"All right, mate," said Oswald. "I ain't goin' to peach."
The good-humoured officer on the bench spoke a couple of sharp words. Immediately the prisoners were pushed in front of him. A pair of very blue eyes looked over them, seemed to smile at them, they thought and hoped.
"What are you?" he asked sharply in English.
"Soldiers, sir," replied Sam quickly. Not very confident of the discretion of his companions, he was anxious to make himself the spokesman of the party.
"Indeed? What corps?"
The blue eyes smiled on Sam. He felt them dangerously fascinating. It was with an effort that he kept himself from a reply and remained silent. His dull faculties were desperately on the defensive.
"What corps?"
No answer.
The officer drew out a heavy gold watch. He smiled outright at them.
"I give you five minutes. If you do not reply, you will be shot against that wall."