They slid out of the wagon, slipped into the yard, and ran to the stables, being screened from the guards’ observation by the horses of the Uhlans who had just returned. Behind the stables there was a barn, with a ladder reaching to its high loft.
"Up there!" whispered Pariset. "We should be seen if we ran across the fields."
They clambered up, and panting with excitement and haste threw themselves on the floor of the loft.
"Perhaps we can remain here until night," said Pariset. "The place is empty; they’ve no reason for visiting it again."
They heard the newly-arrived troopers lead their horses to the stables and address some one there in loud peremptory tones. Then their spurred boots were heard clanking over the cobbles, and they went into the house. Shouts of applause followed their entrance; no doubt they had reported their capture.
"I wish we could do something!" murmured Pariset restlessly. "But we can’t tackle twelve or fifteen."
A few minutes later, when the tremors of excitement had ceased, Kenneth got up.
"We can at least go and see who is in the stables," he said. "Perhaps we could make off with a couple of horses."
"Anything rather than lie here idle," said Pariset.
They crept down the ladder, and stole round the outbuilding towards where they knew by the sounds the door of the stable was. It was on the side remote from the corner where the prisoners were herded. Peeping in at the door, Kenneth saw the driver of the wagon sitting disconsolately on an upturned pail, and beckoned to Pariset to precede him. They slipped into the stable. The wagoner jumped up with a start when he saw two Germans, as he supposed.
"Hist! I am a Belgian," whispered Pariset hurriedly in Flemish. "My friend is an Englishman."
The man looked at them narrowly, only half believing.
"It is true," said Pariset. "We want to save the prisoners. Do you know the place? Will you help?"
Convinced by their appearance and by Pariset’s Flemish the man said:
"My word! will I help! One of them is my brother; two are my cousins. Only tell me what I can do, mijnheer. But not here; it is not safe; come to the back."
"Wait!" said Pariset, pointing to a door at the further end of the stable. "Where does that lead to?"