The Boy Allies at Verdun Part 45

The general considered the matter for a moment. Then he threw wide his arms in a gesture of consent.

"It shall be done," he said.

"Thank you, General," said Stubbs. "Then, with your permission, I will retire to my own quarters to prepare my despatches."

"One minute, Stubbs," said Chester. "You may perhaps remember that until a short time ago you shared quarters with Hal and me. We would like to have you come back."

Stubbs grinned.

"That was before the discovery of the great conspiracy," he said. "By the way, General, may I make so bold as to ask what has been done toward crus.h.i.+ng the move?"

"It has been crushed, sir," replied General Petain, quietly. "That shall have to suffice. And, by the way, Mr. Stubbs, I must tell you that if you refer to that matter in your despatches they will be strictly censored."

"I shall not mention the matter, General."

Stubbs bowed and took his departure, first stopping to say to Hal and Chester:

"You'll find me back in our old quarters when you arrive."

"Now, boys," said General Petain, after Stubbs had gone, "you are relieved of duty for the rest of the day. To-morrow morning, however, I shall have need of you; for to-morrow--and I am telling you something few know--we shall launch a new drive, basing our attacks upon the information which you have just now furnished me. Good-bye until to-morrow."

The general walked to the door of the tent with the two boys and waved a hand to them as they turned away.

"Well," said Hal, as they walked along, "we apparently have accomplished something worth while."

"To hear the general talk you would think we had," agreed Chester, "and still we didn't do so much, after all."

"That's what I think."

"By the way," said Chester, "I'm going to hunt up Stubbs' old quarters.

Perhaps he hasn't moved his things yet. I'll lend a hand."

"All right," said Hal. "I'll go along without you. I'll probably be taking a nap when you reach our quarters. Don't awaken me. I'm tired."

The lads parted and Hal continued on his way to his quarters.

Stubbs had not yet arrived. Hal sat down on the edge of his cot to remove his shoes. As he did so he thought he heard a sound from behind him. He whirled suddenly and there, a few feet away, his revolver trained right upon Hal's heart, stood Matin, the French soldier who already had tried once to kill him.

"A visitor, I see," said Hal, quietly. "You will pardon me a moment while I remove my shoes. That is what I started to do and when I start a thing I always like to finish it."

"Take them off if you want to," returned Matin, grinning evilly. "You won't need to put them on again."

"Think not?" said Hal. "You never can tell about those things, Matin."

"Trying to be funny, are you?" returned Matin. "Well, go ahead. You won't lie funny long--not to anyone but me. I'm going to shoot you."

"Don't suppose you would let me draw my own gun first, would you?"

asked Hal.

"No. What do you think I am?"

"Just a coward; that's all," said Hal, quietly.

"Coward, am I?" exclaimed Matin, taking a quick step forward.

"Correct," replied Hal. "It's about your size to shoot a man in the back. I have had dealings with your kind before. You're afraid to take an even chance."

"It's not that I'm afraid," said Matin. "It's just that I want to make sure. I failed twice before."

"Then it was you who tried to shoot me in here one night, eh?" asked Hal.

"Yes; and I would have succeeded had it not been for your friend. When I have disposed of you I shall settle with him also."

"I don't think so, Matin."

"You don't? What's to prevent me?"

"Why," said Hal, "when I am through with you, you will be in no condition to settle with anyone. Now, if you will take my advice, you'll put that gun in your pocket and leave this tent."

"Talk pretty big, don't you?" said Matin, with a sneer. "Well, I'll show you!"

He raised his revolver so that the muzzle pointed squarely between Hal's eyes. His finger tightened on the trigger.

"One moment, Matin," said Hal, quietly. "Don't you know that before you can pull the trigger my friend in the doorway will kill you?"

A look of fright and disappointment pa.s.sed over Matin's face. Slowly he lowered his revolver and turned toward the doorway. It was the moment for which Hal had been waiting.

With a bound he leaped upon Matin and with his left hand seized Matin's right wrist. Matin uttered a snarl of rage.

"Tricked me, did you?" he shouted. "You shall pay for it."

It had been Hal's intention at first simply to wrest the revolver from his opponent's hands and then turn the man over to the officer of the guard.

But Matin's strength was greater than the lad had imagined; also he was wild with rage. With his free hand he struck viciously at Hal, while he kicked with his feet and sought to bury his teeth in Hal's arm.

But Hal held him back.

Vainly, Matin sought to move his right arm around so as to bring the muzzle upon Hal's heart. With a quick move Hal suddenly released his hold upon Matin's pistol wrist and seized the pistol hand. His finger covered Matin's finger on the trigger.

Matin's hand at that moment was extended straight from him. Slowly now, as Hal exerted his utmost pressure, the arm described a semicircle. Now it pointed almost straight forward. Then, as Hal brought more strength into play, the arm curved inward; and directly the revolver pointed squarely at Matin's heart.

The perspiration stood out in great beads on Matin's forehead. He was panting and gasping for breath. Hal was breathing easily, though the manner in which the sinews on his forehead and arms stood out showed to what extent he had extended himself.

When the mouth of the revolver pointed at Matin's heart, Hal said quietly:

"Now, Matin, if you will release your hold on this gun I will let you go free."

Matin's answer was a snarl of rage.