Suddenly an inspiration came. The man was facing the wall, his back to the passage. His ears were filled with the noise of the buzzer, his eyes fixed on a notebook he held in his hand. His whole attention was engrossed. It might be possible, with great care, to slip behind him in the dim light and pass by! It would be a desperate attempt, but it was the only way.
Danny measured the space with his eye. His heart beat wildly. Dare he attempt it? Of course, he would dare anything for England! And this was not a forlorn hope; it was a chance of escape depending upon steady nerve, self-control, and infinite care.
He remembered how he had always been the best Cub at “stalking” when the Cubmaster stood blindfold, and the Cubs had to creep near him. That practice had not been wasted. Inch by inch he crept up. “Buzz, buzz!” went the apparatus. Oh, if only it would go on buzzing—if only the spy would stick to his job for five minutes longer! Nearer and nearer Danny crawled. Once he lay flat and froze, as the spy changed his position and actually glanced up the dark passage! Then he resumed his slow progress.
At last he crouched a yard from the man. The buzzer buzzed hard; the spy bent forward, writing in his book. Like a mouse running silently along the wainscot, Danny slid past him, almost brushing the man’s legs. Without pausing or turning, not daring to breathe, he crawled on.
At last, hidden by the shadows, he paused, and, kneeling up, slowly turned his head. The man was still intent on his work. The task was accomplished! Danny breathed again. There was infinite gratitude in his pounding heart.
Rising softly to a standing position, he tiptoed on down the passage. He had been forced, of course, to leave his lantern behind. He dared not use his electric light in case another spy lurked ahead. In the pitch darkness he pressed on as quickly as he could. Every now and then he paused to listen. There was no sound of following steps. He felt pretty confident that he would not meet a German at the end of the passage, for they would not dare try to get in or out by daylight, and by now the sun must have risen. Before long the Scouts on the day watch would be coming to relieve those who had patrolled the roads the long night through. No, the spies would have little chance above ground—they must stay in their horrible underground haunts, or up in the tower. They were like rats in a trap! Danny nearly laughed aloud at the thought, for once he was out of the passage, these rats would be in his power!
Splash, splash! He had stepped without knowing it into the water. He paused a minute, nerving himself for what was to follow. Then the thought that only this lay between him and freedom gave him new courage. Wading in, he was soon waist-deep. When the water was up to his neck, and he had already descended four steps, he took a big breath and dived. Three, four, five strong strokes and he was out in the dim, green light at the bottom of the pool. A fish swam out of his way. Weeds and lily buds swayed about him. He raised his hands above his head, kicked with his legs, and rose to the surface of the pool. He was free, free, free!
The early-morning sun shone down in golden glory through the trees. A thousand birds were singing. Scrambling out of the water, Danny stood on the bank and looked around him at the beautiful world he had scarcely hoped to see again.
“Thank God!” he said from the bottom of his heart. Then he set briskly out to perform the great duty that lay before him.