“And I would like to get him back to my own quarters,” he concluded.

“Very well,” said General Domont.  “I shall place an automobile at your disposal.”

The French officer was as good as his word and in a high-power motor car Hal and Chester, the latter having regained consciousness, were soon on their way to headquarters, Hal bearing General Domont’s report on the morning’s encounter.

Hal went first to the quarters of General Petain, where he delivered General Domont’s report; then he accompanied Chester to their own quarters, where he made Chester as comfortable as possible.

He was just about to leave Chester alone, when another figure entered the tent.  It was Stubbs.

“Hello, Mr. Stubbs,” said Chester from his cot.  “Where have you been all summer?”

“Summer?” said Mr. Stubbs, removing his overcoat.  “This is the month of February.”

“All right; have it your own way,” said Chester.

“Well, I’ve just been having a look around,” said Stubbs.

“Find out anything more about the conspiracy?” asked Hal.

“What conspiracy?” demanded Stubbs.

“Why, the one you were telling us about the other night,” exclaimed
Chester.

Stubbs looked at the lad critically.

“Wounded to-day, weren’t you?” he asked.

“A trifle,” returned Chester.

“Any fever?” asked Stubbs.

“No,” said Hal.  “Why?”

“Why?  He’s dreaming things.  What’s this conspiracy he’s talking about?”

Chester sat up in his cot.

“You don’t mean to tell me you don’t remember what you told us about it?” he demanded.

Stubbs tapped his head with a significant gesture and nodded to Hal.

“Did you have a surgeon look at him?” he asked.

“Look here, Stubbs—­” began Chester angrily.

“Here, here,” interposed Hal.  “You lie down there, Chester.  I’ll talk to our friend here.”

At this Mr. Stubbs moved toward the outside.

“I’ve got to be going now,” he announced.

“Well, you’re not going to go until you tell me what all this foolishness is about,” declared Hal.

“Foolishness?”

“Yes, foolishness.  You can’t deny, can you, that you told us the other night you had unearthed a conspiracy of some kind?”

“I can,” said Stubbs, “but I won’t.  It’s my belief that there is something wrong with both of you.  What would I know about a conspiracy?”

“That’s what I would like to know,” returned Chester, from his cot.  “If you won’t tell us, I’ve a notion to tell General Petain what you told us.”

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” said Stubbs.  “It wouldn’t do you any good.  He probably would think your wound had affected your mind.  That’s what I think.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” said Hal.  “You are just trying to keep the thing to yourself, whatever it is.  Maybe you’re going to slip it by the censor to the Gazette, eh?”