“How did you happen to see him, Hal?” asked Chester.

“I don’t know,” was Hal’s reply.  “I was awakened just as Jules here came through the window.  I was about to call out when I saw Matin coming toward me with drawn knife.  I drew my revolver quietly and waited.  I wanted him to get close enough so I would not miss.  My arm was doubled under me and I wasn’t certain at that distance.”

“Is he dead?” asked Chester as Hal bent over the body.

“No,” said Hal.  “I didn’t shoot to kill him.  I shot him through the shoulder.”

“Then he should regain consciousness pretty quick,” declared Chester.

“Oh, he’s conscious right now,” said Hal.  “He’s just shamming a bit.  Isn’t that so, Matin?”

Matin sat up.

“What of it?” he demanded.

“Nothing,” returned Hal, “except that the next time you come near me, except in the performance of duty, you will not get off so lightly.”

“Are you going to let him go?” asked Jules, in surprise.

“What did you expect me to do with him?” demanded Hal.

“Shoot him again.”

Hal was forced to smile at the grimness of the boy’s tones.

“No,” he said quietly, “I have done him injury enough for one time.  Let him go.”

“But he will try to kill you again!”

“If he does, he will wish he hadn’t,” was Hal’s reply.

He turned and prodded Matin with the toe of his boot.  “Get up and get out of here,” he said sharply.

Cringingly, Matin obeyed.  He slunk out of the room without a word.

“Now I can breath easier,” declared Hal.  “His presence contaminated the air.”

“I am afraid you let him off too easily, Hal,” said Chester.  “You at least should report him and have him put in a safe place.”

“I guess I am big enough to fight my own battles, Chester,” said Hal.  “The French officers have enough to do without worrying about men like Matin.  Besides, I don’t really believe he will bother me again.”

And so the subject was dismissed.  Jules took his departure and Hal and Chester again lay down to sleep.  Chester was just about to doze when a sudden thought struck him.

“I say, Hal,” he called.

“What’s the trouble now?”

“Do you suppose it could have been Matin who shot at you that night in our quarters?”

“I don’t know.  I hardly think so, though.  I believe that gentleman called to pay his respects to Stubbs.”

“But—­”

“Come, Chester,” said Hal, “it’s getting late and I am going to get six good hours’ sleep.”

But Hal was mistaken.  There was to be yet another interruption to the slumber of the two lads.  It came suddenly and unexpectedly.

It was still an hour before dawn when the German artillery broke forth afresh, thousands of guns hurling death upon the sleeping French lines.  The men were awake in an instant and rushed to their positions.  Out of the first confusion order came promptly as officers issued sharp commands.  Officers and men had the same thought.  The heavy bombardment presaged a new German assault.