Just one word, but it made the hearts of the listening boys go down into their boots.
For it was a German who just then struck a second match and lighted a candle, and it was a German cavalry troop whose horses stood before the door.
But for what purpose had they entered the house? Were they in search of the boys? Had any one seen them entering the house and given information?
"Be ready, fellows," whispered Frank. "It looks as if we were in for a scrap."
They clutched their rifles firmly to be ready for whatever might happen.
But it was not long before they realized that this sudden irruption had nothing to do with them. What seemed to be a bench or a table was dragged across the floor and one or more candles placed upon it. There seemed to be half a dozen or more officers in the room, and they were soon engaged in an earnest conversation.
"I never thought much of the German language," whispered Bart to Billy, "but I'd give a farm to understand it now."
"If Frank only knew German as well as he does French," responded Billy, "we might pick up something that our officers would give a lot to know."
For perhaps half an hour the raucous tones above continued. The debate was at times an angry one and was punctuated by the sound of fists brought heavily down on a table. Just after one of these, the stovepipe hole was dimmed by something that shut off the light from the room above. It floated down with a slight rustle and the boys could see that it was a paper of some kind.
In an instant Frank had crept across and grabbed the paper, thrusting it into the bosom of his shirt. Then he moved swiftly back to the shelter of the barricade.