he had reckoned without his host.
Lying almost at full length on the ground as he was, he drove his fist
straight upward into Hal's face. The lad released his hold upon his
enemy's throat and fell back.

It was now beginning to grow light, and, as the man sprang after him,
Hal recognized him. It was young Dersi!

"Dersi!" gasped Hal, as he once more put himself in an attitude of
defense.

"Yes," gritted his opponent, "and I am going to kill you both, right
here and now."

With this he sprang upon Hal and bore him to the ground. But the lad
was not to be thus easily conquered, and, with a mighty effort,
wriggled from beneath his assailant and sprang back to gain a breath.

This movement almost cost him his life, for, in springing back, he
allowed his opponent time to reach down and pick up his revolver. This
he now pointed full at Hal.

But aid came from an unexpected source. Chester, who had been lying
unconscious up to this time, now recovered sufficiently to take in the
situation about him. In his hand he still grasped the automatic.

This he brought to bear, and an instant before Dersi's finger pressed
the trigger, Chester fired. Dersi fell to the ground with a groan. His
revolver exploded as he fell, and the bullet whistled close to Hal's
right ear.

Quickly Hal jumped to Chester's side and raised his chum in his arms.

"Chester! Chester!" he said anxiously. "Tell me, are you much hurt?"

"Not much, I think," was his friend's reply. "But he gave me an awful
wallop. I shall be all right presently."

Hal did not leave his friend for a moment until Chester announced that
his head had cleared up sufficiently for him to stand. With Hal's
assistance he struggled to his feet, one hand holding the side of his
head.

"He kicked like a mule," said Chester. "Great Scott! I never had
anything hurt like that."

At that instant there came a groan from the fallen man.

Hal and Chester bent over him. Dersi's voice was very indistinct, and
the boys at first were unable to distinguish what he said.

Hal placed his ear close to the dying man's lips. The voice came
faintly.

"Do not tell mother I died like this. It would break her heart. She
thinks I am a soldier of France. And so I was," and his voice became
stronger, "until I fell in with evil companions. Then I began to
gamble. I lost. I needed money. When the war broke out, I was offered
a chance to cancel all my debts, if I would deliver certain plans to
the