"Only too well," said Tom, in a tone where bitterness and scorn were mingled.
"What about him?" asked the lieutenant.
"He's one of the ringleaders of that gang of highbinders," answered Tom.
The lieutenant looked at the man stonily.
"So you're the peaceful citizen that knew so little about the
Spartacides, are you?" he asked bitingly.
The man started to protest, but the lieutenant shut him up brusquely and turned to Tom.
"It's lucky you came in just when you did," he said. "I was just about to let this man go because of his services in showing us where the parade ground was. I know now why he was so reluctant to do it." "He did it to save his own skin," answered Tom. "He's a coward as well as a murderer. He's been responsible for other executions that have taken place here in the last few days. He's been one of the bloodiest of the lot, and whenever he saw one of the gang begin to weaken he's stiffened him up. He started out this morning to go to another town to stir up the same kind of riot and murder. I heard him talking about it last night. And just before he went he came to the room where I was confined and taunted me. Told me that I'd be food for the worms to-morrow and that before long there'd be a lot of Americans to keep me company."
The man again started to protest, but one of the doughboys who was on guard gripped him by the collar and dug his knuckles into his neck as he yanked him back.
"Take him away and put him in the same cell where Bradford was held," commanded the lieutenant. "He shall have a taste of his own medicine. He'll get a trial when he gets to Coblenz, and the chances are that he'll face a firing squad. Such fiendish work as he's been doing is going to be stopped if it takes the whole American army to do it!"
The eyes of the Americans followed the cringing figure of the
German as he was led away, and then the lieutenant turned to Tom.