"Of course it is," exclaimed Bob. "You don't suppose I thought for a moment that you stole it, do you?" Heinrich glanced at him questioningly. "Come and see Percy," he said, apparently very anxious to change the subject. "What has he done lately?" asked Bob. "He iss grown." They approached the tub where the alligator was kept. "I can't see that he has grown much," exclaimed Bob. "He looks about the same to me." "He iss now two feet and one inches long," said Heinrich proudly. "He does not grow fast though." "I wish my bicycle was fixed," sighed Bob. "I wanted to ride down to the armory." "Harold iss in the army," said Heinrich. "I know it," said Bob. "I wish I was too." "You want to fight?" Heinrich asked. "Of course I do. Don't you? You're an American citizen, aren't you, Heinie?" "Yes, indeed," said Heinrich quickly. "For twelve years I been one." "You're all right," exclaimed Bob heartily. "If all Germans were as loyal as you I wouldn't have this black eye right now." "A German hit you?" "He ought not to be a German, but he is," said Bob bitterly. "Who was it?" "I won't tell you. What's the use?" "It was Frank Wernberg," said Heinrich. Bob looked curiously at the chauffeur. "How do you know?" he demanded. "Was it him?" "Yes, but how could you find it out so soon?" "Mebbe I guess," said Heinrich. "Probably you did," laughed Bob. "What do you know about the Wernbergs anyway, Heinie?" "Nothing," said Heinrich quickly and he acted as though he had made a mistake. "Look at Percy," he exclaimed. "He iss going down into the water." The alligator slipped slowly off the rock where he had been dozing. He slid quietly into the water and remained floating there all its four feet standing straight out. "He iss cute," said Heinrich proudly. Bob had never considered an alligator as being cute, but he did think "Percy" was interesting. Little did he dream how much more interested he would be in the small animal before many days had passed. CHAPTER V ON THE BRIDGE Harold came home for dinner that night. He was serving in the ninth infantry as a private until such a time as he should pass his examination and receive his commission. "Bob has seen active fighting sooner than you have, Harold," laughed Mr. Cook glancing at his younger son's battered eye. "Yes, and he won the battle too," said Bob warmly. "All I can say is," remarked Harold, "that Frank Wernberg must be an awful looking sight if he's worse than you." "He is," said Bob. "You ought to see his nose." "Don't talk about it," urged Mrs. Cook. "I hate it." "All right," laughed her husband. "Tell us what you have to do down at the armory, Harold. You were lucky to get off to-night." "Oh, I've got to go back," said Harold. "We'll probably be ordered out for guard duty to-night. I may be guarding your plant for all I know." "I hope we'll need no guards," said Mr. Cook earnestly. "In spite of all I said last night I can't believe that many people will be disloyal."