"You no hurt my papa?"
The door of a nearby house suddenly flew open and a fleshy, round-shouldered man appeared. He saluted, then said:
"Good evening, Messieurs! I see you have my little girl with you."
"Monsieur Bauer!" The captain stood up, ignoring the other's salute.
"I suppose you know that you are now under arrest?"
"It is what I feared. May I take my little girl inside?"
"Yes, provided the sentry and I go with you."
"You may as well: you'll go anyway. Please do not give me away."
With remarkable nerve, Bauer lifted the wondering child to his arms and led the way inside.
Five minutes later he emerged, the captain and the sentry on either side, and set out amid childish protests from within.
"She overtook me while I was on my way," he confessed. "It is fate, I guess."