The side of the pit nearest the road was almost open, though it was screened by bushes and foliage.  Fred, however, was able to peer out and to see the dancing flames, giving a weird and ghostly appearance to the scene in the road.  The Germans were very close now and he had just time to poke up some branches to hide the opening through which he had fallen.  Then he lay down, his eyes glued to a sort of natural peephole that gave him a view of the road.

“It’s like a grandstand seat!” he said.  “But I hope no one wants to see my ticket because I’m afraid the usher would make me change my seat!”

But then Fred had to give his whole attention to what was going on in the road.  The Germans came running up, a young officer in the lead.  There were a half dozen of them.  At first, as they looked about near the burning car, they saw no one.  But then one of the soldiers saw Boris and raised a shout.  The officer went over, leaned down and then started back with a cry of surprise.

“That is no German officer!” he exclaimed.  He bent over again and Fred winced as he saw him shaking Boris by the shoulder.  He wondered if Boris was shamming, or if he had really fainted.  Then it was plain that there was no pretence.  The officer, gently enough, raised Boris’s head, and taking a flask from his pocket, forced a little of the spirits it contained into Boris’s mouth.  Fred saw his cousin stiffen; he was coming to his senses.  Then the officer let him down, but made a sort of pillow for him with a cushion that had been thrown out of the automobile when it was overturned.

“Feel better?  Good!” he said.  “Now tell me what happened!  Where are the two officers who were in the car?  Were they hurt?”

“I—­do not know,” said Boris.

Fred had to strain his ears to catch what Boris said.  Boris was weak and exhausted, and Fred was glad that the German officer seemed kindly and disposed to be humane.

“You do not know?  How is that?  You were in the car with them, weren’t you?”

“I was in the car, but I do not know what happened after the accident.  I was thrown out—­and I did not know anything until you roused me just now.”

“But what were you doing in the car, then?  Who were those officers?  Where were they going?”

“I do not know.  I know only that I was walking along the road, because all the people had been sent away from their homes, when the car stopped, and a man told me to get in and sit low, so that I should not be seen.  Then we drove very fast and after a while there was a crash, and I was thrown out.”

“Can you walk?”

The German’s tone had changed somewhat.  It was anxious now, and puzzled.

“I—­don’t know,” said Boris.  “There is a pain in my leg—­here, right above the ankle.  Ouch!”

Fred saw the German officer slip his hand down over the spot to which Boris pointed, and his touch dragged the exclamation of pain from Boris.