rman
Captain to allow the boys to leave the country. The thought was a very
disquieting one. In entertaining it, Jimmie felt himself fully
justified in taking any possible course of escape.
"Well, my lad," began the Captain, addressing Jimmie in a not unkindly
tone, the while his blue eyes regarded the lad with an amused glance,
"now that you are a full-fledged Uhlan and your comrades are on their
way home, you will be fitted out with a new uniform by the proper
department. See that you select a good strong one, for we have plenty
of rough work ahead of us. Yes?"
"Very good, sir!" replied Jimmie with outward politeness, although his
heart was filled with rage at the thought of donning the German
uniform. "I shall try to do well whatever I undertake."
"Spoken like a man!" declared the officer with a short laugh.
A brief order spoken in the German language to an orderly nearby
resulted in that individual signing to Jimmie. Obediently the lad
followed his new guide. Past groups of soldiers who were, by their
fair hair, round cheeks, blue eyes and general stocky build, members of
the German army, the boy and his conductor took their way.
Not far down the street they came upon several wagons in charge of a
commissioned officer, before whom the guide stopped with a very formal
salute. After receiving a recognition of his salute the guide
explained his errand. A laughing response greeted his explanation of
circumstances. The officer called one of his aides, and the work of
outfitting the erstwhile Cossack began.
Jimmie discovered that the wagons were veritable stores on wheels, and
was greatly surprised at the neatness and order with which the large
assortment of goods were disposed. No difficulty was experienced in
securing clothing of the proper dimensions, and Jimmie soon stood forth
to all external appearances as loyal and brave a Uhlan as ever followed
the banner of the Emperor or stuck a lance into a dummy at riding
exercise. He could not restrain a laugh at the peculiar round cap that
was fitted to his head.
"Now I'm hungry!" he declared as he surveyed himself in his new
regalia. "Where's the eats?" he asked of the guide.
A stare from a pair of pale blue eyes was the only response.
"I say," began Jimmie in a louder tone, "I haven't had anything to eat
for a long time. I'm hungry!" he finished in a shout.
Another stare and a nod of the head greeted this outburst.
"Aw, come off!" was
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