“Not much, I think,” was his friend’s reply. “But he gave me an awful wallop. I shall be all right presently.”
Hal did not leave his friend for a moment until Chester announced that his head had cleared up sufficiently for him to stand. With Hal’s assistance he struggled to his feet, one hand holding the side of his head.
“He kicked like a mule,” said Chester. “Great Scott! I never had anything hurt like that.”
At that instant there came a groan from the fallen man.
Hal and Chester bent over him. Dersi’s voice was very indistinct, and the boys at first were unable to distinguish what he said.
Hal placed his ear close to the dying man’s lips. The voice came faintly.
“Do not tell mother I died like this. It would break her heart. She thinks I am a soldier of France. And so I was,” and his voice became stronger, “until I fell in with evil companions. Then I began to gamble. I lost. I needed money. When the war broke out, I was offered a chance to cancel all my debts, if I would deliver certain plans to the Germans. I did. Then I was discovered.”
“How?” demanded Chester.
“I was caught in the act of taking papers from my superior’s coat, which he had laid aside. I was court-martialed and ordered put to death. Through the connivance of another who was associated with me in this piece of treachery I managed to escape. He is high in the confidence of General Joffre.”