"But how do you feel?"
"A little weak," replied Chester, with a faint smile. "But Captain
Bassil? Where is the traitor?"
"Dead," was the Belgian commander's laconic response.
Chester shuddered involuntarily.
"Never mind," said the general; "it was his life or yours, and mine too,
for that matter."
"But it makes a fellow feel awfully queer," said Chester. "In battle it
would have been different. But to shoot--"
He broke off and was silent.
"And the conspiracy?" he asked, after a brief pause. "You have taken
steps to catch the Germans in their own trap?"
"I have," said the general grimly. "They will wish they had attempted to
take Louvain in some other manner. Thinking us unprepared, they will be
too confident. If they fall into our trap--and I am positive they
will--they will be annihilated."
Chester was struck with a sudden idea.
"General," he said, "why can't we round up all the conspirators that are
in the city?"
"In what way?" asked the commander.
Chester's reply was another question:
"Has your attempted assassination been kept a secret, or is it
generally known?"
"It has been kept quiet," was the general's reply. "Were it generally
known our coup might fail."
"Exactly as I thought," said Chester. "Now I am almost positive that the
conspirators will gather for one more session before the German advance,
if only to make sure that nothing has gone amiss. We can surround the
house and capture them red-handed.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182