t collecting before the barracks. Most of them went
about arm in arm, and in their uproarious spirits made passes in the
air with their betassled walking-sticks.

As the little procession passed the noisy crowd, the merry songs
ceased. The reservists, taken aback, stepped aside, and amid startled
whispers looked after the prisoners.

Findeisen walked with bowed head. They had put his cap on right over
his forehead, so that he could hardly see from under it. Wolf looked
straight ahead, but walked as if in a fog. He saw nothing of what was
passing before him, and stumbled as he stepped across a gutter.

The corporal on guard was going to unlock two contiguous cells for the
prisoners, but one of the men in charge of them objected.

"They might communicate with each other by knocking or somehow," he
said. "Better lock them up as far apart as possible."

So Wolf was put into the cell nearest to the road, and Findeisen into
one at the other end of the corridor.

The corporal placed the reservist's uniform on a stool, and near by the
pair of boots which had caused the dispute, still bearing traces of
dust.

"Change your clothes quickly," he said. "I must take back your plain
clothes with me at once."

But Wolf stood there motionless.

He heard the key turn in the lock without realising what was happening.
Then the steps retreated from his door, once more the great bunch of
keys jingled, another door was opened, creaked unwillingly on its
hinges, and was slammed to and locked.

The voices of the non-commissioned officers resounded in the
stone-paved corridor as they returned to the guard-room.

"What have the fellows done?" asked the soldier on guard.

The answer was almost lost behind a corner of the passage:
"Murder--Sergeant Keyser."

The reservist still stood motionless beside the stool. He was trying
in vain to think why he was here. What was he doing here, when it was
to-day that he was at last released from the hated discipline? He
passed his hand over his eyes, as if to remove something that was
covering them, and mechanically he pressed down the latch of the door.

It was indeed true; he was locked in.

Again the key sounded in the lock, and the corporal on guard entered.
Behind him a gunner brought a jug of water into the cell, set it down,
and at once retired.

"Why haven't you changed yet?" asked the corporal.

The reservist stared at him blankly, without comprehension.

"Damnation!" thundered