tried to smile. But the bad news had cut deeply. During the few
minutes since he had come pushing his way through the crowd, he seemed
to have grown ten years older. He walked to the door of his tent and
then halted and turned toward Reeder.

"I think my fever is coming on again," he said. "I believe I had
better rest. Do not let them disturb me."

"Yes, General," Reeder answered. Then he pointed at Aiken and myself.
"And what are we to do with these?" he asked.

"Do with these?" Laguerre repeated. "Why, what did you mean to do with
them?"

Reeder swelled out his chest importantly, "If you had not arrived when
you did, General," he said, "I would have had them shot!"

The General stopped at the entrance to the tent and leaned heavily
against the pole. He raised his eyes and looked at us wearily and with
no show of interest.

"Shoot them?" he asked. "Why were you going to shoot them?"

"Because, General," Reeder declared, theatrically, pointing an
accusing finger at Aiken, "I believe this man sold our secret to the
Isthmian Line. No one knew of the guns but our three selves and Quay.
And Quay is not a man to betray his friends. I wish I could say as
much for Mr. Aiken."

At that moment Aiken, being quite innocent, said even less for