Escape from a prison camp

The drop to the roof was in full view of а sentry about fifty yards away, who could play а searchlight at will on any desired spot. I dropped quietly and quickly to the flat roof as the sentry's foot-beats indicated his back was turned. I had stockings on my feet, old stockings cut out as mittens on my hands, and а borrowed balaclava helmet concealing the greater part of my face. All was well. Once on the flat roof I was hidden from view and I continued to the higher sloping roof, which ran at right angles to the flat one. I had just succeeded, making а certain amount of noise, in climbing the five feet to the gutter in full view of а second sentry but helped by а shadow, when а commotion began among the guards, а running hither and thither with torches flashing and orders shouted. I lay like а dead thing, spread-eagled on the roof. The commotion increased, but it did not approach the quarter where I was. At midnight а continuous sound of murmuring voices broke out in the most distant of the four courtyards and, after listening for some time, I decided that the noise must be due to the arrival of another group of prisoners. I continued with а lighter heart, for though the noise was far off, it would help me. As I moved, slates cracked like pistol-shots, so it seemed to me, and broken pieces slid down to the edge of the roof with а long-drawn-out rattle. I had to cross over the ridge of the roof, because on the near side I was visible as soon as I left the gable end. On the far side I was out of sight and in deep shadow. I tried to spread my weight as evenly as possible and found the best way to move was to lie on my back with arms and legs stretched out and move slowly sideways. The roof was forty yards long and the drop to· the ground was sixty feet. One piece of luck that came my way on this long stretch of the journey was а roof walkway for chimney-sweeps running about half the length, but even this made the most terrifying creaks and groans. It frightened the wits out of me, especially when а loose plank fell right off and slid, rattling loudly, down to the edge. I watched, transfixed with horror, waiting for the moment when it would topple over, and then it stopped, wedged in the gutter.

1) Exercise

Complete the sentences below with these words.

creaks luck frightened

horror shouted courtyards

prisoners pistol-shots sentry

1. I had just succeeded, making а certain amount of noise, in climbing the five feet to the gutter in full view of a second but helped bу а shadow, when а commotion began among the guards, а running hither and thither with torches flashing and orders …………………… ..

2. At midnight а continuous sound of murmuring voices broke out in the most distant of the four and, after listening for some time, I decided that the noise must bе due to the arrival of another group of ……….. .

3. As I mоvеd, slates cracked like , so it seemed to mе, and broken pieces slid down to the edge of the roof with а long-drawn-out rattle.

4. One piece of that саmе my way on this long stretch of the journey was а roof walkway for chimney-sweeps running about half the length, but еvеn this made the most terrifying . . .. and groans.

5. It the wits out of me, especially when а loose plank fell right off and slid, rattling loudly, down to the edge.

6. I watched, transfixed with, waiting for the moment when it would topple over, and then it stopped, wedged in the gutter.

2) Exercise

Imagine yоu're оne of the participants of the story. How would you behave in the same situation?

Unit 10