The general now summoned one of his staff, and turned the lads over to the latter with this injunction:
“Have them sent to Posen. Instruct Commander Friech that they must be well guarded, but treated with kindness.”
He bowed gravely to both lads, who saluted and followed the other officer from the German commander’s quarters.
“You will remain in my quarters until to-night,” said the officer to the three friends, “and you probably will start on your journey about midnight. There is a detachment leaving about that time.”
He conducted the three and the dog to his tent, where their wounds were dressed and a guard was stationed over them. Then they were left to themselves.
Alexis, who up to this time had not spoken, at last opened his mouth.
“What’s this all about?” he demanded. “I can’t understand this outlandish gibberish. What’s it all about, anyhow?”
The conversation between the lads and the German officers had been in English.
Chester broke into a laugh.
“Outlandish gibberish!” he exclaimed. “Why, Alexis, if you only knew how your native tongue sounds, you wouldn’t call anything gibberish. It’s fortunate you speak German.”