y. "I've read about what
they call the 'goose-step.' It's a flinging up of each leg, as the step
is taken, bending the knee, instead of keeping it stiff, like most
soldiers on parade do."

"The silly nonsense!" laughed Tubby. "What would I look like trying that
fancy step? I thought the Kaiser had more sense than that."

"Hold on. Don't condemn a thing before you know what it's meant for,"
said Rob. "There's an object, and a mighty good one, about that step,
even if it does make most people smile when they see it for the first
time."

"Then let's hear what it is, please, Rob."

"As far as I know about it, the object is to strengthen the muscles of
the leg, and give those that are tired from a set position a rest. Don't
you see how that sort of a movement relieves the leg? Try it a few
times, and you'll believe me."

"Have you ever seen the goose-step before, Rob?" asked Merritt.

"Only once, in a moving-picture play of the German maneuvers," he was
told. "It struck me then as ridiculous; but I knew those German military
men had long heads, and would not start a thing like that in a parade
without something big back of it. So, when I got home I tried it a few
times, and then I saw what a splendid relief that throwing forward of
the foot was. There goes another line doing it."

They continued to crouch--there was small possibility of any one
discovering them--and watched all that was going on in the busy camp
beyond.

Not once did any of the soldiers wander away. It was plainly evident
that they were being given no liberties. Rob only hoped that the order
would come for this corps to get on the move, and head to the southwest;
for he did not doubt but they were meaning to go to Ghent, or to some
other place toward the coast.

Several times Tubby was observed to crane his neck and look up toward
the heavens anxiously. The others did not need to be told what those
signs indicated. They knew very well that the fat chum had not become
suddenly interested in astronomy, or expected an eclipse of the sun to
happen. He was merely noting how far along his morning journey the sky
king had traveled, because he could not forget how Rob had set a time
limit on their remaining there.

Two hours he had mentioned as the sum total of their stay; when that
boundary had been reached Rob was going to make some sort of pleasing
proposition. Tubby hoped it would have to do with the procuring of a
certain nourishment, of which all