“Go on, Jimmie!” scorned Jack. “You’re dreaming again!”
“I know I am!” replied the younger lad. “Last night I dreamed of eating salt mackerel and my dream book says that means trouble!”
“Here they come now!” cautioned Ned. “Hush a minute, boys!”
Addressing the boys in German the soldier was evidently asking some question which demanded an answer. Ned as spokesman shook his head. The other soldier spoke rapidly in the French language.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Ned said, lifting a protesting hand, “we cannot understand the language you are using. We speak only English!”
“Ah, ha! Anglaise!” cried the soldier, gesticulating.
“There, you put your foot in it!” declared Jimmie. “Why didn’t you say: ‘Come across with some good old United States, Bo’?”
“They probably don’t understand your slang, Jimmie!” replied Ned.
“So-o-o,” exclaimed one of the men in poor English, “you speak English, do you? And from what part of England do you come?”
“We are not from England at all,” explained Ned, “but from the United States. We are being sent home by the kindness of a German officer, who has been most considerate. See, here are our passports!”