I took these things in vaguely, disconnectedly. Had I miscalculated and was I over the border after all? He hadn’t even challenged....
A mile later I crawled into a little hollow by the roadside to rest and get warm. I was getting strangely light-headed. I remember addressing myself as a separate entity. I pulled myself together and sat down to think. “I must go back and have another look at that wire. It can only be a protective belt for military purposes.”
I went back. The wire was there sure enough. So was the sentry box, but I didn’t go up to it. The wire was like the rear defence lines one had seen in France.
I retraced my steps. I still had the idea of picking myself up from the hollow where I had left myself.
I continued my way, praying for the night to end. With the dawn, I felt I should be able to think clearly again.
“Arnum 4 kilometres.” The signposts were German enough, anyway.
Arnum, I had made out from my map, lay about three or four kilometres away from the point of the salient where I meant to cross the border. It was nearly dawn and I saw that I could not get over that night.
It was getting light as I reached the village. I left the road and struck west across the fields, up on to some high ground.
Somewhere in front there was Denmark.
I chose a hiding place in some young firs and heather. I was sheltered from the wind and was fairly comfortable.