t was one of the Kaiser's jokes, but we will pay you out for it."

Upon this they turned the conversation into such a channel that Bob was
not slow to see their purpose. They were trying to obtain information
from him, and, as may be imagined, he did not fall readily into their
trap; indeed, they soon began to regard him as a hopeless case.

He saw, too, that his position was becoming desperate. The German
officers were not cheerful and gay as our own were. Even in spite of
the most terrible fighting and awful suffering the English had kept
cheerful.

It was as though the Germans felt themselves on the losing side.
Almost hourly they were pressed back, while great masses of wounded
soldiers were being brought from the battle-lines and hurried off to
the hospitals.

"This does not seem like another Sedan," Bob heard one officer say to
another. "It is all those English; they fight like devils, and yet
they are as cool as men on parade. Instead of advancing, we are going
backward. Unless there is a change, we shall be driven out of the
country."

"They shall pay for it later, never fear," said another. "When we have
once beaten them, France will be ours, and England crushed like an
empty eggshell."

"When we have beaten them," was the doubtful response.

What Bob suffered it is impossible to say; how he longed to be back
among his comrades in the fighting-line, I cannot put into words.

He knew by the questions which were constantly asked him that they
thought he would be in a position to render them invaluable service;
that was why he had special treatment.

At the end of three days, however, he knew that this special treatment
was over, and by the looks that were cast towards him, he felt sure
that the doom he expected would be his. He would be packed off to a
German prison.

"What is to become of me?" he asked one of the officers, who had
constantly been plying him with questions.

"You'll know to-morrow morning," was the curt reply.

As may be imagined, Bob had, during the whole time, sought eagerly for
a means of escape; but this seemed impossible. All around him were
vast hordes of men, and he knew that any movement towards liberty on
his part would mean instant death. Yet he determined to try, and hour
by hour had formulated his plans.

Up to the present no alteration had taken place in his treatment. It
seemed to him madness that the Germans should spare two men
continuously to guard him