"You fellows stay here," said Hal. "I'll go down and remind her that she has been negligent in her duty as hostess."
Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he passed through the room that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and moved toward a door beyond, under which a light streamed.
"Guess she's in there," said Hal.
He laid a hand on the knob and opened the door.
As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the light beyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman ran toward him.
"What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?" she exclaimed furiously.
"Why—why, I didn't know—" Hal began.
"Of course you didn't know," shouted the woman. "But I'll have you understand that you can't make free of my house, though you be the Kaiser himself."
From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver, which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back.
"Here, my good woman," he said. "Put down that gun. Don't you know that a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn't escape."