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Page 96
The rays of the sun fell in showers of red gold where they stood, but a
narrow band of gray under the eastern horizon showed that twilight was
not far away. The two stood side by side staring up at the heavens,
where they felt with absolute certainty the black dot would appear at
the appointed time. It was a singular tribute to the courage and
character of Lannes that all who knew him had implicit faith in his
promises, not alone in his honesty of purpose, but in his ability to
carry it out in the face of difficulty and danger. The band of gray in
the east broadened, but they still watched with the utmost faith.
"I see something to the eastward," said John, "or is it merely a shadow
in the sky?"
"I don't think it's a shadow. It must be one of those terrible machines,
and perhaps it's that of our brave Monsieur Philip."
"You're right, Picard, it's no shadow, nor is it a bit of black cloud.
It's an aeroplane, flying very fast. The skies over Europe hold many
aeroplanes these days, but I know all the tricks of the _Arrow_, all its
pretty little ways, its manner of curving, looping and dropping, and I
should say that the _Arrow_, Philip Lannes aboard, is coming."
"I pray, sir, that you are right. I always hold my breath until he is on
the ground again."
"Then you'll have to make a record in holding breath, my brave Picard.
He is still far, very far, from us, and it will be a good ten minutes
before he arrives."
But John knew beyond a doubt, after a little more watching, that it was
really the _Arrow_, and with eager eyes he watched the gallant little
machine as it descended in many a graceful loop and spiral to the earth.
They hurried forward to meet it, and Lannes, bright-eyed and trim,
sprang out, greeting John with a welcome cry.
"Up again," he exclaimed, "and, as I see with these two eyes of mine,
as well as ever! And you too, my brave Picard, here to meet me!"
He hastened away with a report, but came back to them in a few minutes.
"Now," he said, "We'll go and see my sister."
John was not at all unwilling.
They found her in one of the new houses of pine boards, and the faithful
and stalwart Suzanne was with her. It was the plainest of plain places,
inhabited by at least twenty other Red Cross nurses, and John stood on
one side until the first greeting of brother and sister was over. Then
Lannes, by a word and a gesture, included him in what was practically a
family group, although he was conscious that the stalwart Suzanne was
watching him with a wary eye.
"Julie and Suzanne," said Lannes, "are going tomorrow with other nurses
to the little town of M�nouville, where also many wounded lie. They are
less well supplied with doctors and nurses than we are here. Dr. Delorme
goes also with a small detachment as escort. I have asked that you,
Monsieur Jean the Scott, be sent with them. Our brave Picard goes too.
M�nouville is about eight miles from here, and it's not much out of the
way to the front. So you will not be kept long from your Strangers,
John."
"I go willingly," said John, "and I'm glad, Philip, that you've seen fit
to consider me worth while as a part of the escort."
He spoke quietly, but his glance wandered to Julie Lannes. It may have
been a chance, but hers turned toward him at the same time, and the
eyes, the blue and the gray, met. Again the girl's brilliant color
deepened a little, and she looked quickly away. Only the watchful and
grim Suzanne saw.
"Do you have to go away at once, Philip?" asked Julie.
"In one hour, my sister. There is not much rest for the _Arrow_ and me
these days, but they are such days as happen perhaps only once in a
thousand years, and one must do his best to be worthy. I'm not
preaching, little sister, don't think that, but I must answer to every
call."
The twilight had spread from east to west. The heavy shadows in the east
promised a dark night, but out of the shadows, as always, came that
sullen mutter of the ruthless guns. Julie shivered a little, and glanced
at the dim sky.
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