December weather in Flanders brought cutting winds from off the North Sea and often there were flurries of snow in the air.

They had steam heat inside the ship but the deck was no longer a practical lounging place.
Toward the last of the month Lieutenant Elbl was so fully recovered that he was able to hobble about on crutches.

The friendship between the two cousins continued and Elbl was often found in the captain's room.

No more had been said about a parole, but the French officials were evidently keeping an eye on the German, for one morning an order came to Mr.Merrick to deliver Elbl to the warden of the military prison at Dunkirk on or before ten o'clock the following day.
While the German received this notification with his accustomed stolid air of indifference, his American friends were all grieved at his transfer.

They knew the prison would be very uncomfortable for the invalid and feared he was not yet sufficiently recovered to be able to bear the new conditions imposed upon him.