While Fred watched, two men rode up on the snorting, crackling little machines and hurried into the house.
This was undoubtedly the parsonage, now being used as the headquarters of Colonel Goldapp.

Fred's heart sank as he surveyed the place.

It seemed to him that there wasn't much chance that he could rescue Boris.
There were too many Germans about.

Even though there was no reason for the staff to anticipate an attack, he could guess that the place would be well guarded.

And yet he was here because he hoped that he would be able, after seeing the parsonage, to devise some plan of getting Boris away.
However, that was something to be attempted later, if at all.