"No, I do not know the place," replied Francois. "It is in Flanders and, therefore, I have not learned of it. I have not seen all in France yet," the boy ended, with a smile. "To me this is just a castle."
"It belongs to the Duke de Swell Elegant Upper Crust!" answered Jimmie, promptly. His disrespect for titles at least had suffered no harm from his tumble out of the sky earlier in the day. "He's a half brother," he continued, "to the Baron von Cheap Skate. They ran the livery stable here!"
Laughingly the boys greeted this sally. Francois asked:
"And where are the Duke and Baron, now that the Germans are here?"
"They are down in the feather foundry shooing geese," declared Jimmie, gravely. "They are working for Walker and Doolittle."
"Hark! I hear singing," said Francois. "I do not know the song."
"That's not strange," returned Jimmie. "That's 'Die Wacht Am Rhine,' and you're not supposed to recognize that, you know!"
"How inspiring and yet how awful it is!" whispered Francois. "It makes me feel as if I wanted to go out and do something real big."
"Let's go out and listen to it," suggested Harry. "They have some good voices in that bunch. I like that singing."
Opening the door the boys stepped quietly out into the corridor. From their right came the sounds of music and laughter. Stepping closer the boys peered through hanging portieres and saw a great room full of soldiers. Some were seated at small tables playing cards, others lay stretched on the floor at full length in a row, while others walked about watching the card playing. All seemed at ease after hard work, for here and there one had removed the heavy hobnailed boots, while helmets and service caps were deposited on a convenient rack. A stack of rifles in one corner spoke grimly of the business which had been temporarily laid aside while the soldiers rested. At a piano an officer was seated.