CHAPTER XVIII

A QUESTION OF LOYALTY

During the morning they were visited by a French official who came aboard in a government boat and asked to see Mr. Merrick.

The ship had been inspected several times by the commander of the port and the civil authorities, and its fame as a model hospital had spread over all Flanders.  Some attempt had been made to place with the Americans the most important of the wounded—­officers of high rank or those of social prominence and wealth—­but Mr. Merrick and his aids were determined to show no partiality.  They received the lowly and humble as well as the high and mighty and the only requisite for admission was an injury that demanded the care of good nurses and the skill of competent surgeons.

Uncle John knew the French general and greeted him warmly, for he appreciated his generous co-operation.  But Beth had to be called in to interpret because her uncle knew so little of the native language.

First they paid a visit to the hospital section, where the patients were inspected.  Then the register and records were carefully gone over and notes taken by the general’s secretary.  Finally they returned to the after-deck to review the convalescents who were lounging there in their cushioned deck-chairs.

“Where is the German, Lieutenant Elbl?” inquired the general, looking around with sudden suspicion.

“In the captain’s room,” replied Beth.  “Would you like to see him?”

“If you please.”

The group moved forward to the room occupied by Captain Carg.  The door and windows stood open and reclining upon a couch inside was the maimed German, with Carg sitting beside him.  Both were solemnly smoking their pipes.

The captain rose as the general entered, while Elbl gave his visitor a military salute.

“So you are better?” asked the Frenchman.

Beth repeated this in English to Carg, who repeated it in German to Elbl.  Yes, the wounded man was doing very well.

“Will you keep him here much longer?” was the next question, directed to Mr. Merrick.

“I think so,” was the reply.  “He is still quite weak, although the wound is healing nicely.  Being a military prisoner, there is no other place open to him where the man can be as comfortable as here.”

“You will be responsible for his person?  You will guarantee that he will not escape?”

Mr. Merrick hesitated.

“Must we promise that?” he inquired.

“Otherwise I shall be obliged to remove him to a government hospital.”

“I don’t like that.  Not that your hospitals are not good enough for a prisoner, but Elbl happens to be a cousin of our captain, which puts a different face on the matter.  What do you say, Captain Carg?  Shall we guarantee that your cousin will not try to escape?”

“Why should he, sir?  He can never rejoin the army, that’s certain,” replied Carg.