till, and that voice droning on, and at once took
comfort.

"Sausages, Sergeant," he said, smirking at him, and lifting the basket
so that the man could see its contents more clearly. "You like
sausages too, and you are hungry, you and your men, eh?"

And once more the Frenchman giggled in the face of the non-commissioned
officer.

"Why, yes. Now that you mention it, a man's mostly hungry who tramps
the country at night, and rushes about the place in search of
prisoners. Listen, youngster; you've seen three men crossing this
way--three men who have broken out of Ruhleben?"

Henri looked at him vacantly.

"Prisoners?" he asked. "Germans?"

"Germans!" the man exclaimed. "What next! Why, two Frenchmen and a
bull-necked, red-faced Englishman. Say, have you seen them?"

Once more Henri giggled inanely and lifted his basket.

"And about the sausages," he reminded the Sergeant; "you like them?
You are hungry? Well, now, there are plenty in the larder; light up
the kitchen, and take your seats; I'll be back in a few minutes, and
will call the master to you."

They pressed round him, that sergeant and his men; pushed him rudely
aside, and made their way, talking in loud voices, into the
kitchen--talking so loudly, indeed, that those inhabitants of the
farm-house, enjoying a musical evening, heard them, and, ceasing at
once the playing of their organ, stood to their feet and listened. A
minute later the doorway leading from the hall into the kitchen was
burst open, and a very startled, very frightened, and exceedingly
rotund and healthy farmer pushed his way into the apartment.

As for Henri, he crossed the yard in half a dozen strides, gained the
staircase, and raced up it, to discover Stuart and Jules seated by the
fire, chatting and smoking.

"My word!" exclaimed Jules as Henri entered; "two baskets of provender
this time, and full--both of them. Now listen to us, Henri; we've
found a beautiful little hole in a bundle of hay in the loft close
handy, and, from the position of the place, we believe it to be seldom
entered. It's just the spot in which to pass the night, and sleep
throughout the following day if need be."

"And you listen for a moment," said Henri, speaking swiftly. "A party
of Germans from Ruhleben have just reached the farm, and I met them
face to face. I thought they would have recognized me, for amongst
them was one whom I remember to have seen doing sentry duty; but I'm
such a sca