Part 36 (2/2)
”Not yet,” replied Carstairs firmly. ”Not yet for three of us, though it may be best for you, since you'll be executed as a spy, when you're taken.”
”If you don't go, I don't go either,” said Weber. ”We'll all stay together.”
”Brave man!” said Carstairs admiringly. But he had time for no more words. He was wrenching at the machine as a rider for his life would pull at the mouth of a stubborn horse. Crippled as it was he managed to drag a little increase of speed from it. The Uhlans had dropped back somewhat and none of them fired. John believed that they refrained because they were sure of a capture. Wharton suddenly uttered a cry.
”A river,” he exclaimed. ”It's not more than five hundred yards ahead!”
His cry was echoed by Weber, but its tone was very different. The Alsatian's voice showed despair.
”I had forgotten,” he exclaimed. ”The river is too deep for fording, and the French have blown up the bridge! We're trapped!”
A deep flush came into the face of Carstairs. As in the case of John a touch of his first madness was returning. The three comrades were now wild together.
”Can you swim?” he shouted back to John.
”Yes!”
”And you?” to Wharton.
”Yes!”
”And you, too?” to Weber.
”Yes, fairly well; but what do you mean?”
”You wait two or three minutes and you'll see something. But when it's time to swim all of you be ready for it!”
A great shout came from the Uhlans, who had begun to gain again, and who could not now keep from seeing the river that cut off the fugitives. But Carstairs wrenched another pound or two of speed out of the automobile, and it shot forward.
”Stop! Stop for G.o.d's sake!” cried Weber. ”You'll drown us all! It's better to jump out and take to the woods!”
”Never!” cried Carstairs, his daring flaming to the utmost. ”We captured the automobile of a prince, and we'll not give it back again! Ah, the machine is returning to life! Look how much faster we're going! On, my beauty! Your last and greatest run is before you!”
The machine seemed to come out of its maimed and crippled condition, its strength flaring up for the last burst of speed. The jarring and jerking ceased and the road flew behind it.
The river came near at an astonis.h.i.+ng rate, and John saw that it was wide and deep. He saw, too, the pillars of the ruined bridge, and he heard another cry from Weber, who started to spring out, but drew back.
Carstairs uttered a wild shout, and then the automobile, leaping far out into the stream, where the bridge had been, sank beneath the deep waters. John had prepared himself for the desperate stroke, and before the machine touched the surface he had sprung clear. Then he struck out desperately for the opposite bank, and his heart filled with gladness, when he saw Wharton and Carstairs swimming almost by his side.
They reached the sh.o.r.e before the Uhlans could come up, and darted into the shelter of the forest, where they threw themselves down on the ground and lay panting, every touch of wildness gone.
”Is Weber here?” asked John.
”No,” replied Wharton, who felt of his papers again, and saw that they were wet, but safe.
”Did either of you see him?”
”Not after the auto made its jump.”
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