nstrued as defiance in their manner; rather,
nothing but respectful attention.

"So!" said General Petain at last. "So! I find you two lads, whom I have
trusted, 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 and
then claim innocence? Impossible!"

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Hal, "but it is not impossible. It is
the truth."

"But I have it on high authority," returned the general, "that you have
been the possessors of the emblem of the conspirators for some days now."

"That is true enough, sir," Hal agreed; "but we came into the possession
of those black peas accidentally and with no thought of their
significance."

The general sniffed contemptuously.

"My information regarding you boys comes from a source that I am afraid I
must 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 the
case. Now, I know you boys have been of great value to the cause of the
Allies. My informant is authority for that statement also. You have
accomplished much and France and the other allied countries must thank
you. But it appears now that you have been led from the proper way of
thinking; and my informant in your case says, and rightly, that from
young men who have done much to advance the cause of the Allies, there is
much to be feared when they embark upon some other venture.

"You are both resourceful; I know that. That is the reason that I have
had you placed under arrest--that you may not turn your energies against
us. I shall have you sent to Paris, thence to London, and I hope that
before 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 you
again to name the man who has caused us to be in this predicament. His
name is Stubbs."

"Well, I see no need to deny it," said General Petain.

"General," said Chester, now stepping forward, "I would be glad if you
would give me an opportunity to explain this matter."

"It shall not be said that I denied any man a hearing," was the general's
reply. "Proceed."

As briefly as possible Chester recounted the manner in which they had
come into possession of the two peas; of why they decided to keep them;
of their capture the night before by Anthony Stubbs and of the