We went into an adjoining room, where a coal fire burned in a small round heater, whose glow promised comfort and warmth.  The privates very kindly brought us a drink of hot coffee and some bread, and pulled two mattresses beside the stove and told us to go to sleep.  Then they went out and brought back blankets, and with friendly looks and smiles bade us good-night, incidentally taking our shoes with them.

“The Germans are a spotty race,” said Ted, as we lay down.  “Look at these two fellows—­and then think of those two mugs that any decent man would want to kill at sight!”—­He pointed to the room where we had left the gendarme and the Sergeant Major.  “Oh—­wouldn’t I enjoy letting a bit of daylight through that policeman’s fat carcass!”

Next morning, when we awakened, our guards came again and brought us some more coffee and bread.  It was a bright morning, of sunshine, with a frost which glistened on the pavement and the iron railing surrounding the building we were in.

The streets were full of people, and streamers of bunting festooned the buildings.  Children were on the streets, carrying flags, and the place had a real holiday appearance.

“Suppose this is all in our honor, Sim,” Ted said as he looked out of the window.  “I wonder how they knew we were coming—­we really did not intend to.”

One of the guards, who had a kodak and was taking pictures of the celebration, asked us if he could take our pictures.  So we went out to the front door, which was hung with flags, and had a picture taken.

“What are the flags up for?” we asked him.

“It is the birthday of the All-Highest,” he replied proudly.

Ted said to me, so the guard could not hear, “Well, the old man has my sincere wishes—­that it may be his last.”

During the forenoon we were taken by rail to Meppen.  The Sergeant Major came with us, but did not stay in the compartment with the guards and us.  On the way the guard who had taken our photograph showed us the proof of it, and told us he would send us one, and had us write down our addresses.  He must have been a photographer in civil life, for he had many splendid pictures with him, and entertained us by showing them to us.  I remember one very pretty picture of his young daughter, a lovely girl of about fourteen years of age, standing under an apple-tree.

Before the Sergeant Major handed us over to the military authorities at Meppen, he told them what Edwards had said about wanting to go back to kill Germans, but he did not tell all that Edwards had said.  However, they treated us politely and did not seem to bear us any ill-will.

In the civil jail at Meppen to which we were taken, and which is a fine building with bright halls and pleasant surroundings, we were put in clean and comfortable cells.  There was a bed with mattress and blankets, which in the daytime was locked up against the wall, toilet accommodations, drinking-water, chair, table, wash-basin, and comb.  It looked like luxury to us, and after a bowl of good soup I went to sleep.