CHAPTER XIX
THE CONSPIRATORS
Chester, who had been unable to catch a sight of their deliverer's face,was surprised.
"Great Scott! Jules," he exclaimed. "You have a knack of turning up inthe nick of time."
"Sh-h-h!" whispered Jules. "No talk until we get away from here."
The others obeyed this injunction to keep silence and followed the youngFrenchman without further words.
Jules approached his own quarters and led the way inside.
"Make yourselves at home," he said with a wave of his hand. "In here wemay talk."
Hal and Chester found seats and then the former asked a question.
"How did you happen to find us, Jules?"
"I chanced to be near when the stranger showed you his pea," returnedJules. "I knew that there had been no summons sent out for an immediatemeeting and that something must be wrong. Therefore, I followed you.Having learned where you were held I returned later to release you.That's all."
"Well, we certainly thank you," said Chester. "There is no telling whatwould have happened to us."
"I was never more surprised," said Jules, "than when I saw you bothexhibit black peas. I had no idea that you were with us."
"Then you, too," said Hal, "are--"
"Yes," Jules interrupted. "I am one of you. I suppose you have receivedthe summons?"
"Summons? What summons?" asked Chester.
"Why, for the meeting to-night, or, rather, I should say in the morning."
"No, we have received no summons," said Hal.
"Then it is twice good that I arrived," said Jules. "You shallaccompany me."
"And where is the rendezvous?" asked Chester.
"I'll show you," said Jules. He drew his watch from his pocket andglanced at it in the semi-light of the tent. "Twelve fifteen," he said."We have forty-five minutes still, but it will do no harm if we are a fewminutes early. Come."
He picked up his cap from the cot where he had thrown it and led the wayfrom the tent. Hal and Chester followed without a word. The same thoughtwas in the mind of each. At last they would be able to learn the natureof the conspiracy which, although they knew nothing of it, had causedthem so much trouble.
After a walk of perhaps twenty minutes, in which time they had not beenchallenged, Jules pulled up before a tent somewhat larger than the rest.
"General Pombrey's quarters," he said, "and for that reasoncomparatively safe."
"You mean that the general is one of us?" demanded Hal in nolittle surprise.
"Yes," said Jules, briefly.
Chester gave a low whistle. Evidently this conspiracy, whatever it mightbe, was more widespread than he had imagined.
Jules entered the tent and the two lads followed him.
Inside a large number of men already had assembled. Apparently, theiranticipation had been so great that they had been unable to control theirimpatience until nearer the appointed hour. The lads were impressed withone peculiar feature. Unlike most plotters--and Hal and Chester alreadyhad come into contact with many--these men wore no masks. Apparently,they were not afraid of their identities being known by their fellowconspirators.
There were no remarks when Jules and Hal and Chester entered the tent.The former led the way to the far side and there stood quietly in thehalf light. Hal and Chester took their places beside him.
As time passed other men appeared in the tent and Hal and Chester weresurprised to see that some were officers of high rank; but neither ladsaid anything aloud.
Came the voice of a sentry without:
"One o'clock and all's well!"
A moment later the apathy that had gripped the interior of the tent wherethe conspirators were assembled disappeared. General Pombrey addressedthe others.
"I am glad to see so many of you here to-night," he said earnestly. "Inote several new faces amongst us and I am pleased to know that othersare joining this great movement every day. It shows that even in themidst of this warlike camp the spirit of peace has not died."
His words were greeted with a murmur of approval, though no man spoke.
The general continued:
"Now, I have to inform you that the crisis is near. I have had word fromthe enemy's lines that the spirit of peace there has grown. It wouldappear that we are on the eve of success. Another battle or two--a fewthousand more lives lost--and this great war may end. When the spirit ofpeace has overcome the spirit of war in the ranks, then will the war end.I have called you together to-night to instruct you to sound even deeperthan you have done the sentiment of the men who stand by your side. Thetime to stop this war is almost at hand."
Again there was a murmur of approval as the general became silent. Hegazed upon the faces about him a few moments in silence, and thenspoke again:
"I need not caution you to silence. A false move and all would be lost.But if we can command 10,000 more men when the crisis arrives, men who,like the rest of us, will refuse to fight more when the word is given, weshall be strong enough; and if I told you how many already are pledgedyou could scarcely believe me. Now here," the general exposed to view alarge box, "I have many more of the little peas that are our bond ofmembership. I want each of you to take as many as you please; and passthem around when you have convinced yourselves the men you approach areacting in good faith."
One after another the men in the tent stepped forward and dipped a handinto the box of peas and put the little round pellets into their ownpockets. Then the general signified that he had yet a few remarks tomake. The men stood about respectfully as he addressed them.
"Men," he said, "there may be some among you who question the justice ofthis move. To those I say that we are engaged in a great effort. Toprevent further war and bloodshed among ourselves and our enemies is agreat duty; for nothing can possibly be gained by the loss of millions oflives and the destruction of billions of dollars worth of property.However, if there are any among you who would draw out of this movement,I would ask that you do so now."
The general paused and looked keenly at the faces about him. Noman spoke.
"Good," said the general, "then I know you are with me."
"And the time? When will the time come?" asked one man in the crowd.
"That I cannot say," responded the general, quietly. "But I can assureyou that it will be before long. You will all be notified by themessengers, that you may be ready. Now are there any other questions?"
"If we fail, then what?" asked another man.
General Pombrey shrugged his shoulders.
"Probably court martial and a firing squad," he said indifferently. "Butyou will have died in a glorious cause, whereas now--"
A glimpse of happiness stole over the general's face. To Hal and Chesterit meant but one thing. General Pombrey was a fanatic; and the men whohad come under his spell were fanatics. In that instant Hal and Chesterboth realized that this matter must be brought to General Petainimmediately.
After some few other words, General Pombrey signified that the meetingwas over, and the men filed from the tent singly and in pairs, discussingthe matter in low tones.
Outside Hal and Chester were accosted again by Jules Clemenceau.
"And what do you think of General Pombrey?" asked the young Frenchman,his face shining.
For a moment Hal considered what was best to say. Should he try andconvince Jules that his present course was wrong; that there was to beconsidered the honor of his country rather than the opinion of GeneralPombrey? The lad decided on the side of caution.
"A good man," he replied quietly. "A man who will face a firing squadwithout 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?" wasHal's reply.
Jules, apparently, was satisfied.
Alone in their own quarters later Hal and Chester discussed the situationseriously.
"To tell
the truth," said Chester, "I am half inclined to agree withGeneral Pombrey. But if for no other reason, there is one thing thatwould make me reveal this plot to General Petain."
"And that?" asked Hal.
"That," said Chester, "is the fact that General Pombrey and the othersengaged in this conspiracy are lacking upon the German troops to throwdown their arms and refuse to fight at the same moment the French andBritish 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 aten to one bet that the German general staff knows all about thisconspiracy. The peace talk has been carried from one army to the other bythe prisoners. The Germans will take advantage of it. Should the Frenchreally follow General Pombrey's plan, they would be slaughtered by thethousands. The Germans could not keep faith. You know that."
"Yes, I know it," said Hal with a nod of his head. "They have neverkept faith in this war, save in individual cases. It doesn't seem tobe in them."
"Exactly," agreed Chester. "Then, if for no other reason than to savethese deluded French and British soldiers, the matter must be brought tothe attention of General Petain, that he may act promptly and not onlysave them, but the whole army of France; and the cause of the Allies."
"Good!" Hal agreed. "Then we shall see that it's brought to hisattention."
"The first thing in the morning," said Chester.
"Right you are, Chester. The first thing in the morning."