jerked hurriedly aside and many men rushed in.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE END OF THE CONSPIRACY.

When Chester opened his eyes to the world again he was propped up on
General Givet's own bed, and the Belgian commander and a Belgian surgeon
were leaning over him.

"Awake at last, eh?" said General Givet, with a smile, as Chester opened
his lips to speak. "You had a narrow squeak, and no mistake. And to think
that a young lad like you should be the means of saving my life!"

"You have indeed rendered a great service to Belgium," broke in the
surgeon. "But how do you feel?"

"A little weak," replied Chester, with a faint smile. "But Captain
Bassil? Where is the traitor?"

"Dead," was the Belgian commander's laconic response.

Chester shuddered involuntarily.

"Never mind," said the general; "it was his life or yours, and mine too,
for that matter."

"But it makes a fellow feel awfully queer," said Chester. "In battle it
would have been different. But to shoot--"

He broke off and was silent.

"And the conspiracy?" he asked, after a brief pause. "You have taken
steps to catch the Germans in their own trap?"

"I have," said the general grimly. "They will wish they had attempted to
take Louvain in some other manner. Thinking us unprepared, they will be
too confident. If they fall into our trap--and I am positive they
will--they will be annihilated."

Chester was struck with a sudden idea.

"General," he said, "why can't we round up all the conspirators that are
in the city?"

"In what way?" asked the commander.

Chester's reply was another question:

"Has your attempted assassination been kept a secret, or is it
generally known?"

"It has been kept quiet," was the general's reply. "Were it generally
known our coup might fail."

"Exactly as I thought," said Chester. "Now I am almost positive that the
conspirators will gather for one more session before the German advance,
if only to make sure that nothing has gone amiss. We can surround the
house and capture them red-handed."

"An excellent idea!" exclaimed the general. "It shall be acted upon.
I will give orders to that effect immediately," and he turned to
leave the tent.

But before he should step outside, Chester jumped out of bed and ran
after him.

"And how about me, sir?" he demanded. "Am I not to be allowed to take
part in the capture?"

"You!" exclaimed the general. "You are in no condition to move about. You
shall stay here in bed."