, "the badge of the Red Cross protects us from false
accusations."

When they had gone Uncle John said thoughtfully to the girls:

"That remark about the Red Cross impressed me. If that fellow Maurie is
really in danger of being arrested and shot, he has cleverly placed
himself in the safest service in the world. He knows that none of our
party is liable to be suspected of evil."

CHAPTER XVIII

A QUESTION OF LOYALTY

During the morning they were visited by a French official who came
aboard in a government boat and asked to see Mr. Merrick.

The ship had been inspected several times by the commander of the port
and the civil authorities, and its fame as a model hospital had spread
over all Flanders. Some attempt had been made to place with the
Americans the most important of the wounded--officers of high rank or
those of social prominence and wealth--but Mr. Merrick and his aids were
determined to show no partiality. They received the lowly and humble as
well as the high and mighty and the only requisite for admission was an
injury that demanded the care of good nurses and the skill of competent
surgeons.

Uncle John knew the French general and greeted him warmly, for he
appreciated his generous co-operation. But Beth had to be called in to
interpret because her uncle knew so little of the native language.

First they paid a visit to the hospital section, where the patients were
inspected. Then the register and records were carefully gone over and
notes taken by the general's secretary. Finally they returned to the
after-deck to review the convalescents who were lounging there in their
cushioned deck-chairs.

"Where is the German, Lieutenant Elbl?" inquired the general, looking
around with sudden suspicion.

"In the captain's room," replied Beth. "Would you like to see him?"

"If you please."

The group moved forward to the room occupied by Captain Carg. The door
and windows stood open and reclining upon a couch inside was the maimed
German, with Carg sitting beside him. Both were solemnly smoking their
pipes.

The captain rose as the general entered, while Elbl gave his visitor a
military salute.

"So you are better?" asked the Frenchman.

Beth repeated this in English to Carg, who repeated it in German to
Elbl. Yes, the wounded man was doing very well.

"Will you keep him here much longer?" was the next question, directed to
Mr. Merrick.

"I think so," was the reply. "He is still quite w