“Exactly,” I said. “And if we were back in the cottage at Penzance, with nothing worse to fight than mosquitoes——”
We had no midday meal, but at dusk Tish was lucky enough to capture a knapsack set down by a German soldier just outside the machine-gun aperture, and we ate what I believe are termed emergency rations. By that time it was quite dark, and Tish announced that the time had come to strike, though she refused any other explanation.
We had no difficulty in getting out of the cellar, and Tish led the way immediately to the foot of the tower.
“We must get rid of the sentry up there,” she whispered. “The moment he hears a racket in the street he will signal for reënforcements, which would be unfortunate.”
“What racket?” I demanded.
But she did not reply. Instead she moved into the recess below the tower and stood looking up thoughtfully. I joined her, and we could make out what seemed to be a platform above, and we distinctly saw a light on it, as though the lookout had struck a match. I suggested firing up at him, but Tish sniffed.
“And bring in the entire regiment, or whatever it is!” she said scornfully but in a whisper. “Use your brains, Lizzie!”
However, at that moment the sentry solved the question himself, for he started down. We could hear his coming. We concealed ourselves hastily, and Tish watched him go out and into a cellar across the street, where she said she was convinced they were serving beer. Indeed, there could be no doubt of it, she maintained, as the men went there in crowds, and many of them carried tin cups.
Tish’s first thought was that he would be immediately relieved by another lookout, and she stationed herself inside the door, ready to make him prisoner. But finally the truth dawned on us that he had temporarily deserted his post. Tish took immediate advantage of his absence to prepare to ascend the tower, and having found a large knife in the knapsack she had salvaged she took it between her teeth and climbed the narrow winding staircase.
“If he comes back before I return, Lizzie,” she said, “capture him, but don’t shoot. It might make the rest suspicious.”