midnight
By dint of persuasion the German officer succeeded in gaining the consent of General Von Kluck to allow the boys to take the dog with them . That Marquis was just as pleased to go as the boys were to have him , was plainly evident . When they left their tent for the last time , and whistled to him to follow , he bounded after them with enthusiasm . The train on which the boys were to be taken back to Berlin did not leave until well along toward midnight , but , with some 5,000 other prisoners , British , French and Belgians alike , they were bundled aboard early . Heavily guarded , and without a weapon of any kind or description , there was no fear of a break for liberty , in spite of the large number of prisoners . The lads were shoved into a car already loaded down with prisoners and took their positions at the far end , the dog between them . In spite of misfortune , the prisoners all were far from unhappy .