“Do you know the country at all?” he asked of Weber.

“Somewhat.  It was a part of my work before the war to pass through all the regions of Germany and Austria, and learn as much of them as I could.  At the end of this valley is a small village called Obenstein, where perhaps it would be wise for us to spend the next night.  After that we must devise some method of getting out of Austria—­and I do not seek to conceal from you that it will be a most difficult task.  Perhaps it would be better to change your plan and enter Switzerland, a neutral country.  It, of course, would end your service as a soldier, but that, I take it, would be no great hardship to you now.”

The color came into John’s face, but he was bound to admit that Weber was right.  His interest in the war had become far less than his interest in Julie Lannes.

“Perhaps we can tell better after we spend the night at Obenstein,” he said.

“Nothing can be hurt by reserving our verdict until tomorrow,” said Weber.  “Obenstein is very secluded.  I believe that it has neither telephone nor telegraph, and we’ll surely be able to leave it tomorrow before any pursuit can reach us.”

“Do you think the plan a good one?” said John to Julie.

“I know of no better,” she replied in English.  “I trust to you and Mr. Weber.”

“Then it’s agreed,” said John to Weber.

“It’s agreed.”

The Alsatian now led the way in his light machine, and the limousine followed at an interval of fifty or sixty yards.  One hour, then two and three passed, and nothing came in the way of their easy and rapid progress.  It all seemed too smooth and fortunate to John.  It was incredible that they could travel thus great distances through Austria, the land of the enemy.  He knew that chance had a way of finding a balance, and violent and fierce events might be before them.

But as he drove on he scanned the heavens now and then with a questing eye.  It had not occurred to him until Weber spoke that all of them might escape through the air.  Lannes would trail them, not on the earth, but through mists and clouds.  He would come, too, with friends almost as daring and skillful as himself, perhaps with Caumartin and the two, Castelneau and Mery, who had responded to the thrilling signal near Salzburg, when he took his first flight.  His blood leaped and danced, and once more his eyes roved over the blue in search of the Arrow.

They came to Obenstein a little before dusk.  It was a tiny village, almost hidden in a recess of the mountain, with a shaggy pine forest rising above it and casting its shadow over the houses.  But there was a small, neat inn, and a garage for the machines, and the guests were received with the same hospitality that had been shown at Tellnitz.  John again spread the rumor that it was a princess of the house of Auersperg who came, and he added Weber to the list of those who were attending her in her flight to a safer region.  Julie withdrew as before to her room with her maid, but giving John, before she went, the brilliant smile of faith and confidence that would have sent him, sword in hand, against dragons.