"But, general," the young captain spoke up, "these boys are in no way to blame. They are perfectly innocent!"
"Shoot us if you like, but spare them," pleaded the lieutenant.
"Bah!" exclaimed the general. "One is as guilty as the other!"
With a wave of his hand he signified that the interview was ended.
"Take them away!" he ordered.
"It's all my fault!" exclaimed Captain Derevaux when they were back in the cell once more. "I should not have permitted you boys to accompany us."
"It is not!" denied Hal and Chester together. "Whatever may befall us is no discredit to you. Had we not come with you, we probably should have tried to escape the country alone."
"But if you had not been captured in our company you would be in no danger of being shot," declared Lieutenant Anderson. "I cannot forgive myself that I consented to your coming."
"Never mind that," said Hal. "You tried to help us, and that we go to our deaths to-morrow morning is not due to you."
"Fool that I was!" cried the Frenchman. "Had I kept my presence of mind in Steinberg's hut our position would not be so desperate. It was my salute that caused all this trouble."