At that moment an orderly came rushing out of the office. He charged
past the boys without seeming to see them, and rushed out of the
building.

"The general says if this leaks out, the Allies will invade at once.
He's sure mad." O'Malley laughed softly.

A few minutes passed and the orderly returned with a squad of armed
soldiers led by a lieutenant. They stomped past the boys and into the
office. When they came out they were marching a captain and a major
before them.

Five more minutes passed and the orderly came out. He seemed much
agitated.

"You will come now," he said in husky English.

The boys followed him into the office. Herr General was a burly fellow
with a bald head and a narrow chest. He had a monocle screwed into one
eye which made him look fierce and tough. He glared at the boys, then
snapped an order to the orderly. The man scurried away.

"Come up to my desk, you," the general snarled.

The boys moved up and stood waiting.

"I have checked the answers you gave to questions asked you when you
were captured. You said an invasion will come at once. Why did you say
that?"

Stan stared at the officer. "We didn't say any such thing," he answered
evenly. He decided that the general had heard some of their conversation
over the listening device.

"Sure, an' you got big ears, General," O'Malley said.

Stan kicked him on the shin. The general jumped and puffed out his
chest. He fixed O'Malley with a cold glare.

"Pig! Fool! Keep a civil tongue in your head or you will regret it
much."

"If you brought us here to get information, you will be disappointed,
General," Stan said. "We will not talk."

"I brought you here to tell you that we intend to make you talk," the
general barked. "I merely wished to warn you and then to let you have a
little time to think it over."

"We are prisoners of war," Stan reminded him.

"The code provides for disciplining prisoners of war. We have some very
effective methods. You will talk and be glad to. Now get out."

Stan and O'Malley turned toward the door. Two armed men stood waiting
for them. They marched out with the guards close behind them.

"Sure, an' this is a nice mess," O'Malley grumbled.

"Could be worse," Stan said.

The guards left them after passing them into the yard of their house.
They headed for their room. Passing through the outer hall, they saw
that the lecture was still going on in the living room. They went up the
stairs.

Stan o