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Page 39
Now he recalled, too, that Napoleon had fought some of his greatest
defensive battles in the region they faced. Doubtless the mighty emperor
and his marshals had trod the very soil on which Bougainville and he now
stood. Surely the French must know it, and surely it would give them
superhuman courage for battle.
"I belong to the command of General Vaugirard," he said to Bougainville.
"I'm serving on his staff, but I was knocked off my motor cycle by the
rush of air from a shell. The cycle was ruined and I was unconscious
for a moment or two. When I revived, my general and his command were
gone."
"You'd better stay with me a while," said Bougainville. "We're going to
advance again soon. When night comes, if you're still alive, then you
can look for General Vaugirard. The fire of the artillery is increasing.
How the earth shakes!"
"So it does. I wish I knew what was happening."
"There comes one of those men in the air. He is going to drop down by
us. Maybe you can learn something from him."
John felt a sudden wild hope that it was Lannes, but his luck did not
hold good enough for it. The plane was of another shape than the
_Arrow_, and, when it descended to the ground, a man older than Lannes
stepped out upon the grass. He glanced around as if he were looking for
some general of division for whom he had an order, and John, unable to
restrain himself, rushed to him and exclaimed:
"News! News! For Heaven's sake, give us news! Surely you've seen from
above!"
The man smiled and John knew that a bearer of bad news would not smile.
"I'm the friend and comrade of Philip Lannes," continued John, feeling
that all the flying men of France knew the name of Lannes, and that it
would be a password to this man's good graces.
"I know him well," said the air scout. "Who of our craft does not? My
own name is Caumartin, and I have flown with Lannes more than once in
the great meets at Rheims. In answer to your question I'm able to tell
you that on the wings the soldiers of France are advancing. A wedge has
been thrust between the German armies and the one nearest Paris is
retreating, lest it be cut off."
Bougainville heard the words, and he ran among the men, telling them. A
fierce shout arose and John himself quivered with feeling. It was
better, far better than he had hoped. He realized now that his courage
before had been the courage of despair. Lannes and he, as a last resort,
had put faith in signs and omens, because there was nothing else to bear
them up.
"Is it true? Is it true beyond doubt! You've really seen it with your
own eyes?" he exclaimed.
Caumartin smiled again. His were deep eyes, and the smile that came from
them was reassuring.
"I saw it myself," he replied. "At the point nearest Paris the gray
masses are withdrawing. I looked directly down upon them. And now, can
you tell me where I can find General Vaugirard?"
"I wish I could. I'm on his staff, but I've lost him. He's somewhere to
the northward."
"Then I'll find him."
Caumartin resumed his place in his machine. John looked longingly at the
aeroplane. He would gladly have gone with Caumartin, but feeling that he
would be only a burden at such a time, he would not suggest it.
Nevertheless he called to the aviator:
"If you see Philip Lannes in the heavens tell him that his friend John
Scott is here behind a low ridge crested with trees!"
Caumartin nodded, and as some of the soldiers gave his plane a push he
soared swiftly away in search of General Vaugirard. John watched him a
moment or two and then turned his attention back to the German army in
front of them.
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