The country boy looked up with awe, and said nothing. The sight of a German officer afflicted him with shyness. He ran back to his grandfather.
"The Herr Captain needs petrol," he said.
"That is unlucky, Herr Captain," said the old man, saluting the officer. "We have no petrol; I doubt whether you will get any in Erkelenz; it has all been bought for the army."
"Well, give me something to eat and drink."
Kenneth tried, without great success, to adopt the German officer's peremptory manner.
"No, I won't come in," he added. "Bring it to me here; I've no time to spare."
The women hastened to bring him of their best.
"And the Herr Captain's companion--shall we take something to him?" one of them asked.
"He cannot eat or drink with his face bandaged like that," said Kenneth, glancing back at the aeroplane.
Pariset, who could not speak German, had swathed his jaw in a linen bandage.