“Lead on,” Stan said grimly. “Let’s get it over with.”
“Those on the far bank will wade across after we pass the border. We will then go to Arnhem and hide there during the day.” The German was sliding down the bank into the water as he spoke.
“O’Malley and I will cross over,” Stan said. He wanted to keep O’Malley with him.
The water was icy and numbed their bodies almost at once. Stan and O’Malley waded across the canal. The bottom was muddy and the water came up to their necks. With chattering teeth they reached the far bank and began moving along in the black shadows next to overhanging grass.
Slowly the boys inched forward, being careful not to send ripples out across the water. As they neared the sentry post the water was well lighted from electric floodlights set on each bank. Stan halted and flattened himself against the grass.
A sentry was standing on each bank, his rifle butt resting on the ground. Both were looking down at the canal intently. Stan pulled O’Malley close to him.
“We’ll have to get down until just our heads stick out, then inch forward,” he whispered.
“Inch away,” O’Malley whispered back. His teeth rattled louder than his words.
Stan sank down into the water and they began moving slowly ahead. Inch by inch they entered the lighted area and moved on. A water rat swam past them in the middle of the canal. It left a wide ripple behind it, and the sentries jerked up their guns. One of them laughed and picked up a rock. He tossed it at the rat. The rat dived with a loud splash. Both soldiers laughed loudly and one of them lighted a cigarette.
Stan shoved ahead a bit faster. They moved directly under the sentries and kept on going. Slowly they edged away down the stream. The light on the water became dimmer and finally faded out.