on until the general had read the
letter not once but twice and thrice. Then he took off his glasses,
rubbed them thoughtfully a moment or two, replaced them and looked
keenly at the two. He was a quiet man and he made no gestures, but John
met his gaze serenely, read his eyes and saw the tremendous weight of
responsibility back of them.

"You have done well, you two, perhaps far better than you know," said
the general, "and now, since you are wounded, Philip Lannes, you must
have attention. De Rougemont, take care of them."

De Rougemont, a captain, was the man to whom they had been talking, and
he gladly received the charge. He was a fine, well built officer, under
thirty, and it was obvious that he already took a deep interest in the
two young aviators. Noticing Lannes' anxious glances toward his precious
machine, he promptly detailed two men to take care of the _Arrow_ and
then he led John and Lannes toward the group of tents.

"First I'll get a surgeon for you," he said to the Frenchman, "and after
that there's food for you both."

"I hope you'll tell the surgeon to be careful how he takes off my cap,"
said Lannes, "because it's fastened to my head now by my own dried
blood."

"Trust me for that," said de Rougemont. "I'll bring one of our best
men."

Then, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he added:

"I suppose the message you brought was one of life or death for France."

"I think so," said Lannes, "but I know little of its nature, myself."

"I would not ask you to say any more. I know that you cannot speak of
it. But you can tell me this. Are the Germans before Paris?"

"As nearly as I could tell, their vanguard was within fifteen miles of
the capital."

"Then if we strike at all we must strike quickly. I think we're going to
strike."

Lannes was silent, and they entered the tent, where blankets were spread
for him. A surgeon, young and skillful, came promptly, carefully removed
the cap and bound up his head. John stood by and handed the surgeon the
bandages.

"You're not much hurt," he said to Lannes as he finished. "Your chief
injury was shock, and that has passed. I can keep down the fever and
you'll be ready for work very soon. The high powered bullet makes a
small and clean wound. It tears scarcely at all. Nor will your beauty be
spoiled in the slightest, young sir. Both orifices are under the full
thickness of your hair."

"I'm grateful for all your assurances," said Lannes, his