"I’m afraid they would," Kenneth agreed. "But we are bound to be discovered when they unload." "Well, we’ll get away if we see half a chance. We must wait. I wish we could do something for those poor wretches in the yard. These Germans have much to answer for, Ken; and they shall pay--they shall pay!" They lay in their stuffy shelter, listening to the sounds of merriment--heavy-hoofed merriment--from within the house, the grumbles of the Uhlans who had been left outside and were losing the fun, the sobs of the women at the wall. The sky grew blacker and blacker, rain began to fall. The Uhlans on guard turned up their collars and swore. Presently there was a diversion. The two Uhlans who had been out rounding up the missing farmer had caught him and a second man, and were bringing them along at a trot, prodding them with their lances to make them keep up with the horses. There were cries of dismay from the herded prisoners, and of pity from the women. The attention of the Uhlans on guard was somewhat diverted from the prisoners to the newcomers, as these were marched through the gate and across the farmyard to the hurdles within which their fellow villagers were confined. "Now’s the time!" whispered Kenneth. "Creep behind the cart and round by the stables. There’s just a chance." 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.