But they kept moving, though, at times, Bob, who seemed worse off than either of his chums, said he must give up. But Jimmy and Roger fairly dragged him on.
One day, when it seemed that they must lie down in a field and give up, they saw, coming over the top of the hill, a party of soldiers. It was getting dusk, and they could hardly distinguish the uniforms.
"If it's Germans I'm too tired to run," said Bob, weakly. "Let 'em take us!"
"I will not!" declared Jimmy fiercely. "I'll fight 'em with stones, and die fighting, rather than go back to a prison camp!"
"I'm with you!" cried Roger, and this attitude on the part of his chums seemed to rouse Bob.
Each one selected a large stone, though whether they really would have used them in their desperation I can not say. But in a moment all was changed.
The three figures, standing together in the field, attracted the attention of the officer leading the party of soldiers. He gave a sharp command, and at the sound of the words Jimmy cried:
"They're English! They're English! Hurrah, fellows! We're with friends once more!" And he ran forward followed by his chums.
It was true. A party of English soldiers, sent out to get some information, had come upon the three escaping prisoners, and, a little later, Bob, Roger and Jimmy were being well cared for while they told their story of what had happened.
"And so we blew their nasty dump to bits; eh, lad?" asked an English lieutenant, or "leftenant," as they are called.