CHAPTER XXVII.
NEUTRAL HOSPITALITY.
The officer came up to the lad quickly, and held out his hand for theboy's revolver, which Jack gave him without a word.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded in broken English.
Jack smiled slightly.
"Well, as you have got me, I don't mind telling," he replied. "I am amidshipman on the British scout cruiser _Sylph_. This man is a traitor,who would have delivered the British fleet into the hands of theGermans. Fortunately, his treachery was discovered in time. Last night,however, he succeeded in making his escape, and I was sent after him. Ihad just persuaded him that he had better return when you arrived.That's all there is to it."
The Danish officer permitted the semblance of a smile to cross his face.
"Your methods of persuasion are to be commended," he said dryly, "but,while they may be permissible in times of war, there is no war inDenmark. Denmark is absolutely neutral. I suppose you are aware ofthat?"
Jack signified that he was.
"Then," said the officer, "you must realize that you have carried thisthing too far."
"Well," answered Jack, "I figured that if you didn't catch me it wouldbe all right. But I was afraid you or someone just like you might showup. But, if I could have got away with this man, I would have been allright, wouldn't I?"
Again the Danish officer smiled slightly.
"You are frank, at any rate," he said. "I am sorry, but it is my duty totake you to Esbjerg and turn you over to my superiors. My sympathies inthe case have nothing to do with the matter. I may say, however, that Iam sorry you have fallen into my hands. Had I known what was going on Iwould have become temporarily deaf."
"Thanks," said Jack dryly. "But are you sure it is too late to becomedeaf now?"
"Perfectly sure," said the officer, smiling. "You see, my men might notbe afflicted at the same time. I am sorry, but I must ask you to comewith me peaceably, or I shall be compelled to use force."
"Oh, I'll come peaceably enough," said Jack. "But what will be done withme?"
"You'll not be harmed, be sure of that; but the chances are that youwill not be allowed to leave the country until after the war. And itseems to me that you should be glad of that."
"Well, I'm not," said Jack warmly.
"No," said the officer, "I don't suppose you are."
He turned to the wounded Hardy and stirred his prostrate form with hisfoot.
"Ugh!" he ejaculated. "I have no use for a traitor, be he English orGerman."
He turned to his men.
"Pick him up and bring him along," he commanded.
Two of the soldiers did as ordered, and the party started off, theDanish officer and Jack in the lead.
"What's the name of this place you are taking me to?" demanded Jack, asthey walked along.
"Esbjerg," was the reply.
"What is it, a town or a conundrum?"
The officer drew himself up stiffly. Jack was contrite in a second.
"I beg your pardon," he hastened to say. "I didn't mean to offend you."
The officer became his good-natured self again in a moment.
"Say no more about it," he said. "I thought you were making fun of me."
"Oh, no," said Jack, "I wouldn't try to do that."
They continued their way, Jack and the Danish officer on the best ofterms. At length a few scattering houses came into view, and Jack sawthat they were approaching a little town.
Straight through the streets of the town they went, what few pedestriansthat were abroad at this early hour eying them askance. But no word wasspoken.
Finally Jack's captor stopped at the entrance of a building somewhatlarger than the rest, and turned to his men.
"Take him," indicating the wounded Hardy, "to the hospital, and see thathis wounds are attended to and that he is well guarded." To Jack headded: "Come with me."
Together they ascended the steps and passed through the door of thebuilding. Into a large and handsomely appointed room the officer led hiscaptive. At a large desk at one end of the apartment sat a large,ruddy-faced man in uniform, his straps, to Jack's educated eye,proclaiming his rank as that of general.
The general arose to his feet as the officer and Jack approached him.
"And what have we here?" he demanded, in a loud, booming voice.
"I captured this young English officer in the act of carrying an enemyfrom Danish soil," replied the officer, saluting. "It was a violation ofour neutrality, so I placed him under arrest."
"Good," said the general; "and the other man?"
"He is in the hospital, sir."
"Hospital? Do you mean to say that they were fighting on Danish soil?"
"As to that I couldn't say, sir," replied the officer. "I heard shots,but I did not see them fired."
The general turned abruptly to Jack.
"Your name?" he demanded.
"Midshipman Jack Templeton, sir, of His Majesty's navy," replied thelad, with a bow.
"Explain your presence in Denmark," came the next command.
Jack explained, and, after he had concluded his recital, the Danishgeneral was silent for some moments.
"Uh-m-m-m," he said finally, and his voice was not so harsh. "How oldare you?"
"Seventeen, sir," said Jack.
"You are indeed young to have seen so much service," mused the general."But this is a serious case. I am afraid I shall have to order youinterned."
"Is there no way out of that, sir?" asked Jack, now greatly alarmed.
"I am afraid not; but, have no fear, you shall be well treated while youare our guest."
"Guest," repeated Jack bitterly, "say rather your prisoner."
"Not if you will give me your parole not to attempt to escape," said thegeneral kindly.
"I can't do that, sir," replied Jack, taken somewhat aback by the oldgeneral's kindness.
"Then I fear that I must order you confined."
The general turned to the officer who had captured Jack; but before hecould open his mouth to speak, the abrupt entrance of another figureinto the room caused him to turn with his order left unspoken.
As the newcomer advanced into the room, both Danish officers saluted,and then bowed low. Instinctively Jack felt that he was in the presenceof royalty, and he also bent his knee in homage.
Nor was he wrong, for the good-natured, kindly-faced smiling man, whonow approached them, was none other than Christian X, King of Denmark.In his eye there was a twinkle, and there was a humorous quirk to hismouth, only partly hidden by his mustache.
Nodding to the two officers, the king walked directly up to Jack, who,being the subject of a king himself, fell upon his knee. The kingextended a hand and lifted the boy to his feet.
"I have overheard your conversation, sirs," he said quietly, and,turning once more to Jack, "and I am indeed proud to have the pleasureof meeting so valiant an English youth."
"I thank your majesty," said Jack in great confusion, and could say nomore.
"It is indeed unfortunate that you should have fallen into our hands,"continued the king, "for it must be as you have been told. Denmark isstrictly neutral, and neutral she shall remain while I am king. You, Iregret to say, must stay with us. But you shall be well treated. Imyself shall see to that."
Jack bowed again as the king finished.
"No doubt you are hungry," the king continued, "for you could not haveeaten during your long chase. My own breakfast is now ready, and I hopeI may have the pleasure of your company?"
The king's last words were an interrogation and, overcome by thishospitality, Jack could do naught but nod his head in assent.
"Come, then," said the king, and he turned toward the door.
Jack followed him from the room.