“What is it?” he said wearily.
“Wat is it? Ach Himmel! wat is it? dat is just wat I wants to know. Wat do you here? You shall die so.”
The voice was the voice of a German, and Ernest knew German well.
“I have lost my way,” he said, in that language; “I cannot find the waggons.”
“Ah, you can speak the tongue of the Vaterland,” said his visitor, still addressing him in English. “I will embrace you!” and he did so.
Ernest sighed. It is a bore to be embraced in the dark by an unknown male German when you feel that you are not far off dissolution.
“You are hungered?” said the German.
Ernest signified that he was.
“And athirsted?”
Again he signified assent.