With difficulty regaining their feet, the two lads moved their cramped limbs till they were conscious of the sense of touch. Then out into the bitterly cold air they went.
"That's our course," said the corporal. "This time of year the sun rises in the north-east, so this is about north."
"Then it's exactly the opposite direction to which we were going last night," remarked Rollo. "You can tell that by the position of the barn."
"Yes, we must have been circling," agreed Kenneth. "We may yet be miles from the frontier."
On and on they trudged, guided by the gleam of light that was gradually growing in intensity. Detached farm-houses were now visible, affording landmarks which, although serviceable, had to be avoided.
"I'd do a burglaring job without a moment's hesitation," declared the corporal, "only it's too jolly risky. Liberty isn't worth chucking away for the sake of a chunk of bread; at least, I don't think so. Yet dozens of Germans have given themselves up to our chaps because they felt a bit hungry."
His companions agreed, but half-heartedly. Hunger, the ally of despair, was pressing them hard. They missed the plain but substantial meals that their captors had provided them with at Verviers.
Suddenly, from behind them, came a hoarse shout.
Turning, the three fugitives saw, to their consternation, that about a dozen German soldiers were following them and were now about four hundred yards behind.
"Cut for it!" exclaimed the corporal.