“It took us four hours to find the place where you had been taken. I certainly could never have found it by myself. Lord Hastings had every policeman in London interrogated, I guess, and we finally received word that one had seen two men, apparently carrying another, enter the house where we found you. Lord Hastings immediately recognized the house described as the home of a well-known and prominent Austrian.
“We rushed to the house, and it took us about half an hour to find a way to get in, so heavily were the windows and doors barred. Also we knew we had to be very quiet, for, if our presence had become known, your captors would undoubtedly have killed you before making their escape.
“We finally effected an entrance through the front door, Lord Hastings succeeding in picking the lock after some difficulty. Then we hurried upstairs. We found the room you were in by the sounds of the voices of your captors. Lord Hastings realized immediately what the Germans were trying to do, and we broke in the door. They put up a fight, but we soon had them safe. That is all there is to the story.”
“Where are they now?” demanded Jack.
“Oh, they are safe enough. They are being held as prisoners of war, although it was first planned to have them shot as spies.”
The two boys were silent for some time, and finally Frank said:
“Jack, I have an idea and I want to know how it strikes you!”
“All right. Let’s hear it.”
“What is the matter with us enlisting and seeing a little real fighting?”
“Why, I have been figuring on that all the time. That is why I came to England. But you are an American. I don’t see why you should want to fight.”