Barney loitered until the last.  All the others had entered.  He dared not, for he knew that any moment the sentry upon the post from which he had been taken would appear upon the scene, after discovering another of his comrades.  He was certain to inquire of the sergeant.  They would be puzzled, of course, and, being soldiers, they would be suspicious.  There would be an investigation, which would start in the barracks of the guard.  That neighborhood would at once become a most unhealthy spot for Barney Custer, of Beatrice, Nebraska.

When the last of the soldiers had entered the shed Barney glanced quickly about.  No one appeared to notice him.  He walked directly past the doorway to the end of the building.  Around this he found a yard, deeply shadowed.  He entered it, crossed it, and passed out into an alley beyond.  At the first cross-street his way was blocked by the sight of another sentry—­the world seemed composed entirely of Austrian sentries.  Barney wondered if the entire Austrian army was kept perpetually upon sentry duty; he had scarce been able to turn without bumping into one.

He turned back into the alley and at last found a crooked passageway between buildings that he hoped might lead him to a spot where there was no sentry, and from which he could find his way out of the village toward the south.  The passage, after devious windings, led into a large, open court, but when Barney attempted to leave the court upon the opposite side he found the ubiquitous sentries upon guard there.

Evidently there would be no escape while the Austrians remained in the town.  There was nothing to do, therefore, but hide until the happy moment of their departure arrived.  He returned to the courtyard, and after a short search discovered a shed in one corner that had evidently been used to stable a horse, for there was straw at one end of it and a stall in the other.  Barney sat down upon the straw to wait developments.  Tired nature would be denied no longer.  His eyes closed, his head drooped upon his breast.  In three minutes from the time he entered the shed he was stretched full length upon the straw, fast asleep.

The chugging of a motor awakened him.  It was broad daylight.  Many sounds came from the courtyard without.  It did not take Barney long to gather his scattered wits—­in an instant he was wide awake.  He glanced about.  He was the only occupant of the shed.  Rising, he approached a small window that looked out upon the court.  All was life and movement.  A dozen military cars either stood about or moved in and out of the wide gates at the opposite end of the enclosure.  Officers and soldiers moved briskly through a doorway that led into a large building that flanked the court upon one side.  While Barney slept the headquarters of an Austrian army corps had moved in and taken possession of the building, the back of which abutted upon the court where lay his modest little shed.