“I fibbed, Uncle,” said Patsy despondently.  “I fibbed willfully.  But—­how could I help it when she looked at me that way?”

CHAPTER XV

DR. GYS SURPRISES HIMSELF

Henderson was waiting with the launch at the Ostend docks.  Lieutenant von Holtz was earnestly thanked by Patsy and Uncle John for his kindness and in return he exacted a promise from them to hunt him up in Germany some day, when the war was ended.  The countess and Mrs. Denton, sad and black-robed, had been made comfortable in the stern seats of the boat and the captain was just about to order Henderson to start the engine when up to them rushed the fat Belgian woman and her two children.

Without an instant’s hesitation the two youngsters leaped aboard like cats and their mother would have followed but for the restraining hand of Captain Carg.

“What does this mean?” cried Mr. Merrick angrily.

The woman jabbered volubly in French.

“She says,” interpreted Patsy, “that we promised to take her to Dunkirk, so she may find her husband.”

“Let her walk!” said Uncle John.

“The Germans won’t allow her to cross the lines.  What does it matter, Uncle?  We have plenty of room.  In three hours we can be rid of them, and doubtless the poor thing is really anxious to find her lost husband, who was last seen in Dunkirk.”

“He is a spy, and a traitor to both sides, according to report.”

“That isn’t our affair, is it?  And I suppose even people of that class have hearts and affections.”

“Well, let her come aboard, Captain,” decided Uncle John.  “We can’t waste time in arguing.”

They stowed her away in the bow, under Henderson’s care, and threatened the children with dire punishment if they moved from under her shadow.  Then the launch sped out into the bay and away toward Dunkirk.

Three days had brought many changes to the hospital ship Arabella.  Of the original batch of patients only Lieutenant Elbl, the German, and Andrew Denton now remained.  All the others had been sent home, transferred to the government hospitals or gone back to the front, according to the character of their injuries.  This was necessary because their places were needed by the newly wounded who were brought each day from the front.  Little Maurie was driving the ambulance again and, with Ajo beside him and Dr. Kelsey and a sailor for assistants, the Belgian would make a dash to Ypres or Dixmude or Furnes and return with a full load of wounded soldiers.

These were the days of the severest fighting in Flanders, fighting so severe that it could not keep up for long.  There would come a lull presently, when the overworked nurses and surgeons could get a bit of sleep and draw a long breath again.

Gys had elected to remain aboard the ship, where with Maud and Beth he was kept busy night and day.  Two French girls—­young women of good birth and intelligence—­had been selected by Dr. Gys from a number of applicants as assistant nurses, and although they were inexperienced, their patriotic zeal rendered them valuable.  They now wore the Red Cross uniforms and it was decided to retain them as long as the ship’s hospital remained crowded.