to cause the others to realize that when they plot treason to France
their necks are in jeopardy."

"Precisely," agreed General Gallieni. "But this Duval is a slippery
fellow and hard to catch. I have learned that, unlike other Apaches, he
comes of better blood; in fact, is supposed to be a gentleman. But,
beyond this, I have learned nothing except the existence of the plot to
kidnap the President."

"But the police and the secret service men," said the Prime Minister,
"haven't they been able--"

"The police and secret service men, bah!" interrupted General Gallieni.
"They have learned nothing. Their faces are so familiar to the denizens
of the underworld as to make them absolutely useless. I have set some of
my officers on the trail, but they seem to have met with no better luck.
No; we must have men whose identities cannot be so easily established;
strangers, say, who are willing to risk their lives by going into the
haunts of the Apaches, and, perhaps, putting themselves in their power."

"Then, sir," said Chester, taking a step forward, "you need seek no
further. My friend and I shall be glad to undertake the work."

"You!" exclaimed the Prime Minister, starting back in surprise. "Why, you
are nothing but boys."

"True," said Hal, somewhat nettled, "but more than once we have
accomplished men's work."

General Gallieni looked at them long and carefully. Then he once more
turned his eyes upon the contents of General Joffre's message.

"General Joffre," he said quietly, "speaks highly of you both. He says
that you are to be trusted implicitly and he appears to have great
confidence in your resourcefulness. Upon his recommendation I should say
that, if you are willing to undertake the work, you would come as near
bringing it to a successful termination as any men we might find."

"Thank you, sir," said Hal quietly. "We are both willing and eager to
make the attempt."

"Then," said the general, "we shall consider the matter settled."

"But," protested the Prime Minister, "it seems to me that they are much
too young to be allowed to assume such a risk."

"From General Joffre's letter," remarked the military governor of Paris
dryly, "I should say that they have already assumed risks every whit as
great." He turned again to Hal and Chester. "Do you know anything of the
Apaches of Paris?" he asked.

"Only what we have read," replied Chester. "I should say that they are of
the lowest possible order of criminal