“You speak truly, Madame,” he said.  “The rocking goes on, but I’m sure that the concussion of the guns will be too far away tonight for you to feel it.”

They offered her gold for the food and wine, but after one longing glance she steadfastly refused it.

“Since you have come across the sea to fight for us,” she said to John, “how could I take your money?”

Lannes and John returned to the bit of grass in front of the house, where the elderly general and other generals were still standing and using their glasses.

“You are refreshed?” said the general to Lannes.

“Refreshed and ready to take your orders wherever you wish them to go.”

John stepped aside, while the general talked briefly and in a low tone to his comrade.  He looked upon himself merely as a passenger, or a sort of help to Lannes, and he would not pry into military secrets.  But when the two rose again in the Arrow, the general and all his suite waved their caps to them.  Beyond a doubt, Lannes had done magnificent work that day, and John was glad for his friend’s sake.

The Arrow ascended at a sharp angle, and then hovered for a little while in curves and spirals.  John saw the generals below, but they were no longer watching the aeroplane.  Their glasses were turned once more to the battle front.

“Ultimately we’re to reach the commander of the central army, if we can,” said Lannes, “but meanwhile we’re to bend in toward the German lines, in search of your immediate chief, General Vaugirard, who is one of the staunchest and most daring fighters in the whole French Army.  If we find him at all it’s likely that we’ll find him farther forward than any other general.”

“But not any farther than my friend of Montmartre, Bougainville.  There’s a remarkable fellow.  I saw his military talent the first time I met him.  Or I should better say I felt it rather than saw it.  And he was making good in a wonderful manner today.”

“I believe with you, John, that he’s a genius.  But if we find General Vaugirard and then finish our errand we must hasten.  It will be night in two hours.”

He increased the speed of the aeroplane and they flew eastward, searching all the hills and woods for the command of General Vaugirard.

CHAPTER VI

IN HOSTILE HANDS

The task that lay before the two young men was one of great difficulty.  The battle line was shifting continually, although the Germans were being pressed steadily back toward the east and north, but among so many generals it would be hard to find the particular one to whom they were bearing orders.  The commander of the central army was of high importance, but the fact did not bring him at once before the eye.

They were to see General Vaugirard, too, but it was possible that he had fallen.  John, though, could not look upon it as a probability.  The general was so big, so vital, that he must be living, and he felt the same way about Bougainville.  It was incredible that fate itself should snuff out in a day that spark of fire.