"Well, I'll be sold for a cent!" he declared as he observed the individual closely. "If it isn't the Kaiser I'll eat my hat!"
It was indeed none other than the Kaiser himself! Jimmie had recognized the man because he had seen so many pictures of the notable person who was directing the fighting forces of a great nation.
Instantly the lad recognized the fact that he was committing an act of extreme incivility in thus shouting out the identity of so august and important a personage. Yet he also knew that it was too late to retract his statement. He therefore, with his usual air of unconcern, determined to face the matter and make the best of it.
Without waiting for further preliminaries the lad dropped to the ground and placed himself beside his comrade.
Drawing himself to his full height, the lad faced the Kaiser and saluted, using the well-known form adopted by the Boy Scouts.
Much to his astonishment, his salute was gravely returned by the other, and the party came to a halt.
"What can I do for you?" inquired the Kaiser in a not unkindly tone, dropping his hand again to his side.
"Well," began Jimmie, scarcely knowing just how he should address the man, "in the first place, we are not spies, and then, besides, we'd like to get back to the United States without any trouble."
"So?" inquired the other. "And why do you wish to go to the United States, may I ask? Is your business urgent there?"
"Not at all," replied Jimmie. "Nothing urgent about it except that we understand you are having a war over here and we don't want to get mixed up in it. That's all, and it's enough, too!"