecase. Now, I know you boys have been of great value to the cause of theAllies. My informant is authority for that statement also. You haveaccomplished much and France and the other allied countries must thankyou. But it appears now that you have been led from the proper way ofthinking; and my informant in your case says, and rightly, that fromyoung men who have done much to advance the cause of the Allies, there ismuch to be feared when they embark upon some other venture. 

"You are both resourceful; I know that. That is the reason that I havehad you placed under arrest--that you may not turn your energies againstus. I shall have you sent to Paris, thence to London, and I hope thatbefore long you will be back in your own country, the United States. "

"Pardon me, sir, " said Hal, respectfully, "but I do not need to ask youagain to name the man who has caused us to be in this predicament. Hisname is Stubbs. "

"Well, I see no need to deny it, " said General Petain. 

"General, " said Chester, now stepping forward, "I would be glad if youwould give me an opportunity to explain this matter. "

"It shall not be said that I denied any man a hearing, " was the general'sreply. "Proceed. "

As briefly as possible Chester recounted the manner in which they hadcome into possession of the two peas; of why they decided to keep them;of their capture the night before by Anthony Stubbs and of their escape;and last, of their attendance at the meeting of the conspirators, where, for the first time, they learned the true significance of the littleblack peas. 

As Chester proceeded with his story the general listened attentively. When Chester spoke of being captured by Stubbs, the general smiledquietly, and Hal, noting the smile, guessed rightly that General Petainhad had a hand in the capture himself--or rather, that he at least hadsanctioned it; and when Chester spoke of the meeting of the conspiratorsand mentioned the name of General Pombrey, General Petain frowned. 

"So, " he said when Chester had concluded, "General Pombrey is mixed up inthis thing, eh?"

"He seems to be the leader of the movement, sir, " replied Chester. "Ishould say that he is without doubt the directing hand. "

"And what do you hope to gain by telling me all this?" asked GeneralPetain, eyeing the lad shrewdly. 

"I hope to see the conspiracy crushed, sir, before it gains furthermomentum, " was Chester's reply. 

General Petain eyed the lad peculiarly. 

"Can it be that I have been misinformed?" he muttered to himself. 

Hal's keen ears caught the words. 

"I can assure you that you have been misinformed, sir, " he repliedfirmly. 

For several moments more the general eyed the lads sternly and theyreturned his gaze without flinching. Suddenly the general clapped hishands together. The French officer who had arrested the two lads enteredhe tent and saluted. 

"Captain, " said General Petain. "my compliments to Mr. Anthony Stubbs andsay that I desire his presence here at once. "

The French officer saluted and took his departure. 

The hearts of the two lads beat high now. Apparently General Petain hadbeen convinced of the truth of their stories. They believed that whenStubbs confronted them he would weaken. 

"I don't know what to think about this matter, " said General Petain asthey waited for Stubbs' arrival. "I am loath to believe you would bemixed up in anything of this nature. "

"How did Mr. Stubbs happen to mention us as being implicated in thisconspiracy, sir?" asked Chester. 

"He said he wanted to see you get home safely and not be mixed up inanything that might mean a firing squad, " said General Petain, calmly. "Ipromised him your safe return to America for his news of the conspiracy. "

"I see, " said Chester. 

At this moment Stubbs was announced. General Petain looked at himsharply. 

"These officers, " he said, indicating Hal and Chester with a wave of hishand, "deny the charges you have made against them, sir. "

"Surely, you didn't expect them to admit it, sir?" questionedStubbs, shifting from one foot to another, as Hal and Chester benttheir gaze on him. 

"Well, no, I didn't, " was General Petain's reply, "but they tell such astraightforward story that I am of the opinion you must be mistaken as totheir part in this conspiracy. "

"But the peas, " said Stubbs. "They had them. "

"Well, somebody might have slipped one into your pocket, as far as thatgoes, " said General Petain; "and then you might be standing here undersuspicion. "

"Tha--that's so, too, " Stubbs stammered. "I hadn't thought of that. "

"Well, you should have thought of it, " exclaimed General Petain. "It's no small thing to cast suspicion upon a man and then be able toprove nothing. "

"But the peas--"

"Never mind about the peas, " stormed the general. "By any chance, whenyou had these officers in your tent last night, did they admit connectionwith the plot?"

"No, sir; they professed ignorance. But they had the peas--"

"_Mon Dieu_! Can't you think of anything but peas? What kind of a warcorrespondent are you, anyhow?"

Stubbs was offended. He drew himself up and would have made reply, butGeneral Petain silenced him with a gesture. 

"I don't question your loyalty, " he said, "and I know that you acted withthe good of these lads at heart. But I am convinced you have beenmistaken. I am going to release these boys. Lieutenant Paine! LieutenantCrawford! you are--"

"Sir!" exclaimed Stubbs at this juncture. 

The general eyed him closely. 

"Well?" he demanded. 

"Please, General, do not let them go until I have a few moments' start. Idon't know what they will do to me. " Stubbs looked nervous. 

"Very well, " said General Petain with a smile. "Then hurry and take yourdeparture, Mr. Stubbs. "

Stubbs needed no urging and he disappeared from the general's tent withagility; and Hal called after him:

"Better hunt a hole, Mr. Stubbs; we'll be on your trail in a fewminutes!"

CHAPTER XXI

THE TURNING OF THE TIDE

In the days immediately following their interview with General Petain, the lads saw much fighting; and with the close of each day there camebitterness to them, to the French troops, their officers and to thepeople of France and of all the allied nations. 

For the armies of the German Crown Prince continued to advance steadilyin spite of the heroic resistance of the French; and it began to appearthat the "Gateway to France" must ere long fall into alien hands. 

Day after day the Germans hurled themselves forward in herculean effortsto break the French lines; and most every day found them fighting alittle nearer to Verdun. In vain the French attempted to stem theonslaught of the invading forces; the Germans were not to be denied. 

On the days when the fiercest of the German assaults were made, it waslearned that the Emperor of Germany had directed the assaults in person. From the top of a small hill, surrounded by his staff, the Kaiser lookeddown upon the battlefield for days at a time, showing no signs of emotionas his countrymen fell right and left, that the German flag might beplanted a few yards--sometimes only a few feet--farther westward. 

While the German losses were something terrible in this continuousfighting, the French suffered untold hardships. The effect of the greatGerman shells, which fell within the French lines almost incessantly, wastremendous. It did not seem that flesh and blood could survive theirdeadly effect--and yet the French fought back gamely. 

At last the Germans reached a point only three miles and a half from thecity of Verdun itself. 

Then began the fiercest of the fighting. 

After having been pushed back many miles by the German hordes, the Frenchnow braced suddenly and gave as good as they received. Instead of waitingfor the German attacks, General Petain launched offensives of his own. Atfirst these broke down easily under the German shells, but as theycontinued, the drives began to meet with more and more success. It becameapparent that at this point the advantage usually rested with theattacking party. 

Battles--or what would have been called battles in any other war ofhistory, but now, in the official reports were merely referred to asskirmishes--raged for hours at a stretch, some of the most importantcontinuing for days, first with advantage to one side and then tothe other. 

In vain the German Crown Prince hurled his men forward to pierce theFrench lines that now separated him from Verdun, less than fourmiles away. 

While the German guns still continued to shell the city and thefortifications, there was little they could accomplish now. All walls andhouses in the path of the great guns had crumbled under their terriblefire days ago; there was nothing left to destroy, except at intervalswhere a small fort still stood and breathed defiance to the enemy. 

But the German guns served one purpose. They afforded protection for theinfantry as it advanced to the attack. Only when the Germans advancedclose enough to come to hand grips with the French did the big gunsbecome silent. 

But now came the turning of the tide. 

From far back the French threw out reinforcements to the hard pressed menin front. Huge new field guns were brought up. Great masses ofammunition, which the French had been storing up for just such a chance, were rushed to the front. Soon the French guns were speaking as loudlyand as often as the great German 42-centimetres themselves. 

The first work of the new French offensive was to clear the Germans fromDead Man's Hill, Hill No. 320 and Hill No. 304. These battles, among thefiercest of all history, however, were really little more thanskirmishes, when the entire movement was taken into consideration. Terrible though they were, after all they were nothing more than smallparts of the great battle of Verdun itself. 

From Dead Man's Hill and the other two elevations captured by the French, the Germans now were pushed clear back to the banks of the river Meuse;and then they were driven beyond. Thiaumont farm, where Hal and Chesterhad seen hard fighting, came once more beneath the French tricolor; andthe German eagle went back farther still. 

There was little or no rest for the men in the trenches on either side. Out would rush the Germans from their trenches in a grand attack upon thetrenches of the French. Hand-to-hand fighting would ensue. Perhaps theGermans would be driven back. If they were they would make a new effortan hour or so later. 

Perhaps the French would give way and the Germans would occupy thetrenches. A short time later the French would re-form under the veryrifles of the enemy, and, by a grand charge, oust the Germans from theirnewly won positions. Then came the work of concentrating and fortifyingthe trenches all over again. 

It was terrible work, these days before Verdun. 

Hal and Chester played no small part in the advance of the French army. More than once they were despatched upon important missions; and theirfortune had been of the best. Not once had they failed to accomplish apiece of work entrusted to them. General Petain began to look upon themas among his best men. Many a piece of work that, a month before, hewould have entrusted to an older head now fell to the lot of either Halor Chester; and the boys did not complain. In fact, the more they had todo the better they liked it. 

Nor, for the matter of that, was there complaint from any of the men inthe French army, officers or men. They stood to their work bravely andnever flinched under fire. Nor did they protest when they were forced togo for long hours without sleep, other than that they could catch betweenthe battles that raged almost incessantly and seemed to be nothing lessthan one continuous struggle. 

Now came the day when the Germans had been pushed far east of theMeuse. For the moment the French, flushed with victory, paused for abreathing spell. It had been work well done, in the days that had justpassed, and men and officers alike realized it. Preparing their linesagainst attacks, under the command of General Petain, the French pausedfor breath. 

The German Crown Prince, realizing the cause of this lull by the French, thought to take advantage of the foe, and launched assault after assault;but, tired out as the French were, there was still energy and courageenough among them to resist successfully the fierce charges of the foe. 

And after awhile the Crown Prince gave up these attacks, realizing thathe could not hope, at that moment, to penetrate the French positions, and, for once, doing away with the needless sacrifice of men. 

Upon an afternoon when the battle of Verdun was a little more than threemonths old, Hal and Chester were summoned to the quarters of GeneralPetain. They went eagerly, for they realized that there was importantwork ahead. 

"Boys, " said General Petain, for thus he had come to address them whenalone, after the official salutes had been returned, "I have here a pieceof work, that, because of the danger attached, I hesitate to select aman, or men, to perform. "

Hal and Chester both smiled. 

"And you want to give us the first chance at it, sir?" said Hal. 

"Yes; I know that if you accept the mission it is more certain of successthan if I entrusted it to other hands. "

"We shall be glad of the chance, sir, " said Chester, quietly. 

General Petain clapped his hands in satisfaction. 

