And in a few moments he heard the sound of galloping hoofs behind him.

Even then he did not turn until a Uhlan had ridden past him.
"Stop!" cried the soldier.

"Where are you going ?" Fred looked at him blankly.
"Stop!" said the German again, for Fred, after having looked at him, had moved on.

Still Fred paid no attention, and the man rode up to him and leaned over, dropping a heavy hand on his shoulder and shaking him in no gentle way.
"Where are you going, I say?
Answer!" roared the Uhlan.
But Fred only smiled and pointed first to his ears and then to his mouth.

By pantomime he pretended to be deaf and dumb.