在路上，一名英国官员坚持要严格检查大家的证件，接着一群德国士兵不仅要检查证件，还要阻止大家的寻找行动。卡格船长作为翻译不停地与士兵们进行着交涉。德国官员认为这一行人是间谍，需要暂时被看管起来。大家真的会滞留于此吗？
The launch in which they embarked bore the Red Cross on its sides，and an American flag floated from the bow and a Red Cross flag from the stern.Its four occupants wore the Red Cross uniforms.Yet three miles out of Dunkirk a shot came singing across their prow and they were obliged to lay to until a Britishman—of—war could lower a boat to investigate their errand.The coast is very shallowa in this section，which permits boats of only the lightest draught to navigate in—shore，but the launch was able to skim over the surface at twelve miles an hour.
"This is pleasant！"grumbledb Uncle John，as theyawaited the approach of the warship's boat."Our very appearance ought to insure us safe conduct，but I suppose that in these times every craft is regarded with suspicion."The boat came alongside.
"Where are you going？"demanded an officer，grufflyc."To Ostend.""On what business？""Our own，"replied Mr.Merrick.
"Be respectful，sir，or I'll arrest your entire outfit，"warned the officer.
"You'll do nothing of the sort，"declared Mr.Merrick.
"You'll examine our papers，apologize for your interference and row back to your ship.We have the authority of the Red Cross to go wherever our duty calls us，and moreover we'reAmerican citizens.Permit me to add that we're in a hurry."The officer turned first white and then red，but he appreciated the force of the argument.
"Your papers！"he commanded.
Uncle John produced them and waited patiently for their inspection，which was very deliberate.Finally the officer returned them and gave the order to his men to row back to the ship.
"One moment！"called Uncle John."You haven't made theapology."There was no answer.The boat moved swiftly away and at a gesture from Captain Carg the sailor started the launch again."I wonder why it is，"mused Mr.Merrick，"that there is always this raspya feeling when the English meet Americans.On the surface we're friendly enough and our governments always express in diplomatic relations the most cordial good will；but I've always noticed in the English individual an undercurrentb of antipathyc for Americans that cannot be disguised.As a race the English hate us，I'm positive，and Iwonder why？""I believe you're wrong，Uncle，"remarked Patsy."A few of the British may individually dislike us，but I'm sure the two nations are not antagonisticd.Why should they be？""Yorktown，"muttered the captain.
"I don't believe it，"declared the girl."They're too good sportsmen to bear grudges.""All the same，"persisted Uncle John，"the English havenever favored us as the French have，or even the Russians."From Dunkirk to Ostend，by the coast line，is only some twenty—five miles，yet although they started at a little after eleven o'clock it was three in the afternoon before they finally landed at the Belgian seaport.Interruptions were numerous，and although they were treated courteously，in the main，it was only after rigid questioning and a thorough examination that they were permitted to proceed.A full hour was consumed at the harbor at Ostend before they could even land.
As they stepped upon the wharf a group of German soldiers met them and now Captain Carg became the spokesman of the party.The young officer in command removed his helmet to bow deferentially to Patsy and then turned to ask their business at Ostend.
"He says we must go before the military governor，"saidCarg，translating."There，if our papers are regular，permits will be issued for us to proceed to Charleroi."They left the sailor in charge of the launch，which waswell provisioned and contained a convertible bunk，and followed the officer into the town.Ostend is a large city，fortified，and was formerly one of the most important ports on the North Sea，as well as a summer resort of prominencea.
The city now being occupied by the Germans，our friends found few citizens on the streets of Ostend and these hurried nervously on their way.The streets swarmeda with German soldiery.
Arriving at headquarters they found that the commandant was too busy to attend to the Red Cross Americans.He ordered them taken before Colonel Grau for examination.
"But why examine us at all？"protested Mr.Merrick.
"Doesn't our sacred mission protect us from such annoying details？"The young officer regretted that it did not.They would find Colonel Grau in one of the upper rooms.It would be a formal examination，of course，and brief.But busy spies had even assumed the insignia of the Red Cross to mask their nefarious work and an examination was therefore necessary asa protective measure.So they ascended a broad staircase and proceeded along a corridor to the colonel's office.
Grau was at the head of the detective service at Ostend and invested with the task of ferreting outb the numerous spies in the service of the Allies and dealing with them in a summary manner.He was a very stout man，and not very tall.His eyes were light blue and his grizzled mustache was a poor imitation of that affected by the Kaiser.When Grau looked up，on their entrance，Patsy decided that their appearance had startled him，but presently she realized that the odd expression waspermanent.
In a chair beside the colonel's desk sat，or rather lounged，another officer，encased in a uniform so brilliant that it arrested the eye before one could discover its contents.These were a wizened，weather—beaten man of advanced age，yet rugged as hickory.His eyes had a periodical squint；his brows wore a persistent frown.There was a broad scar on his left cheek and another across his forehead.A warrior who had seen service，probably，but whose surly physiognomy was somewhat disconcerting.
The two officers had been in earnest conversation，but when Mr.Merrick's party was ushered ina，the elder man leaned back in his chair，squinting and scowling，and regarded them silently.
