“Well,” he said to himself at last, “I guess they have gone. Now to get out of here as soon as I can. I’ll be frozen if I don’t hurry.”
With quick strokes he continued his cold swim, and soon emerged upon the farther shore. He made out the form of a dark figure some distance away, and hurried toward it, remarking to himself:
“Looks like a sentinel. I’ll get a match from him and build a fire and get thawed out before I continue my journey.”
He approached to within a few yards of the figure before his presence was noted. Then the sentinel, for such he proved to be, hearing footsteps behind him, turned suddenly and leveled his rifle at Hal.
“Halt!” he commanded.
“It’s all right,” said Hal. “I’m English.”
“Come a little closer and let me look at you,” said the sentinel, not lowering his weapon.
Hal did as commanded. Suddenly the sentinel made out the German uniform and his rifle leaped up again.
“So,” he exclaimed. “You Dutchman! You thought you’d fool me, did you? You are my prisoner. One false move and you are a dead man.”
“Don’t be a chump,” said Hal, his teeth chattering from cold. “I tell you I’m English. Can’t you tell that by my talk? What do you think I am? A German?”