"I knew it, " he said, "and yet I did not like to order you to perform it. You boys are true blue. "

Both lads flushed with pleasure at this remark, but they made noreply. They stood quietly waiting until the general should tell themwhat was required. 

"Boys, " said the general, "it is absolutely essential to the success ofthis campaign that I have a more accurate knowledge of the enemy's linesand strength. My aviators have been sent in search of such information, but they have met with little success. The only man who got close enoughto learn what I am after, according to others who followed him, was shotdown. He failed to return. What he learned, of course, I do not know. But it is that which I must know. Do you think you can gain thisinformation for me?"

"We can at least have a try at it, " said Chester, with a smile. 

"We'll get it if it is humanly possible, " agreed Hal. 

"I am more confident of success than I would be if the mission were inother hands, " said General Petain, quietly. 

"And when do you wish us to start, sir?" asked Hal. 

"Immediately, " was the reply, "though I believe it would be better towait until dark. "

"And you would suggest an aeroplane?" asked Hal. 

"I leave the means to you, " returned the general. "I'll give you awritten order that will put anything in the French lines at yourdisposal, aeroplane, automobile or horses. You may take your choice. "

The general turned to his desk and scribbled on a piece of paper. To whathe had written he affixed his signature and then passed the paper to Hal. 

"I have no further instructions, " he said. "But, be as quick as you can, and be careful. "

He arose and extended a hand to each lad. He had come to be very fond ofthem, and he patted each on the back affectionately. 

"May good fortune attend you, " he said quietly. 

The lads drew themselves up, saluted and left the tent. The generalstepped to the door and gazed after them. 

"Good boys, those, " he said quietly to himself. "May they return safely!"

CHAPTER XXII

THE PARTY IS INCREASED

"I guess an aeroplane is the best way after all, " said Hal, when theywere back in their own quarters. 

"Sure, " Chester agreed. "It's swifter, and if we have any luck at all, it's a pretty good contraption to get away in after we have gained ourinformation. Now about clothes. Shall we keep on these uniforms?"

"What would you suggest?"

"Well, I don't know. Thought maybe we would take some Germanclothes along. "

"Might not be a bad idea, though we won't put them on unless we have to. I don't want to be shot as a spy if I can help it. "

"Nor I. Don't suppose there would be any use in taking civiliancostumes?"

"I don't know. Guess it wouldn't do any harm, though. The more clothesthe better. We may need a change of costume most any time. "

"All right. We'll load up, if we can find what we want. "

"I guess there won't be any trouble about that. "

The lad was right. Soon they had a large army plane at their disposal andhad stocked it with all they thought they would need in the way ofclothing and food. Then they returned to their own quarters. Hal glancedat his watch. 

"Only five o'clock, " he said. "We've a good three hours yet. Wedon't want to go up until well after dark. Let's go out and have alook around. "

Chester was agreeable and they made their way from the tent. They hadwalked about for probably an hour, when suddenly Hal took Chester by thecoat sleeve. 

"Look there!" he exclaimed. 

Chester looked; and there, perhaps fifty yards away, was Anthony Stubbs, slinking along, now and then casting an eye at Hal and Chester. 

"He's seen us, " said Chester. "Let's have a little talk with him. Maybewe can have some fun. "

It was the first time they had seen the little war correspondent sincethe talk in General Petain's tent more than two months before. 

"Come on, then, " said Hal. 

They increased their stride; but Stubbs, with a quick glance over hisshoulder, observed this and also increased his pace. 

"He doesn't want to see us, Hal, " said Chester, with a grin. 

"I see he doesn't, " Hal grinned back. "Well, we want to see him. " Heraised his voice in a shout "Hey, there, Stubbs!"

The little man glanced quickly back over his shoulder. Then, seeing thatHal and Chester were gaining on him, he broke into a run. 

"After him, Hal!" cried Chester, and also broke into a run. 

Hal followed suit. 

Around turn after turn they darted after the little man, who was makingthe best time his short legs would permit. At a word from Hal, Chesterslowed down, for they didn't want to catch Stubbs too easily. 

"Let him run himself out, " Hal said. 

And that was what the little man was doing. His tongue was literallyhanging out as Hal and Chester continued to gain slowly. He was puffinglike a locomotive and his arms were working like pistons. Once or twicehe staggered and it seemed to him that he could not run another step. Buthe set his teeth and plodded on. 

"I've got to get away, " he told himself. "There is no knowing what theseyoung ruffians will do to me. "

In vain he tried to increase his pace. It could not be done. Every stepcost him an effort and it seemed that he could not take another. Hewaddled crazily from one side to the other; and at last he came to astop, and with what strength remained, he faced his pursuers and threw uphis hands in an attitude of defense. 

At arm's length, Hal and Chester came to a pause. 

"So we have you at last, eh!" said the former. 

"You--you keep a-away from me, " gasped Stubbs, panting for breath. "Idon't want to have any tro--trouble with you. "

"Perhaps not, Mr. Stubbs, " said Chester, "but we want to have a littletrouble with you. "

"Let me a-alone, " gasped Stubbs. 

Hal moved a step closer. 

"Remember what you did to us?" he asked. 

Stubbs stepped backward quickly. 

"Don't you come any closer, " he gasped. "Let me alone. "

"Had us tied up, didn't you, Stubbs?" demanded Chester. 

"Yes; but it was for your own good!" Stubbs had regained his wind now. 

"For our own good, eh? Well, we have come after you for your own good. "

"What have you got to say for yourself, Stubbs?" demanded Hal. 

"Nothing, " snapped the little man angrily, "except that I want to be letalone. You hoodwinked the general, all right, but you can't hoodwink me. Now go on away from here. "

Again Chester stepped forward, and this time the lad was treated to anunpleasant surprise. Instead of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly loweredhis head and charged Chester. 

Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out of the way and the topof Stubbs' head rammed him squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled upand fell to the ground with a cry of pain. 

Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he had taken half a dozensteps, Hal had reached him and taken him by the arm. In vain the littleman struggled to shake off the lad's grasp. 

"Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the predicament in which Chesterfound himself, "what's the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all ofa sudden? Getting to be a regular fighter, aren't you?"

"Well, he was just about to swat me, " declared Stubbs. 

Chester had now picked himself up and advanced upon Stubbs, threateningly. 

"Say!" he exclaimed; "what do you mean by using your head as a batteringram on me?"

"I told you to keep away, " returned Stubbs. 

"I know you did; but that's no sign you should try to kill me. I wasn'tgoing to hurt you. "

"Maybe not, " said Stubbs, "but I wasn't going to take any more chances. Now you keep away from me. "

"Oh, Chester won't hurt you, " said Hal, with a laugh. "You treated himjust right, Stubbs. He's got no kick coming. "

"No, that's right, Stubbs, " said Chester, with a grin. "No hard feelings, I'm sure. You're all right. Put her there. "

The lad extended a hand. Stubbs advanced doubtfully, but at last graspedChester's hand. 

Immediately he began to dance about wildly, shouting:

"Leggo! Leggo my hand! Ouch!"

At last Chester relaxed his grip. 

"That makes it square all around, Stubbs, " he said with a grin. 

For a moment Stubbs gazed at him angrily, the while he worked his fingersback and fro to chase away the stiffness. Then he smiled. 

"All right, " he said. "Now we're square. "

"Where you bound, Stubbs?" asked Hal. 

"Hunting news, " returned Stubbs. 

"By Jove!" said Chester. "Why not take him along with us, Hal?"

"Suits me, " was Hal's answer, "if he wants to go. "

"Where you going?" demanded Stubbs. 

"Sailing, " returned Chester. "Sailing over the German lines. Want togo along?"

"Not me, " said Stubbs, briefly. 

"Come now, Stubbs, don't be afraid. Nothing is going to hurt you, and wemight need you. "

"That's what I thought, " said Stubbs. "I knew there was some reason youwanted me to go along. I knew you didn't just want to take me along toshow me the sights. Want me to stand in the gap when the trouble comesup. I know you. "

"I assure you I had no such thoughts. "

"Well, maybe you didn't have them, but that is what would happen allthe same. "

"Stubbs, " said Hal, quietly. "It's my belief that you're afraid. "

"Hal, " said Stubbs, "you can bet your life I'm afraid to go up in the airwith you two. "

"Come on, Stubbs, " said Chester, seriously. "Honestly, we would be gladof your company. We haven't seen much of you for some time. "

"I know you haven't, " returned Stubbs, "and that's why my healthhappens to be so good right now. But what are you going to do over theGerman lines?"

"Get the lay of the land, " said Hal. "Find out the German strength and afew other things, if possible. "

"Hm-m-m, " muttered Stubbs. "Ought to be some news for the _Gazette_ overthere, don't you think?"

"Lots of it, Stubbs, " replied Chester. 

"The only trouble, " said Stubbs, "is that if I go after it, will I beable to come back and tell the _Gazette_ about it?"

"If you don't mind, Mr. Stubbs, " said Hal, "one of us will take it uponhimself to see that the _Gazette_ gets the news. "

"After my job, are you?" said Stubbs, with a smile. 

"Well, not exactly. We just offered to help you out. "

"I can't see where that would do me any good. However, I guess I'll takeyou up on this bet. I might be able to learn something of importance. Thenext thing would be to get it by the censor. "

"Why, Stubbs, " said Chester, "with your pull with General Petain, I can'tsee that you should have any trouble. "

"My pull, eh?" said Stubbs, with rather a sickly grin. "You two went andsmashed my pull all to smithereens. "

"Oh, well, " said Hal, "a newspaper man always finds a way. "

Stubbs looked at Hal, suspiciously. 

"If you're making fun of me--" he began. 

"Far from it, Mr. Stubbs, " replied Hal. "I was just stating a fact. Why, you've told us that yourself. "

"Come, come, Stubbs, " said Chester. "Are you going along or not? It'stime to be moving. "

The little war correspondent made his decision. 

"I'll go, " he said quietly. 

CHAPTER XXIII

FLYING

"You know I don't think much of these contraptions, " said Stubbs. 

With Hal and Chester he was flying aloft in a large army biplane. Thelittle war correspondent had climbed into the machine with the sametrepidation he always manifested when about to ascend into the air, buthe had not spoken until the machine was a full half mile aloft and Halhad sent it moving swiftly toward the distant German lines. 

"Just sit tight and you will be all right, " Chester replied. 

"Never fear, I'll sit tight, " returned Stubbs and became silent. 

It was very dark aloft. Because he feared he might encounter an air craftof the enemy, Hal had not turned on the searchlight with which themachine was equipped. He had taken his bearings before making a start andwas now trusting to his judgment of distances to guide him to the spot hehad selected to return to the ground. 

This point, which Hal and Chester had decided upon after somedeliberation, was well behind the most advanced German lines. Accordingto Hal's calculations, it was possible that at the place selected therewould be few German troops. He had figured to descend between the Germanlines. Under the cover of darkness he felt there was little to fearshould they avoid all enemy aircraft. 

