The English officers were splendid and always anxious to help me, and many a welcome supper of cocoa and cake I used to have in their rooms before going to bed.
I am afraid, though, that I used to make rather a big meal of it, as for the first two weeks I had to exist on the German rations.
When I took my first walk in the yard the canteen manager, his wife, and daughter were evidently watching out for me; for by and by, as a sign of their good-will, the daughter came running out after me with a present. It was an egg!
Cotton and I had a serious talk about this egg. He thought I should save it, and have half for supper and half for breakfast; but I settled the matter by eating it at once.
I think I have forgotten to mention that we were allowed to buy for half a mark, a loaf of bread every five days. I had no idea how far a loaf would go; I had never before given it a thought.
But Cotton had it down to a science; and worked it out that two small slices for breakfast, and the same for supper would carry me through, and he kept me to it.
"Cotton," I would say, after I had breakfasted on the two slices, "I could eat another slice."
"Better not, sir."
"Why not, Cotton? It's my loaf."
"This is the fourth day, sir, and if you have another slice, there will only be a small piece of crust for to-morrow's breakfast."