, but watch the slow hours pass, and endeavour to avoid
falling foul of any of the guards--no easy matter, since every German
delighted in any chance of making trouble for a prisoner. Nothing but
to think and plan, as they had planned and thought a thousand times
before; to wonder desperately was all safe still--had the door been
found in the cupboard under the stairs? was the tunnel safe, or had it
chosen to-day of all days to fall in again? was the exit--in a bed of
runner beans--already known and watched? The Huns were so cunning in
their watchfulness; it was quite likely that they knew all about their
desperate enterprise, and were only waiting to pounce upon them in the
instant that success should seem within their grasp. That was how
they loved to catch prisoners.

The age-long afternoon dragged to a close. They ate their supper,
without appetite--which was a pity, since the meagre store of food in
the mess had been recklessly ransacked, to give them a good send-off.
Then another hour--muttering good-byes now and then, as they prowled
about; and finally, to bed, to lie there for hours of darkness and
silence. Gradually the noise of the camp died down. From the
guard-room came, for a while, loud voices and harsh laughter; then
quiet fell there too, and presently the night watch tramped through
the barrack on its last visit of inspection, flashing lanterns into
the faces of the prisoners. To-night the inspection seemed unusually
thorough. It set their strained nerves quivering anew.

Then came an hour of utter stillness and darkness; the eight prisoners
lying with clenched hands and set teeth, listening with terrible
intentness. Finally, when Jim was beginning to feel that he must
move, or go mad, a final signal came from the doorway. He heard
Baylis say "Thank God!" under his breath, as they slipped out of bed
in the darkness and felt their way downstairs. They were the last to
come. The others were all crouched in the cupboard, waiting for them,
as they reached its door; and just as they did so, the outer doorway
swung open, with a blaze of light, and the big Feldwebel strode in.

"Shut the door!" Jim whispered. He launched himself at the German as
he spoke, with a spring like a panther's. His fist caught him between
the eyes and he went down headlong, the lantern rolling into a corner.
Jim knew nothing of what followed. He was on top of the Feldwebel,
pounding his head on the floor; prepared, in