"Just one thing," replied Frank, "and that is that Tom has got away from the Huns but hasn't yet got back to us.  I know what that boy is. He isn't the kind to settle down and tell himself that he's a prisoner and that's all there is to it.  There isn't a bone in his head, and he's been busy every minute thinking up some plan to get away.  You know what the boches are doing now.  They're getting so short of men that they're using prisoners right behind the lines in cutting brush and hauling guns and that sort of thing.  Of course it's dead against all the rules of war, but a little thing like that doesn't bother the Germans.  Now if that's going on there are lots of chances to escape that the prisoners wouldn't have if they were all huddled together in a prison camp under the rifles of their guards.  Get me?  Picture Tom out in the thick woods going meekly ahead doing as he is told without making a break for freedom.  Not on your life!  Some way or other he'll slip off, and some fine day you'll see the old scout come walking in and asking us if breakfast's ready."