completed, Hal and the French lieutenant were at last face
to face.

"On guard!" came the command, given by Lieutenant Anderson.

The swords flashed aloft.

A moment later and they were at it. For a few moments both combatants
were wary, each feeling the other out. A few passes and Hal realized
that he was no match for the more experienced Frenchman.

"I must be very careful," he told himself. "Perhaps I can wear him
down a bit, and slip over a light thrust. I certainly don't want to
kill him. And I don't want to be killed myself."

The French lieutenant was pressing him sorely now. His sword darted in
and out with dazzling rapidity, and Hal thanked his stars that he had
been fortunate enough to have had some schooling in the use of the
foil.

Hal contented himself with remaining on the defensive, and not an
attempt did he make to touch the Frenchman, although the latter left
several openings, only, Hal knew, to draw him on. The lieutenant at
last began to grow impatient, and with impatience came carelessness.

He had realized, as had Hal, with the first few passes, that the lad
was not an accomplished swordsman. And the fact now that he could not
penetrate the other's guard angered him.

Suddenly he aimed a fierce thrust at Hal, and the latter only escaped
being impaled on the other's sword by a quick leap aside. Before the
Frenchman could recover his balance, Hal stepped nimbly forward again,
his sword darted out, and the lieutenant dropped his weapon with a
muttered imprecation. Hal's point had pierced his arm just below the
shoulder.

The Frenchman's seconds immediately leaped forward, and Hal stepped
over to Chester and Lieutenant Anderson.

"I guess that ends it," he said. "I suppose his honor is appeased
now."

"Don't be too sure," replied Lieutenant Anderson. "He is likely to be
more furious than ever, and demand that the fight continue until one
of you fall. He must realize that you are no match for him, and he
counts on that to give him victory. However, I must say that you have
handled yourself well, and, if you keep your head, you may succeed in
dropping him."

The lieutenant's predictions proved correct. Lieutenant Dupree had had
his wound bandaged, and now demanded that the fight be resumed. Hal
was not the lad to protest, so the two were soon at swords' points
again.

But now both Hal and Lieutenant Dupree fought more warily. Hal could
read in his opponent's eyes that he had made up his