There was keen rivalry in the embellishment of these crude homes.  Upon completing ours I decided upon a “Tradesmen’s Entrance” and carved this out, together with a winding approach, the entrance being flanked by two mounds on one of which I planted a small flag improvised from a piece of cardboard which I unearthed.  Directly I had set up the little flag I fell foul of authority.  The hated emblem was torn up by an officious sentry whom it enraged.

These mud huts were speedily christened with high-falutin names.  There were “Sans Souci” villa and the “Haven of Rest” and others equally wildly and inappropriately named.  But we considered this an excellent chance “to wax sarcastic,” and we let ourselves go, although I do not think that our task-masters, being by nature dense, grasped the purport of our humour.  Our residence rejoiced in the unpretentious designation of “Camera Villa,”

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If the authorities had gleaned an inkling of the circumstance that this mud hut harboured an incriminating eye they would have spared no effort to discover it, while I as the unfortunate owner—­well!  I do not know what would have happened to me for such a flagrant breach of official regulations.

It also seemed as if the authorities were going to deprive us of food.  At all events noon passed without any sign of dinner.  In the afternoon, however, we were informed that we were to receive the mid-day meal, but must go to the cook-house to get it.  That was a mile away!

At two o’clock we were lined up, the British at the extreme rear as usual, and marched off.  Upon reaching the kitchen we were alarmed to learn that there were insufficient basins.  Several would have to use the one utensil successively, and, needless to say, without being washed after each use.  Apart from this repulsive method of feeding us as if we were dogs, the time occupied in getting one’s ration proved maddening.  After one had swallowed the thin cabbage soup hastily, one had to advance and join the group comprising those who had been served.  The result was that by the time the last of the British prisoners had been supplied some three hours had passed.  Yet this was the first meal which some of the men had received for three days!  I may say that one felt far from satisfied after swallowing the noisome greasy wash.

In the evening, while working upon our hut to impart the finishing touches speedily, because rain was falling, I stumbled across three of the disgraced and disfigured fishermen.  They were alone and forlorn.  They had no hut and did not know what would happen if another wet night swept over them.  One happened to be the skipper of one of the trawlers which had been sunk and he vehemently denied the charge that they had been guilty of laying or sweeping mines.  They were attending to their trawls when they were surprised and captured.