comrade and they began to talk. Their backs were turned.

I darted out of my hiding-place and ran to the wall, seized the top
with my hands and drew myself up. Twice I let myself down again
in sickly hesitation, and then with a third resolve scrambled up.
The top was flat. Lying on it, I had one parting glimpse of the
sentries, still talking, still with their backs turned, but, I repeat,
still fifteen yards away. Then I lowered myself into the adjoining
garden and crouched among the shrubs. I was free. The first step
had been taken, and it was irrevocable."

Churchill discovered that the house into the garden of which he
had so unceremoniously introduced himself was brilliantly lighted,
and that the owner was giving a party. At one time two of the
guests walked into the garden and stood, smoking and chatting, in
the path within a few yards of him.

Thinking his companion might yet join him, for an hour he
crouched in the bushes, until from the other side of the wall he
heard the voices of his friend and of another officer.

"It's all up!" his friend whispered. Churchill coughed tentatively.
The two voices drew nearer. To confuse the sentries, should they
be listening, the one officer talked nonsense, laughed loudly, and
quoted Latin phrases, while the other, in a low and distinct voice,
said: " I cannot get out. The sentry suspects. It's all up. Can you get
back again?"

To go back was impossible. Churchill now felt that in any case he
was sure to be recaptured, and decided he would, as he expresses