ell
any. Instead of that we were shot at as we were leaving."

"Oh, vell," said the officer, waving his hand in a deprecating manner,
"who cares about a little ting like dot in var time?"

"Well, if we had got hit by one of the bullets we wouldn't have felt
very joyful about it, I can tell you that!" said Ned.

"Und why was it that this man wouldn't sell you the gasoline?"

"I don't know unless it was because we wouldn't answer his questions
about the movement of German troops," answered Ned.

"I don't think that was it at all," laughed the officer. "It was those
uniforms of yours. You see, they are different than what he was
accustomed to seeing, and he probably thought they were Russian."

"Possibly that was it," agreed Ned, although he secretly doubted this
flimsy explanation. "Of course, I don't know."

"Yes," the other went on, "I'm sure that was it, and I suggest that the
best plan would be to change them. You will therefore remove your
uniforms and we will provide you with others more suitable."

"Well, if you please," Ned remonstrated, "we'd much rather take our
chances wearing these same uniforms. They're ours and others are not.
It wouldn't be very nice to go back on your uniform."

"But you will change, nevertheless," announced the other. "We need
those uniforms and you don't. So be quick about it."

At a signal one of the men now came forward bearing an armful of
clothes, which he threw down upon the floor in front of the lads.

"Good night!" said Jack as he put on a coarse shirt several sizes too
large. "This is no joke at all. Those fellows were laughing a few
minutes ago, but they'll laugh worse than ever when they see us."

In fact, the boys had to laugh at each other, so strange was the
appearance of the three when they were finally dressed.

"Now," said the officer with a smile, when the exchange of clothing had
been arranged, "we shall let you occupy this little room for a time."

He indicated a small room leading from the larger one. It was the room
from which the soldier had provided the clothing the boys now wore.

In another moment the lads found themselves alone with the door leading
into the outer room securely fastened.

"Just a little bit dark in here, isn't it?" inquired Harry as the door
closed and the sound of the falling latch came to their ears.

"Yes, but I managed to smuggle my pocket contents into these clothes,"
said Ned. "I have the searchlight yet."