“Ten to one they signalled to that same airship where to drop the bally old bombs!” cried a third soldier, angrily. Loud outcries attested to the ugly temper of the gathering crowd. There could be no telling to what ends that mob might go, sooner or later. Despite the fact that they were amenable to military orders they might get beyond the control of authority, and start to wreak summary vengeance upon the boys, neither of whom showed any signs of being alarmed. “Captain,” said Jack, quietly, though he had to raise his voice so as to be heard above the rising clamor, “we are just what we say, American boys. We have made our way into Ypres in order to see your commanding officer. It is foolish for any one to connect us with that German Zeppelin, when we were in just as much danger as the rest. Please take us to Headquarters without any delay. We have something to show the general; and after he has seen it you will find that he’ll extend the honors of the camp to us.” The captain must have known that if he held back much longer the excited men were apt to get out of bonds, and do something that would not be according to military discipline; so he evidently determined to follow the advice of the boy who seemed to be able to retain his presence of mind, regardless of the overhanging difficulties. CHAPTER XXII. AT HEADQUARTERS IN YPRES. “Both of you boys come with me,” the British captain told them, evidently capable of acting on the spur of the moment. “I’ll see that you get to Headquarters all right.” His actions told that he was a man who knew what to do in an emergency. First of all he stepped between the boys, and put an arm through theirs. Then he commanded a batch of passing soldiers under a subaltern to swing around them, so that on every side they were protected from the crowd. After that they started off briskly. Jack looked at his chum and nodded his head as if to say that it was more than fortunate for them they chanced to come across such a level-headed officer in their time of need. A crowd started to follow after them, and seeing this the resolute captain gave a sharp order that caused the guard to turn and make threatening gestures with the bayonets on their guns. After that, as though recognizing the fact that such an officer was not to be trifled with, the mob fell back and scattered into fractions. The danger was evidently past, at least so far as that quarter was concerned. It remained to be seen how they would get on with the general. Having the utmost faith in the talisman they carried, neither Jack nor Amos felt much fear. In this crisis of the country’s history none but sensible men would be in command of the King’s forces in the field; and they could depend on just treatment, which was all they asked.