The Motor Boys Bound for Home

ed to Ned to fall back, and, at the same time, nodded to Bob not to approach, as the stout youth seemed about to do. The

little man, who, from the back, had so closely rese

ice under control, for, truth to tell, he was as indignant as his c

ade a mistake in thinking I had anything to do[27] with that-that charlatan! That prete

hear his friend thus abused. "The mistake will be on the other

om the table to attack Ned, but Jerry

e him," he wh

razy?" a

y, as the little man resumed his seat at hi

riend of ours," said Jerry suavely. "Seeing you from

yours?" asked the l

s!" exclaimed B

tle man. "You had no right to assume that I was he, and your effro

if you continue in[28] your present strain there will be something else to apol

ur friend, Professor Snodgrass," he continued, "and that, to

seconds the little bald-headed man did not seem to know what to do. He said something about its being "all right now," but mingle

en they had resumed their seats for their dessert

ed. "Red pepper and chili con carne I imagine, wit

Bob. "What was the name of that Spanish fe

o Bilette," su

y looks a[29] lot like our dear, o

n, "you claim you can parlez-vous better than the rest

omprehendez-vous him?" and he pointed to the man who was the cause of the Motor Boys' discomfiture. For it had been dis

petite hommes de la table d'hote," and to make sure that hi

you're getting off

restaurant," translated Bob. "Comprehendez-that means 'do yo

earnestly, while Marie looked amu

know?" sna

been riding in, 'chevaux 8-hommes 40'? That is eigh

well up," co

the perpetual appetite. "Now give her a chance to answer. I'll ask her ag

to serve, turned for a look over her shoulder at the man Bob referred

rewdly at Bob's meaning and shru

ey let Bob assert his knowledge of French, they could not help acquiring some o

he?" ask

t, I'll translate it to her." Then, laboriously

t?" Ned wan

3

f she knows his n

and glanced at the little man who had waxed so

to snap out the word as a second lieutenan

say?" chorused

atched his head and then r

n?" he

the swift answer. "Oui

murmur

e, during which Marie moved

Ned. "If he is, he has his nerve with

what she said,

ow the French language is very queer

t it than we do, it hasn't taken us six months to appreciate the fact that it's[32] a mighty elusive way of conv

dn't have so many words in it that sound a lot alike, but mean a

a cochon,"

what she di

at is a cocho

re which. I forget whether cocher is pig or whether it's coachman, and I don't know wheth

mean he was a respectable, though humble, member of society. If, on the other hand, she cal

head again. Plainl

d. "I wish I had my French book here. I sort of

at that," declared Jerry. "The idea of getting on his ear jus

ot like him from the

ere the dear old chap is, anyhow?

up some other line of scientific investigation before he left to go back to Boxwood Hall, and you can wager your last

l have to tackle your friend Marie again. Se

he comes back. It might be, you know, that this fellow

red Jerry. "This cocher or cocho

out him while we have the chance. If Professor Snodgrass is going to[34

rry. "Go at her again, Bob, and

greed the s

their table, in response to

ochon la petite

be worse tangled than before. Can't you

person of a member of the American military police

the Sherman had better hike back to

ery been repair

ready to sail. You f

answe

e on. We got orders to round up everybody that had shore

3

ing up a few possessions, an e

Ned, taking a handful of

e?" asked Bob

at cochon means!" exclaimed Je

indignantly. "And I was going to ask her

laughed Ned. "Com

hey left the restaurant, having noted that the man who had so rese

ul," remarked Jerry. "He sure did make me feel like t

d been completed sooner than was expected, and now the siren of the vessel was blowing to call back those who had been allowed shore leave.[36] F

, and after a slight delay the transpor

n!" excla

hope with better

deck. As he did so he gave a st

he exc

asked Ned. "

iend of the restaurant-le cochon-I'll