. It's very good of you ... I'm in a tearing hurry----"

"Won't your pilot come over and eat a bit?"

"I'll take him this bread and meat, if I may. Many thanks." He held out
his heavily gloved hand with a friendly smile, nodded to Marie-Josephine.
And as he hurriedly turned to go, the ancient carving on the high-backed
chair caught him between the buttons of his leather coat, tearing it wide
open over the breast. And Wayland saw the ribbon of the Iron Cross there
fastened to a sea-grey tunic.

There was a second's frightful silence.

"What's that you wear?" said Wayland hoarsely. "Stop! Stand where you----"

"Halt! Don't touch that shotgun!" cried the airman sharply. But Wayland
already had it in his hands, and the airman fired twice at him where he
stood--steadied the automatic to shoot again, but held his fire, seeing it
would not be necessary. Besides, he did not care to shoot the old woman
unless military precaution made it advisable; and she was on her knees,
her withered arms upflung, shielding the prostrate body with her own.

"You Yankee fool," he snapped out harshly--"it is your own fault, not
mine!... Like the rest of your imbecile nation you poke your nose where it
has no business! And I--" He ceased speaking, realizing that his words
remained unheard.

After a moment he backed toward the door, carrying the canvas roll under
his left arm and keeping his eye carefully on the prostrate man. Also, one
can never trust the French!--he was quite ready for that old woman there
on the floor who was holding the dead boy's head to her breast, muttering:
"My darling! My child!--Oh, little son of Marie-Josephine!--I told thee--I
warned thee of the stranger in Finistere!... Marie--holy--intercede!...
All--all are born to grief in Finistere!..."

CHAPTER VIII

EN OBSERVATION

The incredible rumour that German airmen were in Brittany first came from
Plouharnel in Morbihan; then from Bannalec, where an old Icelander had
notified the Brigadier of the local Gendarmerie. But the Icelander was
very drunk. A thimble of cognac did it.

Again came an unconfirmed report that a shepherd lad while alternately
playing on his Biniou and fishing for eels at the confluence of the Elle
and Isole, had seen a werewolf in Lais Woods. The Loup Garou walked on two
legs and had assumed the shape of a man with no features except two
enormous eyes.

The following week a coast guard near Flouranges telephoned to the Aulnes
L