When the two boys had climbed once more into the loft, to find the candle still lighted as Jack had left it, of course the first thing Amos did was to ask his chum a few questions that were burning on his tongue. “Do you think he heard what was said, Jack; and was that the reason you spoke in such a loud tone?” “You’ve guessed it, Amos. Somehow, I felt so sorry for that poor couple in their bitter humiliation and shame that I just wanted to see if I couldn’t arouse whatever spark of patriotism there might be in Jean’s soul. Yes, I’m sure he caught every word we said.” “The question is, will it do him a particle of good, Jack? He must be a pretty poor specimen of a young fellow to act the way he has.” “Well, that can only be proved by time,” Jack told him, with a shake of his head. “It would be next door to a miracle, of course, and yet such things have happened before and may again. Honestly, I don’t believe the boy’s such a terrible coward as he lets himself think.” “He passed through more or less fighting, they said.” “Yes, and something has happened to give him a scare,” declared Jack, who had a sagacious way of looking at all such things. “If he could get a firm grip on himself once more there’s still a chance that he might win honors enough to wipe out the disgrace he’s made his folks feel. Anyway, I hope that will happen.” From the way Jack yawned it was evident that he did not feel like discussing the matter any further. Amos took the hint, for he, too, began to feel sleepy, now that the cause of their recent excitement had passed away. So he also gaped, and started to crawl under the covers, after he had again removed his shoes and coat. Jack blew out the candle, and in the darkness they composed themselves to forget all their troubles. Since Amos was so deeply concerned in finding his long missing brother, whom he really believed to be in the ranks of the Allies serving as an aviator, this often proved to be a difficult task; but being unusually tired after that arduous day, he presently managed to lose himself once more. The long night passed. If from time to time there stole in through the open window of that loft in the humble Belgian cottage the deep-throated growl of those great German howitzers such as had reduced the steel forts at Liége, Namur and since then other fortifications deemed impregnable, the sound did not seem to disturb the chums any more than distant thunder would have done. They were by this time becoming so accustomed to hearing the mutterings of fierce war that they did not pay as much attention to the same as had been the case some time back. There was no further cause for a sudden awakening. Once, however, when Jack found himself awake he raised his head to listen, thinking the low murmur of voices had sifted to his ears. When he made sure that it came from below he might have smiled as though satisfied, but the fact could not be made manifest in the gloom of that loft.