The general paused and looked keenly at the faces about him.  No man spoke.

“Good,” said the general, “then I know you are with me.”

“And the time?  When will the time come?” asked one man in the crowd.

“That I cannot say,” responded the general, quietly.  “But I can assure you that it will be before long.  You will all be notified by the messengers, that you may be ready.  Now are there any other questions?”

“If we fail, then what?” asked another man.

General Pombrey shrugged his shoulders.

“Probably court martial and a firing squad,” he said indifferently.  “But you will have died in a glorious cause, whereas now—­”

A glimpse of happiness stole over the general’s face.  To Hal and Chester it meant but one thing.  General Pombrey was a fanatic; and the men who had come under his spell were fanatics.  In that instant Hal and Chester both realized that this matter must be brought to General Petain immediately.

After some few other words, General Pombrey signified that the meeting was over, and the men filed from the tent singly and in pairs, discussing the matter in low tones.

Outside Hal and Chester were accosted again by Jules Clemenceau.

“And what do you think of General Pombrey?” asked the young Frenchman, his face shining.

For a moment Hal considered what was best to say.  Should he try and convince Jules that his present course was wrong; that there was to be considered the honor of his country rather than the opinion of General Pombrey?  The lad decided on the side of caution.

“A good man,” he replied quietly.  “A man who will face a firing squad without a tremor, secure in the belief he is dying for a good cause.”

“And do you not think the cause good, and just?” demanded Jules, anxiously.

“If not, why should I be the bearer of a pocket-full of black peas?” was Hal’s reply.

Jules, apparently, was satisfied.

Alone in their own quarters later Hal and Chester discussed the situation seriously.

“To tell the truth,” said Chester, “I am half inclined to agree with General Pombrey.  But if for no other reason, there is one thing that would make me reveal this plot to General Petain.”

“And that?” asked Hal.

“That,” said Chester, “is the fact that General Pombrey and the others engaged in this conspiracy are lacking upon the German troops to throw down their arms and refuse to fight at the same moment the French and British do.”

“Well?” asked Hal, but he was beginning to catch Chester’s drift.

“Well,” said Chester, “you and I know the Germans won’t do that.  It’s a ten to one bet that the German general staff knows all about this conspiracy.  The peace talk has been carried from one army to the other by the prisoners.  The Germans will take advantage of it.  Should the French really follow General Pombrey’s plan, they would be slaughtered by the thousands.  The Germans could not keep faith.  You know that.”