rote some words on the back of
the map. "God pardon me, for I know it is not all truth. Those words are
German--they say you are 'deaf and dumb' and that 'you are going to the
front.'"

"Then you are going back to Cologne?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, "and beyond. I know not yet--perhaps to Berlin."

A distant bell chimed.

"The Angelus," he said, standing and bowing his head in prayer. Though
not of his religion I also removed my hat and stood beside that man of
deep mystery. His steel grey hair and care-lined face seemed foreign to
his strong built frame and iron hand grip, and as he prayed upon the
road, my thoughts rolled back to Cologne and dwelt upon that brave girl
whose friendship had made so sweet my prison days in that City of the
Bridges. I pictured my last vision of her upon the hill, wafting me a
farewell.

The man of prayer interrupted my reverie.

"It is now good-bye, Australian," he said. "Though all countries are
alike to me, your nation seems to promise much. It leads the world in
justice for the men who toil, and perhaps that is why I would like to
see you safely out of this maelstrom of human passions; but our ways
must part just here--good-bye!"

He left me as the evening shadows began to encircle the hills, and
though I felt a strange feeling of loneliness as he passed up the road
and out of sight, I felt brave and cheerful--for my friend had taken a
love-letter to Cologne for me.

CHAPTER XV.

Figures on the Road.

I reached the Rhine at dusk. The ferry barge, a small rope affair with a
hand wheel, was at the water's edge. All was quiet this side of the
river, but across the water anxious voices called. Close to me a door
opened and a shaft of light split the darkness as the little old and
white-haired ferry keeper came clattering out, wiping his mouth and
muttering savagely. He stepped upon the barge. I followed and took the
wheel from him. He smiled and spoke, but as I pointed to my ears and
tongue and shook my head, he nodded. Between us we worked the barge
across the river.

As the ferry neared the bank my heart beat fast, for I saw the waiting
figures were soldiers! There were five of them and they seemed
impatient. Before the barge had touched the shore they had jumped
aboard, not noticing me walk off. They were without rifles, this struck
me at the time as very significant, and the soldiers began to hurriedly
work the ferry back again. I turned and watched the barge fad