“Not yet, Stubbs,” said Hal, “and I guess we never will.”
“Take my advice and learn,” said Stubbs. “It’s a great comfort to a man sometimes.”
“Perhaps,” said Chester. “But it’s a habit too easily cultivated and too hard to stop. I’m satisfied without tobacco.”
“Every man to his taste, as Captain O’Neil says,” commented Stubbs with a laugh.
“Come, Stubbs,” said Hal. “You said you had something to tell us. Out with it.”
Stubbs puffed away for some moments in silence and it was plain to Hal and Chester that he was thinking deeply.
“I suppose I really should say nothing,” said Stubbs, “but I know that I can depend on you boys to repeat nothing I say. Besides, I’ve simply got to express my feelings to someone.”
“If it’s only an expression of feeling, maybe it isn’t so important after all, Stubbs,” remarked Chester.
“Well,” said Stubbs, “the thing that I mean is this. I am willing to bet anything I ever expect to have that what I have learned in the last few days is going to result in an Allied offensive that will put an end to this war.”
Hal and Chester sprang to their feet.