“Haven’t we got clear of that thing yet?” spoke up Jimmie.
“If you please, sir,” said Ned, “we don’t really know anything about the package. A package was found in our baggage when we were searched at the border between Belgium and Holland. It was stolen by some person whom we believe to be this man Mackinder, who has since been trying to get us to deliver it to him, although we have not had it.”
“I presume that you understand him to be an officer in the British army?” inquired the commander kindly.
“We heard so from von Kluck,” replied the boy.
“Do you know what was in the package?”
“No. We had not seen it until the time it was taken from our kits by the soldiers who were searching them. All we know is that it was marked ‘U-13’ on the outside. We have seen it but that once.”
“I cannot understand why Mackinder should be trying to take the package out of the possession of his own countrymen!”
“But I beg to say that we are not countrymen of his!” declared Ned. “We are citizens of the United States. Here are our passports!”
“I beg your pardon!” apologized the commander. “Circumstances seemed to indicate that you were Englishmen. The mistake is mine!”