toward the sea, and he saw many horsemen galloping across the
field. He recognized at once the Uhlans, and, for all he knew; they
might be von Boehlen's own command.

"Hand me your glasses, will you?" he said.

When Lannes passed them to him he looked long and well, but he did not
see any sign of a prisoner among the Prussians. He also searched the
woods and other fields near by, but they were empty. The whole Prussian
force was gathered beneath them. John breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"It's evident that Weber has escaped," he said. "Doubtless this was the
very troop of Uhlans of which the Alsatian had caught a glimpse. He is
clever and swift and I've no doubt he found a covert."

"I'm sorry we had to leave him," said Lannes, "but there was no other
choice. I came to the tree to examine the flag, and being above I saw
the Uhlans nearby before you did. Then I heard your shout and dropped
down. But as I knew the Uhlans were coming for us I made you jump almost
before you knew it, and we got away by a hair. The _Arrow_ was struck
twice, but the bullets glanced off its polished sides. There are two
slight scars, but I can have them removed."

John laughed.

"Philip," he said, "I believe you love the _Arrow_ as a fellow loves his
best girl."

"Well spoken, Monsieur Jean the Scott, and the _Arrow_ never fails me.
And so you've been with Weber?"

"It's a long tale. I was in a boat crossing the Marne. It was sunk by
one of the French shells, and I escaped. I reached the deserted cottage
of a peasant, and Weber, who was wandering around, happened to come
there, too. We've been trying to escape today, and we put that flag up
in the tree as a sort of signal, while we hid among the vines below,
until you should come, as he believed you would. He was right, but he
was unlucky enough to be absent when you arrived." "Maybe it couldn't
have happened in a better way. The _Arrow_ can carry only two, and I
don't know what we'd have done with him. He's a clever fellow and he'll
make his way back to the army."

"I hope so, in fact I feel so. But, Philip, it's glorious to be with you
again, and to be up here, where the bullets can't reach you."

"That is, so long as the German flyers don't come near enough to take
shots at us."

"I don't see any in sight, and meanwhile I intend to be comfortable.
Good old _Arrow_! The best little rescuer in the world! Lannes, I
believe it's a large part of your business to fly about over fie