Faked Passports Read Online Free PDF

flicked it on. The tiny flame only lit the surrounding gloom sufficiently to show his face caked with sweat and congealed blood where low branches had scratched it.
    â€œI can improve on that,” said Gregory, taking a box of matches from his pocket. “It’s the first time I’ve had cause to be thankful that owing to their tax on matches the Nazis don’t allow lighters in their country.”
    As the match flared they could see that the wood about them was very dense and the ground almost entirely covered with undergrowth. Proceeding cautiously they made their way towards a place where the trees were not quite so thick and found that the break was caused by a shallow gully.
    â€œThis’ll do,” said Gregory; “in fact it’ll have to, as the longer we show a light the greater our danger.”
    Side by side they sat down in the ditch. It was quite dry and soft from the accumulation of leaf-mould and leaves which had covered it through the years. Gregory eased his tired limbs, propped his back against the bank and produced his cigarettes. They shielded Charlton’s lighter and lit up. As the flame was flicked out the surrounding darkness closed in about them once more, seeming blacker than ever. After smoking in silence for a little they recovered somewhat from their exertions and began to feel the cold. Charlton remarked upon it bitterly.
    Gregory grunted. “Well, it’s November, remember, and we’re darned lucky that there’s no snow. They had snow in the war zone over a fortnight ago, and that’s hundreds of miles further south than this place. On my last trip into Germany I came through the Maginot and Siegfried Lines disguised as a German private, and my God the cold was fierce! This is nothing to it.”
    Charlton turned his head towards the spot where Gregory’s cigarette glowed in the darkness. “You’re the hell of a tiger, aren’t you, making your way through war zones and starting revolutions and one thing and another!”
    â€œI suppose I am,” Gregory grinned. He was feeling better again now that he could sit still and rest his wounded shoulder. “It’s not that I’m particularly brave—certainly no braver than an airman like yourself who takes a hellish risk every time he flies over enemy territory; it’s just that I get a lot of kick out ofpitting my wits against those of other people. But, to be quite honest, I never take a chance of getting hurt, unless I absolutely have to.”
    â€œNonsense!” Charlton laughed. “What about tonight when you had the bright idea of lamming me over the head with the heel of your shoe in order that you could crash the plane and get back to that girl of yours?”
    â€œOh well, that was rather different. You were quite right when you said that I was in love with her; and anyone who’s in love is crazy.”
    â€œThat’s a good excuse but I’ve a feeling that you’re the sort of chap who would have acted just as crazily if it had been some job of work which you felt you had to get on with, instead of a woman, that made you so anxious to get back to Berlin.”
    â€œPerhaps. Just all depends how important the job was; but you can take my word for it in the normal way I’m an extraordinarily cautious person. ‘He who fights and runs away’—that’s my motto. By sticking to it I’ve managed to live through the hell of a lot of trouble to the ripe old age of thirty-nine.”
    â€œWell done, Methuselah! Then you’re fourteen years ahead of me. But I bet I’ll never live to make up the leeway—not with this filthy war on.”
    â€œSince you feel like that tonight’s little affair may yet prove the best thing that could have happened to you. If we
are
caught you’ll be interned, and safe for the duration.”
    â€œThanks. But the idea doesn’t appeal. I’d rather continue to lend a