Bumpus saw that in the end they were well supplied with enough food to last several meals, as well as a tin pail in which they could boil coffee.
As the half hour was now about up they took the car into the inn-yard, and Thad meant to keep an eye on it if possible while they ate their dinner. This was rendered possible because he sat where he could look out of an open window; but after all nothing out of the way happened.
The boys noticed that there had been a bridge at this place, but it seemed to have been destroyed by some flood, for a new one was under construction, though only partly built, and of no use at that time.
This of course necessitated their going further along the river road until they arrived at the small bridge of which they had been told by the Belgian soldiers some time before.
There was no fault to be found with their meal. Even Bumpus admitted that it tasted good, and was in abundance. So the four scouts arose with a feeling of satisfaction, and Thad settled the account. It is not a very hard matter to pay bills, even when two parties are unable to speak each other’s language, for signs and the sight of money go a long way toward settlement.
As they passed out Thad saw their old friend beckoning to him.
“Get in the car, fellows, and I’ll join you as soon as I’ve had a few words with the old chap, and thanked him heartily for his friendly act,” said the leader.
A few minutes afterwards he came hurrying toward them, and when Giraffe saw the way Thad’s brows were knitted he knew some new trouble was in store for them.
“What’s coming next, Thad?” he asked, and if any one had taken the pains to look beneath the surface they might have found an undercurrent of satisfaction in the tones of the tall scout.
“Our good old friend has warned me that a parcel of the rougher boys of the village have started out, meaning to waylay us, and take our car away. He says they’ve got an idea we’ve no business riding around when their military authorities need every sort of motor car they can get. And that’s how the land lies, boys!”