noon
Completely tired out , he climbed into a dilapidated old fishing dory and stretched himself out in the bottom of the boat . Using a tarpaulin for a cover , he made himself as comfortable as possible and dozed off . So fatigued was he that he slept soundly , unconscious of the activity without , where the moored U-boat was being fitted for another voyage into the North Sea . It was several hours past noon when he was awakened by the roar of guns , hoarse cries of men , and the stamp of feet outside his prison . As he jumped to his feet and clambered out of the boat a shell burst just over the fish-house , scattering a hail of metal over the flimsy roof and tearing a jagged hole in the wall above the doorway . Running to a window that looked out over the canal wharf , Jack saw Germans scrambling up out of the hold of the U-boat , some of them carrying rifles , others lugging a machine gun . The village was in wild confusion .