It did not occur to the boys then, though they often thought of it afterward, when their acquaintance with the strange race of Huns had been improved, that these two soldiers manifested not the slightest interest in the experiences which the boys had gone through. Almost immediately and without condescending to any discourse with them, the two men fell to discussing how they might use them, just as their masters had used Belgium and would use Switzerland and Holland if it fell in with their purpose.
After the generous interest that Frenchy and his people had shown and the lively curiosity about his adventures which British Tommies in the prison camp had displayed, Tom was unable to understand this arrogant disregard. Even a greasy, shifty-eyed Serbian in the prison had asked him about America and "how it felt" to be torpedoed.
It was not just that the two soldiers regarded the boys as enemies, either. They simply were not German and therefore nothing that they did or said counted or was worth talking about.
At last the one who seemed to be the spokesman said, "Ve make a treaty, huh?"
It was more of an announcement than a question, and Archer looked at Tom and laughed.
"A treaty!" said he. "Good night! Do you mean a scrap o' paperr?"
"Ve let you off," said the German in a tone of severe condescension. "Ve gif you good clothes—here," he added, seeming unable to get away from his manner of command. "Ve go feeshing. Ve say nutting—ve let you go. You escape—ach, vat iss dis?" he added deprecatingly. "Ve say nutting."
"And we don't say anything eitherr, is that it?" said Archer.
"Eef you talk you can't escape, what? Vy shall you talk, huh?"
Tom looked at Archer, who screwed up his freckled nose and gazed shrewdly at the Germans with a sagacious and highly satisfied look in his mischievous eye.