After a couple of hours Fred changed seats with Boris, and for a time dozed, though he scarcely slept.

However, he did get a good rest, and when they came near to the stretch of road that Ivan had told them would mark the crisis of the trip, both boys were in good condition for the test.

They slowed down at the sound of an engine's whistle, the first nearby noise that had come to their ears since they had left the parsonage.

It startled them tremendously at first, but then they remembered Ivan's warning.
"There is one place where, for about four miles, the road runs very close to the railway," he had said.

"The Germans will have patrols all along the railway line, but there is no reason why they should pay any attention to you.