"Why?" questioned Jack argumentatively.
"Because I have told you! I shall shoot if you do not!"
"That's a mighty good argument, Old Scout," agreed Jack, "but we don't like your methods. You are a little too rough in your play!"
"Play!" stormed the other, fast losing patience. "This is not play, as you shall soon learn. Come, I shall not argue!"
"Well, the nerve of some people's children!" exclaimed Harry. "Say, Buddy," he added, "we're from the United States, and we don't see how you can boss us around like that. We haven't harmed you!"
"United States!" scorned the soldier. "So said the other. All Germans come from the United States! No," he decided, shaking his head, "you must invent some other story. That is not good!"
"Do you mean to call us Germans?" Harry cried, rising. "Why, you better look out or I'll get sore! We're not Germans; we're Yankees!"
"Have your own way about it, but come out of that machine instantly!" replied the soldier, dropping his air of banter and raising his rifle.
Just as the boys were preparing to obey this command, they were startled to hear Jimmie's voice crying:
"Stay where you are, boys! And you Landsturm fellows, drop your guns and put up your hands! Do it quick, or something will drop!"