should have stolen the package out of
that hut and then continue to insist that we have it," remarked Ned. "Are
you sure he's the same fellow, Jimmie?"

"It's the very same hand," declared the lad, "and that hand is a dead
give away! I wonder he didn't wear a glove or bandage!"

"Maybe he didn't have time when he got the package," explained Jack. "Can
anyone tell me how the thing got into our kits?"

This question was unanswerable by any of the lads. Puzzling over the
strange adventures they had recently encountered the lads proceeded to
their hotel, where they spent some time in freshening both themselves and
their uniforms and in rearranging their baggage.

At supper time they were tired and very hungry. At the first opportunity
they proceeded to the restaurant where they had formerly eaten.

Jimmie's spirits revived as food was set before them. In a moment he was
laughing and chatting away without a care in the world. His good humor
was infectious. Soon all four boys were in a merry mood.

"I wish we could get a civilized paper," declared Jack at length. "I'd
really like to see what's going on in the world."

"Maybe we can get one at the desk. Or possibly the cashier can tell us
where they will have English papers for sale," suggested Harry.

"Here comes a man who looks as if he were a native," spoke up Jimmie.
"I'll bet he can tell us a whole lot of things we want to know!"

The boys glanced up to observe a man approaching their table. He was
evidently a seafaring man. His dress and manner betokened the deep sea
mariner. A decided air of the ocean marked him to the boys' eyes.

"Goot efening, Chentlemen!" the stranger said as he approached.

"Howdy!" replied Jimmie, with a wave of his hand. "What'll you have?"

"Vell," replied the visitor, "schnapps vas goot, but you couldn't get 'em
here. Dis isn't no blace for dot! No, sir!"

"I wasn't inviting you to have a drink," snapped Jimmie somewhat
confusedly, "I meant to ask you what's on your mind."

"So-o-o-o!" exclaimed the newcomer with a long drawn expression of
surprise. His shaggy eyebrows raised as he extended his chin and shrugged
his shoulders, pantomiming an apology. "So, dot's it, eh?"

"Sure thing!" answered Jimmie, regaining his composure in a measure but
with his face still flushed. "We want to know what you're after."

"Vell," went on the visitor, "my name's Captain Johannes von Kluck. Don'd
forgot dot 'Captain' part, eider. Und I haf lear