ind the grub. Brace up! We're coming to a
village; and I think I can see an inn the first thing."

It proved to be as Merritt had said, and better still, the man who kept
the modest little tavern assured Rob in fair English that he would be
proud to serve the honored guests; also that he had once spent a year in
the Birmingham machine shops himself.

"Just like all the rest, he takes us for Johnny Bulls," complained
Tubby.

"Well, that's partly your fault," Rob told him.

"Just because I'm so well filled out, I suppose you mean, Rob? Well, if
they keep on thinking that, I guess I'll have to get busy and cultivate
a real cockney accent. 'Beg pawdon; thank _you_; my word!' You see I've
got a few of their favorite jabs spotted."

As before, they found themselves the object of more attention than any
of them enjoyed. People kept peeping in through the open door of the
room where the three strange young chaps in khaki were enjoying their
really excellent supper.

"Don't mind them," advised Rob, when he saw that Tubby was posing, as if
conscious of being in the lime-light. "Let's finish our supper, and then
we can sit outside on the porch as the sun goes down, and talk over our
plans for to-morrow."

"Yes," added Merritt quickly, "because to-morrow may take us so far on
our journey that we'll either find our man, or meet with some bitter
disappointment, something I hate to think about."

"Don't do it, then," advised Rob. "We must believe everything is bound
to come out right, and that you'll not only run across Steven Meredith,
but that the paper will be found under the lining of the cover to his
field-glass case, where he's been carrying it all this while, without
knowing it."

"One thing sure," said Merritt grimly, "if he's left that post and gone
anywhere else, I'll follow him, hit or miss, if it takes me to the
battle front."

"Listen!" exclaimed Tubby. "What's that man shouting, Rob?"

"As near as I can make out," replied Rob quickly, "he says the Uhlans
are entering at one end of the town."

CHAPTER VIII.

WHEN THE UHLANS CAME.

When Rob Blake made this startling explanation of the loud cries from
without, his two companions started up from the table in dismay. They
could easily understand that the coming of the German cavalrymen just
then threatened them with unpleasant consequences.

If they were mistaken for English boys they might expect not only rough
treatment, but possibly find themsel