He reckoned that they rode at least three miles in the gorge.  Then they came into a shallow stream about twenty feet wide that would have been called a creek at home.  Its banks were fairly high, lined on one side by a hedge and on the other by willows.  Instead of following the path any further the Germans turned into the bed of the stream and drove down it two or three miles.  The roar of the artillery from both armies was now very great, and the earth shook.  Once John caught the shadow of a huge shell passing high over their heads.

All the prisoners knew that they were well beyond hope of rescue for the present.  The French line was far behind them and they were within the German zone.  It was better to be resigned, until they saw cause for hope.

When they came to a low point in the eastern bank of the stream the carts turned out, reached a narrow road between lines of poplars and continued their journey eastward.  In the fields on either side John saw detachments of German infantry, skirmishers probably, as they had not yet reached the line of cannon.

“Officer,” said John to the German leader, “couldn’t you unbind the arms of my friend in the cart here?  Ropes around one’s wrists for a long time are painful, and since we’re within your lines he has no chance of escape now.”

The officer looked at Picard and shrugged his shoulders.

“Giants are strong,” he said.

“But a little bullet can lay low the greatest of them.”

“That is so.”

He leaned from his horse, inserted the point of his sword between Picard’s wrists and deftly cut the rope without breaking the skin.  Picard clenched and unclenched his hands and drew several mighty breaths of relief.  But he was a peasant of fine manners and he did not forget them.  Turning to the officer, he said: 

“I did not think I’d ever thank a German for anything, but I owe you gratitude.  It’s unnatural and painful to remain trussed up like a fowl going to market.”

The officer gave Picard a glance of pity and rode to the head of the column, which turned off at a sharp angle toward the north.  The great roar and crash now came from the south and John inferred that they would soon pass beyond the zone of fire.  But for a long time the thunder of the battle was undiminished.

“Do you know this country at all?” John asked Picard.

The giant shook his head.

“I was never here before, sir,” he said, “and I never thought I should come into any part of France in this fashion.  Ah, Mademoiselle Julie, how can I ever tell the tale of this to your mother?”

“No harm will come to me, Antoine,” said Julie.  “I shall be back in Paris before long.  Suzanne and you are with me—­and Mr. Scott.”

Suzanne again frowned darkly, but John gave Julie a grateful glance.  Wisdom, however, told him to say nothing.  The officer in command came back to the cart and said, pointing ahead: