“Another attempt to escape and you’ll be shot like dogs!” he bellowed. He turned to one of his aides. “Put them in one of the guard cells,” he continued; “then put these other swine,” with a sweeping gesture that included the other prisoners, “in their pens and see that they are ready to go on the night shift to-night.”
He strode away. While the other American soldiers, covered by German guns, were driven toward what had once been the living quarters of the German miners, now hemmed in with steel bars—a mammoth cage—Hal and Chester were seized by a squad of soldiers and hurried in the opposite direction, where they at last were shoved into a filthy, dirty, single-story building.
It was very dark inside and for a moment the lads were unable to get a view of their surroundings. But as their eyes became accustomed to the darkness, they perceived that they were in what at one time must have served as a store building. The single room was very small and its furnishings consisted of two dilapidated chairs and a mass of dirty rags, apparently meant for a bed, on the floor.
“Nice, sanitary-looking place,” was Hal’s comment, as he walked about his prison.
“Guess a fellow wouldn’t grow very fat here,” said Chester. “Wonder how long we’ll be cooped up?”
Hal shrugged.
“No telling,” he replied, “but when we get out we’ll probably be sent down in the mines.”
“Surely they won’t send us there in our present condition,” declared Chester.
“I don’t imagine they’ll worry about a couple of sore heads,” rejoined Hal. “However, time will tell.”
“Well,” said Chester, “I’m about tired out. Think I’ll try to sleep a bit.”