"You do not know? How is that? You were in the car with them, weren't you?"
"I was in the car, but I do not know what happened after the accident. I was thrown out—and I did not know anything until you roused me just now."
"But what were you doing in the car, then? Who were those officers? Where were they going?"
"I do not know. I know only that I was walking along the road, because all the people had been sent away from their homes, when the car stopped, and a man told me to get in and sit low, so that I should not be seen. Then we drove very fast and after a while there was a crash, and I was thrown out."
"Can you walk?"
The German's tone had changed somewhat. It was anxious now, and puzzled.
"I—don't know," said Boris. "There is a pain in my leg—here, right above the ankle. Ouch!"
Fred saw the German officer slip his hand down over the spot to which Boris pointed, and his touch dragged the exclamation of pain from Boris.
"You can't walk, that's certain!" said the German. "You've got pluck, boy! There's a nasty break there. You need a surgeon! Well, I'll have to do what I can for you until we can find one. Can you stand a little more pain? Niehoff, give me your emergency kit. You have the splints? So! I shall see what I can do."