for animals
and engines. Accordingly, about 30 of the imprisoned British tourists
were harnessed up to tug the weighty and cumbersome load over the heavy
three miles of road, badgered and baited by the guards. When we slowed
down under the effort, which was pretty exhausting upon a basin of
cabbage soup, we were spurred into the normal pace by the imprecations
of the soldiers.

In addition to the men tugging at the shafts two had to ride on top of
the load to keep it in order. The road led through a long avenue, the
lower branches of the trees lining which swept the top of the hay. It
taxed all our ingenuity and agility to avoid a mishap. Indeed, my
companion was swept off and thrown into the road with considerable
violence, sustaining severe bruises. It was rather by luck than judgment
that I did not share his fate.

When we reached the outskirts of Paderborn the guards called a halt, in
order to secure refreshment. We were also permitted, within limits, to
purchase eatables from the shops, for which, needless to say, we had to
pay exorbitantly.

[*large gap] we were able to secure a highly appreciated relief to our
monotonous and insufficient fare.

While the guards were enjoying themselves my companion and I, perched on
the top of the load, became the target for the jokes and gibes of the
curious crowd which had collected round the vehicle. One fellow in the
crowd was particularly impertinent and offensive with the result that we
soon became riled. He came close to the side of the wagon to shout some
particularly insulting epithet. With a dexterous movement my friend and
I, who had been watching patiently, severed the band holding a bale and
as it flew apart we gave the bale a smart push. It toppled over the side
to fall upon the head of our tormentor with a crash, felling him to the
ground and burying him completely. The guard, whom it missed narrowly,
gave a savage curse, but the fall appeared to be so obviously accidental
that he never for a moment considered the incident to have been
premeditated. The bullying, raw-boned young Prussian was extricated with
great difficulty and somewhat battered. His mouth, eyes, nostrils and
ears were choked with the hayseeds and he spluttered, coughed and yelled
in a terrifying manner. But he who a minute before had been so ready
with gibes at our expense was now jeered at by his comrades, in which
our guards joined boisterously. We, on the top had to give way to mirth.
Alt