“You are English, then?” he asked, politely, returning Rod’s salute.
“No, American, monsieur,” replied the boy, promptly; “we were making a trip down the Rhine on our motorcycles when the war broke out. We had just managed to get across the line into poor Belgium when the Germans came. You can well understand that we have seen much of what happened in that unfortunate country, for we were compelled to go to Antwerp on business.”
“But–this is France,” interrupted the lieutenant, as though puzzled; “and here close to the firing line it is peculiar that we find three American boys mounted on such wonderfully fine motorcycles.”
Rod smiled blandly.
“You wonder how we managed to retain possession of them through it all,” he went on to say; “but the secret lay in a certain magical paper which we carry, and which you shall yourself be permitted to examine.”
With that he once more carefully extracted the document given to them by the brave king of the Belgians, and which had proved to be worth a thousand times its weight in gold.
So the French lieutenant, by the light of the flickering lanterns, also read the brief but forceful sentences penned by King Albert. He was of course greatly impressed, as who would not have been, remembering what a prominent figure the royal writer of the “pass” had already become in the world war?
“It is plain to be seen, young monsieur,” the officer hastened to say as he very carefully folded the precious paper, and with a bow returned it to the owner, “that you and your brave companions have found occasion to lend a helping hand to the grand cause for which all loyal Frenchmen are ready to shed their last drop of blood. But I notice that here the writer speaks of five young Americans, and I see but three.”
“That is easily explained,” replied Rod; “two of our chums were compelled to return hastily to America, having received a cable message. They sailed from Antwerp for London, and by now are far on the way across the Atlantic.”
“But what possessed you three adventurous boys to wish to come once more to the scene of battle and carnage? It is hardly a fit place for lads of your age, I should think?”