The first sentinel let him pass, as did the second and the third. At the gate he slipped his paper through the wicket and waited. The wicket closed again, and in a moment the little side door opened and the sergeant in charge appeared.
"Is it you, my boy?"' he asked; "where are your wagons?"
"About a hundred feet off, sergeant."
It is needless to add that both question and answer were in German.
"Very well," said the sergeant, still in German, "I will bring them in myself." And he went out, charging the man he left behind to be careful.
The sergeant and the wagoner passed the three lines of sentinels and reached the wagons which were waiting on the highroad. The sergeant glanced at them carelessly and ordered them to proceed. Wagons and wagoners started, and, led by the sergeant, passed the sentinels and entered the gate which closed behind them.
"Now," said the sergeant, "do you know the way to the barracks or shall I go with you?"
"No need of that," replied the chief wagoner; "we will take the wagons to the Golden Lion to-night in order to save trouble, and in the morning we will take the forage to the barracks."
"Very well," said the sergeant, re-entering the guard-house; "good-night, comrades."
"Good-night," replied the wagoner.