Luckily none of the Germans seemed to have paid any attention to the little a.s.semblage of three figures in faded khaki on that slight rise of ground. At least no annoying sh.e.l.l had fallen near them, nor did the boys at any time catch the irritating whine of a whimpering leaden missile hastening past close to their ears. All of which pleased Rod very much, for he certainly felt no desire to mingle in such terrible scenes as had been spread before them of late.
Well, the end was in sight, for when the French field batteries began to let go it could be easily guessed that they were sending their compliments after that remnant of the enemy now sullenly retreating, and always with faces toward the foe.
Then came the shrill blast of bugles. This undoubtedly told the French soldiers that victory had fallen to their portion, and that the winning of the Marne ford was an accomplished fact.
Loud arose the huzzas of the survivors. Succor for the injured would quickly follow, since no pursuit was expected to be organized. The work to which they had been a.s.signed was now accomplished, and against difficulties that might have frustrated all their efforts only for the one gallant man who made victory possible.
Rod and his chums cheered with the rest. They seemed somehow to feel that their hearts beat in full sympathy for those Frenchmen who were standing up in defense of their native land.
Josh, more demonstrative than either of his companions, went so far as to actually throw his arms around Hanky Panky and give him such a bear-like hug that the other"s eyes almost popped from his head and his breath came in gasps.
"Let up on that sort of business, can"t you, Josh!" he managed to cry indignantly as he broke away from the other"s detaining clutch; "what do you take me for anyway? Must think you"re doing one of the new fangled fox-trot hesitation dances. I"ve got feelings, I"d have you know; and my ribs are brittle bones in the bargain, not hoop-iron. Go hunt up a tree if you must exercise yourself on something. I object!"
Standing there on the rise of ground they could see the first of the French light batteries crossing the ford, the horses prancing, but forced to drag the guns through the shallow water. Later on heavier artillery would also be coming up to follow the fleeing German army, when the full importance of this ford would be better understood. No wonder the tactics of delay upon which the Germans were working had forced them to defend such a spot to the limit.
"What are we going to do next, Rod?" asked Josh, when they had stood and watched these events taking place for some little time.
"We"ll have to hold off until they get things in ship-shape again,"
replied the other; "you see there are the wounded to attend to, the dead to gather and bury, it may be, as well as a lot of other matters to be looked after. They"ll be in no hurry to chase after the enemy, I imagine. Their one object was to carry this crossing, and that they"ve done."
"But at a terrible cost to them," sighed Hanky Panky, as he saw the injured being carried to a central point, where doubtless the field surgeons would be on hand, ready to give them first attention; besides, there had been scores upon scores carried down the river whose fate could only be guessed at.
"That"s always what war means, I"m afraid," remarked Rod, not that he himself was getting hardened by seeing such sights, but because he had a broader vision than Hanky Panky, and could antic.i.p.ate what would follow when two hostile forces came in contact at close quarters.
"If that was Andre"s regiment that went in at the first," observed Josh gloomily, "I"m mighty much afraid we"re going to have all our trouble for our pains; because they were almost wiped out. Andre is pretty sure to have been among those who were in the water when that battery got in its heavy work, and--well, the current carried away many a gallant fellow, never to give him up again."
"Oh! it"s hardly as bad as that, Josh," remonstrated Rod; "a good many managed to get back again, either wounded or whole. If we"re lucky we may find Andre among that lot. We"ll hope to, anyway; and our business will then soon be over."
"Well, for one I hope and pray we"re able to turn our backs on this thing before another sun sets," said Hanky Panky, with such a sad look on his face that Rod was quite sorry they had been tempted to follow up this adventure.
Still, they had risked their lives in a good cause, and if only that little French woman Jeanne and her family could be provided for in the future, despite the schemings of Jules Baggott, he for one would not feel tempted to complain on account of perils undergone and risks taken.
"Most of the French have crossed over by now, you notice, Rod," observed Josh, when some time had crept past, and he could hardly restrain his customary impatience any longer.
"And that means you think we should be getting a move on too?" laughed the other, trying to raise the drooping spirits of Hanky Panky by an a.s.sumption of levity which truth to tell Rod was himself far from feeling.
"Well, it seems like we must make the crossing some way or other, and while one of those gun caissons we see coming along is going to get over why not find out if they"d let us climb aboard? It"ll save us from getting our feet wet even if it did nothing else."
"That isn"t a bad idea, Josh," commented Rod, "and it might be just as well to try it out. These Frenchmen are pretty accommodating, and they"ll like as not take us for British boys, as has happened so many times before."
Another troop accompanied by a battery had come up and was starting to reach the northern side of the Marne, so as to presently continue the chase after the retreating enemy. It was to the ammunition caissons belonging to this battery that Josh had referred.
