For almost an hour he strolled about the town, and at last his efforts were rewarded. He stopped before a large and imposing building.
“This looks like a hospital to me,” he said. “It is hardly likely they have more than one in a town of this size, and Hardy probably was taken here. Guess I better look around a bit, however, before I go in, though. I might spot another one some place. It’s too bad I can’t read Danish. It might be easier if I could.”
Jack walked on, and a few blocks farther down, the street passed a body of Danish cavalry moving at a rapid trot in the direction from which he had come. Jack smiled grimly to himself.
“Going to help search for the fugitive, I guess. Well, I hope they don’t find him, or the guard, either, for it might make it a little awkward for me.”
He gazed after the cavalry as it disappeared around a corner.
“A likely looking crowd,” he said in some admiration. “I’ll bet they could give a good account of themselves when it came to a fight. Hope I don’t have to line up against any of them.”
He turned and retraced his steps toward the building in which he felt sure he would find Hardy. He mounted the long flight of stone steps with a firm tread and entered the door. A quick glance showed him that he had not been mistaken. The place was a hospital and no mistake.
“Now to find out where my friend Hardy is,” the lad muttered.
He walked slowly about the halls, looking for the office. His search was at length rewarded. Glancing in an open door, he saw several clerks at work, and at one end of the room, separated from the others by a railing, an important-looking man, unmistakably a physician.
“The superintendent, I suppose, or whatever he is called in this country,” muttered Jack. “I guess I had better talk in German. English wouldn’t do at all. But, suppose they won’t let me have Hardy without a written order? Oh, well, I’ll have to take a chance on that. Here we go.”