rhaps Clarette is right."

They made their way back to the launch in silence. Patsy was quite
disappointed in Maurie. He had so many admirable qualities that it was a
shame he could be so untruthful and unreliable.

As time passed on the monotony that followed their first exciting
experiences grew upon them and became oppressive. December weather in
Flanders brought cutting winds from off the North Sea and often there
were flurries of snow in the air. They had steam heat inside the ship
but the deck was no longer a practical lounging place.

Toward the last of the month Lieutenant Elbl was so fully recovered that
he was able to hobble about on crutches. The friendship between the two
cousins continued and Elbl was often found in the captain's room. No
more had been said about a parole, but the French officials were
evidently keeping an eye on the German, for one morning an order came to
Mr. Merrick to deliver Elbl to the warden of the military prison at
Dunkirk on or before ten o'clock the following day.

While the German received this notification with his accustomed stolid
air of indifference, his American friends were all grieved at his
transfer. They knew the prison would be very uncomfortable for the
invalid and feared he was not yet sufficiently recovered to be able to
bear the new conditions imposed upon him. There was no thought of
protesting the order, however, for they appreciated the fact that the
commandant had been especially lenient in leaving the prisoner so long
in their care.

The Americans were all sitting together in the cabin that evening after
dinner, when to their astonishment little Maurie came aboard in a skiff,
bearing an order from the French commandant to Captain Carg, requesting
him to appear at once at military headquarters.

Not only was Carg puzzled by this strange summons but none of the others
could understand it. The Belgian, when questioned, merely shook his
head. He was not the general's confidant, but his fee as messenger would
enable him to buy bread for his family and he had been chosen because he
knew the way to the hospital ship.

As there was nothing to do but obey, the captain went ashore in one of
the launches, which towed the skiff in which Maurie had come.

When he had gone, Lieutenant Elbl, who had been sitting in the cabin,
bade the others good night and retired to his room. Most of the others
retired early, but Patsy, Uncle John and Doctor Gys decided to sit up
a