ook his departure, announcing that he was going to do some
more "snooping," without enlightening them.

Hardly had he gone when the lads received a caller. It was none other
than the young French boy whom Hal had rescued from the hands of his
tormentors the night before.

"They told me you came to my aid," he said to Hal, "so I have come to
thank you."

"Who are they?" asked Hal.

"Some of the men. It was true that I was ill last night. Jules Clemenceau
will not forget."

The young French boy had stood with one hand in his pocket, and now
withdrew the hand and extended it to Hal. As he did so, two small objects
fell from his pocket. Apparently Jules did not notice them. Hal shook
hands with the boy and the Frenchman took his departure.

Chester, in the meantime, had picked up the two little objects and now he
called to Jules, but the young Frenchman did not hear him.

"Oh, I guess he doesn't want these things, anyhow," the lad muttered.

"What things?" asked Hal, who had not seen the objects drop from
Jules' pocket.

Chester passed one of the objects to him.

"Know what it is?" he asked.

"Sure," returned Hal, "don't you?"

"No. What is it?"

"A pea."

"I never saw a pea like that."

"Probably not. They are rather rare. A black pea, that's what it is.
Where did you get it?"

"Jules dropped it out of his pocket."

"Well, as he seems to think I have done him a favor, I am just going to
keep this. I guess he won't mind. I'll carry it as a pocket piece."

"Then I'll carry the mate to it," said Chester.

He put the little round pea in his pocket and Hal followed suit.

Although neither could possibly have suspected it, these two little peas
were to be the means of getting them into all kinds of trouble.

There was heavy fighting that day and when night fell it found the
Germans safely entrenched in the French second line trenches along a
seven-mile front. For some reason or other Hal and Chester did not get to
the front, their duties confining them close to General Petain's
headquarters. They were kept busy most of the day, however, and were
tired out when they returned to their own quarters late that night.

Ready as they were for bed, they consented to sit up a while and talk
with Stubbs, who announced that he had a wonderful tale to unfold.

"Well," said Stubbs, "I have discovered a strange thing. It's a big
thing and there are many men in the French army implicated in it. Most
likely in the