Give the order!" Fred sighed with relief.

He had been right in his decision to stay where he was, as he understood fully when he saw the soldiers go off down the road, looking for some trace of the passing of the two imaginary officers.

Meanwhile the officer went back to Boris.
"We'll take this lad back with us," he said to the sergeant.

"He needs attention, and I prefer to give someone in higher authority a chance to talk to him.

This is a very mysterious affair, all around.