“Oh, yes; probably half a hundred men. Some are ahead of us and directly more will come along here.”
“Seems to me that there might be an opportunity of making a break for liberty,” declared Hal. “There are not many guards about.”
“Not here,” the Englishman agreed, “but wait till you get to the pit. There are guards enough there and they make life as miserable for the prisoners as possible. You’re expected to work from the minute you arrive until you knock off or collapse; and if you go under, you’ll start back to work the minute you recover.”
The little car slowed down and the lads saw light ahead. It was not daylight, however, but light made by the glow of many torches. Directly the car stopped and the four occupants climbed out. Men stood about with picks and shovels, awaiting the word to go to work.
Hal and Chester found themselves placed close together with the Englishman, who gave the name of Harding, and the Frenchman, Mercer, as their nearest neighbors.
There came a command from one of the German guards and the men attacked the solid wall before them with picks and drills.
“Well,” said Hal grimly, “here’s where we go to work, Chester.”
The lads wielded their picks with the others.
CHAPTER XIX
REVOLT
It was not yet six o’clock in the morning when the first day shift went to work. Under the advice of the Englishman, Hal and Chester worked as slowly as possible, the better to accustom their muscles to their new task. But after an hour’s work, Hal commenced to grow tired.