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Page 22
"You have done well, you two, perhaps far better than you know," said
the general, "and now, since you are wounded, Philip Lannes, you must
have attention. De Rougemont, take care of them."
De Rougemont, a captain, was the man to whom they had been talking, and
he gladly received the charge. He was a fine, well built officer, under
thirty, and it was obvious that he already took a deep interest in the
two young aviators. Noticing Lannes' anxious glances toward his precious
machine, he promptly detailed two men to take care of the _Arrow_ and
then he led John and Lannes toward the group of tents.
"First I'll get a surgeon for you," he said to the Frenchman, "and after
that there's food for you both."
"I hope you'll tell the surgeon to be careful how he takes off my cap,"
said Lannes, "because it's fastened to my head now by my own dried
blood."
"Trust me for that," said de Rougemont. "I'll bring one of our best
men."
Then, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he added:
"I suppose the message you brought was one of life or death for France."
"I think so," said Lannes, "but I know little of its nature, myself."
"I would not ask you to say any more. I know that you cannot speak of
it. But you can tell me this. Are the Germans before Paris?"
"As nearly as I could tell, their vanguard was within fifteen miles of
the capital."
"Then if we strike at all we must strike quickly. I think we're going to
strike."
Lannes was silent, and they entered the tent, where blankets were spread
for him. A surgeon, young and skillful, came promptly, carefully removed
the cap and bound up his head. John stood by and handed the surgeon the
bandages.
"You're not much hurt," he said to Lannes as he finished. "Your chief
injury was shock, and that has passed. I can keep down the fever and
you'll be ready for work very soon. The high powered bullet makes a
small and clean wound. It tears scarcely at all. Nor will your beauty be
spoiled in the slightest, young sir. Both orifices are under the full
thickness of your hair."
"I'm grateful for all your assurances," said Lannes, his old indomitable
smile appearing in his eyes, "but you'll have to cure me fast, faster
than you ever cured anybody before, because I'm a flying man, and I fly
again tomorrow."
"Not tomorrow. In two or three days, perhaps--"
"Yes, tomorrow, I tell you! Nothing can keep me from it! This army will
march tonight! I know it! and do you think such a wound as this can keep
me here, when the fate of Europe is being decided? I'd rise from these
blankets and go with the army even if I knew that it would make me fall
dead the next day!"
He spoke with such fierce energy that the surgeon who at first sternly
forbade, looked doubtful and then acquiescent.
"Go, then," he said, "if you can. The fact that we have so many heroes
may save us."
He left John alone in the tent with Lannes. The Frenchman regarded his
comrade with a cool, assured gaze.
"John," he said, "I shall be up in the _Arrow_ tomorrow. I'm not nervous
and excited now, and I'll not cause any fever in my wound. Somebody will
come in five minutes with food. I shall eat a good supper, fall quietly
to sleep, sleep soundly until night, then rise, refreshed and strong,
and go about the work for which I'm best fitted. My mind shall rule over
my body."
"I see you're what we would call at home a Christian Scientist, and in
your case when a mind like yours is brought to bear there's something in
it."
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