"Don't lie! Hand it over, or I'll bore a hole through you! You hear me!"
"But, honest, I—you are wrong, I——"
"Oh, well, then, blast your ugly carcass, I'll just fill you full of holes and take it, anyway."
Gaul, scared, visibly trembling even in the dim light, with shaking fingers fished into an upper blouse pocket and brought forth a bit of scrap paper with torn edges and thrust it at Herb. The corporal glanced at it, then ordered his man to march down the corridor, following to the lieutenant's quarters.
"Please read that; it came from the captured German general to this fellow. He first asked for more, then agreed to do something."
The officer held the paper near the lantern.
"It's a scrap torn from some book, I guess. German print on it. Oh, on the other side. What is it? Pretty poor writing, by jingo! Wait; it says:
"'Set loose if men come. See as I shall get loose of hand bands. Then see in fight I escape free. Then come to trenches by night and inquire by me, General von Lutz, and I pay 5,000 marks quick and you mak safe.' And down farther are more words: '10,000 marks I will mak it; hav no dowts.'"
A broad, solemn-looking grin covered the lieutenant's face and he nodded his head several times.