ud on his brow. His cheeks had fallen in more
and more, and at the slightest exertion the sweat poured down his thin
face. He looked ready to break down, and his eyes glowed with a
feverish light.

"I shall never last it out," he whispered to Vogt one morning. "I shall
go all to pieces. I would rather break away altogether and escape."

"You are mad," said Vogt. "Do you not see the sentries? You would not
be able to get a hundred yards away."

Wolf looked at him. The chance of escape out of this narrow circle was
indeed small. But he stuck to his project, adding: "What does it matter
if I am shot down? Would that not be better than going on in this way
for three more long years?"

Of a sudden his plan appeared to him in a new light. If his flight were
unsuccessful, if a sentry's bullet put a stop to it, would he not
equally have suffered for his opinions? Would not this bloody sacrifice
to the cause of revolution win new adherents? And would that not be
better in the end than if he got free and lived out a painful existence
in some foreign country?

Though formerly he had longed to be free at any price, death now shone
before him as a desirable goal. Better that than to be crippled merely.

Next day he whispered to Vogt, "Next time that the Jaegers are on duty I
shall try it."

Vogt shook his head emphatically with a gesture of protest. His comrade
must have gone clean out of his wits. And why should Wolf want to make
the attempt just when the Jaegers were mounting guard, the troops that
were most proficient in shooting? It looked as if he were courting
death.

The kind-hearted fellow set it before himself to dissuade his comrade
from his intention. It would never do to let such a brave man commit
suicide in a fit of despair. But he must manage it soon; in five days
he himself would be free, and before that Wolf must give him his
promise to abstain from his folly. Unfortunately the Jaegers would be
mounting guard the very next day.

As he pushed his loaded wheelbarrow before him he sought to meet Wolf's
eyes; his comrade also had just filled his barrow. Vogt passed close by
him, and signed to Wolf to come with him. But Wolf purposely remained
behind and shook his head, smiling.

Soon afterwards they were called in. The prisoners put away their tools
and their barrows, and Vogt stood waiting in the half-dark shed till
the others were ready.

Suddenly he felt his hand gripped, and Wolf whispered in his ear: