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Joe Hafer
- University of Arkansas Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
of a clear sky without warning to snatch from them their only hope of escape and return to England. All of their carefully planned escape and struggle snapped by one single traitor. This they saw with unmerciful irony and bitterness as they marched back, prisoners of the Germans. “What though the field be lost? All is not lost. The conquerable will and study of revenge, immortal hate and courage never to submit or yield and what else is not to be overcome.” —MILTON The courage that does not flinch when the field is lost the instance of a soul . . .with undimmed brightness beneath the cares of the world and the dust of conflict and the savage triumph of the enemy—the inheritance of free Americans their only remaining ray of hope and light which was to prove their cause to the Germans who looked into hideous eyes for the chance of ending their lives or the breaking down of strong young men of America under their barbarous treatment and imprisonment. They were taken back to the rear of the station where the bus stood. Sitting in all the seats next to the windows were more German guards. They were forced into the bus and sat in the seats next to the aisle. The bus soon rolled out onto the highway. No words were exchanged between the prisoners and the guards. The standing guard only stared—Slim returned the stare. Out along the highway they traveled at a terrific speed. A small herd of cattle driven by a peasant loomed up on the road ahead. The driver made no effort to avoid the poor animals. The bus plowed unmercifully through them, leaving their carcasses spread all over the road. This to the Germans was a great joke, and they laughed uproariously. Shortly afterward a car came zooming past the bus with the occupants waving madly. It pulled ahead and the bus and car stopped. Another prisoner , accompanied by the same traitor who sealed the doom of Slim and the crew. They stopped at this spot for nearly an hour with nothing happening . A few French civilians came up walking slowly, stopped, and looked quizzically at the men in the bus. The Germans waved their guns at them and sent them on their way. 58 CARANO’S WARTIME LOG 1SLOAN_pages_i-104.qxd 8/20/08 10:49 AM Page 58 ...