The lady and the young boy disappeared and the men and I debated as to what we should do.

The words, "The Germans are on our heels", (p.

059) were still ringing in my ears.

I did not quite know what they signified.
Whether they meant in military language that the Germans were ten miles away or were really round the next corner, I did not know, but I took the precaution of looking up the street before entering the gateway.

On talking the matter over, the men and I thought it might be the part of discretion to make our way down past the Railway Station to the Vlamertinghe road, as none of us wanted to be taken prisoners.