The soldier motioned them forward to the fire. The men there had caught up their rifles at the sound of the challenge, and stood peering anxiously out into the darkness. But when the two captives came within the circle of light cast by the fire, they stacked their guns and sat down again. Evidently they saw nothing threatening in the appearance of either Stewart or his companion. Their captor added his gun to the stack and motioned them to sit down. Then he doffed his heavy helmet with evident relief and hung it on his rifle, got out a soft cap like the others', and finally sat down opposite his prisoners and looked at them closely. "What are you doing here?" he demanded in German. "We are trying to get through to Brussels," answered Stewart, in the best German he could muster. "I have not much German. Do you speak English?" "No. Are you English?" And the blue eyes glinted with an unfriendly light which Stewart was at a loss to understand. "We are Americans," and Stewart saw with relief that the man's face softened perceptibly. On the chance that, if the soldier could not speak English, neither could he read it, he impressively produced his passport. "Here is our safe-conduct from our Secretary of State," he said. "You will see that it is sealed with the seal of the United States. My brother and I were passed at Herbesthal, but could find no conveyance and started to walk. We lost our way, but stumbled upon the railroad some miles back and decided to follow it until we came to a village. How far away is the nearest village?" "I do not know," said the man, curtly; but he took the passport and stared at it curiously. Then he passed it around the circle, and it finally came back to its owner, who placed it in his pocket. "You find it correct?" Stewart inquired. "I know nothing about it. You must wait until our officer arrives." Stewart felt a sickening sensation at his heart, but he managed to smile. "He will not be long, I hope," he said. "We are very tired and hungry." "He will not be long," answered the other, shortly, and got out a long pipe, but Stewart stopped him with a gesture. "Try one of these," he said, quickly, and brought out his handful of cigars and passed them around. The men grinned their thanks, and were soon puffing away with evident enjoyment. But to Stewart the single cigar he had kept for himself seemed strangely savorless. He glanced at his companion. She was sitting hunched up, her arms about her knees, staring thoughtfully at the fire. "This man says we must wait here until their officer arrives," he explained in English. "My brother does not understand German," he added to the men. "How stupid!" said the girl. "I am so tired and stiff!" "It is no use to argue with them, I suppose?" "No. They will refuse to decide anything for themselves. They rely wholly upon their officers."