ugh he
defied his judges to do their worst, and to mock at their evident
disgust.

Tom gave his evidence clearly, and without any waste of words.

"You knew him before you went into the Army, then?"

"Yes, sir," replied Tom.

"Tell us where."

Whereupon Tom told of Waterman's association with him in Brunford, and
of the conversations he had had with the prisoner.

"I didn't quite understand at the time," said Tom, "why he seemed so
sure of the Germans getting the best of it. He seemed to be glad when
he told me of the tremendous strength of the German army, and the
preparations they had made. He said he had been to Germany to school,
and had lived there a long time; that was how he came to know so much
about it. I could never quite make it out how an Englishman who loved
his country could be so sure that the Germans would win. Besides, he
didn't talk about it as though it would be a calamity, but something he
would be proud of; but I don't know that I thought much of it at the
time, especially when he told me he was going to receive a commission
in our Army; but later on, when I found out the Germans knew what we
were going to do, I wondered how they'd found out, and that led me to
put one thing to another."

This was not strict evidence, and the officers knew it, but they
allowed Tom to tell his story his own way.

"That was why I determined to watch him," went on Tom, "and--well, sir,
that was how things turned out as they did."

When Tom's evidence came to an end he was told to retire. The lad was
sorely grieved at this, because he would have liked to remain to the
end; but after all, he was only a private, and he was there simply to
give his evidence.

"Shooting's too good for him," thought Tom as he left the room. "What
a look he did give me! If a look could murder a man I should not be
alive now!"

"Now then," said the President to Waterman, when Tom had gone, "what
have you got to say for yourself?"

"Nothing," replied Waterman. He was no longer respectful or polite.
His every word suggested insolence.

"You admit, then, that you are guilty of the charges that have been
brought against you?"

Waterman shrugged his shoulders scornfully.

"You admit that you, an officer in the British Army, have given away
your country's secrets and become an ally to the enemy?"

Waterman laughed. "I have simply tried to serve my own country," was
his reply, "the country which will soon conquer yours.