"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."