The question was solved for him when, some days later, he caught sight of a file of German soldiers passing through a ravine a little way below him.  These were followed by others.  He sought shelter instantly upon catching his first glimpse of them, but the bushes were thin at that point, and a huge tree seemed to offer a more secure refuge.  He climbed it quickly, and, peering through the leaves, tried to figure out the situation.  Rank after rank passed, and seemed to be taking up a position with the view of making an attack.  Batteries were drawn up, and their guns pointed in a direction away from where Tom was hiding. This was a valuable, but at the same time a painful, bit of information, because it showed Tom that he was behind the German lines instead of in front of them.  If he had been in front, it would be simply a matter of making his way in all haste to where the American armies lay.  Now he knew that in order to reach his own lines he would have to cross through the German positions.  And without weapons this could only be a forlorn hope.  Even had he been armed it would have been a desperate chance.