s of rays shot off by the sunken sun, or, again, it might
be his imagination, always vivid, but stimulated to the last degree by
the amazing scenes through which he was passing.

After a while, although the throb of the great guns still came complete
darkness enveloped the grove. It seemed now to John that the sound had
moved farther westward, but Lannes had just shown such keen emotion that
he would not say the Germans were pushing their way farther into France.
However, Lannes himself noticed it. Presently he said:

"The battle goes against us, but you may be sure of one thing, Monsieur
Jean the Scott, we were heavily outnumbered and the German artillery
must have been in caliber as four to our one."

"I've no doubt it's so," said John with abundant sympathy.

"The fire seems to be dying. Probably the night is too dark for the
combat to go on. What do you think we ought to do, John?"

"You're the airman, Phil. I'm only a raw beginner."

"But a beginner who has learned fast. I think the sound of that battle
in France has weakened my nerve for the moment, and I want your advice.
I ask for it again."

"Then suppose we stay where we are. This isn't a bad little forest, as
forests go in Europe, and in the night, at least, it's pretty dark. The
enemy is all around us, and in the air over our heads. Suppose we sleep
here beside the Arrow."

"That's a good sound Yankee head of yours, John. Just as you think, it
would be dangerous for us to run either on land or in the air, and so
we'll stay here and take the chances. I secured two blankets at the
village, and each will have one. You go to sleep, John, and I'll take
the first watch."

"No, I'll take the first. You need rest more than I do. You've been
sailing the Arrow, and, besides, your nerves have been tried harder by
the echo of that battle. Just for a little while I mean to boss. 'Boss,'
I'll explain to you, means in our American idiom a commander, a
Napoleon. Now, stop talking, wrap yourself in your blanket and go to
sleep."

"I obey. But keep your automatic handy."

He fell asleep almost instantly, and John, lying near with his own
blanket about him, kept watch over him and the Arrow. He did not feel
sleepy at all. His nerves had been keyed to too high a pitch for rest to
come yet. His situation and the scenes through which he had passed were
so extraordinary that certain faculties seemed to have become blunted.
Although surrounded by many dangers all sensa