“Same here; but I’ll take the bare floor for mine. I can’t stomach that mass of dirty rags there. They must be infested with vermin.”
“The floor’s bad enough,” Chester agreed.
They threw themselves down and in a few moments were fast asleep in spite of the hard floor, for both were tired out and could have slept almost any place.
It was still dark when they were aroused from their slumbers by the presence of a third figure in the room. Hal opened his eyes as a heavy foot stirred him and a voice exclaimed in German:
“Get up. You’ll have to earn your keep here.”
Hal arose and Chester also got to his feet.
“Outside, now, and march quick!” said the German lieutenant who had awakened them.
The two lads preceded the man from their prison. Outside, they inhaled the fresh air eagerly and their spirits revived.
“Where are you taking us?” demanded Hal.
“To the mines,” returned the German with a snarl, “where you’ll loose that fresh look you possess now.”