“Don’t worry!” Rod told him, “but listen again.”
“What’s the use?” complained the other, “when I can’t understand a single word of what’s said, because it’s French they’re using.”
“French!” echoed Josh, a little louder than prudence might have dictated, though in his new excitement he evidently did not consider that; “why, then after all it isn’t the Germans who’ve come snooping around looking for us.”
“What are they saying, Rod?” asked Hanky Panky.
“Asking each other who can be the owners of these wonderful machines,” replied Rod, at the same time taking a step forward, as though meaning to enter the potato cave.
“Messieurs,” he said, “pardon me, but those machines belong to us; and we are friends of France, we beg you to believe.”
CHAPTER X.
MORE NEWS FROM THE FRONT.
Three men who wore the uniforms of French soldiers, one of whom was evidently a lieutenant, looked hastily up when Rod entered the vegetable cellar, and addressed them in the words we have given. The ordinary soldiers carried guns, and these weapons they half raised, as though wishing to be ready for any emergency.
Of course, it was immediately manifest to the officer that these three wideawake lads were not of the enemy. Like most other people he at first suspected them to be English boys. That would mean they were allies of the French; but nevertheless those splendid wheels were a great temptation; and the Grand Army was in sore need of all such means of rapid locomotion it could commandeer.