Therefore, when the three
travelers reached the border, they were held up by the military.
Hal presented his fake American passport, and Chester and McKenzie did
likewise. The officer who had accosted them turned them over to his
superior.
"Your intentions," said the officer, "I hope are such as not to break
Holland's neutrality?"
"We're perfectly peaceable, sir," returned Hal with a smile.
"Very well. This is a neutral country, and you are, of course, free to
travel about it at your leisure so long as you conduct yourselves
properly. Of course, were you American soldiers it would be necessary
for me to place you under arrest, and YOU would be interned until the
end of the war."
"I understand that, sir," said Hal.
"By the way," said the Dutch officer, "there is a Dutch newspaperman
here at this moment. Perhaps you would like to meet him. He is Herr
Heindrick Block, of the Amsterdamer."
"We shall be pleased," said Hal quietly.
The Dutch officer excused himself, and returned a moment later with a
young Dutchman, whom he introduced to the three friends.
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