"You heard the explosions just now?"
"Yes. I did not know what they were."
"Take them back," said the lieutenant to a corporal. "You are in territory occupied by our forces where no civilians have any right to be," he added, speaking to Paul. "Unless you can prove that you are innocent, you will be tried and condemned as spies. Have you any arms here?"
"No, sir," said Paul.
A quick search confirmed his statement. But though that seemed to count in their favor, the order was not countermanded. In a few moments they were on their way through the German lines, and in half an hour they reached what was plainly the headquarters of a brigade at least, perhaps of a whole division. There they were thrust into a small hut that already contained three other prisoners, Belgian peasants. Outside the door there was a guard. They were prisoners of war and if the truth about their doings came out, they would almost certainly be shot, despite their youth.
CHAPTER XI
THE SPY
"What will they do to us, do you think?" asked Arthur. He was trembling, but with excitement, not from fear.
"Nothing, unless they can prove that we have actually been working against them," answered Paul. "And I don't see how they can."