Part 27 (1/2)
there's no more Germans.”
”Very well. Have you searched the enemy for papers?”
”Yes, sir. We're stuffed with note-books an' other little souveeners.”
”Do your men ride?”
”Some of 'em, sir, but they'll foot it, if you don't mind. They hate killing horses, so we turn 'em loose generally. This lot should be tied up.”
”What of the car?”
”Smithy will attend to that with a bomb, sir.”
Bates evidently knew his business, so evidently that Dalroy did not even question him as to the true inwardness of Smithy's attentions.
The squad cleared up their tasks with an extraordinary celerity. Smithy crawled under the automobile with the flashlight, remained there exactly thirty seconds, and reappeared.
The corporal saluted.
”We're ready now, sir,” he said. ”Perhaps her ladys.h.i.+p will march with you behind the centre file?”
”Do you head the column?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Then, for a little way, we'll accompany you. There were three in our party, corporal. One, a Belgian named Jan Maertz, risked death to get away and bring help. I'm afraid he has been captured on the Oosterzeele road by two hussars detailed for the job. So, you see, I must try and save him.”
CHAPTER XIV
THE MARNE--AND AFTER
”That's awkward, sir,” said the corporal, as the detachment moved off into the night, leaving the motor-car's acetylene lamps still blazing merrily.
”Why 'awkward'?” demanded Dalroy.
”Because, when we fellows met in a wood near Monze, we agreed that we'd stick together, and fight to a finish; but if any man strayed by accident, or got hit so badly that he couldn't march, he took his chances, and the rest went on.”
”Quite right. How does that affect the present situation?”
”Well, sir,” said Bates, after a pause, ”there's you an' the lady. Our chaps are interested, if I may say it. You ought to have heard their langwidge, even in whispers, when that--well, I can't call him anything much worse than what he was, a German officer--when he was telling you off, sir.”
”What did the German officer say, sergeant?” put in Irene innocently.
”Corporal, your ladys.h.i.+p. Corporal Bates, of the 2nd Buffs.”
”I'm sorry to have to interrupt,” said Dalroy. ”You must give Lady Irene a full account some other time. If you are planning to cross the Schelde to-night there is a long march before you. We part company at the lane you spoke of. I leave her ladys.h.i.+p in the care of you and your men with the greatest confidence. I make for Oosterzeele. If Jan Maertz is a prisoner, I must do what lies in my power to rescue him. If I fail, I'll follow on and report at Gand in the morning.”
For a little while none spoke. The other men marched in silence, a safeguard which they had made a rigid rule while piercing their way by night through an unknown country held by an enemy who would not have given quarter to any English soldier.