"Who? W'y a German warship, that's who! One caught us—an' Cap Cleghorne. Caught th' Cap away hup on th' Newfoundland Banks. Caught us first day——"
"Why should a German warship capture us!" demanded Leonard in a voice that threatened to rise in excitement.
"Quiet! Quiet! 'Eavens, lad! Don't you know? Ain't you 'eard? W'y it's war! War! War's broke out all over th' world! Everyw'ere! Ever'body!"
"War!" gasped Madden.
"War! What countries?" demanded Smith in an excited whisper.
"Hall countries! Hingland, France, Rooshia, Japan, that's one side, an' Germany and Austria on th' other."
"America in it?" demanded Madden.
"Right enough. Canada is sendin' troops and——"
"America! America! The United States of America!"
"Oh, no, she's the only nootral in th' whole world among th' big powers! But she'll be in soon enough!"