“All is in readiness,” said General Gallieni.  “The President and the Prime Minister have been apprised of the plan, and it is to be acted upon as you suggested.”

Chester produced his watch and glanced at it.

“Half-past ten,” he said.  He turned to the general.  “Have you had any word from Hal?”

“Who?”

“Hal—­Lieutenant Paine.”

“No.”

“By Jove!” said Chester.  “I hope he hasn’t gotten into any trouble.”

Eleven o’clock came, and still no word from Hal.

At 11:15 Chester and Jean left the Hotel de Ville and made their way toward the Palace.  A great crowd had already assembled when they arrived, and they had some difficulty in pushing their way through, so that they might get as close as possible to the spot where the President was to stand while delivering his address.

By the dint of hard shoving and pushing, and the use of their elbows, however, they were finally successful, and came to a pause near the foot of the steps, in the very first line of spectators.  Beyond was drawn up an armed guard of perhaps a hundred soldiers.  No one could approach closer.

Chester turned and surveyed the crowd.  He thought it possible that Hal might be there some place, but, scan the faces as he would, he could see no sign of his chum.

The crowd was good-natured, and the people jostled and pushed and shoved each other jokingly.

Chester scanned the crowd once more, seeking to determine the figure of Duval, the Apache chief.  Several times he thought he recognized the man by his peculiar build, but in each case he soon found another that looked just the same in the crowd.

Jean also, at Chester’s request, had put his keen eyes to the test; but he was no more fortunate.  However, both realized that, some place in that crowd Duval had his eyes on them.

In the distance came the faint sound of a bell, as a clock chimed the first stroke of the hour of noon; and, with the last stroke, the President of France appeared upon the steps of the palace.

A great roar of applause went up from the crowd and continued for fully five minutes; nor did it cease at once as the President advanced to the very edge of the uppermost step and raised a hand for silence.

Then, gradually, the sounds of tumult died down, and President Poincare opened his mouth and began to speak.

One, two, three minutes the President spoke, while all about reigned the silence of death; then, suddenly, at the expiration of the third minute, he stepped back suddenly, while at the same moment a long line of French soldiers stepped into place in front of him.

From the edge of the crowd, at the side nearest Chester and Jean, the stillness was suddenly shattered by the sharp crack of an automatic, and a soldier who stood before the President of France toppled in his tracks.  Another stepped into his place, and the President was safe.