sed to budge. It
was jammed, and it would take a long time to put it in order. His heart
stood still and a cold perspiration came out on his face. How did it
happen? Was it possible that he had left it in such a condition?

"What's the matter, John?" asked Wharton.

"The machine gun's jammed, and I can't fire a shot. The car seems to be
breaking down, too. Don't you see that the Uhlans are gaining!"

"So, they are," said Wharton.

He and John snatched up their rifles and fired rapidly at the horsemen.
Some of the bullets struck, but did not impede the pursuit. Carstairs
pushed Weber out of the driver's seat, and seized the wheel himself. All
his pride and confidence were aroused, and he did not have time to be
polite. He could get the speed out of that machine and save them.

But it did not obey his hand. It staggered along like a tired man. Weber
was right again. Something had gone wrong with the internal organism,
and one could not stop to right it with pursuing Uhlans only a few
hundred yards away.

"What shall we do?" exclaimed Weber. "Shall we jump for it and run? We
may escape in the shelter of the forest?"

"Not yet," replied Carstairs firmly. "Not yet for three of us, though it
may be best for you, since you'll be executed as a spy, when you're
taken."

"If you don't go, I don't go either," said Weber. "We'll all stay
together."

"Brave man!" said Carstairs admiringly. But he had time for no more
words. He was wrenching at the machine as a rider for his life would
pull at the mouth of a stubborn horse. Crippled as it was he managed to
drag a little increase of speed from it. The Uhlans had dropped back
somewhat and none of them fired. John believed that they refrained
because they were sure of a capture. Wharton suddenly uttered a cry.

"A river," he exclaimed. "It's not more than five hundred yards ahead!"

His cry was echoed by Weber, but its tone was very different. The
Alsatian's voice showed despair.

"I had forgotten," he exclaimed. "The river is too deep for fording, and
the French have blown up the bridge! We're trapped!"

A deep flush came into the face of Carstairs. As in the case of John a
touch of his first madness was returning. The three comrades were now
wild together.

"Can you swim?" he shouted back to John.

"Yes!"

"And you?" to Wharton.

"Yes!"

"And you, too?" to Weber.

"Yes, fairly well; but what do you mean?"

"You wait two or three minutes and you'll see someth