e dismissed his adventure. The hearts of the three
warmed toward one who rode perilously for France as they were doing.

"Come," said John, "you must be starving to death. We certainly are, and
if I'm kept any longer from this heavenly coffee there'll be a
rebellion."

Annette, the neat maid who was serving them smiled, and Monsieur Gaussin
smiled also. But Weber did not keep them waiting. He slid into the
fourth chair that had been placed, and, for a little space, gastronomy
of the most harmonious kind prevailed.

"From which direction do you come?" asked Carstairs.

"North," replied Weber flashing a smile from gray eyes.

John thought his eyes good, but all the lower part of his face was
concealed by the beard.

"I hope you're doing better there than we are on the east," said
Carstairs.

"Have you, then, had bad luck?" asked Weber.

"I'd scarcely blame any part of it on luck. Jove, but it's just a plain
case of the other side being ready, while we are not."

"And you ride then for help?"

"Something of that kind, although of course we couldn't tell anybody
where we are going."

"And I shall not dream of asking you. I know a soldier's duty too well.
I ride on an errand myself, but I shall not refuse to tell you anything
because you are not going to ask me."

All four laughed. John liked Weber better and better. He saw that he was
a cheerful man, with a touch of humor, and he heartened the other three
mightily.

Weber told that the French were now well ahead with their preparations,
the English were beginning to stir and presently the Germans would find
the armies before them much more powerful.

"On what road did you receive your wound?" asked John. "You won't mind
telling us this, I hope, because that will be a good road for us to
avoid."

"The Uhlans may have passed on," replied Weber, shrugging his shoulders,
"but it was the road from the north. I encountered them about fifteen
miles from here. It was so dark that I couldn't see very well, but I
don't think they numbered more than half a dozen."

"We were going on that road," said Carstairs rising, "but perhaps we'd
better take the western one for the present. We have to hurry. Good-by,
Mr. Weber, we're glad we met you, and we hope that transfer of the title
deeds of Alsace real estate will take place."

Weber's gray eyes beamed.

"It's good of another race to help us," he said. All three shook hands
with him, said friendly farewells to the b