the world.

'Your friends the English,' he said grinning, 'will come last. When we
have starved them and destroyed their commerce with our under-sea boats
we will show them what our navy can do. For a year they have been
wasting their time in brag and politics, and we have been building
great ships--oh, so many! My cousin at Kiel--' and he looked over his
shoulder.

But we never heard about that cousin at Kiel. A short sunburnt man
came in and our friend sprang up and saluted, clicking his heels like a
pair of tongs.

'These are the South African Dutch, Herr Captain,' he said.

The new-comer looked us over with bright intelligent eyes, and started
questioning Peter in the taal. It was well that we had taken some
pains with our story, for this man had been years in German South West,
and knew every mile of the borders. Zorn was his name, and both Peter
and I thought we remembered hearing him spoken of.

I am thankful to say that we both showed up pretty well. Peter told
his story to perfection, not pitching it too high, and asking me now
and then for a name or to verify some detail. Captain Zorn looked
satisfied.

'You seem the right kind of fellows,' he said. 'But remember'--and he
bent his brows on us--'we do not understand slimness in this land. If
you are honest you will be rewarded, but if you dare to play a double
game you will be shot like dogs. Your race has produced over many
traitors for my taste.'

'I ask no reward,' I said gruffly. 'We are not Germans or Germany's
slaves. But so long as she fights against England we will fight for
her.'

'Bold words,' he said; 'but you must bow your stiff necks to discipline
first. Discipline has been the weak point of you Boers, and you have
suffered for it. You are no more a nation. In Germany we put
discipline first and last, and therefore we will conquer the world.
Off with you now. Your train starts in three minutes. We will see
what von Stumm will make of you.'

That fellow gave me the best 'feel' of any German I had yet met. He was
a white man and I could have worked with him. I liked his stiff chin
and steady blue eyes.

My chief recollection of our journey to Berlin was its commonplaceness.
The spectacled lieutenant fell asleep, and for the most part we had the
carriage to ourselves. Now and again a soldier on leave would drop in,
most of them tired men with heavy eyes. No wonder, poor devils, for
they were coming back from the Yser