John heard again from some of the talk of the guards that the Germans had five armies along their whole line, but whether the one with which he was now a prisoner was falling back with its whole force he had no way of knowing.

Both he and Fleury were sure the prisoners themselves would soon cross the Marne, and that large detachments of the enemy would go with them.
Thoughts of escape returned.

Crossing a river in battle was a perilous operation, entailing much confusion, and the chance might come at the Marne.

They could see too that the Germans were now being pressed harder.

The French shells were coming faster and with more deadly precision.