Accordingly, it was about an hour later when Hal reduced the speed of thebiplane and then shut off the motor altogether. A moment later themachine began to glide slowly to earth. 

Chester, peering over the side of the aeroplane, was the first to see theground below. 

"Land below!" he called to Hal. 

"Anything in sight?" asked Hal. 

"Not a thing. Coast seems to be perfectly clear. Trees near, too; so wecan hide the plane, if you go almost straight down. "

Hal followed directions and a moment later the biplane came to rest uponthe ground as lightly as a bird. 

Hal, Chester and Stubbs climbed out quickly. 

"Guess we had better run the machine back among the trees, " said Hal. "Lend me a hand here. "

It was the work of but a few moments. Hal walked some distance away andsurveyed the spot where the machine had been rolled. He walked around iton all sides. 

"O. K. , " he said. "You wouldn't know it was there unless you happened tobe looking for it. "

"Well, what now?" asked Chester. 

"Guess we had better don those German uniforms and prowl about a bit. "

"Snoop, eh, " said Stubbs. 

"Now look here, Stubbs, " said Hal, "you just keep quiet and get into thisuniform we brought along for you. "

Mumbling to himself, Stubbs obeyed. 

Arrayed in the German uniforms--the attire of lieutenants--the threeadvanced toward where they felt sure the main German entrenchments mustbe. Hal glanced at his watch in the moonlight. 

"Ten o'clock, " he said. "Within three hours we should have learned all weneed to. As soon as we reach the German lines we shall separate. We'llmeet here again at two o'clock. Is that satisfactory?"

"Suits me, " said Chester. 

"Want to lose me, do you?" grumbled Stubbs. "Never mind, though. I'll behere by the time you are. "

"Pick up every scrap of information possible, " Hal enjoined hiscompanions. "Don't take the trouble to write it down. Just impress it onyour memory. "

The others nodded their understanding. 

The three came now upon a light in the distance. 

"Germans ahead, I guess, " Chester whispered. "Careful and let all furtherconversation be in German. "

The lad was right. Advancing two hundred yards farther, the three friendscame upon the outlying sections of the big German camp. Sentinels movedabout in the darkness, their forms lighted up now and then by the flareof campfires--for the night was very cold. 

Once they were challenged by a sentry, but when the man looked at theiruniforms in the moonlight, he lowered his rifle and passed on. 

"I'll go straight ahead, " said Chester in a low voice. "Hal, you go northand let Stubbs go south. "

And thus it was arranged without further talk. The three friendsseparated. 

Walking between the rows of German tents, Chester, after perhaps half anhour, was arrested by the sound of voices in a tent that seemed, in thedarkness, to be much larger than the ones which surrounded it. He pausedand listened attentively. 

"Then everything is in readiness, " came a voice. 

"Everything. When the French see that we have weakened our lines on theleft wing, they naturally will press forward in masses. The pressure onthe right wing probably will be lessened. Also in the center. GeneralPetain, in all probabilities, will seek to take advantage of what he willbelieve is our carelessness. "

"And then?" asked the first voice. 

"Why, then we shall push forward in the center and on the right, leaving enough men on the left to make a show of force. Taken at adisadvantage, the French will be cut off on our left, and our center, sweeping around, suddenly, will envelop them. As I estimate it, theFrench wing, which will be thus enveloped, will be 100, 000 strong. Itwill be a telling blow. "

Chester, while this conversation was in progress, had shrunk close upagainst the tent. Now, thinking to gain a view of the occupants, hedrew his knife from his pocket and made a little slit in the canvas. To this opening he applied his eye; and then gave an exclamation underhis breath. 

In the center of the group of officers in the tent was none other thanthe German Crown Prince, the directing head of the German attack onVerdun, and son of the Emperor himself. 

The conversation continued and the lad stored up mentally the knowledgehe gained by listening to the conversation. 

The gathering within now seemed about to break up; but Chester delayed inhis precarious position, thinking to gather every possible iota ofinformation. And this almost proved his undoing. 

Although Chester did not know it, one of the German officers had, forsome moments, been gazing at the little slit in the tent made by thepoint of Chester's knife. Now, with a murmured apology to the otherofficers, he strode from the tent. Chester still had his eyes glued tothe opening and did not hear soft footsteps behind him. 

A harsh voice sounded in the lad's ear. 

"Get up from there!"

Chester did not lose his nerve, although he realized immediately that hewas in a ticklish position, indeed. His hand reached for his pocket as herose slowly to his feet. 

But one glance at the figure that confronted him told the lad that itwould be useless for him to attempt to draw his revolver; for theGerman held a pistol in a steady hand and it was levelled straight atChester's head. 

"What are you doing here?" was the officer's next question. 

"Why, I heard voices, " said Chester, "and I thought I would see what wasgoing on. "

"Curiosity has got a man into trouble many a time, " said the Germanquietly. "March on ahead of me. "

There was nothing for it but to obey. Under the muzzle of the Germanofficer's revolver, Chester was marched around to the front of the tentand then inside. 

"Hello!" It was the Crown Prince who spoke. "What have we here?"

"I caught this man eavesdropping outside the tent, " replied the man whohad captured Chester. 

"So!" said the Crown Prince in an angry tone. He whirled upon Chester. "And what were you doing there, sir?" he asked. 

"I--why, I--" Chester stammered. 

The lad was thankful in that minute for his German uniform; though heknew it probably would go hard with him anyhow, he believed that the factthat he was, ostensibly, a German lieutenant would give him more time;possibly it would give Hal enough time to find and rescue him. At least, it would preclude a search for more possible French spies. 

"To what regiment are you attached?" asked the Crown Prince. 

Chester took a long chance. 

"Fortieth Hussars, sir, " he replied quietly. 

"Then what are you doing here?" demanded the Crown Prince, but continuedwithout giving Chester time to reply: "Surely you know the penalty ofsuch actions?"

"All I can say, sir, " the lad declared, "is that my curiosityovercame me. "

For a moment it seemed that the face of the Crown Prince softened. Thenit became stern again. 

"I can see that you are little more than a boy, " he said, "but that is noexcuse. You are a soldier and you know a soldier's duty. That is notprying into the business of your superiors. " He turned to the group ofofficers. "What do you say, sirs, " he said, "shall I have this man courtmartialed, or shall I have him returned to his regiment with a warning?"

But there was no mercy on the faces of the others and Chesterrealized it. 

"He should be court martialed and shot, " said one. 

"I agree with you, " said another. 

"I'm not so sure, " said the Crown Prince. "The lad is young. How do Iknow what I would have done in his place? No; I am tempted to have himreturned to his regiment and placed under arrest indefinitely. "

"Lieutenant Hollsein, I shall leave this man in your charge. See that heis returned to his regiment immediately. "

Chester breathed a sigh of relief. He realized that he was still in aperilous situation, for when he should be taken to the commander of theFortieth Hussars, his deception must be learned. But at least it gave himmore time. 

But Chester's sigh of relief came too soon. 

"Hold on!" said one of the German officers. "This man is no German!"

CHAPTER XXIV

STUBBS AS A STRATEGIST

Anthony Stubbs, after leaving Hal and Chester, pushed off to the southslowly, absolutely unconscious of the adventures that were to come hisway. Mindful of the fact that there was a certain degree of safety in theGerman uniform he wore, and rather proud of himself thus attired, Stubbswalked on more boldly than he would have done otherwise. 

And thus it was that, without warning, he walked suddenly into the midstof a group of German officers who sat about a campfire a short distancefrom where he had left his two young friends. 

Stubbs pulled up suddenly and would have drawn back had not one of theGerman officers sprung suddenly to his feet. 

"Here, Hans, is another man now!" exclaimed the officer. "A moment agoyou were bemoaning the fact that there was not another man to take a handin a game of cards. Here is one come in answer to your prayers. "

Two other German officers sprang to their feet. 

"Four of us; that's enough, " said one. He turned to Stubbs. "Whatdo you say?"

"Say to what?" asked Stubbs, bravely. 

"A game of cards. "

"What kind of a game of cards?"

"An American game, " was the reply. "Hans learned it when he was in theUnited States and has taught us something about it. It's called poker. "

"I've played it, " said Stubbs. 

"Good! Then you will join us?"

"I should be elsewhere, " said Stubbs, hesitatingly. 

Be it known that Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York_Gazette_, had, in his day, liked to play a game of poker, whether it wasright or whether it was wrong. Even to this day the lure of the gameheld, and in spite of the danger such a game entailed, Stubbs was notloath to play. Besides, the little man bethought himself that while thegame was in progress he might learn something of value, so he said:

"All right. I'll play. "

The man called Hans now sprang to his feet. 

"I want to warn you, " he said, "that I am extremely lucky at this game. "

"Well, I used to be fairly lucky myself, " said Stubbs. To himselfhe said: "Whoever heard of a German trying to play the Americangame of poker?"

The man called Hans now led the way to his quarters, where he produced atable, chairs and a pack of cards. The four men ranged themselves aroundthe table. 

As the game progressed there was considerable talk of the status of theopposing armies and Stubbs gained much information that he felt would beof use. As time passed other officers dropped in to witness the game; andchancing to look over his shoulder, Stubbs was startled to see the faceof Hal. He gave a slight start, but quickly covered this up as he saw alook of annoyance on Hal's face. 

"Hal objects to my gambling, I guess, " Stubbs muttered to himself. "Butwhat do I care? I'm glad to gather in a few German coins. Fortunate thatI had some in my pocket. "

The manner in which Hal came to be in the tent was very simple. He hadwalked north for some distance, and finding nothing that would prove ofvalue, he had turned back. He had been attracted by the sound ofconversation and had joined the group of German officers near the tentwhere the game of poker was in progress. When one of the officers hadsuggested going in and watching the game Hal had acquiesced. That is howhe found himself standing behind Stubbs and scanning the latter's cards. 

At that moment Stubbs had lost a hand to the man called Hans. Stubbs wasconsiderably nettled, for he felt sure he should have won. He turned aneye on Hal, who stood directly behind him. 

"Don't stand behind me, " the little man snapped. 

"What's the matter?" demanded Hal. "Superstitious?"

"Yes, if you want to call it that, " Stubbs answered. 

Hal shifted his position slightly. 

Again Stubbs scanned a hand that he felt sure would win. Hans was thedealer. As he drew two more cards, Stubbs suddenly gave a start. He hadseen Hans slip a card from his sleeve. 

Now Stubbs was not a fighter. He had shown that on more than oneoccasion. But the little man objected to being imposed upon. Also he hadalways stood for a square deal in a friendly game of cards. He had proventhat more than once in his younger days. And now, seeing the man calledHans cheating made Stubbs' blood boil. 

Quietly he leaned across the table and spoke. 

"You, " he said, shaking his forefinger in the man's face, "no wonder yousay you are lucky. "

"Why, what do you mean?" demanded Hans, his face turning pale, for hewell realized the import of Stubbs' words. 

"I mean, " said Stubbs, and at that moment his hand dropped to hisrevolver butt, "I mean that you are a cheat!"

