----"

"American?" repeated Von Glahn in his gentle, well-bred voice, offering
his hand. And, in turn, becoming sponsor, he presented his stocky
companion as Dr. von Dresslin; and the ceremony instantly stiffened to a
more rigid etiquette.

Then, in his always gentle, graceful way, Von Glahn rested his hand
lightly on Stent's shoulder:

"You made us jump--you two Americans--as though you had been British. Of
what could two Americans be afraid in the Carnic Alps to challenge a pair
of wandering ibex stalkers?"

"You forget that I am Canadian," replied Stent, forcing a laugh.

"At that, you are practically American and civilian--" He glanced
smilingly over their equipment, carelessly it seemed to Stent, as though
verifying all absence of military insignia. "Besides," he added with his
gentle humour, "there are no British in Italy. And no Italians in these
mountains, I fancy; they have their own affairs to occupy them on the
Isonzo I understand. Also, there is no war between Italy and Germany."

Stent smiled, perfectly conscious of Brown's telepathic support in
whatever was now to pass between them and these two Germans. He knew, and
Brown knew, that these Germans must be taken back as prisoners; that,
suspicious or not, they could not be permitted to depart again with a
story of having met an American and a Canadian after ibex among the Carnic
Alps.

These two Germans were already their prisoners; but there was no hurry
about telling them so.

"How do you happen to be here, Siurd?" asked Stent, frankly curious.

Von Glahn lifted his delicately formed eyebrows, then, amused:

"Count von Plessis invites me; and"--he laughed outright--"he must have
invited you, Harry, unless you are poaching!"

"Good Lord!" exclaimed Stent, for a brief second believing in the part he
was playing; "I supposed this to be a free alp."

He and Von Glahn laughed; and the latter said, still frankly amused:
"_Soyez tranquille_, Messieurs; Count von Plessis permits my friends--in
my company--to shoot the Queen's alm."

With a lithe movement, wholly graceful, he slipped the _ruecksack_ from his
shoulders, let it fall among the _alpenrosen_ beside his sporting rifle.

"We have a long day and a longer night ahead of us," he said pleasantly,
looking from Stent to Brown. "The snow limit lies just above us; the ibex
should pass here at dawn on their way back to the peak. Shall we
consolidate our front, gentlemen--and make it a Quadruple En