He turned his back on Jean and sat down. Producing a monogramed cigarette case he opened it, extracted a cigarette, and lighted up. He paid no further heed to those about him.
Hal and Chester, out of the tail of their eyes, surveyed him critically.
The man had now removed his overcoat and the lads saw that his clothes
were neatly pressed and of good texture. A diamond glistened in his tie.
Plainly he was no Apache.
Georges, in the meantime, had been busy. He aroused several of the apparently sleeping men, spoke a few words to them, and the latter hurried away. Some minutes later they returned, and after them came others. These drifted in gradually now and slunk into chairs. When the supply of chairs had been exhausted newcomers sat on the floor.
Soon the room was full to overflowing.
The man who had accosted Hal and Chester now threw away his cigarette and once more approached the lads. Jean, perceiving this, also left his chair and came forward.
The man whom Hal and Chester surmised was some sort of a lieutenant of the Apache chief, addressed them.
"Do you know what we are here for?" he asked.
"No," said Hal.
Chester also shook his head.
"Well, I'll tell you," said the man. "We are here to make money. The President is sought by the Germans, and we are to see that he is delivered safely into their hands. For this each man is to receive a handful of German gold. Now, it makes little difference whether you are with us or not. If you are with us, all right—we can use a few more men. If not, you will never leave here alive."