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Page 100
"I know of one Lannes," he said, "Philip Lannes, the aviator, a name
that fame has brought to us Germans."
"I am his sister," said Julie.
"I can wish, Mademoiselle Lannes," said von Boehlen, politely in French,
"that we had captured your brother instead of his sister."
"But as I said, you will send them back to their own people? You don't
make war upon women?" repeated John.
"No, we do not make war upon women. We are making war upon Frenchmen,
and I do not hesitate to say in the presence of Mademoiselle Lannes that
this war is made upon very brave Frenchmen. Yet we cannot send the
ladies back. The presence of our cavalry here within the French lines
must not be known to our enemies. Moreover, I obey the orders of
another, and I am compelled to hold them as prisoners--for a while at
least."
Von Boehlen's tone was not lacking in the least in courtesy. It was more
than respectful when he spoke directly to Julie Lannes, and John's
feeling of repugnance to him underwent a further abatement--he was a
creation of his conditions, and he believed in his teachings.
"You will at least keep us all as prisoners together?" said John.
"I know of no reason to the contrary," replied von Boehlen briefly. Then
he acted with the decision that characterized all the German officers
whom John had seen. The women and the prisoners were put in the carts.
Dismounted Uhlans took the place of the drivers and the little
procession with an escort of about fifty cavalry turned from the road
into the woods, von Boehlen and the rest, about five hundred in number,
rode on down the road.
John was in the last cart with Julie, Suzanne and Picard, and his soul
was full of bitter chagrin. He had just been taking mental resolutions
to protect, no matter what came, Philip Lannes' sister, and, within a
half hour, both she and he were prisoners. But when he saw the face of
Antoine Picard he knew that one, at least, in the cart was suffering as
much as he. The gigantic peasant was the only one whose arms were bound,
and perhaps it was as well. His face expressed the most ferocious anger
and hate, and now and then he pulled hard upon his bonds. John could see
that they were cutting into the flesh. He remembered also that Picard
was not in uniform. He was in German eyes only a _franc tireur_, subject
to instant execution, and he wondered why von Boehlen had delayed.
"Save your strength, Antoine," he whispered soothingly. "We'll need it
later. I've been a prisoner before and I escaped. What's been done once
can be done again. In such a huge and confused war as this there's
always a good chance."
"Ah, you're right, Monsieur," said Antoine, and he ceased to struggle.
Julie had heard the whisper, and she looked at John confidently. She was
the youngest of all the women in the carts, but she was the coolest.
"They cannot do anything with us but hold us a few days," she said.
John was silent, turning away his somber face. He did not like this
carrying away of the women as captives, and to him the women were
embodied in Julie. They were following a little path through the woods,
the German drivers and German guards seeming to know well the way. John,
calculating the course by the sun, was sure that they were now going
directly toward the German army and that they would pass unobserved
beyond the French outposts. The path was leading into a narrow gorge and
the banks and trees would hide them from all observation. He was
confirmed in his opinion by the action of their guards. The leader rode
beside the carts and said in very good French that any one making the
least outcry would be shot instantly. No exception would be made in the
case of a woman.
John knew that the threat would be kept. Julie Lannes paled a little,
and the faithful Suzanne by her side was darkly menacing, but they
showed no other emotion.
"Don't risk anything," said John in the lowest of whispers. "It would be
useless."
Julie nodded. The carts moved on down the gorge, their wheels and the
hoofs of the horses making but little noise on the soft turf. The crash
of the guns was now distinctly louder and far ahead they saw wisps of
smoke floating above the trees. John was sure that the German batteries
were there, but he was equally sure that even had he glasses he could
not have seen them. They would certainly be masked in some adroit
fashion.
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