And now the aëroplane bumped the ground, and the lads stepped out to see a long line of rifle barrels confronting them.
The lads threw up their hands instantly, but Marquis’s back bristled and he growled threateningly.
“Keep quiet!” Chester commanded, and the dog grew still. An officer approached the lads.
“What do you here?” he demanded, in some language the lads could not understand.
The lads shook their heads, and the officer tried again, this time in German.
“What do you here?” he demanded.
As briefly as possible, Hal, acting as spokesman, explained. The officer’s incredulous gaze grew more so as the lad went on with his story. When the lad had finished, he said simply:
“I don’t believe you!”
Hal was angry in a second. He took a step toward the officer.
“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.