ed. If we are separated, you will ask a Dutchman to take you to
76 Mamur in Arnhem. Do not speak to a Dutchman wearing a swastika. Ask
only of a farmer or other working person."

"We all will meet there," Sim said. "After that, we will have no more
trouble. The Dutch will take care of us."

"Now we go," the guide said.

"At any rate, we know where we are," Stan said to O'Malley. "Arnhem
isn't so far from Rotterdam."

"Sure, an' that just means nothin' to me. I'm stickin' with this here
guide," O'Malley answered.

They moved along at a fast pace for some time. Finally the German called
a halt. There seemed to be quite a bit of activity ahead; besides, dawn
was not far away. They had spent most of the last hour ducking patrols
roaring up and down the lane.

"We must move very carefully now. We will leave the road. Keep close to
me," the guide said in a low voice.

The party moved off the road and through a hedge. Beyond the hedge they
found themselves in a plowed field. The ground was soft and damp.
Moving slowly now, because they sunk in to their boot tops, the boys
crossed the field and came to a canal. Stan could see murky water in the
ditch. He judged the canal was about fifteen feet wide.

They followed the canal for some distance. Lights ahead caused the guide
to halt. Stan could see men on both sides of the canal. They were
silhouetted against the sky and were moving back and forth.

"We must pass through the guard lines here," the guide whispered. "There
will be soldiers with rifles on each side of the canal. There is much
barbed wire and many electrical alarms along the border. We must take to
the canal."

"Sure, and it looks cold, that water," O'Malley muttered.

"We will keep close to the bank, two on each side. When we pass the
guards above we must crouch down in the water and stay against the bank.
We must go very slow. Waves or movement of the water will be noticed."

"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 b