He knew the slender sinuous shape that led.  As far as eye could reach he would recognize the Arrow.  The miracle was done.  They had called to Philip in their desperate need and he had come.

“Philip and the Arrow!” he exclaimed.  “We’re saved!”

“I knew that he would come!” Julie said, as she stared wide-eyed into the blue and gold of the heavens.

Now the aeroplanes flew at almost incredible speed, the Arrow always at their head, poised for a few moments directly over their heads, and then came down in a dazzling series of spirals, landing almost at their feet.

“Philip, my brother!” exclaimed Julie, as the slender compact figure that they knew so well stepped gracefully from the Arrow.

He took off his heavy glasses and gazed at them as they stood, forgetting that they were still hand in hand.  Then he smiled and lifting his cap in his old dramatic way he said: 

“It seems that for several reasons I didn’t come too soon.”

“No,” replied John, calmly, and holding firmly the little hand in his, “you have arrived just in time to give your consent to my marriage with your sister.”

“And what does Mademoiselle Julie Lannes say?”

The rising sun clothed Julie in a shower of gold.  Never before had the wonderful golden hair seemed more wonderful.  Never before had she seemed to the youthful eyes of her lover more nearly divine.

“Julie Lannes says,” she replied bravely, “that if John Scott wishes her to be his wife and her mother and brother consent she will gladly marry him.”

[Illustration:  “Now the aeroplanes flew at almost incredible speed, the Arrow always at their head”]

“Then we must hurry away, or it will be a wedding; without either a bride or a bridegroom.  Are not those Austrian hussars at the bottom of the slope, Picard?”

“Yes, monsieur.”

“Then it’s up and away with us.  Here are Caumartin, Mery and Castelneau, old friends of yours, John, but it was Delaunois who brought me the last news of you.  Caumartin has the Omnibus, and in it the bridal pair must travel.  I can’t take you with me in the Arrow now, John, as it admits of only a single passenger.  But do you, Picard, take the rifles and come with me.  We’ll cover the rear of our flight.  Now, hasten!  Hasten!”

John and Julie in an instant were side by side in the Omnibus, Picard, forgetting all fear of aeroplanes, was with Philip, and the four machines rose, circling above the mountain, Caumartin’s big plane leading.  John and Julie sat very close together and her hand was again in his.

“Fear not, dearest,” he said.  “When all seemed lost Philip came for us.”

“But you came for me first and you risked your life many times.  To give myself to you seems but a small reward for all that you’ve done.”

“It’s a reward that kings and princes in their power cannot win.”