Reaching the yard we were lined up, still two paces apart and under the hawk-eyes of the guard.  Then the first man from one end advanced to the pump, alongside which stood two soldiers with fixed bayonets with which the man was prodded if he evinced signs of lingering or dwelling unduly over his work.  The duty involved cleaning out the sanitary pan, in which by the way dependence had to be placed upon the hands alone, no mop or cloth being allowed.  Then the jug had to be refilled from the pump, which was a crazy old appliance worked by hand.  I may say that so far as we prisoners residing in the ill-famed avenue were concerned we had to depend upon water entirely for washing purposes—­soap was an unheard-of luxury—­while a towel was unknown.  Under these circumstances it was impossible to keep clean.  Shaving was another pleasure which we were denied, and I may say that the prisoners residing in the salubrious neighbourhood of the condemned cells had the most unkempt and ragged appearance it is possible to conceive.  When the man had finished his task he marched to the opposite end of the line, his place being immediately taken by the next man, and so on until the work was completed, which usually involved about ten minutes.

Although intercourse was rendered impossible by the vigilance and number of the guards yet I was able to take stock of my neighbours.  We were a small but cosmopolitan family, the French predominating.  For some inscrutable reason the Germans appear to have been unusually successful in their haul of French spies, although doubtless the great majority were as innocent of the charge of espionage as I was.  Yet we were a motley throng and I do not think any self-respecting tramps would have chummed up with us.  Many of my fellow prisoners bore unmistakable evidences of premature old age—­the fruits of solitary confinement, lack of exercise, and insufficient food.  Others seemed half-witted and dazed as a result of the brutal treatment which they had received.  Some were so weak that they could scarcely manipulate the crazy pump.  Many were garbed only in trousers, being void of boots, socks, shirts and vest.  Unkempt beards concealed thin, worn and haggard faces studded with red bloodshot eyes.

While I was waiting in the line my attention was arrested by one man, who formed a member of our party.  He was a German, but he did not appear as if he had been guilty of any heinous crime—­at least not one of sufficient calibre to bring him into our Avenue.  He was well built, of attractive personality, and was well dressed in a blue suit complete with clean collar, tie and other details.

Who was he?  What was he doing with us?  Was he a spy?  My curiosity was thoroughly aroused.  I became interested in him, and strange to say the sentiment was mutual because he could not take his eyes from me.  I keenly wanted to speak to him but this was frankly out of the question.  Yet we seemed to be drawing together.