mmander, looking up
from his record.

"Health," replied the Englishman, stiffly.

"Whose?"--sneeringly.

"Mine."

"You do not look ill."

"That cannot be helped," replied Mr. Launce, as stiffly as ever.

"You must have passports, since you are travelling," suggested the
ober-lieutenant.

"Yes; we have," admitted Mr. Launce.

"Turn them over to me."

Receiving the documents in question, the German commander looked them
over carefully. Without comment, he handed them to a younger officer, who
left the room with them, but soon returned.

"Take these people away," ordered the ober-lieutenant. "And see that you
obey all orders without question," he added, to Kennor and the English
couple.

When they had been left alone the ober-lieutenant rose to his feet,
holding out his hand to Darrin though a bit stiffly.

"We are brothers in arms, it seems, though just now we are enemies," said
the German.

"We are enemies, yes," Dave admitted, ignoring the outstretched hand. At
this the German flushed, allowing his proffered hand to fall.

"You shall have all permissible courtesy while you are my prisoner, and I
trust you will show the same," said the ober-lieutenant.

"I bespeak no courtesy, sir," Dave replied coolly, though without direct
affront. "I quite understand that I am a prisoner of war, and, as I
cannot help the fact, I will not resent it. You are going to confine me,
I take it?"

"No," said the ober-lieutenant, again seating himself and picking up his
pen. "You will be given quarters, and allowed some freedom as long as you
do not forfeit it. You may even eat at table with us."

"Thank you," said Darrin, bowing stiffly.

"I have not yet entered your name. Be good enough to supply me with it."

"David Darrin."

"Rank?"

"Lieutenant commander."

"Yankee Navy?"

"United States Navy, sir."

"Present detail?"

"Commanding officer of a torpedo boat destroyer."

"Her name?" demanded the ober-lieutenant, writing.

"I decline to state."

"Name of the destroyer?" insisted the German.

"You heard my answer to that," Darrin returned, his lips tightening. "I
refuse to reveal the name of the destroyer."

"Her present station?"

"I decline to answer."

"Your reason for being away from your craft and being aboard the
'Rigsdak'?" queried the German, glancing up.

"I was washed overboard in a gale, and rescued by the crew of the
'Rigsdak'," Dave answered, truthfully, without going into details.