The general walked to the door of the tent with the two boys and waved a hand to them as they turned away.

“Well,” said Hal, as they walked along, “we apparently have accomplished something worth while.”

“To hear the general talk you would think we had,” agreed Chester, “and still we didn’t do so much, after all.”

“That’s what I think.”

“By the way,” said Chester, “I’m going to hunt up Stubbs’ old quarters.  Perhaps he hasn’t moved his things yet.  I’ll lend a hand.”

“All right,” said Hal.  “I’ll go along without you.  I’ll probably be taking a nap when you reach our quarters.  Don’t awaken me.  I’m tired.”

The lads parted and Hal continued on his way to his quarters.

Stubbs had not yet arrived.  Hal sat down on the edge of his cot to remove his shoes.  As he did so he thought he heard a sound from behind him.  He whirled suddenly and there, a few feet away, his revolver trained right upon Hal’s heart, stood Matin, the French soldier who already had tried once to kill him.

“A visitor, I see,” said Hal, quietly.  “You will pardon me a moment while I remove my shoes.  That is what I started to do and when I start a thing I always like to finish it.”

“Take them off if you want to,” returned Matin, grinning evilly.  “You won’t need to put them on again.”

“Think not?” said Hal.  “You never can tell about those things, Matin.”

“Trying to be funny, are you?” returned Matin.  “Well, go ahead.  You won’t lie funny long—­not to anyone but me.  I’m going to shoot you.”

“Don’t suppose you would let me draw my own gun first, would you?” asked Hal.

“No.  What do you think I am?”

“Just a coward; that’s all,” said Hal, quietly.

“Coward, am I?” exclaimed Matin, taking a quick step forward.

“Correct,” replied Hal.  “It’s about your size to shoot a man in the back.  I have had dealings with your kind before.  You’re afraid to take an even chance.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid,” said Matin.  “It’s just that I want to make sure.  I failed twice before.”

“Then it was you who tried to shoot me in here one night, eh?” asked Hal.

“Yes; and I would have succeeded had it not been for your friend.  When I have disposed of you I shall settle with him also.”

“I don’t think so, Matin.”

“You don’t?  What’s to prevent me?”

“Why,” said Hal, “when I am through with you, you will be in no condition to settle with anyone.  Now, if you will take my advice, you’ll put that gun in your pocket and leave this tent.”

“Talk pretty big, don’t you?” said Matin, with a sneer.  “Well, I’ll show you!”

He raised his revolver so that the muzzle pointed squarely between Hal’s eyes.  His finger tightened on the trigger.

“One moment, Matin,” said Hal, quietly.  “Don’t you know that before you can pull the trigger my friend in the doorway will kill you?”