Your chance, your only one, will be to climb over this parapet and do your best to reach the French lines.

If you decide to do that, I give you my word that I will not allow our men to fire upon you as you withdraw." "A German's word!" mocked Dick.

"Who would accept that ?" "It is your last chance for life." "And you are throwing away your last chance, both of you!" Dick uttered in a low voice.

"Each of you is within a second of death.
March!" With an exclamation that sounded like an oath the German colonel obeyed, followed by the younger man and Prescott.

Neither of the prisoners had dared risk lowering his hands.
"You are foolish---life-tired!" warned the colonel, in a hoarse whisper.
"If you speak again I'll kill you instantly," Prescott snapped back.
After that the prisoners proceeded in moody silence, until, at last, they rounded out a traverse and ran into several soldiers.
But these soldiers wore the French uniform.