“Chermany cannot be vip’,” insisted the prisoner. “Chermany, she alvays fight! Blenty in dis var. Den, ven der var stop, she begin get ready again, she get ready again to fight der negst var. Chermany cannot be vip’, but Ameriga shall down mit her knees go, und Chermany shall says vords dot Ameriga does not like to hear. You vait, you see! Chermany is der von real fighting gountry of der vorld. Not all der rest of der vorld can vip her! It cannot be done. Chermany over all!”
“And that’s the whole story, from a German point of view,” Dave muttered in an undertone. “This fellow looks stupid, but his leaders are just about as stupid. Isn’t it a waste of time to talk with him, Danny?”
“I’m afraid it is,” Dalzell nodded. “But this is the first chance I have had to get a German’s real view of the war. This fellow is too stupid to conceal anything, so he has told me the truth as he sees it. Yet, as you say, Dave, it’s the whole story, and he cannot tell me any more than he has told if I should question him from now until midnight.”
Then, to a petty officer:
“Take these fellows below and lock them in the brig. Place a guard over them. See that they have the usual ship ration, and see that sufficient fresh water is offered them at all times. It’s warm in the brig, so they can take off their clothes until the garments are dry.”
Stolidly the pair marched along, out of sight and hearing.
“‘Chermany over all! Chermany must rule der vorld,’” Dan mimicked. “We’ve got their number, David, little giant. Uncle Sam and his international friends will have to kill, cripple or lock up most of the men of Germany before we can hope to knock the foolishness out of their heads.”
“Which we’ll proceed to do so thoroughly,” quoth Dave Darrin, “that, hereafter, not even a German head will be capable of holding such foolishness as they now talk!”
[CHAPTER XVIII—DANNY GRIN PROVES HIS METTLE]
With her boats secure, and all hands, including the recent “lady passengers,” on board once more without loss, the battered-looking “Prince” turned on her way.