Stubbs produced his revolver and levelled it straight at Hans. Then heswept the circle of surprised faces about him with his eyes. 

"Sir!" exclaimed Hans, "I demand an apology for those words. "

"Well, you won't get it, " returned Stubbs, decisively. He turned to theman next to Hans. "Reach up his sleeve there, " he said, "and if youdon't find a card or two I'll make you a present of all the money I havein my pocket. "

Surprised, the other obeyed and the result vindicated Stubbs. Two cardsfluttered from Hans' sleeve. Stubbs got to his feet. 

"You see, gentlemen, " he said, "with what kind of a man you have beenplaying. No wonder he calls himself lucky. "

The others were very angry. Seeing that the matter would be taken out ofhis hands, Stubbs restored his revolver to its place. 

Hans stood up. 

"If you think I have cheated, " he said, "you are welcome to all the moneyI have won. As for you, " he turned on Stubbs, "you shall die!"

A revolver appeared in his hand as if by magic and Stubbs shrank back. 

But before the man could fire Hal leaped quickly forward and struck upthe weapon. 

"You are not only a cheat but a coward!" said the lad quietly. 

"And who are you?" screamed Hans, now beside himself with rage. "Whathave you to do with this?"

"Nothing more than to prevent murder, " replied Hal. 

Now the other German officers took a hand in the trouble. 

"Lieutenant Darnhart, " said one. "I wish you never to speak to me again. "

"Nor to me, " from the other man who had taken part in the game, andadded: "If you are wise, you will know what to do. "

For a moment Hans gazed at them hardly knowing what to say. Then, slowly, he emptied the contents of his pockets upon the table. 

"You are right, gentlemen, " he said quietly. "I have cheated. Therefore, this money belongs to you. And do not fear that I do not know what to do. The honor of the regiment shall be kept clean. "

With that he bowed low to the others and stalked from the tent. The others stood stiffly erect until he had disappeared; thenturned to Stubbs. 

"We have to thank you, sir, " said one, "for opening our eyes. Long wehave wondered why Darnhart was so lucky, why he always arose from thegame the only winner. Now we know. "

"Well, " said Stubbs, "I used to play considerably when I lived in theUnited States, and for that reason, I guess, I was on my guard. "

"At all events, " said the second German, "you have done us a service andwe wish to thank you. "

"Why, that's all right, " said Stubbs. "I am sure either of you would havedone the same thing under the circumstances. And with your permission, Ishall leave you now. "

The others bowed and Stubbs turned toward the door. 

"If you will wait a moment, sir, I shall accompany you, " said a voice. 

It was Hal who spoke and Stubbs waited obediently. 

"First, " said Hal, "I have something else to do. " He addressed theGermans: "Which of you is upon the staff of General Ludwig?"

"Why, I am, " said one of the men, stepping forward. 

"Good!" said Hal. "I would have spoken sooner, but I was absorbed in thegame. I did not remember your name, but I was sent for you. Will youfollow me?"

The German nodded his head. 

"Very well, " said Hal. "Come. "

He led the way from the tent and the German and Stubbs followed. Thelatter was astonished at Hal's words, but he did not show his surprise inhis actions. He walked after the others without a word. 

"Something up, " he muttered to himself. "I guess I had better keep mygun handy. "

Outside, they walked along slowly. 

Five minutes later, when they reached a place that was somewhatsecluded, Hal suddenly produced his revolver and pressed it against theGerman's head. 

"You will give me immediately what papers you have in your pockets, "the lad said quietly. "If you make an outcry I shall be compelled toshoot you. "

The German stared aghast. 

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded. 

"It means that I must have whatever papers you possess, " said Hal, calmly, "even if I have to shoot you to get them. "

"Ah!" cried the German, "I see! A spy!"

He made a move as though to seize Hal, but the lad was too quick for him. 

With his left hand he grabbed the German's elbow in a tight grip andsqueezed. Then, even before the man had time to cry out, the lad releasedhis hold, reversed his revolver quickly and brought the butt down on theGerman's head with all his force. 

The man crumpled up without a word and lay still. 

Stubbs, who had witnessed this proceeding in open-eyed wonder, nowuttered an exclamation. 

"What are you doing? Trying to get us both killed?" he demanded. 

Hal did not reply. Stooping over the prostrate German he ran his handquickly through the man's pockets. Then he straightened up, and by thesoft light of the moon, ran through the papers hurriedly. He gave anexclamation of satisfaction. 

"I thought I should find something, " he muttered. "Come on now, Stubbs!" he said. 

The little war correspondent hurried after him without another word. 

CHAPTER XXV

IN GRAVE PERIL

Chester's sigh of relief almost choked in his throat. But he determinedto brave out the situation as well as he could. 

"No, " exclaimed the man who had spoken, "this boy is no German!"

Even the Crown Prince was surprised. 

"Not a German!" he exclaimed. "Then what is he? A--"

"A spy!" the other concluded for him. 

"Impossible!" declared the Crown Prince. "How could there be a spyamong us?"

"Well, he's here. Surely you can look at the boy and tell he is nota German. "

The Crown Prince approached Chester and scrutinized him closely. 

"Who are you?" he demanded at length. 

"I have told you, sir, " replied Chester, quietly. 

"But you have not told the truth, " was the Crown Prince's reply. "I cansee you are not French. Are you British?"

"No, sir. "

"Then what?"

"Well, " said Chester, at length, realizing that subterfuge was useless, "I am an American. "

"With the French army, eh?" said the Crown Prince. 

Chester did not reply. He could see no reason for incriminating himself, though he realized, too, that it made no particular difference whether hereplied or remained silent. He was convicted either way. 

"You don't answer, " exclaimed the Crown Prince. "That is evidencesufficient of your guilt. "

Chester shrugged his shoulders. The Crown Prince eyed him angrily. 

"You are one of these indifferent ones, are you?" he said. "Well, we knowhow to cure that. Do you realize what is in store for you?"

"Perfectly, " replied Chester. "The firing squad. "

"No; you are wrong, " was the Crown Prince's answer. "The firing squadis too good for spies. You have been captured within our lines indisguise; therefore, there can be no doubt that you are a spy. Youshall be hanged. "

Chester took a step backward. He had realized what his fate would beshould he fall into the hands of the enemy, but this was more than he hadbargained for. And at that moment there seemed little possibility thatHal would find and be able to rescue him. 

"Looks like the end of my rope, " the lad muttered. 

He made no reply to the Crown Prince's words. He knew a reply wouldbe useless. 

"So you decline to talk?" said the Crown Prince. "Well, it matters not. "He motioned to one of his staff. "See that this prisoner is hanged by theneck at sunrise, " he said. 

The officer saluted and motioned to Chester to precede him from the tent. There was nothing for it but to obey and the lad walked out. 

Now it happened that in some unaccountable manner the Germans hadneglected to relieve Chester of his revolvers. The lad's right handrested upon the weapon in his belt. But he was unable at this moment todraw with any degree of hope, for the German officer was directly behindhim and Chester knew he would be shot down before he could turn and fire. Also, should he succeed in gaining the drop on the German by a quickmove, he was in the very heart of the German camp and the sound of a shotwould bring a thousand men on his heels. 

The lad bided his time. 

Perhaps half a mile from the quarters of the German Crown Prince, Chester's captor motioned him into a tent. Chester entered without aword. What hopes he might have had of suddenly flashing his revolver onhis captor disappeared, for the man entered close behind him. 

He clapped his hands. 

A moment later a second officer appeared in the tent and stood atattention. 

"Call a guard of four men and have this tent surrounded, " instructedChester's captor. 

The man saluted and left the tent. He was back within a few moments, however, and saluting said:

"The tent is surrounded, sir. "

"Very well, " said Chester's captor. "You may go. "

Again the man left the tent; then Chester's captor said:

"Now, I guess you will be safe here until morning; after that you will besafe for all time. "

"Thanks, " said Chester, dryly. 

The German left the tent. 

Chester now took stock of his surroundings. Outside he could hear hisguards pacing up and down. 

"If I could get one of them in here at a time, " the lad told himself, "perhaps I could dispose of them. I'll try it. "

Approaching the entrance, he poked his head out. 

"Get back inside there, " a gruff voice exclaimed, and Chester beheld alarge German soldier with his rifle pointed squarely at his head. 

"Look here, " said Chester. "I want a drink of water. "

"Get back inside, " was the sharp reply. "I'll get it for you. "

Chester moved back in the tent. Five minutes later the German soldierstuck his head inside. 

"Here's your water, " he said, holding forth a tin cup. 

Chester's right hand rested on his belt as he extended his left to takethe cup. The German had lowered his gun at that moment; and he paiddearly for his carelessness. 

Chester made a sudden movement and the cup of water went clattering tothe ground. At the same moment Chester brought the butt of his revolverdown on the head of the German soldier with a crunch. The man fell tothe ground. 

Hastily now Chester seized the man by the feet and dragged him inside. Then the lad quickly stripped him of his clothes and donned them himself. They were large, but Chester made them fit by turning up the trousers anddrawing his belt tight. Then he picked up the German's gun and steppedfrom the tent. 

The lad had intended to move away from the tent immediately, but even ashe would have walked off a second of the guards approached and engagedhim in conversation. Chester muffled his voice as well as possible andimitated the hoarse tones of the man he had disposed of. 

"Nice night, " said the German. 

"Nice night, " Chester agreed. 

"What is to be done with the prisoner inside?"

"Hang him in the morning, " said Chester. 

"Good! It's the way all spies should be treated. "

"Of course; unless they chance to be German spies. "

"That's different, " muttered the guard. 

"Of course it is, " Chester agreed and added: "You'd better get back toyour place. The prisoner might escape under your nose. "

"Not much chance, " was the reply. "I wouldn't care if he did try, though. I'd like to have a shot at him. "

"Nice pleasant sort of a customer, " Chester muttered to himself. Aloud, he said: "Well, I was just giving you a word of warning. You can't tellabout these fellows. They're pretty slippery customers. "

"Well, this one won't slip out of our clutches, " declared the guard. "Iwonder if I hadn't better go in and have a look at him?"

"Can't be done, " said Chester. "My instructions are to let no one pass. "

"So are mine, but what has that to do with it?"

"A whole lot. I'm on guard in front here and I say you can't go in. "

"Come now, be a good fellow, I want to have a look at the prisoner. "

"Can't be done, " returned Chester. 

"You are a deucedly uncivil sort of a fellow, " said the guard. "I don'tseem to know you. What's your name?"

"None of your business, " returned Chester. 

"Is that so? Suppose I make it some of my business, " and the guard took athreatening step forward. 

"You'll be sorry, that's all. "

"Think so, do you? Let me tell you something. I'm going to hunt you up inthe morning and have it out with you. "

"All right, " said Chester. "You can suit yourself about that. But waituntil morning. Remember we're guarding this prisoner now. "

"Well, I've a notion to settle with you right now, prisoner or noprisoner. I don't like you. "

"To tell the truth, I don't think a whole lot of you, " said Chester. "Iwould a great deal rather be without your company. You had better getback where you belong. "

"Think so, do you? Well, I'll show you. "

With these words the German guard forgot all about the prisonersupposed to be inside and everything else save that he wanted to get atChester. He dropped his rifle with a clatter and struck at Chester withhis right fist. 

