delay with
good grace and be happy as possible. Ostend is full of life and I am
conducting you to an excellent hotel."

CHAPTER XIII

TARDY JUSTICE

The courtesy of Lieutenant von Holtz was beyond criticism. He obtained
for his charges a comfortable suite of rooms in an overcrowded hotel,
obliging the landlord to turn away other guests that Mr. Merrick's party
might be accommodated. The dinner that was served in their cosy sitting
room proved excellent, having been ordered by von Holtz after he had
requested that privilege. When the young officer appeared to see that it
was properly served, Patsy invited him to join them at the table and he
laughingly consented.

"You are one of our party, by force of circumstances," said the girl,
"and since we've found you good-natured and polite, and believe you are
not to blame for our troubles, we may as well be friendly while we are
together."

The young man was evidently well pleased.

"However evil your fortune may be," said he, "I cannot fail to be
impressed by my own good luck. Perhaps you may guess what a relief this
pleasant commission is to one who for days has been compelled to patrol
those vile smelling docks, watching for spies and enduring all sorts of
weather."

"To think," said Uncle John gloomily, "that _we_ are accused of being
spies!"

"It is not for me," returned von Holtz, "to criticize the acts of my
superiors. I may say, however, that were it my province to decide the
question, you would now be free. Colonel Grau has an excellent record
for efficiency and seldom makes a mistake, but I suspect his judgment
was influenced by the general, whose son was once jilted by an American
girl."

"We're going to get even with them both, before this affair is ended,"
declared Patsy, vindictively; "but although you are our actual jailer I
promise that you will escape our vengeance."

"My instructions are quite elastic, as you heard," said the lieutenant.
"I am merely ordered to keep you in Ostend, under my eye, until your
case has been passed upon by the commandant or the general staff. Since
you have money, you may enjoy every luxury save that of travel, and I
ask you to command my services in all ways consistent with my duty."

"What worries me," said Patsy to Uncle John, "is the delay. If we are
kept here for long, poor Denton will die before we can find his wife and
take her to him."

"How long are we liable to be detained?" Uncle John asked the o