was by no means
uncertain that the British possessed a record of his deeds--deeds that
might be worthy of the German arms, but certainly would not be regarded
with any degree of favour by nations with any respectable code of
honour. Poisoning wells, for example, was quite a favourite and
pleasant Hun trick when the perpetrators of the outrage were all able
to place a safe distance between them and their foes; it was quite
another matter when the officer responsible for the dastardly deeds was
a prisoner of war.

Three more Germans followed, and then came a full-faced, double-chinned
Prussian, wearing an order on his cotton drill uniform. In his hand he
held a sheathed sword, the scabbard of which had already been
unfastened from the slings.

"I am Commandant Hendrich von Lindenfelt," he announced as captor and
captive exchanged salutes. "I make surrender and claim der treatment
due to der brisoners of war."

"That'll be all right," rejoined Wilmshurst. "Please keep your sword
until the colonel decides--I mean, until you are taken to Colonel
Quarrier of the Nth Waffs. Are all the German officers here?"

"Yes," replied von Lindenfelt. "All except those who killed and
wounded are."

"I am anxious to find a certain individual known as von Gobendorff,"
continued the British subaltern. "Can you give me any information
concerning him?"

The oberst seemed considerably taken aback.

"I do not know any person so called," he replied after a slight
hesitation.

"Think again, Herr von Lindenfelt," prompted Wilmshurst. "The man we
want is von Gobendorff, otherwise known as Robert MacGregor, and is
known to have belonged to the forces under your command."

Von Lindenfelt shook his head, this time resolutely and defiantly.

"I do know not," he declared.

It was practically useless to press the question. There were,
Wilmshurst argued, other means of finding out.

Setting a guard over the prisoners Dudley sent a file of Haussas to
explore the dug-out. In less than a minute the corporal returned.

"Number one big hole, sah," he reported. "Me no find no one time man
in no place."

As a result of this somewhat mystifying intelligence Wilmshurst entered
the dug-out. Descending a flight of a dozen wooden steps he gained the
ante-room, a space fifteen feet in length and about seven in breadth.
It was absolutely proof against the heaviest gun employed in the German
East campaign, while, as a safeguard against bom