“Well, not exactly,” was the reply. “These men tried to interfere with me in my work, and I simply told them to mind their own business and get out of the way. Bringing them over here seemed the easiest way to get rid of them, so I marched them along. Now I will go back and finish––”
“Oh, no! Excuse me for seeming to be brusk and arbitrary,” said the lieutenant smiling, “but I can’t permit you to go back. For our own sake, as well as yours. You might precipitate a general engagement, and while we’re not running away 187 from anything like that, we are not looking for it just now. Please stay here.”
“Very well, I will,” mildly agreed the professor. “Perhaps I can as well continue my studies here. But what shall I do with my—my specimens?” and he nodded toward the Germans.
The prisoners were still standing with uplifted hands, gazing at the professor as if the issue of life and death depended on him as far as they were concerned.
“Tell them they may put down their hands,” begged the professor of the lieutenant. “They’re in your charge now, and you had better give them orders. Besides, I don’t speak their language very well.”
“Then how in the world did you get them to surrender?” asked the officer. “How did you, alone, without a gun or a sword, or even a hand grenade, capture three Germans?”
“Well, I fancy it was due to this,” and the professor motioned to the strange contrivance on his back. “I threatened them with total annihilation if they didn’t do as I said and march for these trenches, and they did. Whether they understood me or not I don’t know. But up went their hands and on they came.”
“Yes, they came on all right,” said the lieutenant. “We saw that. But still I don’t understand.” 188
At this one of the prisoners spoke.
“Haf ve der lieutnant’s bermission to lower our hants?” he asked, speaking with a deep, guttural accent.