"You were seen near the village and taken while walking in the woods. Did you expect to get away if nobody appeared to be in sight?"
"We hoped to get back across the lines after dark," said Bob, wishing he could talk to Benton.
"You will be taken into the town for examination directly. Have you any request to make?"
"No, thank you," said Bob. The officer turned away, and Bob was led by the guard to a place beside the rock, where he sidled along in the course of a few minutes until he could mumble a word near Benton's ear. The pilot spoke over his shoulder.
"Awfully sorry, Gordon, to have got you into this."
"Why, it's my fault," said Bob.
"No, it isn't. They saw us come down. They've been trying to locate our descent all day. They got me about an hour after you left, and before this search began. Don't know what started that."
The guard pushed in between the two, shutting off any further communication, and the little group formed in double lines, the prisoners in the center, for the march to the village.
Bob caught sight of Karl now, standing a short way off in excited conversation with a non-commissioned officer. He felt a sudden, unreasoning anger at sight of the familiar face and unfamiliar gray-uniformed figure of the man he had so long regarded as a harmless and friendly dependent. But recognizing the hard fortunes of war he turned his eyes resolutely away.