elieve it," returned Jimmie, positively. "He knew he was
going to die, and tried, I believe, to right the wrongs he had done."

"No doubt you are correct. At any rate, I'm inclined to take a chance
and return the packet to you if you agree to keep it as directed and do
your best to follow the man's wishes."

"I'll readily do that!" cried Jimmie, stretching his hand for the
extended packet. "I'll promise that as I promised him."

"Thank you," smiled Kaiser, in one of his, rare moods of unbending from
the dignity that marked his demeanor. "I am trusting you."

"Then I suppose that we will be permitted to depart for America as
quickly as we can locate our comrades?" asked Jimmie, eagerly.

A shake of the head preceded the reply to this question.

"That can hardly be permitted at this time," said the other in a
deliberative manner. "There are several matters to be settled."

"Will we have to go into action with the regiment and fight?"

"Have you any objections to assisting us in return for the favors we
have granted you?" asked the Kaiser with apparent surprise.

"Yes, sir, we have!" declared the boy, earnestly. "We are not at all
concerned in the war and we don't wish to become engaged in it. We'd
rather not shoot at anybody unless it is necessary to do so for our own
protection or the defense of our country."

"Those are very noble sentiments, my lad," was the answer to this
statement. "Just yet we cannot give you permission to depart, but we
shall not require from you service that you are not able to give."

"Thank you, sir," both boys said in chorus.

"But, if you please," objected von Liebknecht, with a look of meaning
in the direction of his superior, "the young men may be of great value
to us in the future, and I suggest that they be held in reserve for any
emergency that may arise."

"Not a bad idea, I'm sure," agreed the Kaiser. Then, turning to the
boys, he added, "You will, of course, be expected to make no attempt at
escape. Your matter will be decided later on."

In company with the officer who had guided them to the compartment they
returned to the rear of the coach and fell to discussing the prospects
the future held for them.

They were awakened from a sound sleep into which they had fallen to
find that the train had made another stop and that the regiment was
disembarking. Men and horses were all about the track, baggage was
being hastily unloaded and every indication showed that