“I should say it does,” the latter returned. “But it wouldn’t take the Germans long to wreck the town, if they once got here. You remember Louvain?”
“Well, they won’t get here,” Alexis broke in. “One Cossack is always good for ten Germans. Why, I remember—”
“Tell us later,” Hal interrupted. “We want to look about a little now.”
The three entered a store, where, Alexis’ eye having been caught by a red necktie, the Cossack purchased it. The necktie in his pocket, he leaned over the counter and asked the salesman:
“Say, what does drawing the long bow mean?”
Hal and Chester burst into a loud guffaw, and the salesman, drawing back, suddenly turned and disappeared.
A man in civilian garb, who stood nearby, also broke into a loud guffaw. Alexis turned on him angrily.
“What are you laughing at?” he demanded.
“Why, I’m laughing at you,” replied the man calmly. “What about it?”
Plainly Alexis was astonished at this reply. He drew back.