He stood beside John, as the young American fixed the stirrup, and some motion or gesture of the seeming peasant suddenly appeared familiar to Kratzek.
Before John had realized what he intended Kratzek suddenly seized him by both shoulders and turning him around, looked straight into his eyes.
"Scott, the American, and a spy!" he exclaimed.
John's heart missed several beats.

He knew that it was useless to deny, but in a moment or two he had himself under full control.
"Yes, it's Scott, and I'm in disguise, but I'm not a spy," he said.
"The penalty anyhow is death." "But you'll not betray me!" "You saved my life at the great peril of your own." John was silent.

He felt that the time had come for Kratzek to repay, but he would not say so.

Now his own look was straight and high, and it was Kratzek's that wavered.
"You pledge your word that you are not seeking to pry into our military secrets ?" asked the Austrian at length.
"No such purpose is in my mind at all, and I leave here within twenty-four hours as ignorant of them as I was when I came." "Then, sir, I do not know you.

I never saw you before, and I believe you are the peasant you seem to be." Kratzek gave him one look of intense curiosity, then sprang upon his horse, and rode away, never looking back.
"There goes a true man," thought John, as he returned to the stable.
Toward evening Walther gave him a heavier suit of clothes which he put on, a great overcoat like an ulster falling almost to his ankles, and an automobile cap and glasses.