"No, Herr Kommandant," the Lieutenant said with a shake of his head. "There was nothing. It was completely empty. It has never been used. That, also, added to my suspicions of these two. I shall give it a better examination at your orders, sir."
"Do so at once, now," the senior officer said and made a wave of dismissal with one hand.
"At once, Herr Kommandant," the Lieutenant said in a magpie voice. "Heil Hitler!"
The German Colonel waited until he had left, then focussed his eyes on Dave and Freddy, and smiled faintly.
"And now, boys," he said in a kindly voice, "what is all this about? How did you happen to get so far behind our lines?"
"We told the lieutenant the truth, sir," Freddy Farmer spoke up. "I was lost. It was all my fault. I had no idea where I was. You have no right to hold us as prisoners. We have done nothing except get lost, and it was all my fault."
The German's smile broadened and his shoulders shook.
"So, I have no right, eh?" he chuckled. "You are not in your England now, my boy. But suppose you tell me all about it?"
"Very well, sir," Freddy said in a quiet dignified voice. "And you can take my word for its being the truth, too."
The English youth paused a moment and then told the story of leaving the Paris headquarters of the British Volunteer Ambulance Service, becoming separated from the others, and after many hours picking up Dave Dawson.