But they made a fine bluff at being awake all night, for we heard them walking up and down in the early evening.  However, we reasoned that they were not any keener on sitting up than any of the rest of us would be if we didn’t have to; and it turned out that our faith in them was justified.

Although we did not have to work on Sunday, those who had to work in the mines had no seventh day of rest, and the night-shift went out each night about ten-thirty when the day-shift men came in.  We had decided on eleven-thirty as the hour for our departure, giving the guard one hour in which to settle down after this disturbance.

We were lying on our mattresses, apparently wrapped in a heavy slumber, but in reality eagerly listening to every sound....  We heard the night-workers going out, and the day-men coming in and going heavily to rest....  A guard seemed restless for a while and tramped up and down the creaking floor... but at last the only sound to be heard was the deep breathing of tired men.

I heard Bromley gently reaching for his clothes, and I did not lose any time in getting into mine.  Bherral and a little Frenchman, who were in our room, were wide awake and full of fear.  They had tried to dissuade us.

But the guards, all unsuspecting, slept on.

They slept the sweet sleep of childhood while we pushed out the strands of barbed wire which protected the window; they slept while Bromley slipped cautiously to the ground, and while I handed him down the overcoats, boots, and parcels of food (which we had been saving for a month); they slept while I slid through the window and dropped to the ground, too.

Just then the wind caught the window, which was on a hinge, and slammed it noisily against the wall.

We grabbed our belongings, and ran!

CHAPTER VIII

Off for Switzerland!

We ran as if the whole German Army were in pursuit.  Our feet did not seem to touch the ground.  I believe if we could have held that pace we should have been in Switzerland in the morning!

Reaching a little hollow, we slackened our pace and listened.  There was not a sound from behind.  Either there was no more wind, or the boys had closed the window from within.  We figured that they would do this, and open it before morning so they could claim they had not heard us go.  Then we put on our boots.

The night was at its blackest, and a drizzling rain began to fall.  This was in our favor, for nobody was likely to be about on such a night.  When we saw we were not pursued, we took time to arrange our packs.  I carried my compass, which I had been able to secrete during numerous searchings, and my map, a pair of socks, pipe, tobacco, matches in a tin box, an empty beer-bottle, and several things to eat, saved from our parcels,—­chocolate, tinned meat, biscuits, cheese, and bread.  Bromley