lled a man, would they kill him?

A young officer ran up. He looked keenly at Alan, then, in excellent
English, asked him his name and regiment. A fire of questions followed
as to how he came there and what he was about, why he had left his
lines? He was searched but no paper found.

The officer seemed rather a better class man. He ordered Alan to be
kept in the hole, and put three men to guard him; then he went away in
the direction his men were returning to their trench.

Alan judged there must have been a night attack on the English lines
and these were the remnants returning scattered all over the place; if
so they must have suffered severely, been almost annihilated.

His guards took very little notice of him. They knew he could not
escape; moreover, they had orders to shoot if he attempted it.

It was a dull day and there was very little firing. He judged they
were resting after the night attack. It was an awkward fix he was in
but nothing daunted he puzzled his brains as to how to get out of it;
they had tethered his horse close by--that was in his favor.

The officer did not return, and Alan had nothing to eat or drink--the
soldiers did not offer him anything.

Night came on. He wondered whether he would be kept there or removed.
At last the young officer came, and with him a soldier carrying a bag
which contained food. Alan was handed some, also given a drink, and
the officer said he must remain there until next day. If he tried to
escape he would be shot. Alan wondered why they did not take him to a
more secure spot; something must have happened to prevent this.

He settled himself down, after taking good stock of his position and
where the horse was. He pretended to sleep. The three soldiers were
left on guard.

They seemed tired, they must have been many hours without sleep. They
spoke together in low voices. Presently one of them lay down--it was
evident they were to keep guard in turns.

Alan was wide awake and alert now. If he could only make a dash for
his horse and spring into the saddle there would be a chance of
escaping.

The two men on guard seemed drowsy. The man on the ground breathed
heavily. Alan moved and loosened some stones. The men were alert in a
moment and growled at him savagely. Alan waited about an hour--it
seemed much longer. He knew exactly where the men were: one on either
side, the other still on the ground.

Without a moment's warning he sprang to