"We have to stay in the woods and keep moving. Near the top of the ridge we'll find a small lake. There are a number of small huts up there. We can hide in one of them." Arno spoke quickly.
"But they'll search every foot of the woods and every hut," Allison objected.
"They do a very good job of hunting down escaped men," Stan agreed.
"We might fool them if we hide in the Sachetti villa. They would never think of looking for us there," Tony said.
"An excellent idea, but how can we get in without being discovered?" the general asked.
"There's an outside air shaft leading down into the cellars. It is covered with vines and there is a tree growing beside it," Tony said. "I used to be able to slide down that shaft."
"A good idea," Stan said. He was beginning to realize that Tony would not be able to travel very far or very fast. "Let's get going."
"See, they are making a circle around the woods," Tony said.
Lights were flashing above and below them. But the Germans did not seem to think it necessary to throw a line between the woods and the house. Arno and General Bolero helped Tony. Stan and Allison brought up the rear. They moved through the trees and across a garden thickly planted with shrubbery and grapevines.
Behind them the woods were filled with German soldiers. The searchers had fanned out into the valley below and upon the hills above the villa.