"Well, if you must have it, " Chester muttered to himself. 

He, too, dropped his gun and his right fist shot forth. The Germanstaggered back with a grunt; but Chester's blow had not reached a vitalspot and the guard leaped forward again. 

This time Chester timed his blow a little more carefully. 

"Smack!"

The lad's fist landed flush on the guard's jaw. The man rolled overlike a log. 

Chester looked around quickly. 

"Now to get out of this, " he muttered. 

He picked up his rifle and turned to move away. But even as he would havestarted the sound of hurrying footsteps halted him; and he began to paceup and down in front of the tent. 

Two figures dashed toward him; behind them came the sound of shots. 

"Hello!" said Chester to himself. "More trouble in camp. Wonderwhat's up now?"

The answer was to come sooner than he could have expected. As the twofigures came closer, other figures appeared in the distance. There camethe sound of revolver shots. 

"This way!" cried a voice. 

Chester raised his rifle, ready to take a hand in the proceedings himselfshould the occasion demand. 

"This thing is getting rather complicated, " he told himself. 

The two approaching figures came closer rapidly. Chester gave anexclamation of pure astonishment. 

CHAPTER XXVI

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET

When Hal and Stubbs took to their heels after the former had relieved theGerman officer of his papers, they had run some distance before comingacross anyone in the darkness. Then they came upon another figure sosuddenly that it almost resulted in their capture. 

Hal, in the lead, had been just about to slacken his pace, when, roundinga corner suddenly, he had crashed into a form in the night. The two wentdown in a heap; and Stubbs, turning a moment later, had stumbled over thepair of struggling forms before he could check himself. In a moment hefound himself mixed up in the struggling mass. 

A fist struck Stubbs squarely upon the nose. 

"Hey! Quit that, " said Stubbs, and struck out with his right. 

This blow came almost ending the fight right there and in a manner not atall advantageous to Stubbs and Hal. In the darkness the little warcorrespondent had been unable to distinguish friend from foe and his fistcaught Hal just above the right eye. 

Now Anthony Stubbs had considerable power in his right arm and for amoment Hal was dazed by the blow. Before he could clear his head, hisopponent had struck him a heavy blow on the other side of the neck andleaped to his feet. 

At that instant Stubbs realized what he had done and a sickeningsensation struck him in the pit of the stomach; but the little mandetermined to give the best that was in him to undo his work. 

With an angry bellow he charged his German opponent. The latter steppedback a pace and sought to draw his revolver, but Stubbs was too quickfor him. Almost at the moment that Stubbs crashed into his foe helowered his head, as would a steer, and his head caught the German inthe region of the belt. 

Came a gasp from the German as he doubled up and collapsed. He rolledover upon the ground several times in a vain attempt to gain his breath;then lay still. 

The victory was with Stubbs!

Hal had now regained consciousness and sat up just in time to see theeffect of Stubbs' charge. 

"Good work, Stubbs!" the lad cried. "Now lend me a hand and we'll getaway from here!"

Stubbs did as requested and a moment later Hal was on his feet. The ladfelt the bump over his eye tenderly. 

"Stubbs, " he said, "it was rather dark and we were so mixed up on theground that I couldn't see, but I would be willing to wager a whole lotthat it wasn't a German who gave me this crack over the eye. Now was it?"

"Well, " said Stubbs, "I--I--"

"Just as I thought, " declared Hal. "So you tried to do me up as well asthe German, eh?"

"It was an accident, " declared Stubbs. "You know I wouldn't have done iton purpose, Hal. "

"It came very near being a costly accident, Stubbs. Suppose the Germanhad laid you out? Then what? We would have been nabbed, sure. "

"I'll be more careful next time, " said Stubbs, apologetically. 

"You won't have to be, " said Hal. "Next time I'm going to get in thefirst blow. Then we'll see how you like it. But come. We must be movingaway from here. See. The German is regaining consciousness. I don't wantto kill him, and we mustn't be here when he comes to. Come now. "

Hal led the way rapidly along the row of tents. 

"Looks as though we should be safe enough now, " the lad said, after theyhad walked for perhaps fifteen minutes. 

The lad produced his watch, and by the soft light of the moon, took noteof the time. 

"By Jove! half past one o'clock, " he said. "We shall have to hurry backor Chester will be worried. "

"Let's hope Chester will be there when we arrive, " said Stubbs. 

"Oh, he'll be there, all right. Come on. "

"Say, " said Stubbs as they walked along, "what I want to know is how youknew the German officer you knocked down had any valuable papers?"

"That's easy, " was Hal's response. "Before entering the tent where yourlittle game was in progress, I overheard one of the officers withoutmention the fact that an aide of General Ludwig's was in the tent andthat he carried important papers. The rest was very simple. "

"I see, " said Stubbs. "Now what--look there, Hal. "

The little man broke off suddenly and pointed directly ahead. Advancingtoward them were perhaps a dozen German soldiers, with an officer attheir head. 

"We'll have to get out of the way, " said Hal, quietly. "We haven't timeto answer questions now. "

He turned between the rows of tents and hurried on, with Stubbs closebehind him. And from the German officer came the command to halt. 

Instead, Hal increased his speed and a moment later he and Stubbs wererunning quietly between the rows of German tents. Behind came the soundof pursuing footsteps. 

"We're in for it now, Stubbs, " panted Hal. "I was a fool to run. Theyknow now that there is something wrong and they won't rest until theyhave scoured the entire camp. "

"Then we are done for!" exclaimed Anthony Stubbs. 

"Not yet!" replied Hal. "While there's life there's hope. Never saydie, Stubbs. "

The little man did not reply. He saved all the breath he had left forrunning purposes, for he felt that he was likely to have to run the restof the night. 

Suddenly, making another short turn, Hal pulled up. Stubbs did likewiseand both listened attentively. 

The footsteps were some distance back. 

"We've gained a bit, Stubbs, " said Hal. 

"Well, what's the use of waiting here then?" demanded the warcorrespondent. "Let's gain a bit more. "

"Hold on!" exclaimed Hal, as Stubbs would have taken to his heels again. "We can't run clear through the German camp like this, you know. We'rebound to be caught if we try it. It must be strategy rather thanfleetness of foot if we hope to get out of this situation safely. "

"All right, " Stubbs agreed. "Whatever you say suits me. But if it isstrategy that is going to get us out of this, tell me some strategyreal quick. "

Hal considered a moment. Every second the pursuing footsteps were comingcloser. Stubbs squirmed about uneasily. 

"Say, " he said at last; "hear those fellows coming? I'm going to get awayfrom here. "

Again he took to his heels; and there was nothing for Hal to do butfollow, for he did not wish to lose sight of the little man. Besides, inthat moment's pause, Hal had decided upon a plan that he believed had afair chance of success. 

For perhaps five minutes more they ran on, Hal fearful at every momentthat German soldiers would pour from their tents and interrupt theirflight. Fortunately, this did not happen, however. 

Hal, fleet of foot as he was, was hard pressed to catch up withStubbs, who had gained a slight lead and was covering the ground withrapid strides. But at last the lad overtook him and laid a hand onhis shoulder. 

"Slow down, there, " he commanded. "First thing you know you'll have thewhole camp after us. Those shoes of yours must be at least numberelevens. They shake the whole earth when you run. "

"Well, they have come in pretty handy to-night, " said Stubbs. "What areyou stopping here for?"

"Because I don't want to arouse every German in the camp. I'll tell youabout that strategy now. "

"Well, let's hear it real quick, " said Stubbs, impatiently. "I want toget away from here. "

"So do I, " said Hal, "but I want to get away all in one piece. Here'smy plan: We can't hope to get away by running. Sooner or later, beforewe are clear of the German lines, we are certain to bump into some one. That would settle it. We'll go ahead a little more, then we'll enterone of these tents, tap the occupants on the head with our revolverbutts and crawl into their cots. Then when our pursuers have gone bywe'll go back. "

"By Jove!" said Stubbs, "that's not half bad. Wonder why I can't think ofthings like that?"

"Because you're too busy running, " returned Hal. 

The first of the pursuers came into sight at that moment and uttered acry. This told the others following that the prey had been sighted andthey dashed forward. 

"Come as fast as you can, Stubbs, " shouted Hal. "We've got to get outof sight. "

In the distance Hal saw a solitary figure standing before a tent. He knewthat this figure had seen him and decided that the man must be disposedof before he could give the alarm, Therefore, he headed straight for him. 

As he ran, Hal expected every moment that the figure before the tentwould open fire on him and his own revolver was held ready should theman's first shot go wild. Hal did not wish to fire if he couldpossibly avoid it. 

Close behind Hal, Stubbs panted and puffed along. Once Hal was forced toreduce his speed in order that Stubbs might keep up with him. The littleman was doing his best, but his short legs were not built to maintain apace that Hal could set. Besides, he had long since lost his youthfulnessand he could not run as he had done in his earlier days. 

"I can't go much farther, Hal, " he gasped. 

"Just a little ways, Stubbs, " Hal urged him on. "See that man in the tentthere? That's where we'll hide. I'll knock him out if he doesn't get mefirst. The fool! He is taking a long chance. He should fire. "

At that moment there came a fusillade of shots from behind. 

In his anxiousness to get the man in the door of the tent out of the way, Hal had continued a straight course longer than he had realized; and thishad allowed the pursuers to come within sight again. There was nothing todo but make the best of it now. 

Hal dashed straight for the figure in the tent. 

Drawing close, Hal raised his revolver, reversed, and held it ready tobring down on the figure's head the moment they should come together. There was a sudden exclamation from the figure in the tent; and with itHal dropped his arm; the exclamation was a single word:

"Hal!"

CHAPTER XXVII

A HARD BLOW TO THE ENEMY

It was the voice of Chester. 

Hal stopped abruptly. Stubbs also panted up and came to a halt. 

"What on earth are you doing here, Chester?" asked Hal. 

For answer Chester pointed to the men who were pursuing his friends. 

"Are those fellows after you?" he asked. 

"Yes, " was Hal's answer. 

"Then let's get away from here, " said Chester. "Come on. "

He took to his heels and Hal and Stubbs followed him. Gaining hisfriend's side, Hal, in a few quick words, explained his plan as he hadoutlined it to Stubbs only a few moments before. 

"Then we shall have to get out of sight of our pursuers, " said Chester. "Come, Stubbs, " he called back over his shoulder, "a little spurt now andwe shall be safe. "

Stubbs tried to respond to this command; and he did succeed in getting upa little more speed as he turned about a tent after Hal and Chester. Twice more the three doubled on their tracks and then Hal pulled upbefore a tent. 

"This will do as well as another, I guess, " he said. 

"Waste no time, " said Chester. "Revolvers ready and come on. "

With weapons reversed the three entered the tent quietly. Deep snoreswithin led the friends to the cots of the occupants of the tent. 

