“I know nothing about it. You must wait until our officer arrives.”
Stewart felt a sickening sensation at his heart, but he managed to smile.
“He will not be long, I hope,” he said. “We are very tired and hungry.”
“He will not be long,” answered the other, shortly, and got out a long pipe, but Stewart stopped him with a gesture.
“Try one of these,” he said, quickly, and brought out his handful of cigars and passed them around.
The men grinned their thanks, and were soon puffing away with evident enjoyment. But to Stewart the single cigar he had kept for himself seemed strangely savorless. He glanced at his companion. She was sitting hunched up, her arms about her knees, staring thoughtfully at the fire.
“This man says we must wait here until their officer arrives,” he explained in English. “My brother does not understand German,” he added to the men.
“How stupid!” said the girl. “I am so tired and stiff!”
“It is no use to argue with them, I suppose?”
“No. They will refuse to decide anything for themselves. They rely wholly upon their officers.”