ger bound. They got to their feet and followed him from the tent. They
had not recognized the voice that had called them; but as they passed
without, 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 in
the 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 young
Frenchman 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 we
may 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," returned
Jules. "I knew that there had been no summons sent out for an immediate
meeting 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 what
would have happened to us."

"I was never more surprised," said Jules, "than when I saw you both
exhibit 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 received
the 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 shall
accompany me."

"And where is the rendezvous?" asked Chester.

"I'll show you," said Jules. He drew his watch from his pocket and
glanced 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 few
minutes early. Come."

He picked up his cap from the cot where he had thrown it and led the way
from the tent. Hal and Chester followed without a word. The same thought
was in the mind of each. At last they would be able to learn the nature
of the conspiracy which, although they knew nothing of it, had caused
them so much trouble.

After a walk of perhaps twenty minutes, in which time they had not been
challenge