matters. He could read the meaning in the heart, could see deeply into
the characters of the two who were his companions, and, seeing so
clearly, the big fellow seated on the floor merely stared back at Jules
and Henri and grinned a huge, capacious grin, which took them both in
in the semi-darkness, which almost aggravated them, and which finally
set them both laughing.

"I'll admit," he said then, almost shamefacedly--"I'll admit that I'm
big and strong and bony, and a difficulty under the circumstances.
Now, Henri can pass anywhere, I'm sure, as he's dressed and got up; and
Jules, well, Jules should make a most dainty little German girl; but
there's me--well," he went on, speaking slowly, "that's a job that can
soon be ended, and I'll tell you how. You two will get off to-night,
and board the nearest train, if you take my advice."

"And you?" demanded Henri.

"Yes, you?" asked Jules inquisitively.

"Oh, I? Well, I'll stay here for a time, and then I'll fare for
myself. Supposing we have a race to the Dutch frontier? I shouldn't
wonder if I got there as soon as you do, for I'm strong and big, and,
you see, I can walk during the night, and, well--all's fair in love and
war--there's many a hen-roost that I can rob on my journey."

Spoken flippantly enough, there was yet steady determination in the
words of Stuart. He meant everything he said, and most generously gave
up his prospects, at least of companionship, for the sake of those
companions. More than that, he probably gave up all chances of making
good his escape from Germany, for the task of marching to the Dutch
frontier was no light one. Henri looked at him swiftly, and then
across at Jules, who coughed uncomfortably enough, half-opened his
mouth as if to speak, and then remained silent. At last Henri managed
to address Stuart.

"You're rotting!" he said sharply.

"On the contrary, never more serious in all my life."

"Then you're----"

"Say it," said Stuart sweetly. "A fool, you were going to say, I
think."

"No. Shake hands," Henri demanded, stretching out one of his own.
"It's good to have a chum such as you are, Stuart, good to know that
amongst France's allies there is such a fellow. From all accounts the
British have stuck well by the French, as the French have stuck by the
British. We haven't had much news through, but from what one's heard
it appears that the British, retreating from Mons on the left of the
French armies, did Fran