"I hate to do this, " said Chester, as he stood over a German soldier, "but there is no help for it. "

His arm rose and fell. 

Across the tent Hal performed a similar operation. Then they exploredcarefully in the darkness for signs of another figure. 

There was none. 

"Only two cots, Hal, " whispered Chester. "Now let's get to bed untilthings have quieted down. "

Quickly the three threw off their clothes and clambered into the cots, first throwing the men they had overcome beneath them. Stubbs had a cotto himself, while Hal and Chester climbed in together. 

"When they fail to find trace of us they likely will come back and ask ifwe have been seen, " said Hal. "We must pretend to be asleep. "

A few moments later the sound of their pursuers' feet were audible asthey passed the tent on the run. Then they died away in the distance. 

"Had we better wait or try to get out before they come back?"asked Chester. 

Hal was undecided, but the question was answered for him. 

Only a few minutes had passed when there came the sound of returningfootsteps. The boys could hear them stop before the different tents andalso the sound of voices. Directly a man poked his head into the tent. 

"Awake in here?" he asked. 

There was no answer. 

The man advanced into the tent and approached Stubbs' cot which wasnearest the entrance. He laid a hand on Stubbs' shoulder and shook him. 

"Hello, " said the little man sleepily. "What's the matter. Time to getup already?"

"No, " was the reply. "Have you seen anything of three men, whoseappearance would indicate they had been running?"

"I've been asleep, " protested Stubbs. "I had a dream. But I guess the menI saw in my dreams are not the ones you want. "

"These are not dream men, " was the response. "I thought possibly youmight have heard them run by this tent. "

"No, " said Stubbs, truthfully, "I didn't hear them run by this tent. "

"All right, " said the German and withdrew. 

For perhaps an hour the three fugitives lay in the shelter of the Germantent. From time to time they heard voices without but after awhile thesedied away. After there had been absolute silence without for perhapsfifteen minutes, Chester slipped from the cot. 

"May as well move, I guess, " he whispered. 

Hal also arose. 

"All right, " he said. "Come, Stubbs. "

There was no reply from Stubbs' cot. Hal walked quickly across the tent, laid a hand on Stubbs' shoulder and shook him vigorously. 

"Come, Stubbs!" he exclaimed. "Time to get out of here. "

Stubbs muttered something unintelligible and turned over. 

"By Jove! if he isn't asleep, " said Chester, who came to Hal's side now. 

"That's what he is, " agreed Hal. "Well, we've got to get him up. Grabhold of his feet. "

Chester did so and together the boys picked the little man up bodily. 

"I say!" said Stubbs, sleepily, "let me alone, will you? I want to sleepa little more. "

"You'll find an eternal sleep if you don't get out of here, Stubbs, " saidHal. "Don't you know you are in a German tent and that you'll be shot ifyou're found here?"

This awoke Stubbs instantly. He stood up and rubbed his eyes. 

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "How on earth did I go to sleep in apredicament like this?"

"I don't know how you did it, " returned Hal, "but you did. Come on, Chester, let's get out of here while we have a chance. "

He led the way cautiously to the door of the tent and poked his headcarefully outside. 

"Coast seems to be clear, " he announced. "Come on and walk quietly. "

The others followed him. 

Hal made a direct line for the place where they had hidden the large armyaeroplane. Fortunately, the lad was blessed with an almost uncanny senseof direction and he knew the course he laid out would take them to thehiding spot of the plane as directly as if he could see the huge machinefrom where he stood. 

All was silence in the big camp as the lads walked cautiously along, stopping now and then and straining their ears for a sound that wouldindicate the presence of a watchful German sentry. No such sound came andthe three had almost reached the outskirts of the camp when Hal, who wasleading, stopped and pointed to an object that loomed up large in thedarkness a short distance away. 

"What is it?" asked Stubbs in a hoarse whisper. 

"Looks to me like a place where ammunition might be stored, " said Hal, quietly. "I shall have a look. "

"Let it alone, Hal, " said Stubbs, anxiously. "Don't go fooling aroundthere. You're likely to blow us all up. "

"I guess not, " returned Hal, "but I wouldn't mind blowing all theammunition up that the place may contain. "

"By Jove!" said Chester. "A good idea! I'm with you. "

"Well, I'm not, " declared Stubbs. "I know where our aeroplane is andthat's where I'm going right this minute. I don't know how to fly thething, and if you fellows go fooling around that ammunition depot I'llprobably have to hunt another pilot; but Anthony Stubbs is not going tobe blown up with his eyes open when he can help it. "

"Better wait here, Stubbs, " said Chester. 

"Not me, " returned the little man, decisively. "You'll find me at theplane when you get there; or if you get there, I should say. "

"But there is nothing sure that the building contains ammunition, " saidHal. "I just guessed at it, Stubbs. Come and have a look. "

"Oh, it contains ammunition, all right. "

"How do you know?" demanded Chester. 

"Well, if it didn't you fellows wouldn't have spied it. You call it goodluck. I call it hard luck. I tell you that every time I go any place withyou I risk my neck. Sure the building contains ammunition! It was putthere for the sole purpose of having you blow it up. That's the way itlooks to me. But I can see all the fireworks I want to from a distance. Good-bye. "

"All right, Stubbs, if you are such a coward, " said Chester, somewhat nettled. 

"I'd rather be a live coward than a dead fool, " was Stubbs' reply. 

He walked off. 

"Come on, Chester, " said Hal. "We'll have a look at this place. "

He led the way close to the building. Going slowly and cautiously theyadvanced to within a short distance of the building without beingobserved, although they could see an occasional dark shape as it movedabout in front of the building. 

"Guards there, " said Hal, briefly. 

"Sure, " said Chester. "I believe you have guessed right. I am sure theplace is filled with ammunition. Now if we could just dispose of theguards and place a time fuse--"

"It would be a hard blow to the Germans, " Hal agreed. "We'll try it. "

Still cautiously they approached. A guard arose from in front of thebuilding. He stretched his arms. Apparently he had been asleep. Then hesat down again. 

"We'll wait a minute, " Hal whispered. "Perhaps he'll doze again. "

Fortune was with the boys. A few moments later there came the sound of agentle snore. The man was asleep. Immediately the lads sprang to action. Quickly they dashed across the open space to the side of the largebuilding, which was made of wood and seemed to be nothing more than ahuge barn. 

Chester stopped beside the guard and raised his revolver. He hesitated amoment and then lowered the weapon. 

"Let him be, " he muttered. "He won't be with us long anyhow. "

Hal, in the meantime, had been exploring the barn. Coming back he pickedup the guard's rifle. 

"I can pry a board loose with this, " he told Chester, in a whisper. 

This proved easier work than it looked. The board came loose without muchtrouble. Hal disappeared inside. 

"Ammunition?" Chester asked, as he poked his head in. 

"Yes, " Hal whispered back. 

"Find a fuse?" asked Chester. 

Again Hal's reply was in the affirmative. 

"Stretch it out here then, and hurry, " ordered Chester. 

Hal appeared on the outside a moment later, carrying a fuse. One endstill remained in the barn. The other Hal carried some distance. 

"Guess you'd better dispose of that guard first, " he said. "He might wakeup and extinguish the fuse. "

It was the work of but a moment, much as Chester hated to perform it. 

Then Hal struck a light, shielding the match with his cap. He applied thematch to the fuse. Then he sprang to his feet and called to Chester:

"Run!"

CHAPTER XXVIII

FLIGHT

Both lads fled through the night knowing that their lives depended uponit. For safety's sake it was absolutely necessary that they put as greata distance as possible between them and the barn. 

According to Hal's calculations, the spot where the aeroplane was hiddenwas far enough away so that the machine would not be disabled by theforce of the explosion; and it was for this point that the lads made atfull speed. 

They reached there safely; and still there had been no explosion. 

"How much time did you allow, Hal?" asked Chester. 

"Ten minutes, as nearly as I could judge, " was the reply. 

"Then we still have a few minutes, I guess. Had we better wait here untilafter the blast, or shall we run out the machine and get up in the air. "

"We'd better stay here, " returned Hal, positively, "I don't know how muchammunition there is in that barn. It's going to kick up a terrible fuss. My advice is that we lay flat on the ground, hold our ears and bury ourfaces. Immediately after the blast we'll run the machine out and get upas swiftly as possible. "

"I can imagine the effect of the explosion, " said Chester. 

"Well, I can't, " returned Hal; "nor can you. How many men it may kill, how many it may maim and what damage it will do cannot be estimated. Butone thing sure, immediately afterwards every sleepy German soldier withinfifty miles will be on the alert. The Germans will know it was not anaccident. They will attribute the explosion to a bomb dropped from theair. We may have trouble reaching our lines. "

"I wish you hadn't done it, Hal, " mumbled Stubbs, whom the lads hadfound hiding beside the aeroplane. "It will dig a hole a mile deep inthe ground. Rocks, guns and everything will come down like hail. We maybe killed. "

"Quiet, Stubbs!" ordered Hal. "Flat on the ground with you now. Hold yourears and bury your faces until I tell you to get up. "

He suited the action to the word. Chester and Stubbs followed hisexample. 

For long moments, it seemed to them, they waited for the sound of theblast that would shake the country. Each was anxious, for there was notelling what the result of the explosion might be. Stubbs squirmeduneasily as he burrowed in the ground, while Chester and Hal were by nomeans easy in their minds. 

So long did they wait that it seemed to Chester something must have gonewrong. Perhaps the fuse had gone out. Perhaps another German guard haddiscovered it in time and pinched out the fire. There were manypossibilities, and the lad considered them all as he lay prostrate onthe ground. 

He was about to raise his head and ask Hal a question, when, suddenly, the blast came. 

There was, at first, a long grumbling roar, which, it seemed, would neverend. Gradually the roar increased until it reached such proportions as tobe beyond all description; it was a roar the like of which neither of thethree figures who lay there had ever heard before--probably never wouldhear again. 

Louder and louder it grew and then ended in a final blast that was louderthan many thousand times the loudest peal of thunder--louder than thesimultaneous firing of thousands of guns. 

Then it became suddenly quiet--so quiet that Hal, Chester and Stubbs, whohad now leaped to their feet, felt a queer sensation hovering all aboutthem; so quiet that it was, for the moment, impossible to hear. 

Then something descended not five yards from where the three stood with aterrible roar. Instinctively, all fell to the ground again, crowdingthemselves into the smallest possible space. 

For the rain of debris had begun. And for several minutes it continued. Pieces of guns, of rocks and of all objects imaginable fell upon allsides of the three; but, fortunately, none struck them. Then the rain ofdebris ceased. 

In the great German camp all was hideous confusion. Thousands of liveshad been snuffed out by the force of the titanic blast; thousands ofothers had perished in the rain of steel and iron and rock that followed. It was the greatest catastrophe that had befallen the Germans for many along day. The effect of the explosion was appalling. 

Hal's first thought after the rain of steel and iron had ceased was forthe aeroplane. If it had been smashed they were, indeed, in a serioussituation. If it had gone through the storm safely they werecomparatively safe. 

