“Halt!” The command came like a thunderclap and shook me from head to foot. Yet I did not believe that it could mean anything but a Dutch sentry. I stopped and tried to locate the man, who, from the sound of his voice, must be very close. I could not see him.
“Come here, and hold up your hands!”
I did so and stepped forward.
“Here, here!” The voice was almost at my elbow. Then I saw the white patch of a face above a bush. He came up to me, putting his pistol muzzle in my stomach.
“Who are you?”
I was a bit dizzy and shaken, but not quite done yet.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I’m a frontier guard.”
“Dutch or German?” I could not see his uniform.