appeared. They had crossed the
river, as the splashes indicated, but, doubtless, finding no trail of
the fugitives, they had believed them pinned under the car at the bottom
of the river, and had gone away on some other more profitable quest.

But the three waited another half hour for the sake of precaution, and
then came from under the vines. Twilight was now at hand, and they
realized that they were physically weak after so much excitement and
exertion.

"I might be able to limp along through the night," said Wharton, "but I
doubt it."

"I know I can't," said Carstairs.

"Why try to go on?" said John. "Here's a house. Being in France it must
be inhabited by French sympathizers. They'll shelter us and give us
food."

"I think we'd better try it," said Carstairs.

"I agree with you," said Wharton, "but I think it strange that we've
seen nobody attached to this place. So large a house and grounds must
have at least twenty people about, and an affair like ours would
certainly attract their attention. Yet, we see nobody."

"That's so," said John. "Suppose we wait a bit--it's darkening fast--and
see what's happened."

They still stood among the vines, and, as the night was coming on and
their clothing was only partially dried, they shivered with chill. The
tile roof of the chateau, showing among the trees looked attractive. But
no light appeared in any of the windows, and not a sound came from the
house itself, nor any of the buildings about it.

The windows glittered like fire with the last rays of the sun, and then
the darkness soon swept down, heavy and thick. The three holding their
automatics, and shivering in the chill wind of the night, approached the
silent chateau. John felt a little awe, too. Chance certainly was taking
him into strange places, and he was devoutly glad that he had two good
comrades by his side.

They passed out of the vineyard and entered the grounds, which were
large, adorned with ancient trees, several statues, and a fountain, in
which the water was still playing. The moonlight, coming out now, gave
to the chateau an appearance of great age.

"I fancy that some old noble family lived here," he said. "It must have
been quite a place once."

"Whoever they are, evidently they have no welcome for us," said
Carstairs, "but I'm going in, anyhow. Whew, this wind cuts to the bone!"

"I'm just as cold as you are," said John, "and I'm just as much resolved
as you are to find shelter her