lost," they said, "cut off from our brigade."

"That's nothing. How many of you are there? Enough to fight? The
Germans are coming on hard and fast."

"We're only two and our horses are done for. We were driven out of
Coulommiers this morning."

My driver threw up his hands and sobbed.

"Our friend John's horse went lame and we left him at the bottom of the
hill while we came up to reconnoiter. We can't leave him down there all
alone."

"He's gone--gone--I swear it. Followed the French chasseurs on my
bicycle, leading his mount!"

"Thank God!"

"Now then, how far the Germans will come is a question. They'll
probably go in and occupy the town, and there's just one thing for us to
do--bolt."

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz--the lead fairly splashed around us!

Leon and Emile rode back to say that the road ahead was clear.

"Les Boches," I said, pointing down the hill.

"Come on, you cowards!" yelled my boys defiantly, George brandishing the
rifle of my wounded man.

"Oh, Madame, ask the Englishmen for their revolvers. They've got their
rifles--that's five of us armed, and Monsieur's revolver makes six!
It's almost man to man. Ah, please, Madame!" they implored.

In the excitement of the moment I nearly lost my head and consented. I
was worked to such a point that any solution would have seemed a relief.
The Britishers saw me put my hand in my pocket.

"No! No!" they pleaded. "You can't--if we're caught you won't be
killed--but murdered, tortured! We're the only ones who have a right to
fire!"

"But they've been peppering my cart regardless of my sex!"

"That's perhaps their way of waging war, but not ours. Now then, off
you go--quickly."

We disappeared behind a clump of trees and tore down the clear road as
fast as our horses would carry us. George sneaked back on his wheel to
see if our aggressors were following, and came back radiant to announce
that after coming halfway up the bill, they had turned about and were
cantering to take possession of Jouy--as I had predicted.

"Where's our nearest barracks?" enquired one of the Scotsmen. (I now
saw that I had to do with the Scots a little.) We slowed down a little.

"Where is our nearest barracks?" enquired one of the Scotsmen.

"How on earth do you expect me to know? Up until I met you I hardly
realized there were any British troops on the continent!"

"Where are you bound for?"

"Melun. There's a big French garrison there in time of