Rod had taken care to be on his way before this, since his object had
already been accomplished.

If any of those French officers had felt disposed to doubt the truth of
the astounding story that had been brought to them by the American boy
they found immediate cause to change their minds. Hardly had the last of
them succeeded in leaving the shelter than there came a heavy shock, and
up into the air arose the fragments of the cover under which they had
just been gathered.

Had they remained where they were ten seconds before not one of them
would have likely escaped death or severe bodily injuries.

A loud shout from Josh just then called attention to a running figure.
The hidden conspirator, seeing that his mad scheme had proven a failure,
must have crept forth from his hiding place, and was hoping to escape in
the general confusion. But his uniform betrayed him, and presently guns
began to sound, until finally they saw him curl up on the ground.

It was later on found that he had only been wounded, and he was brought
in, foaming at the mouth. There could be no doubt regarding his
condition, for even a tyro might see that he was crazy, perhaps from a
wound received in the head in some earlier stage of the great battle.

It was not believed that German officers would connive at such a
dastardly scheme as trying to blow up a shelter under which the French
staff had gathered for consultation; and in the end it was put down as
only the plot of one who was wholly irresponsible.

Of course the three American boys were thanked most heartily by the
officers whose lives they had saved. It promised to turn out to be one
of the best things that could have happened for them; and, as Josh
remarked, their old luck seemed to be working at full speed.

They were soon summoned into the presence of the general, who, with his
staff gathered about him, publicly thanked Rod and his chums for their
recent act. He shook their hands with considerable feeling, as became an
effusive Frenchman whose life was not only valuable to himself and his
beloved country in time of need, but also to the wife and children who
awaited news of his labors at home, and daily prayed for his safety.

While they stood there the madman was brought past, screaming and
carrying on in a frightful manner. He must have been connected with the
Engineer or Signal Corps of the enemy forces, to have the knowledge of
explosives that he did, as well as the ability to l