The plan worked without a hitch. The Jap sentry took
 
his usual rake-off of the star apples and waved the cart on. The
 
equipment was safely hidden in the jungle.
 
     But we had reckoned without Lieutenant Hosume, the
 
Crown Prince of Swat.
 
     At noon that day, the day before we were to make our
 
break, Hosume made an inspection to see if any of the work parties
 
were using forbidden food, such as fruits or vegetables, each
 
man's noon portion of rice being doled out before the work parties
 
left in the morning. In Captain Sofner's bag was a bottle con-
 
taining the entire quinine supply for our escape.
 
     Hosume opened the bag and looked in. The quinine was
 
in plain view. Captain Shofner said later that he established a
 
new world's record for holding the breath.
 
     Fortunately for us all, the Crown Prince of Swat had a
 
one-track mind: he was looking for forbidden food and he saw
 
none in the bag. After slapping around the men in Shofner's
 
party, he continued on his honorable and exalted way.
 
     All our plans were made. Our equipment was in the
 
jungle, and if we got away on the following day, there was little
 
danger that it would be found meantime and betray us.
 
     That night we received very disturbing news. Lieutenant
 
Hosume had found forbidden food in possession of one of the work
 
parties. As a general punishment, all hands were ordered to work
 
in the rice fields the following day--the Sunday on which we were
 
to have made our escape. Our equipment was hidden in the edge of
 
 
                                                 -74-