The boys hurried forward now. No one thought to question their right to be present. Perhaps this was because of their looks, or the khaki suits they wore, which would be taken for British uniforms. Indeed, quite a number of those who were seated on gun carriage or ammunition chest waved to them in the hearty and friendly fashion known to soldiers after a victory has thrilled their blood, making them light-hearted and gay.
CHAPTER XXVI.
JOSH MAKES A DISCOVERY.
Rod soon fixed the transportation part of it, just as his confident chums felt sure he would be able to do. He quickly selected a certain outfit that had stopped on the border of the ford for a minute or so, while a loose portion of the harness was tightened.
Entering into conversation with the sergeant, who seemed to be in authority, Rod explained in a measure who they were and how they came to be loose on the battle lines at such a time as this.
Then he made his request, and with such simplicity, accompanied by a winning smile, that the dapper Frenchman could not have refused his modest request even had his heart not warmed toward these young friends of France from across the sea.
"We must get over the river, because it is necessary that we find Andre D"Aubrey if he is yet alive," Rod had gone on to say ingenuously; "and since it would be unpleasant for us to continue our ride if we were soaked to the waist, perhaps M"sieu le Sergeant would permit us to climb up with him on the caisson, and accompany him over the ford?"
"Indeed, it would be a pleasure to have you along with me," hastily replied the non-commissioned officer of the battery, "and as the harness is now repaired, make yourselves at home here, if you can find a lodgment where your feet will be out of the reach of the water."
Gladly then did the trio of lads accept of his friendly offer. Trust them for finding a perch where they would be beyond the reach of the river, unless the soldier astride one of the horses managed to lose the shallow line of the ford and stray into the depths.
Luckily this did not happen. The water did come close to their feet so that Hanky Panky was impelled to draw himself up into something of a knot in the fear of getting wet; but the worst was over, so that presently the gun caisson emerged from the Marne, and the boys were able to jump down.
Rod looked about him. It was indeed a stirring picture taken in all, for everywhere the French had occupied the ground so tenaciously defended by the German rearguard.
Hundreds of soldiers were moving this way and that, with the officers gathering as if for a council of war.
Other batteries could be seen coming on the gallop toward the captured ford, as though the birdmen aloft may have sent the signal along to tell them that now the coast was clear they could make the pa.s.sage in safety.
Some of these were heavier guns than any the boys had as yet seen, showing that the French were hurrying all their available resources forward in order to strike the enemy hard while yet in retreat.
"Now what, Rod?" asked Josh.
"We"ll look around a bit so as to get our bearings," he was told. "It"s true we came here on a mission, but perhaps it might be wise not to bother the commander-in-chief in too big a hurry. He"s certainly got his hands full as it is, and can"t be worried with our private affairs."
"I guess that"s about so, Rod," agreed Hanky Panky. "To us Andre"s business may seem mighty important, but why should a general waste a precious minute of his time with any one"s affairs, when he"s got to map out his movements, with a beaten but still fighting foe ahead?"
"Look there, fellows!" exclaimed Josh just then; "unless I miss my guess that must be the hero of the battle they"re fetching in right now."
"See how the men take their caps off, will you?" said Hanky Panky reverently; "I"d feel like doing the same myself if he came near me, because it was his work that really made the pa.s.sage of the ford possible. They all know it too, and just now they fairly worship that lucky chap."
"Oh! I hope it doesn"t mean he"s dead!" exclaimed Josh with a tinge of deep regret in his voice; "that"d be too everlasting bad, you know, after he"d won his promotion, and the cross these Frenchmen prize so much."
"No, he is still alive, because I saw him wave his hand feebly just then when he pa.s.sed that group of cheering soldiers," said Rod quickly.
"Bully for that!" exploded Josh exultantly; "somehow or other I just seem to be taking a personal interest in that brave chap, as if he might be a friend of mine, though of course I wouldn"t know him from Adam. But a thousand pair of eyes saw what he did, and the army of France knows how to honor such a hero. We must find out his name before we leave here, Rod, that"s sure."
"I"ll not forget to ask it!" declared the other positively, "because we"ll want to write it down in our log. Whatever his name turns out to be it"s bound to go down to posterity as belonging to one of the heroes of the Battle of the Marne."
"There," continued Hanky Panky, "see, the general is going over himself to see the wounded man now. Why, even he takes off his military cap. It must be a proud time for the man who threw that bomb and wrecked the German battery. He not only won the ford for his side, but like as not saved the lives of scores of his comrades."
Rod was considering his plan of campaign.
"You can see that some of the officers are gathering under that shed yonder," he went on to explain. "I reckon they mean to hold their council of war there, because it looks like the best shelter around. I wouldn"t be surprised if the German forces had the same places for headquarters before their retreat, because I can see a table there and some camp chairs."
"Yes, and then, too, it seems to be out of range of the batteries that were on the other side of the river; sort of protected as it were," Josh observed, for he was quick to notice such things.