he said, indicating Hal and Chester with a wave of his
hand, "deny the charges you have made against them, sir."

"Surely, you didn't expect them to admit it, sir?" questioned
Stubbs, shifting from one foot to another, as Hal and Chester bent
their gaze on him.

"Well, no, I didn't," was General Petain's reply, "but they tell such a
straightforward story that I am of the opinion you must be mistaken as to
their part in this conspiracy."

"But the peas," said Stubbs. "They had them."

"Well, somebody might have slipped one into your pocket, as far as that
goes," said General Petain; "and then you might be standing here under
suspicion."

"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 to
prove nothing."

"But the peas--"

"Never mind about the peas," stormed the general. "By any chance, when
you had these officers in your tent last night, did they admit connection
with 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 war
correspondent are you, anyhow?"

Stubbs was offended. He drew himself up and would have made reply, but
General Petain silenced him with a gesture.

"I don't question your loyalty," he said, "and I know that you acted with
the good of these lads at heart. But I am convinced you have been
mistaken. I am going to release these boys. Lieutenant Paine! Lieutenant
Crawford! 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. I
don't know what they will do to me." Stubbs looked nervous.

"Very well," said General Petain with a smile. "Then hurry and take your
departure, Mr. Stubbs."

Stubbs needed no urging and he disappeared from the general's tent with
agility; and Hal called after him:

"Better hunt a hole, Mr. Stubbs; we'll be on your trail in a few
minutes!"

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 came
bitterness to them, to the French troops, their officers and to the
people of France and of all the allied nations.

For the armies of the German Crown Prince continued