demanded. "I can't understand this
outlandish gibberish. What's it all about, anyhow?"

The conversation between the lads and the German officers had been in
English.

Chester broke into a laugh.

"Outlandish gibberish!" he exclaimed. "Why, Alexis, if you only knew how
your native tongue sounds, you wouldn't call anything gibberish. It's
fortunate you speak German."

"Well, perhaps so," Alexis agreed. "But what's it all about?"

"Simply," said Hal, "that we are to be taken to Posen, where we will be
held prisoners till after the war."

Alexis uttered a loud Russian imprecation.

"I was in hope," he said, "that when I went into East Prussia it would
be as part of an army too big for the Germans ever to drive out."

"It can't be helped now," said Chester briefly.

"It would have been helped if you had let me fight when I wanted to,"
said the big Cossack regretfully.

All day long the three were kept close inside the tent. Not once were
they permitted to step into the open. Night fell, and food was placed
before them. They were almost famished, so they ate heartily, sharing
their meal with Marquis. It was well along toward midnight when the
German officer once more entered the tent and informed them it was time
for them to leave.

They followed the officer into the open air, where a large body of men
were ready to move. Quickly they were led to horses, and were soon in
the saddle. Then, closely guarded, they were led away at a swift trot.

The German camp was some miles from the nearest railroad station, and it
took several hours to cover this distance. At last, however, they were
conducted aboard a train, where, under heavy guard, they continued their
journey.

It was well along toward the next evening when the train, after many
stops, finally pulled into Posen. With a number of other prisoners, the
three friends and Marquis, who had been allowed to accompany them, were
taken from the train and turned over to another squad of troops. In the
center of these they were led to a large and massive castle at one end
of the town. Here they were thrust into a dark though well-appointed
room, which, their guard informed them, was to be their prison.

"So this is where we are to spend the next few years, eh?" said Chester.

"The outlook is not very bright," replied Hal, "but we shall have to
make the best of a bad situation."

The three began a careful survey of their prison. There were two large
windows in the