Together the three friends rushed toward the machine. Quickly they rolledit out into the open. Hal examined the engine and steering apparatuscarefully. 

"All right, Hal?" asked Chester, anxiously. 

Hal shook his head. 

"Something wrong with the engine. "

"Can you fix it?"

"I haven't been able to determine just what's wrong yet. "

Hal worked rapidly; and at last he gave an exclamation of satisfaction. 

"Find it?" asked Chester. 

"Yes; I'll have it fixed in a quarter of an hour. "

"If we're not away from here in five minutes we're likely to be dead, "said Stubbs, plaintively. 

"Don't croak, Stubbs, " said Chester. "We've done a good day's work andyou should be proud to have a hand in it. "

"Should I?" said Stubbs. "Well, all right, if you say so; but I would bea whole lot more proud if I could get back and tell somebody about it. "

"A man deserves no particular credit for doing his duty, " saidChester, quietly. 

"Maybe not, " agreed Stubbs. "But I haven't done mine yet. "

"Why--"

"My duty, " said Stubbs, "is to get back to some place where I can send anaccount of this feat to the New York _Gazette_. Believe me, it will besome scoop. "

"Scoop?"

"Yes. I mean no other paper will have the facts as I have them. "

"All right, Stubbs, " said Chester. "I hope you get your scoop. "

"I'm going to get it, " said Stubbs, excitedly, "if I have to walk overthe body of the Kaiser himself to do it. "

"That's the way to talk, " said Chester. "Confidence is the greatest assetin the world. "

"It's not confidence, " said Stubbs. "I've just got to do it. Why, if myboss knew I had something like this in my hands and I didn't get it tohim I'd lose my job. "

Chester made no reply to this; instead, he bent over Hal who was stilltinkering with the engine of the aeroplane. 

"How are you making it?" he asked. 

"I don't seem to be able to fix it, " returned Hal. "Say! you two fellowswalk away a bit and keep an eye open for possible enemies. We don't wantto be caught off our guard here. "

Chester and Stubbs did as Hal directed, though the latter mumbled tohimself as he took his position some distance away. 

"That's the trouble with these contraptions, " he said. "Always out ofwhack. If a man had a good horse now--"

He broke off and continued to mumble something unintelligible to himself. 

"I've found it, " cried Hal now, from the aeroplane. "I was working on thewrong part. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy. "

Chester made no reply, but Stubbs brightened up wonderfully. 

"That's the talk!" he cried. "Fix her up, Hal, and get a move on. "

Hal smiled to himself as he tinkered with the engine. 

Hal was deep in his work when his attention was attracted by a sudden cryof alarm from Stubbs. 

"Germans!" cried the little man, and without stopping to look again, hedashed toward Hal. 

At almost the same moment Chester saw a force of the enemy advancingtoward him. He, too, uttered a cry of alarm and dashed toward the placewhere Hal still bent over the aeroplane. 

Stubbs danced up and down and chanted excitedly:

"Hurry up, Hal! Hurry up! Here they come!"

"Shut up, Stubbs!" exclaimed Hal, straining all his energies to fix thebreak in the plane. "I'll have it in a minute. "

"A minute will be too late!" cried Stubbs. 

"Be still, Stubbs!" said Chester, quietly. "Give Hal a chance. There isstill time to run if it's necessary. "

And at that moment Hal sprang to his feet. 

"Fixed!" he cried joyfully. "Climb in here, quickly!"

The others needed no urging and soon all were in their places. It was nowthat Hal thanked his stars that the plane was one of the few that couldrise from the ground. 

Slowly the large army plane gathered headway as he moved along theground. Hal increased the speed slowly in spite of the close proximity, for he realized that too great haste might spell disaster, and he wishedto test the engine carefully before soaring into the air. 

"Up, Hal!" cried Stubbs. "Here they come!"

Hal paid no heed to this frantic exclamation. Instead, for a moment, hereduced the speed of the craft as something seemed not to be workingexactly right. Calmly he bent over the engine and tinkered with it amoment later. Then he sat straight and exclaimed:

"All right now!"

Stubbs gave a great sigh of relief. 

Hal increased the speed of the machine until it fairly flew over theground. And then his hand touched the elevating lever. 

Immediately the plane soared in the air like a big bird. 

And from the ground came exclamations of surprise; for it was not untilthat moment that the Germans who had been advancing toward the friendshad discovered their presence; although they had been espied by Chesterand Stubbs some moments before. 

A volley of rifle bullets was fired at the rapidly rising machine. 

One flew by Stubbs' ear and he dropped to the bottom of the car with ahowl of fright. 

A moment later, however, the machine was beyond reach of the rifles ofthe German troops, and Hal laid the craft out on a straightaway course, heading directly west. 

"Nothing can stop us now but enemy aeroplanes, " he said quietly. 

He increased his speed. The big army plane flew toward the distant Frenchlines with a speed greater than that of the fastest express train. 

CHAPTER XXIX

THE END OF MATIN

"You have done well, sirs. President Poincare shall hear of this. "

The speaker was General Petain. Before him stood Hal, Chester and AnthonyStubbs. Hal, acting as spokesman, had just concluded an account of theiradventures within the enemy lines, a venture from which they had returnedsuccessfully and safely only an hour before. 

For, after the aeroplane had descended above the French lines and headedfor the French positions, the journey had been without important event. True, there had been a brush with one enemy aircraft; but this had beenworsted. A second, which had given chase, was distanced with ease and thethree friends had returned to the French lines unscathed. 

"So!" said General Petain, "you blew up the enemy's ammunition depot, eh?The explosion was felt even here. We knew the foe had suffered some hardblow, but I had no idea that it had been delivered by your hand. "

Both lads flushed at the praise of General Petain. Stubbs was pleased. 

"Now tell me what else you did, if anything, " said the general. "Did youget the information after which you went?"

"We did, sir, " returned Hal. 

He passed to the general the documents he had taken from the young Germanaide. General Petain scanned them carefully. 

"These will be invaluable to me, " he said quietly. 

Then Chester told the French commander of the conversation he hadoverheard in the quarters of the German Crown Prince. 

"Now that I have escaped, " the lad concluded, "it may be possible, ofcourse, that the German plans will be altered. "

"You have done well, " said the general again, "and as I have said, yourwork shall be brought to the personal attention of the President. " Heturned to Stubbs. "You, sir, " he said, "are not a soldier, yet I have tothank you for your part in this mission. "

Stubbs blushed like a school boy. 

"I didn't do anything deserving of credit, sir, " he said. "My youngfriends here were the directing heads and performed all thedangerous work. "

"Nevertheless, " returned the general, "you are deserving of praise and ifthere is anything I can do for you, you have but to ask it. "

Stubbs hesitated. There was something he wanted very much but he did notknow whether to make the request or not. General Petain saw the littleman's indecision, and said with a smile:

"You have something on your mind, sir. Come, out with it. Be sure it willbe granted if it lies in my power. "

Still Stubbs hesitated. Chester stepped forward, smiling. 

"I believe I can tell you what it is, sir, " he said. 

"Speak, " said the general. 

"Why, sir, " said Chester, "Mr. Stubbs would have your permission to sendan account of the great explosion to his newspaper uncensored. He wouldhave the people of the United States know, through his paper, of thesevere blow the enemy has suffered. "

"H-m-m-m, " muttered the general. "The United States will hear of thedisaster, of course. Mr. Stubbs, with the other correspondents, will beallowed to file his despatches after the official report has been made. "

"But that's the point, sir, " said Stubbs, stepping forward. "I would liketo have my paper get the news first. "

"Oho! I see, " exclaimed General Petain. "You want for your paper what youAmericans' call a--a--a--"

"Scoop. "

Chester supplied the word. 

"Exactly, " said Stubbs. 

The general considered the matter for a moment. Then he threw wide hisarms in a gesture of consent. 

"It shall be done, " he said. 

"Thank you, General, " said Stubbs. "Then, with your permission, I willretire to my own quarters to prepare my despatches. "

"One minute, Stubbs, " said Chester. "You may perhaps remember that untila short time ago you shared quarters with Hal and me. We would like tohave you come back. "

Stubbs grinned. 

"That was before the discovery of the great conspiracy, " he said. "By theway, General, may I make so bold as to ask what has been done towardcrushing the move?"

"It has been crushed, sir, " replied General Petain, quietly. "That shallhave to suffice. And, by the way, Mr. Stubbs, I must tell you that if yourefer to that matter in your despatches they will be strictly censored. "

"I shall not mention the matter, General. "

Stubbs bowed and took his departure, first stopping to say to Haland Chester:

"You'll find me back in our old quarters when you arrive. "

"Now, boys, " said General Petain, after Stubbs had gone, "you arerelieved of duty for the rest of the day. To-morrow morning, however, Ishall have need of you; for to-morrow--and I am telling you something fewknow--we shall launch a new drive, basing our attacks upon theinformation which you have just now furnished me. Good-bye untilto-morrow. "

The general walked to the door of the tent with the two boys and waved ahand to them as they turned away. 

"Well, " said Hal, as they walked along, "we apparently have accomplishedsomething worth while. "

"To hear the general talk you would think we had, " agreed Chester, "andstill we didn't do so much, after all. "

"That's what I think. "

"By the way, " said Chester, "I'm going to hunt up Stubbs' old quarters. Perhaps he hasn't moved his things yet. I'll lend a hand. "

"All right, " said Hal. "I'll go along without you. I'll probably betaking a nap when you reach our quarters. Don't awaken me. I'm tired. "

The lads parted and Hal continued on his way to his quarters. 

Stubbs had not yet arrived. Hal sat down on the edge of his cot to removehis shoes. As he did so he thought he heard a sound from behind him. Hewhirled suddenly and there, a few feet away, his revolver trained rightupon Hal's heart, stood Matin, the French soldier who already had triedonce to kill him. 

"A visitor, I see, " said Hal, quietly. "You will pardon me a moment whileI remove my shoes. That is what I started to do and when I start a thingI always like to finish it. "

"Take them off if you want to, " returned Matin, grinning evilly. "Youwon't need to put them on again. "

"Think not?" said Hal. "You never can tell about those things, Matin. "

"Trying to be funny, are you?" returned Matin. "Well, go ahead. You won'tlie funny long--not to anyone but me. I'm going to shoot you. "

"Don't suppose you would let me draw my own gun first, would you?"asked Hal. 

"No. What do you think I am?"

"Just a coward; that's all, " said Hal, quietly. 

"Coward, am I?" exclaimed Matin, taking a quick step forward. 

"Correct, " replied Hal. "It's about your size to shoot a man in theback. I have had dealings with your kind before. You're afraid to takean even chance. "

"It's not that I'm afraid, " said Matin. "It's just that I want to makesure. I failed twice before. "

"Then it was you who tried to shoot me in here one night, eh?" asked Hal. 

"Yes; and I would have succeeded had it not been for your friend. When Ihave disposed of you I shall settle with him also. "

"I don't think so, Matin. "

"You don't? What's to prevent me?"

