Chapter 2, The Prisoner in the Pit Summary

Will, Fritz, and Beanpole make their way down the mountain with a guide. Will attempts to be friendly with Fritz, but all his overtures are met with silence. Will becomes annoyed, but remembers Julius's admonition to control his behavior, so he keeps his annoyance to himself. They reach the docks three days early and their guide leaves them to return to the camps. The three boys, each one fitted with a fake Cap, are introduced to the captain of their barge, the Erlkonig. The captain, Ulf, tells them that only one boy may be allowed on deck at any one time to eliminate suspicion; therefore, two boys must hide below decks. Ulf, and his first mate Moritz, also wear fake Caps and do not want this to become public knowledge. Will and Beanpole...