Part 36 (1/2)

”I never saw two sleep better,” replied Weber. ”Mr. Wharton was a little troubled in his slumbers though.”

”Oh, he's a very grave individual with great responsibilities,” said Carstairs.

But he did not add anything about the dispatches.

”A little farther back,” said Weber, ”I saw a biplane. Although it was high in air I'm quite sure from its make that it was German.”

”Scouting,” said John. ”It was pretty venturesome to come this far west.”

”The Germans shun no risks,” said Weber, gravely. ”The biplane flew back toward the east. It did not alarm me greatly, but I saw another thing that did. Just before you awoke I noticed a gleam in the valley to the right, and I know that it was made by a sunbeam falling on the spiked helmet of a Uhlan.”

The three stiffened with alarm, not so much for themselves as for their errand. Wharton's hand moved again toward the pocket, containing the papers, which had transformed him into a man with but a single thought.

”Uhlans here close to this road!” exclaimed John.

”Do you think it can be von Boehlen?”

”It may be. On the whole I think it probable,” replied Weber. ”Von Boehlen is a most daring man, and to scout along the skirts of the French army would be the most natural thing for him to do. I'm going to speed up a bit--that is, if you gentlemen agree that it's necessary.”

”Of course,” said John, and the machine sprang forward. He had taken the prince's gla.s.ses as his own share of the spoil. They were of great power, and now he searched the forest with them for their enemies. He soon found that Weber was right. He saw steel helmets on the right, and then he saw them on the left. They were surely Uhlans, and evidently they had seen the car.

He quickly put away the gla.s.ses and s.n.a.t.c.hed up his rifle.

”You were right, Weber,” he exclaimed. ”They're German cavalry, and they've begun to pursue us. Faster! Faster! This machine can leave any hors.e.m.e.n behind!”

Weber turned back a despairing face.

”The car is doing its best!” he said. ”Something has gone wrong with the machinery!”

He wrenched at the wheel, but he produced no such speed as that which Carstairs had got out of the car, when they were fleeing from the German automobiles. The two forces of Uhlans had now joined and were in the road galloping in swift pursuit. Many of them carried lances, which glittered in the late sun. The sight of the steel points made John s.h.i.+ver. It would be horrible to feel one of them in his back.

He turned to his machine gun. A touch of that old madness returned. The sight of the Uhlans had set his brain on fire.

”I'll teach you not to come too close, my fine lads,” he said.

He aimed the gun and undertook to start the mechanism, but nothing moved. No shots came. He jerked at it widly, but it refused to budge. It was jammed, and it would take a long time to put it in order. His heart stood still and a cold perspiration came out on his face. How did it happen? Was it possible that he had left it in such a condition?

”What's the matter, John?” asked Wharton.

”The machine gun's jammed, and I can't fire a shot. The car seems to be breaking down, too. Don't you see that the Uhlans are gaining!”

”So, they are,” said Wharton.

He and John s.n.a.t.c.hed up their rifles and fired rapidly at the hors.e.m.e.n.

Some of the bullets struck, but did not impede the pursuit. Carstairs pushed Weber out of the driver's seat, and seized the wheel himself. All his pride and confidence were aroused, and he did not have time to be polite. He could get the speed out of that machine and save them.

But it did not obey his hand. It staggered along like a tired man. Weber was right again. Something had gone wrong with the internal organism, and one could not stop to right it with pursuing Uhlans only a few hundred yards away.

”What shall we do?” exclaimed Weber. ”Shall we jump for it and run? We may escape in the shelter of the forest?”