Marteau laughed.
"Rather than let them starve I would knock them in the head," he said.
"That's what I wanted to do," growled the other savagely.
When it came to the issue, however, he really did respect the rank of his young friend.

Accordingly, pieces of the roast pig were taken to the hut and placed in reach of the prisoners, who were found bound as before and looking very miserable.

Yet there was something suspicious in their attitude.

The old grenadier turned one of them over and discovered that one had endeavored to free the other by gnawing at the ropes.

Not much progress had been made in the few hours that had elapsed, but still it was evident that the rope would eventually be bitten through and the men freed.