of slipping across the border to the States

  In reality a personal inspiration lay behind it all. Werner himself would creep away west and join himself to one of the construction gangs where questions were not asked. He could await his chance of slipping across the border to the States. His idea of geography was somewhat hazy.   Koppy listened to the end with veiled eyes. He read Werner much more accurately than Werner read him. But most poignantly of all he realised the hopelessness of submission, at least for the leaders. There was nothing now but to carry the fight through--no other hope for himself. Also he discovered a fresh goad in his hatred of Werner.   When the latter had completed his plan, Koppy suddenly dropped his hand from his face. Werner saw and collapsed. For several seconds Koppy held the coward's faltering eyes, then turned with disgust to the others.   "What will we do with him?"   Morani's knife slid down his wrist and swished across his boot leg. And the others looked agreement.   Werner shuddered--began to bluster.   "You asked what I thought. I told you. I didn't mean to give the whole thing up--not much I didn't." He drew his hand across his dripping forehead. "We'll get the trestle yet--and it's that we want, isn't it? Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll lie around and blow it up myself, if I have to spend the whole winter here."