"Why, " said Hal, "when I am through with you, you will be in no conditionto settle with anyone. Now, if you will take my advice, you'll put thatgun in your pocket and leave this tent. "

"Talk pretty big, don't you?" said Matin, with a sneer. "Well, I'llshow you!"

He raised his revolver so that the muzzle pointed squarely between Hal'seyes. His finger tightened on the trigger. 

"One moment, Matin, " said Hal, quietly. "Don't you know that before youcan pull the trigger my friend in the doorway will kill you?"

A look of fright and disappointment passed over Matin's face. Slowly helowered his revolver and turned toward the doorway. It was the moment forwhich Hal had been waiting. 

With a bound he leaped upon Matin and with his left hand seized Matin'sright wrist. Matin uttered a snarl of rage. 

"Tricked me, did you?" he shouted. "You shall pay for it. "

It had been Hal's intention at first simply to wrest the revolverfrom his opponent's hands and then turn the man over to the officerof the guard. 

But Matin's strength was greater than the lad had imagined; also he waswild with rage. With his free hand he struck viciously at Hal, while hekicked with his feet and sought to bury his teeth in Hal's arm. 

But Hal held him back. 

Vainly, Matin sought to move his right arm around so as to bring themuzzle upon Hal's heart. With a quick move Hal suddenly released his holdupon Matin's pistol wrist and seized the pistol hand. His finger coveredMatin's finger on the trigger. 

Matin's hand at that moment was extended straight from him. Slowly now, as Hal exerted his utmost pressure, the arm described a semicircle. Nowit pointed almost straight forward. Then, as Hal brought more strengthinto play, the arm curved inward; and directly the revolver pointedsquarely at Matin's heart. 

The perspiration stood out in great beads on Matin's forehead. He waspanting and gasping for breath. Hal was breathing easily, though themanner in which the sinews on his forehead and arms stood out showed towhat extent he had extended himself. 

When the mouth of the revolver pointed at Matin's heart, Hal saidquietly:

"Now, Matin, if you will release your hold on this gun I will letyou go free. "

Matin's answer was a snarl of rage. 

Whether the man went suddenly insane or whether he knew fully what he wasabout, Hal can not say to this day; but under his own finger, the fingeron the trigger tightened. There was a flash, a muffled report and theform of Matin fell limp in the lad's arms. Hal stepped back and Matinslid to the floor. Hal stooped over and laid a hand over the man's heart. 

"Dead!" the lad exclaimed, and added: "but not by my hand. He pressed thetrigger himself!"

CHAPTER XXX

THE ADVANCE

A bugle sounded. 

The sleeping French camp sprang suddenly to life. Men, half dressed, sprang from their cots--they had not disrobed entirely the nightbefore--and hurried to their positions, adjusting their clothing as theydid so. Regiments formed hurriedly in the darkness that is always moreintense just before dawn. Officers shouted and swore; horses whinniedfrom the distance, indicating that the French cavalry, as well as theinfantry was forming. 

A second bugle sounded; then many more. More commands from the variousofficers. Aides rushed hither and yon delivering sharp orders to divisioncommanders. The men stood quietly in line. Came other sharp commands alldown the line:

"_En avant_!"

The troops began to move. 

Overhead, screaming French shells from the big guns in the rear flew asthey raced for the distant German lines. This was no new sound. Formore than twenty-four hours now these big guns had been hurling shellsinto the German ranks; and the men had become so used to the sounds oftheir voices that they would have been almost unable to sleep had theybecome silent. 

This bombardment, continuing for more than twenty-four hours as it had, was the opening of the greatest offensive by the French at Verdun--anoffensive by which General Petain, the French commander, hoped to driveback the foe that for months had pressed on so hard, and thus to insurethe safety of Verdun, "The gateway to France, " against the German invaderfor all time to come. 

Each move of this gigantic effort had been thought out well in advance. All contingencies had been provided for and against. The blow was to bestruck at the psychological moment, when it would be deemed by the Frenchgeneral staff that it was sure of success. 

And now this moment had come. 

The information placed in the hands of General Petain days before by Haland Chester had been the one link in the chain that had been missing. Nowthe general staff felt sure of the success of this great effort, thoughthere was not a man who had taken part in the preparations who did notknow that the victory--if victory there should be--would be won attremendous cost. 

But, with the fate of Verdun in the balance, it had been the opinion ofeach member of the general staff that now was no time to hesitate. 

So, upon this morning in June, just before dawn, the French advanced allalong their entire front. 

Under the protection of their big guns they would be able to progress forsome time; and as they attacked the German first line trenches in acharge, the fire of the big guns would continue, firing overhead at theGerman second and third line trenches beyond. 

And it was in this manner that the advance was made. 

The day dawned while the French were still some distance from the Germanfirst line trenches; and the German guns, far to the east, and the Germandefenders in the trenches opened on them with a vengeance. But the Frenchwere prepared for this. There had been no thought of a surprise attack inthe plans of the general staff. It was known that the Germans wouldrealize what was about to happen when the duel of big guns began morethan twenty-four hours before. 

Before sun-up the French infantry sprang forward in its first charge. Itwas thrown back. Immediately a second charge was ordered. This met thesame fate as had the first. A third brought no better results. 

On the next charge, as the French advanced the Germans left theirtrenches and sprang forward to meet them. The big German guns becamestill as the infantry struggled hand to hand. 

There issued from the French left at this juncture, heavy bodies ofFrench cavalry. Into the thick of the struggling mass the horsemencharged. This attack had been a surprise. The Germans were cut down inlarge numbers. As they scrambled back to the protection of theirtrenches, French troops scrambled over with them. Again the infantryalone was engaged, but this time in the enemy trenches. 

Whole squadrons of cavalry were ordered from their horses and also spranginto the German trenches. Reinforcements were hurried up. The Germansalso rushed up supports; but they had delayed too long. 

The Germans broke and fled for safety to the second line trenches. 

Immediately the French turned the field pieces captured with the Germantrenches upon the fleeing enemy and mowed them down in great numbers. Others of the French troops fell to work consolidating the newly wontrenches. The big German guns opened again; but by this time the Frenchwere pretty well secured against this arm of fire. 

More French reinforcements were rushed up to hold the captured trenches. Batteries of field guns braved the German shell fire and dashed acrossthe open to the captured trenches. Immediately these guns were broughtinto position, they opened upon the German second line of defense. 

From their posts of vantage, mounted upon slight elevations, and frombehind trees and other secure places, the great French guns protected theadvance of the cavalry and infantry. 

Hal and Chester, who had stood close to General Petain during most ofthis battling, had watched the conflict with the greatest interest. 

"Look at them fall!" exclaimed Chester, as through his glasses, hewitnessed the last desperate attack of the French. 

"It's a terrible sight, " agreed Hal, "and yet there will be many morejust as terrible before this war is won. "

"Indeed there will, " agreed Chester. 

"Lieutenant Crawford! Lieutenant Paine!"

It was General Petain who spoke. 

"My compliments to General Bordeaux, Lieutenant Paine, and tell him thatthe left of the newly won trenches must be held at all hazzards!"

Hal sprang upon a nearby motorcycle and soon was speeding towardthe front. 

"Lieutenant Crawford! The same instructions to General Ducal onthe right!"

A moment later Chester was speeding forward. 

His message delivered, Hal stopped for a moment to gaze about thetrenches won at such terrible cost. 

There had been no time to bury the dead, or even to have the bodiesremoved; and the trenches were piled high with French and German dead. Inbetween the rows of corpses, which had hurriedly been pushed to one side, the other troops worked, apparently without thought of their fallencomrades. Red Cross physicians and nurses were working among the wounded, lightening the suffering. 

Hal looked at his watch. 

"Twelve o'clock!" he muttered. "It seems as if this single battle hadbeen going on for days!"

He made his way slowly back to General Petain. 

Chester, his message delivered, also had taken account of the Frenchposition on the right. There the fighting had been particularly severe, and the newly won positions presented ghastly spectacles. Chestershuddered:

"And this is war!" he said. 

He made his way back to headquarters and rejoined Hal. 

"Wonder if we shall try for the second line defenses to-day?" Hal saidto his chum. 

"I don't know; but I wouldn't be surprised to hear the order at anyminute now. Look at the masses of reinforcements being rushed forward. Surely, they are not being sent there just to hold the trenches. No; Ibelieve that to-day General Petain hopes to carry at least the second andthird line of trenches on our whole front. "

And, as it transpired, Chester was right. 

At four o'clock in the afternoon the French had establishedthemselves firmly in the German second line trenches, although atgreat cost. Dense masses of reinforcements were immediately rushedforward. To Hal and Chester this signified that there was still to beanother effort that day. 

And at five o'clock in the evening the effort was made. 

Under a sun that beat down with terrific force, despite the lateness ofthe hour, the French infantry again advanced to the attack. Flushed withtwo victories earlier in the day, they went forward confidently and witheagerness and enthusiasm. Cheers broke out along the whole line as theyadvanced. Farther back, a band--many bands--played "The Marseillaise. "

The German troops, twice driven back before the victorious French, nevertheless stood firm in their trenches. They had learned a dear lessonat the hands of their enemy this day; and while they realized fully thatthey were getting the worst of the battle, they still stuck bravely totheir task. 

Terrible as it was, it was an awe-inspiring sight that Hal and Chester, far back with General Petain and staff, witnessed through their glassesthat late afternoon. 

In dense masses the French hurled themselves against the German trenches;and in great masses they were hurled back again--those of them who didnot lie upon the ground. Time after time the French charged what appearedto be impregnable trenches. Then, on their fifth effort, they reachedtheir goal and surged into the trenches. 

Immediately all was confusion there. An unguarded moment meant a man'sdeath. Struggling as they were, it was, at times, almost impossible totell friend from foe. But the troops distinguished somehow, and for whatseemed ages they battled there, hand-to-hand. 

German reinforcements rushed up in a valiant effort to save the day. General Petain threw out supports for his own infantry. All these surgedinto the trenches and added their quota to the terrible din. 

Several times the German cavalry charged, their riders dismounting whenthey reached the struggling mass of humanity and plunging into the fraywith sabres and revolvers. But each time they were beaten off. 

Gradually the French cleared the trenches. The Germans gave slowly atfirst; then more swiftly. The French pursued them with loud cries. Theenemy broke and fled. 

Again German reinforcements rushed to the attack. The French met them inthe open, beyond the third line German trenches. The fighting wassomething terrible; but flushed with victory as they were, there could bebut one ending. 

A German bugle sounded a recall; and at almost the same moment theevening sun settled beyond the distant eastern hills. 

The French had won the day!

Hal and Chester looked at each other. Then, even as the entire Frenchstaff broke into a loud cheer, the two lads grasped hands. 

"We've won!" said Hal. 

"Verdun is saved!" exclaimed Chester. 

So there, upon this historic field, we shall take our leave of these twofriends for the time; but we shall renew our acquaintance later, in asucceeding volume, entitled: "The Boy Allies on the Somme; or, Courageand Bravery Rewarded. "

THE END