“Since Captain Prescott has made the charge, it must stand, of course, until you have been taken before competent authority,” De Verne said coldly.  “Pirot!  Grugny!  I turn Lieutenant Noyez over into your charge.  You will give him no chance to get out of your hands.  And now, we must find our way home.”

Two men were sent up over the parapet, then the prisoners were ordered up and held there at the muzzles of rifles.  The rest of the patrol followed.

“We will make fast time back,” ordered Lieutenant De Verne, “as we know there are no enemy hereabouts in the first-line trenches.”

Crossing rapidly, though softly, the patrol was challenged by a sentry in the French trench.  De Verne went forward to answer and to establish the identity of his patrol.  Then they were allowed to pass in by the wire defenses, and next descended to the trench.  Officers and men hurriedly cleansed the black from their hands and faces.

“We will now march to Captain Cartier,” said De Verne, “and he shall give us our further orders.”

“You are looking for your friends, Captain?” spoke up a French soldier in the trench, in his own tongue.  “Captain Ribaut has taken them west along the line.”

“Thank you.  If they return, you will tell them where I have gone.”

By this time the German colonel was cursing volubly.  He felt that he could talk, at last, without danger of being killed for his audacity.  Noyez, pallid as in death, was silent, his eyes cast down.

Back to the third line of trenches De Verne led the party, then down into the dug-out of his company commander, Captain Cartier.

“A German colonel and Lieutenant Noyez, prisoners!” announced the patrol leader.

“The German colonel I can understand truly,” replied the French captain.  “But why Lieutenant Noyez?”

“Captain Prescott, of the American Army, arrested both and made the charges against Noyez,” De Verne responded.  “You will hear him now?”

As it was their first meeting Captain Cartier shook hands with Dick, who then told what he had overheard.

“Noyez, a German spy!” exclaimed Captain Cartier.  “Truly, it seems incredible.”

“It is worse!  It is an infamous charge!” cried Noyez passionately.

“Yet our American comrade must be truthful, a man of honor,” said Captain Cartier, in a bewildered tone.

“May I suggest, sir,” Dick interposed, “that it will be easy to decide.  If Lieutenant Noyez was in the German trenches by orders of his superiors, or with their knowledge, then that would establish a first point in his favor.  But if he was there without either orders or permission, then plainly he must have gone there on treasonable business.”

“That is absolutely fair!” declared Captain Cartier.  “I will send at once for Noyez’s captain, and we shall hear what he says.”

In dejected silence Noyez awaited the arrival of Captain Gaulte, who promptly declared that he had no knowledge of any authority for his lieutenant to visit the enemy’s lines.  Gaulte had, in fact, supposed that Noyez was back of the lines on over-night leave, for which he had applied.