“Come, Mr. Stubbs,” said Chester, “you know I was just fooling.”

“Well, I may be just fooling now, for all you know,” said Stubbs.

In vain did the lads plead to know what he was talking about.  Stubbs was obdurate and took his departure, announcing that he was going to do some more “snooping,” without enlightening them.

Hardly had he gone when the lads received a caller.  It was none other than the young French boy whom Hal had rescued from the hands of his tormentors the night before.

“They told me you came to my aid,” he said to Hal, “so I have come to thank you.”

“Who are they?” asked Hal.

“Some of the men.  It was true that I was ill last night.  Jules Clemenceau will not forget.”

The young French boy had stood with one hand in his pocket, and now withdrew the hand and extended it to Hal.  As he did so, two small objects fell from his pocket.  Apparently Jules did not notice them.  Hal shook hands with the boy and the Frenchman took his departure.

Chester, in the meantime, had picked up the two little objects and now he called to Jules, but the young Frenchman did not hear him.

“Oh, I guess he doesn’t want these things, anyhow,” the lad muttered.

“What things?” asked Hal, who had not seen the objects drop from Jules’ pocket.

Chester passed one of the objects to him.

“Know what it is?” he asked.

“Sure,” returned Hal, “don’t you?”

“No.  What is it?”

“A pea.”

“I never saw a pea like that.”

“Probably not.  They are rather rare.  A black pea, that’s what it is.  Where did you get it?”

“Jules dropped it out of his pocket.”

“Well, as he seems to think I have done him a favor, I am just going to keep this.  I guess he won’t mind.  I’ll carry it as a pocket piece.”

“Then I’ll carry the mate to it,” said Chester.

He put the little round pea in his pocket and Hal followed suit.

Although neither could possibly have suspected it, these two little peas were to be the means of getting them into all kinds of trouble.

There was heavy fighting that day and when night fell it found the Germans safely entrenched in the French second line trenches along a seven-mile front.  For some reason or other Hal and Chester did not get to the front, their duties confining them close to General Petain’s headquarters.  They were kept busy most of the day, however, and were tired out when they returned to their own quarters late that night.

Ready as they were for bed, they consented to sit up a while and talk with Stubbs, who announced that he had a wonderful tale to unfold.

“Well,” said Stubbs, “I have discovered a strange thing.  It’s a big thing and there are many men in the French army implicated in it.  Most likely in the British, too, and I know that it has touched the ranks of the enemy.”