"Act as escort to the Queen," he commanded, having not a doubt of his wife's answer.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE ESCAPE
The Herr Lieutenant obeyed Hans quickly.
In breathless silence they lay hid in the bushes.
For some time they could hear the soldiers, and then all was silent.
"God be praised!" whispered Hans, "now let us seek the road." And out they cautiously scrambled.
All night they walked steadily, meeting no one, but now and then catching sight of some village burning against the sky. Where they were they had no idea, but somewhere, they knew, in East Prussia. Everywhere was desolation. Houses had been burned, fences had fallen, and once they came upon the blackened remains of a village. For two days and nights they kept in the fields and woods, Hans going but once to a house to beg for food and some coffee.
On the third evening they came upon a farm at some distance from the road.