Part 36 (1/2)

Slowly the leaden-footed hours sped. Darkness fell upon the scene.

To add to the cold and discomfort; a chilly rain followed the ”piping down” of the wind. The gnarled bough, rendered slippery with the moisture, was hardly safe. Its condition presaged danger when the time came for the three fugitives to attempt to descend the tree trunk. What was more there was every indication of the wet turning into ice.

Even the airmen's thick leather coats and fleece-lined gloves afforded but scant protection against the rigours of the penetrating air. Again and again Billy consulted the luminous hand of his watch.

Would the hour of eleven never come?

”Why wait any longer?” asked the A.P., his teeth chattering with the cold. ”We can make our way cautiously through the wood. We'll be a mile nearer to the Golden Lion crossroads when we get to the other side. We'll be too benumbed if we stop here.”

”All right,” agreed Barcroft. ”Belts together, lads. We'll lower you as far as we can, John. Mind that ankle of yours when you drop.”

It was an eerie business lowering Fuller through the darkness, but without mishap he alighted on the soft ground. Then having thrown down the water bottle and the rest of the provisions his two comrades rejoined him.

”All right?” whispered Barcroft.

”Right as ninepence,” replied the flight-lieutenant. ”Lead on, Macduff.”

Guided by a luminous spirit-compa.s.s Billy plunged into the wood, his companions following in single file. Already the rain had been sufficiently heavy to moisten the ground in spite of the protection afforded by the leafless branches. Here and there a dry twig cracked under their feet; again and again they had to make detours to avoid thick-set undergrowth; once their progress was impeded by a knee-deep but sluggish brook, but without mishap the fugitives gained the remote side of the wood.

Beyond all was dark as pitch. The sky being overcast even the starlight was denied them. Presently a lantern gleamed in the distance, its yellow glimmer lighting up the high-pitched roof and quaint chimneys of a tall building that had evidently escaped the ruin of war.

Barcroft nudged the A.P.

”The 'Golden Lion',” he announced. ”And another hour and a half to wait.”

CHAPTER x.x.x

THE BARN BY THE RIVER

THE distant light from the lantern glittered on the bayonets of the sentries, who, sheltering as best they might from the rain, paced stolidly to and fro at the bleak cross-roads. Presently the gleam increased in intensity, throwing distorted shadows upon the gaunt poplars of the road-side.

”The lieutenant going the rounds,” whispered Fuller. ”Fancy the fool taking a lantern with him. Wonder if he's afraid of the dark?”

The quivering bayonets stiffened into immobility as the Hun officer approached the now alert sentries. The fugitives could just distinguish the guttural 'Wer da?' of the challenge, then an unintelligible exchange of words.

The German officer and his escort moved on. The sentries, sloping arms, resumed their monotonous beat until the round had disappeared from sight and hearing.

Seemingly interminable minutes pa.s.sed, until just as midnight was approaching there came a low whistle through the darkness.

”_Hier!_” replied one of the men.

”All safe,” rejoined the new-comer. ”Yes, both of you. What a night!

It's not fit for a dog to be abroad.”

”Now,” whispered Barcroft at the expiration of another long ten minutes. ”Ankle all right, old man?”

”Quite,” replied Fuller mendaciously. It was far from right, but the flight-lieutenant, game to the core, had no intention of letting his chums know that every time he set foot to the ground excruciating pains racked him.

Across the clayey soil, now almost knee-deep in mud, the daring trio literally floundered, their immediate objective being the endmost of a line of tall trees at a distance of fifty yards from the cross-roads.