General Tromp shifted nervously from one foot to the other, his hands twitching convulsively.  Suddenly one hand leaped to his side.

“I wouldn’t do that,” said Hal quietly, and turning General Tromp saw the lad’s revolver pointed squarely at him, held in a steady hand.

His hand dropped to his side again, and for some moments the traitor stood in silence.  Then, suddenly, his shaking stopped.  He raised his eyes and looked his commander straight in the eyes.

“It shall be as you say, sir,” he said calmly.  “You are right.  I am a traitor.  I would not have been, but—­but—­well that makes no difference now.  You shall see, sir, that I am no coward.  I am not afraid to die.  Neither need you fear that I shall not do as you command.  Thus shall I atone for my sin.”

“I do not fear you will disobey,” said the general softly.

“I am sorry, sir,” continued General Tromp, “sorry because of you, more so than because of France.  I know that it is useless to ask your forgiveness.”

“For your treachery toward me,” said General Joffre softly, “I forgive you freely; but for your treachery to France I cannot.”

The traitor once more looked the general straight in the eyes, and slowly his heels came together and his hand came to a salute.

“Good-by, sir,” he said quietly; then turned on his heel and walked away, his carriage erect, and without a tremor.

For a moment General Joffre stared after him, and his eyes became dim.  Quickly he passed his hand over his eyes; then, motioning for Hal and Chester to follow him, turned slowly toward his car.

“A good man—­and an excellent officer,” he muttered to himself, “if he had but gone straight.”

The car sped away.  That evening, while Hal and Chester stood beside General Joffre, back again in his headquarters, an orderly rushed into the tent, and forgetting the formality of a salute in his haste, went up to the general and thrust a paper into his hand.

Silently the general read it, passed it to Hal, and turned his head away.  Chester, leaning over his friend’s shoulder, read the words the message contained: 

“The body of General Emil Tromp was found in his quarters at the front this afternoon.  He had shot himself through the head.”

“Evidently came by field wireless,” said Chester.

“Yes,” replied Hal.

General Joffre turned again to his desk, picked up a pen and wrote.  Then he read aloud to Hal and Chester: 

“General Emil Tromp was struck down by a German shell at the front this afternoon.  He died almost instantly.”

“I am sure I may depend upon you to say nothing of what you have heard to-day,” he said quietly.

“You may, sir,” said Hal and Chester in one breath

General Joffre tapped the bell on his desk.  An orderly entered and came to a salute.

“Orderly,” said General Joffre, handing him the message he had just written, “have this sent to the war office immediately.”