Most of them could not understand the words, but as they looked into Frank's eyes they had not the slightest doubt of his meaning, and they stood like so many statues, only their eyes and the working of their features betraying the impotent anger that possessed them. "Now, Tom," said Frank, without removing his eyes from those of the German leader, "go over these men and take whatever weapons they may have, while the rest of you keep the bunch covered." Tom laid aside his rifle and did the work with promptness and thoroughness, and his search was rewarded by a considerable collection of knives and pistols. To these he added the rifles that had been leaning against the wall, and removed the lot from the room. "They haven't anything left more dangerous than a toothpick," he reported to Frank, with a grin, as he picked up his rifle and resumed his place. "Fine and dandy," remarked Frank. "Now," he went on, addressing the prisoners, "back up to that wall and sit down on the floor. Quick now! _Sitzen Sie sich. Verstehen Sie?"_ They understood, and showed that they did by obeying, though if looks could kill Frank would have been blasted by the venomous glance that the German leader shot at him. Only then did Frank permit himself to relax. He lowered his rifle with a sense of relief. "We've got them corralled now," he remarked to his comrades. "Let your rifles down, boys, but keep your eyes on them. If any one of them tries to make a break, we can pot him before he gets to his feet." "Well, now that we've got them what are we going to do with them?" asked Billy. "Sort of white elephant on our hands it seems to me," said Tom, in some perplexity. "No more sleep for any of us to-night, I guess," observed Bart. "Oh, I don't know," said Frank. "Two of us will be enough to guard these fellows at a time, while the others get a few winks. I think I'll question the fellow who seems to be running this shooting match and see if I can get anything out of him." He motioned to the leader to get to his feet and come forward, which the latter did with a thunderous frown on his face. Frank had a faint hope that the man would be able to speak English, in which case his task would be comparatively easy. But when he asked the captive in German whether he could speak English, the latter replied with a surly negative. So Frank was compelled to muster his limited vocabulary and pick out enough German to make himself understood. In that language, then, the questioning proceeded. "What were you men doing here?" asked Frank. "By what authority do you ask me?" the prisoner responded. "Since when has it been a crime for Germans to meet together on German soil?"