ave in a dense forest. So, he sank back in his seat,
and relaxed mind and body.

They fled on over a road narrow but good. They passed lone farm houses
sitting back in the fields, but Wharton had only a glimpse of them. A
tile roof, a roar from the car and they were gone.

Yet the fever of Carstairs slowly burned itself out. They had long since
been safe from any pursuit by the Germans in the main road, and now the
young Englishman realized it. He took one hand from the wheel, and
dashed back a lock of hair that had fallen over his brow. Then he slowed
down quickly, and when they were going not more than seven or eight
miles an hour he said like one coming out of an ecstasy.

"Don't the Germans build splendid cars?"

"And fine machine guns, too?" said John, in a high-pitched unnatural
voice.

"Now here is where I take command," said Wharton firmly. "You two have
been madmen, as mad as anybody can be, although it's true that your
madness has saved us. But you've done your great deeds, sanity is
returning, and you're in a state of exhaustion. Carstairs, give me the
wheel at once. I'm not much of a driver, but I can take the car along
safely at a rate of five miles an hour, which is all we need now."

Carstairs, the fires within him burned out wholly now, resigned the
wheel to his comrade, and sank limply into a seat beside John.

"Now you two rest," said Wharton, sternly, "and if I hear a word out of
either of you in the next hour I'll turn the machine gun on you."

They obeyed. Each was a picture of physical collapse. Wharton did not
know much about automobiles. In the driver's seat he felt as if he were
steering a liner, but in such case as his one readily takes risks, and
he sent the machine along slowly and with fair success.

It was beginning to lighten somewhat, and he looked for a village. They
must have food, a fresh supply of gasoline, and news of their own army.
They bore letters which they meant to deliver or die.

The same beautiful country, though less hilly, stretched before them.
Many clear little streams flowed through the valleys, and here and there
were groves free from undergrowth. Wharton believed that they were far
toward the west, and near the British troops--if any had yet been
landed in France.

"Are you two still in a convalescent stage?" he asked, glancing back.

"Getting along nicely, doctor, thank you, sir," said John. "I began to
pick up just as soon as we left those German armies