In a moment two soldiers had crossed his wrists behind his back and were lashing them tightly together with a rope.
Thus bound he was taken back indoors and made to sit on a bench.

Eight soldiers stretched themselves upon the floor of the room and slept there; a sergeant slept with his body across the door.

A guard sat on the bench beside Stevens.
"He gave me two big slugs of brandy to drink," said Stevens, continuing his tale, "and it affected me no more than so much water.

After a couple of hours I managed to work the cords loose and I got one hand free.

Moving cautiously I lifted my feet, and by stretching my arms cautiously down, still holding them behind my back, I untied one shoe.
I meant at the last to kick off my shoes and run for it.