“My maps!” he cried.  “My maps!  Has anyone seen my maps?”

The lieutenant jumped to his feet.

“Have you lost them, sir?” he asked.

“Lost ’em?  Lost ’em?  Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where they were?”

“Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir.”

“No, I didn’t leave ’em at headquarters,” raged the general.  “Someone has stolen them!”

“Stolen, sir?  Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing them.”

“I tell you they have been stolen!” cried the general.  “I want the house searched at once—­every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of these two Americans also.”

“Father!” admonished the lieutenant.  “Surely you are not accusing them?”

“I am not accusing anybody, sir, but I want this house searched.  Must I call for outside help, or will you help me, sir?”

“I’ll help, sir,” replied the lieutenant quietly.  To the lads he said softly:  “Never mind him.  He is always irritable when he misplaces something.”

The old general’s sharp ears caught this remark.

“Irritable, am I?” he cried.  “Well, maybe I am, but I don’t need to have my own son apologize for my actions.  If I have done anything that demands an apology I’ll apologize myself.”

Lieutenant Strauss shrugged his shoulders, as he said: 

“I’ll search the second floor, sir.  Will you take the first?”

“Yes,” snapped the general, “and see that you make a thorough job of it.”

At this juncture Chester rose to his feet.

“If you think we have your papers, sir,” he said quietly, “we are willing to submit to a search.”

“And searched you shall be,” said the general.  He turned to his son.  “Search them!”

The lieutenant protested, but to no avail.  The kids submitted to the search in silence.

“They have nothing, sir,” said the lieutenant.

“Then search the second floor,” commanded the general.

An hour later the lieutenant came downstairs, and a few moments later the old gentleman, now considerably cooled off, also returned.

“I found nothing, sir,” reported the lieutenant.

“Nor I,” said the general slowly.  “Can it be I was mistaken?  Perhaps, after all, I did leave the maps at headquarters.”  He turned to Hal and Chester.  “I hope you will pardon me for my outburst,” he said gravely, “but I am easily excited.”

“Say no more about it, sir,” replied both lads together, but to each came the same thought: 

“We are in luck.”

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Safe again.

Dinner over and the old general having left the house, Lieutenant Strauss said to the boys: 

“There is still some amusement in Berlin, in spite of the war.  Would you care to accompany me to the play to-night?”