orses in the shadow of the bushes, and were in dread lest some movement
of their animals betray them, but the droning of the rain was the only
sound made. The Uhlans, about forty in number, rode on and the darkness
swallowed them up.

"Since they've gone about their business we'd better go about ours,"
said Wharton.

"Those are the first wise words I've heard you speak in a half hour,"
said Carstairs.

"It's the first time I've spoken at all in a half hour," said Wharton.

"Which way do we go now?" asked John.

"Over a hill and far away," replied Carstairs. "To be more explicit
we're coming to the hill now, and about daylight we'll reach a little
village, where I think we'd better get food and news. You'll like the
country, John, when it stops raining and the sunlight comes. Oh, it's a
fair land, this land of France."

"I've seen enough of it to know that," said John. "Lead on, and I'll be
glad to reach the next village. A wind has set up, and this rain cuts
cruelly."

Carstairs rode in front, and for more than an hour they breasted the
storm almost in silence. They climbed the hill, passed down the other
side, crossed numerous brooks, and then saw reluctant daylight appearing
through the rain.

John with the new caution that he had learned looked up. But the clouds
were so heavy that he saw nothing there, not a dirigible, not a Taube,
nor any form of aeroplane. Traveling, even on the business of an army,
was still better on land.

"There's our village," said Wharton, pointing to a pleasant valley in
which tiled roofs and the spire of a church showed.

"And there we'll be in fifteen minutes," said Carstairs. "I'm full of
enthusiasm for the mission on which we ride as you two are also of
course, but it will fairly overflow after I have a good warm breakfast."

Despite the earliness of the hour peasants were up and they watched with
curiosity the three horsemen who approached. But enough of the uniform
of the strangers showed, despite their cloaks, to indicate that they
belonged to the French army, and they were welcome. An old man with a
scythe, pointed toward an inn, and the three, increasing their speed,
rode straight for it.

"I hope they'll have good coffee," said John.

"And fine bread," said Carstairs.

"And choice bacon," said Wharton.

"And plenty of eggs to go with the bacon," said John.

It was but a little village, forty or fifty houses, set among the hills,
but in times of peace many peop