Cringingly, Matin obeyed. He slunk out of the room without a word.
"Now I can breath easier," declared Hal. "His presence contaminated
the air."
"I am afraid you let him off too easily, Hal," said Chester. "You at
least should report him and have him put in a safe place."
"I guess I am big enough to fight my own battles, Chester," said Hal.
"The French officers have enough to do without worrying about men like
Matin. Besides, I don't really believe he will bother me again."
And so the subject was dismissed. Jules took his departure and Hal and
Chester again lay down to sleep. Chester was just about to doze when a
sudden thought struck him.
"I say, Hal," he called.
"What's the trouble now?"
"Do you suppose it could have been Matin who shot at you that night in
our quarters?"
"I don't know. I hardly think so, though. I believe that gentleman called
to pay his respects to Stubbs."
"But--"
"Come, Chester," said Hal, "it's getting late and I am going to get six
good hours' sleep."
But Hal was mistaken. There was to be yet another interruption to the
slumber of the two lads. It came suddenly and unexpectedly.
It was still an hour before dawn when the German artillery broke forth
afresh, thousands of guns hurling death upon the sleeping French lines.
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