The Forest of Swords | Page 6

and intently, at times
sweeping them slowly back and forth, but gazing chiefly at the point
under the horizon that had drawn his companion's attention.
John meanwhile looked down at the city glittering in the sun, but from
which its people were fleeing, as if its last day had come. It still seemed
impossible that Europe should be wrapped in so great a war and that
the German host should be at the gates of Paris.
His eyes turned back toward the point where he had seen the gleam of
the lances and he fancied now that he heard the far throb of the German
guns. The huge howitzers like the one Lannes and he had blown up
might soon be throwing shells a ton or more in weight from a range of
a dozen miles into the very heart of the French capital. An acute
depression seized him. He had strengthened the heart of Lannes, and
now his own heart needed strengthening. How was it possible to stop
the German army which had come so far and so fast that its Uhlans
could already see Paris? The unprepared French had been defeated
already, and the slow English, arriving to find France under the iron
heel, must go back and defend their own island.
"The Germans are there. I have not a doubt of it, and I thank you,
Monsieur Scott, for the use of these," said Bougainville, handing the
glasses back to him.
"Well, Geronimo," he said, "having seen, what do you say?"
"The sight is unpleasant, but it is not hopeless. They call us decadent. I
read, Monsieur Scott, more than you think! Ah, it has been the
bitterness of death for Frenchmen to hear all the world say we are a
dying race, and it has been said so often that some of us ourselves had
begun to believe it! But it is not so! I tell you it is not so, and we'll soon
prove to the Germans who come that it isn't! I have looked for a sign. I
sought for it in all the skies through your glasses, but I did not find it
there. Yet I have found it."

"Where?"
"In my heart. Every beat tells me that this Paris of ours is not for the
Germans. We will yet turn them back!"
He reminded John of Lannes in his dramatic intensity, real and not
affected, a true part of his nature. Its effect, too, upon the American was
powerful. He had given courage to Lannes, and now Bougainville, that
little Apache of the Butte Montmartre, was giving new strength to his
own weakening heart. Fresh life flowed back into his veins and he
remembered that he, too, had beheld a sign, the flash of light on the Arc
de Triomphe.
"I think we have seen enough here, Geronimo," he said lightly, "and
we'll descend. I've a friend to meet later. Which way do you go from
the church?"
"To the army. I shall be in a uniform tonight, and tomorrow maybe I
shall meet the Germans."
John held out his hand and the Apache seized it in a firm clasp.
"I believe in you, as I hope you believe in me," said young Scott. "I
belong to a company called the Strangers, made up chiefly of
Americans and English, and commanded by Captain Daniel Colton. If
you're on the battle line and hear of the Strangers there too I should like
for you to hunt me up if you can. I'd do the same for you, but I don't yet
know to what force you will belong."
Bougainville promised and they walked down to the second platform,
where Father Pelletier was still standing.
"What did you see?" he asked of John, unable to hide the eagerness in
his eyes.
"Uhlans, Father Pelletier, and I fancied that I heard the echo of a
German forty-two centimeter. Would you care to use the glasses? The
view from this floor is almost as good as it is from the lantern."

John distinctly saw the priest shudder.
"No," he replied. "I could not bear it. I shall pray today that our
enemies may be confounded; tomorrow I shall throw off the gown of a
priest and put on the coat of a soldier."
"Another sign," said John to himself, as they continued the descent.
"Even the priests will fight."
When they were once more in the narrow streets of Montmartre, John
said farewell to Bougainville.
"Geronimo," he said, "I expect to see you leading a victorious charge
directly into the heart of the German army."
"If I can meet your hopes I will, Monsieur Scott," said the young
Frenchman gayly, "and now, au revoir, I depart for my uniform and
arms, which must be of the best."
John