Tubby made a grimace, and then seemed to be ashamed of his selfishness.
"Well, if we do have to play nurse," he observed with the air of a philosopher, "I suppose we can stand it. What are all our troubles, I'd like to know, compared to those these poor people are suffering?"
"That's right, Tubby," said Merritt, "and we'll manage to pick up plenty of sleep, I should think."
"It'll have to be in the early part of the night, then," Rob told them, "because we want to get out of this a couple of hours before daylight."
"You mean to start then for Sempst, do you?" asked Tubby, with a sigh.
"Yes, because it might turn out to be dangerous work walking in broad daylight, until we've managed to get around the Germans," Rob explained. "I've already picked up considerable information about the country, and the lay of the land. Between now and the time we turn in I hope to learn still more, so that I can take you on a road by starlight that will make a circuit around the German camps."
Apparently both his mates had the utmost confidence in Rob's ability to do this, for there was no word of protest raised. Merritt asked a few questions, and then they fell back upon their old occupation of watching the movements of the villagers, mostly women, as they bustled to and fro.
Pretty soon Rob sauntered over to the inn, and had a long talk with the old man who ran the public house. They could see him doing considerable pointing, and from this fact judged that Rob was keeping his word about picking up all the information possible.
When he came back it was getting near sundown; and of course the first thing Tubby asked was:
"Did he say we could have it, Rob?"