"Sure we have," answered Frank promptly. "You said they were armed, didn't you?" "Yes," replied Bart. "That's all the excuse we need then to nip this thing in the bud," Frank answered. "It's against regulations for the Germans to carry arms in the zone occupied by the American army, and any one who does is liable to arrest on sight. See that your guns are all right, fellows, and come along. I have a hunch that we're going to give these plotters a surprise party. But we'll listen first and make sure before we pinch them." Bart went in advance to show the way, and his comrades crept after him, drifting along like so many ghosts. The conference was still in progress, but it had somewhat changed its character. When Bart had been listening, it had been a debate in which all were taking more or less part. Now the man with the red beard was making a speech. He had taken the red flag from the gun muzzle and waved it from time to time to punctuate his remarks. He had worked himself up into a passion as he progressed. His eyes were bulging, his face inflamed, as he poured out a torrent of words that evidently carried away his hearers, to judge from their rapt attention and the frequent ejaculations that burst from them. The Army Boys listened for several minutes, and then at a sign from Frank drew back a little distance, while he spoke to them in whispers. "It's what I thought," he murmured. "That fellow is an agitator from Berlin who has come to stir up trouble in the Coblenz district. He's urging these men to start an uprising that will take the American troops by surprise and wipe them out. From something he said I have an idea that he was concerned in the plot to blow up Ehrenbreitstein. He's as dangerous as a rattlesnake, and we've got to get him. "Now," he went on, "just back me up when I give the word. They're nine to our four, but we have the advantage of surprise. Follow my lead and we'll bag them all right." CHAPTER VI THE BAFFLED PLOTTERS When the Army Boys got back to the room the orator was winding up his speech. He finished with an eloquent peroration, and his hearers broke into applause as the last word left his lips. Frank leaped into the room with his rifle leveled directly at the leader. "Hands up!" he shouted. At the same instant, the rest of the Army Boys followed their leader, their rifles sweeping the room. The effect of the sudden entrance of the Army Boys was electric. With a roar of rage and chagrin, the conspirators made as though they would rush on the intruders. But the wicked looking muzzles of the army rifles and the look of determination in the faces of the boys who held them produced a change. Slowly the hands went up until all were raised above their heads. "Hold them there now," commanded Frank. "The first one who moves is a dead man."