blew over
the high wall.

Stan and O'Malley sat down on a bench with Sim. The other men busied
themselves with handball and quoits. Sim bent down and traced a line
with a stick in the dirt.

"I have everything lined up. We get away tonight. A British colonel is
giving a lecture in the big room at nine tonight. I have fixed the
checker. We'll get away while that is on." Sim did not look up.

"Hans is the checker?" O'Malley asked.

"Yes."

"Sure this isn't a trap? Things have been working too good around here,"
Stan said.

"This will not be easy," Sim answered in a low voice. "The chances are
about even we'll be shot before we get clear of the wire and the guard
lines. These guards do not shout at you, they shoot and then yell." Sim
laughed shortly. "But I'd rather be shot than rot here."

"Sure, an' that's me, too," O'Malley agreed.

"We'll be ready," Stan answered.

"You cannot take anything with you," Sim warned. "Now we have to break
up. The guards are watching us." He got to his feet and walked away.

"I think he's acting nuts for the benefit of the guards," O'Malley said.

"If it turns out he really is nuts, we may find ourselves messed up with
lead," Stan answered. He got up and walked over to where the R.A.F. boys
were pitching quoits.

"Care to get in?" a captain asked him.

"Thanks, I'll have a try," Stan answered.

O'Malley stretched out on the bench and went to sleep. He slept through
until lunch call was sounded. Stan mixed with the British officers and
learned what he could about conditions. He got their names so he could
report regarding them if he did get away.

The afternoon dragged away and mess call sounded after one of the R.A.F.
officers had put the men through a stiff drill and a series of
sitting-up exercises. After mess Stan and O'Malley went to their room.
Sim was not there.

"I didn't see Sim around the mess when we left, wonder where he went?"
Stan whispered.

"You worry too much about him," O'Malley answered. "I bet he's snoopin'
around gettin' set to get us away."

Stan stretched out on his bunk. They waited for Sim to show up, but he
did not come to the room. At eight o'clock Stan began to squirm.

"They've probably nabbed him," he said sourly.

"Sure, an' I'll start working on Hans if they have."

They had been speaking in very low tones. Now Stan spoke louder. "Better
be getting ready to go to that lecture."

"Sure," O'Malley agreed.

The boys settled down to