to ride for it as hard as they could,
giving to them sealed despatches also. Their own army would be falling
back meanwhile.

"Both Carstairs and Wharton know this region and the roads," he said to
John, "and you keep with them. Are you ready?"

"Yes sir," answered the three together.

They stepped out into the rain, but forgetful of it. An orderly was
holding three horses. In an instant, they were in the saddle and away.
They passed through the lines and came out upon one of the splendid
French roads, the three abreast. The rain was beating in their faces,
but the orderly had tied cloaks to their saddles, and now they wrapped
them about their bodies.

But John minded neither darkness, cold nor rain. Sensitive and quiet
there was some quality in him that always responded to the call of high
adventure. His mind was never keener, never more alert, and all his
strength of body had returned. Wharton and Carstairs rode on either side
of him, and he felt already as if they had been friends of years,
knitted to him by a thousand dangers shared.

He looked back once at the intrenched camp, but the descent and curve of
the road already hid it in the darkness. He saw nothing but the black
outline of the hills, and low clouds floating across the whole horizon.
Ahead was a blank. He was in one of the most thickly populated regions
of the world, crowded with cities, but in the darkness and storm it
looked like a wilderness.

Neither of his comrades spoke for a long time. He stole a look at his
watch, and saw that it was three o'clock in the morning. They crossed
two small rivers, foaming like torrents, and at the bridges reined into
a walk, lest the hoof-beats be heard too far. But they did not meet any
human being. Save for the road and the bridges the aspect of a
wilderness was complete. John knew that numerous villages lay near, but
in such a world war the people would put out their lights and keep close
in their houses.

They turned after a while into a smaller road, leading more toward the
north.

"The Uhlans may be in our rear," said Carstairs. "They seem to be
everywhere, and we don't want to be cut off just at the beginning of our
ride."

"Rein in," said Wharton. "I hear cavalry passing on the road we've just
left."

"Speak of Uhlans, and they appear," whispered John.

They were Uhlans, no doubt. John recognized the helmets, but the men
were riding back toward the armies. He and his two comrades kept their
h