Up to this time the tent had been in darkness, but now someone struck a light.  Hal and Chester gazed at their captors.  All were attired in regulation army uniforms, but their faces were masked.  One man, who seemed to be the leader, was short and chunky.  The others were taller.  The small man approached the lads and spoke.

“If you will give me your words to make no outcry, I shall have the gags removed,” he said in a shrill, quavering voice, plainly disguised.

Hal considered this point a moment; then nodded his head in token of assent.  Chester did likewise.

“All right,” said the little man and beckoned the others to remove the gags.

Their mouths free of the evil-tasting cloths, Hal and Chester breathed easier.

“Now,” said Chester, “perhaps you will explain what this is all about.”

The little man shook his head.

“No,” he replied, “all I can tell you is this!  You shall be kept confined here until your removal to Paris can be arranged.  Then you will be sent to London and put aboard a vessel for New York.  That’s all I can say.”

“But what for?” demanded Hal, angrily.

“That you will not be told,” was the reply, “although I guess you don’t need to be told.”

“By George!” exclaimed Chester, “I don’t know what you are talking about, but you can take my word that somebody is going to suffer for this night’s work.  How long do you intend to hold us here?”

“I can’t say.  Possibly a day or two; at all events, until your removal can be arranged.”

“Do you know who we are?” demanded Hal.

The little man nodded.

“Perfectly,” he replied.

“You know that we are attached to the staff of General Petain?”

Again their captor nodded.

“And still you’ve got the nerve to hold us here?”

“Yes, I’ve got the nerve.”

“Don’t you know you shall suffer for this?”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“At least I shall have done my duty,” he replied.

“Duty!  Great Scott!  Duty!  What are you talking about?” demanded Hal, angrily.  “Are you a German sympathizer?”

“No, my sympathies are French,” was the reply.

“Well, if you call this doing your duty,” said Chester, sarcastically, “let’s hope you don’t have too many duties to perform in the service of France.  For if you do, the Germans certainly will win.”

“Well,” said their captor, “I guess I shall have to leave you now.  I must make my report.”

“Who are you going to report to?” demanded Hal, suddenly, thinking to take the man off his guard.

The latter only grinned.

“I’m too old a bird for that trick,” he said, showing that he understood what had been in Hal’s mind.  “I’m going to report to the proper person.”

“Improper person, I guess you mean,” Chester growled.

“At any rate, I must report,” said their captor.  “Now if you’ll promise to make no outcry while I’m gone, I will not have the gags replaced in your mouths.  Otherwise, I am afraid—­”