The Hosts of the Air | Page 4

don't know what he wants."
"Don't get yourself captured again. Twice is enough."
"I won't. There isn't much taking of prisoners while both sides keep to
their holes."
Fleury disappeared in one of the earthy aisles, and John went on,
turning a little later into an aisle also, and arriving at Captain Cotton's
post.
Daniel Colton had for his own use a wooden bench three feet long, set
in an alcove dug in the clay. Some boards and the arch of the earth
formed an uncertain shelter. An extra uniform hung against the wall of
earth, and he also had a tiny looking-glass and shaving materials. He

was as thin and dry as ever, addicted to the use of words of one syllable,
and sparing even with them.
John saluted. He had a great respect and liking for his captain.
"Sit down," said Captain Colton, making room on the bench.
John sat.
"Know well a man named Weber?"
"Yes," replied John in surprise. He had not thought of the Alsatian in
days, and yet they had been together in some memorable moments.
"Thought you'd say so. Been here an hour. Asks for you. Must see you,
he says."
"I'll be glad to meet him again, sir. I've a regard for him. We've shared
some great dangers. You've heard that he was in the armored
automobile with Carstairs, Wharton and myself that time we ran it into
the river?"
Captain Colton nodded.
"Then we were captured and both escaped during the fighting along the
Marne. Lannes took me away in his aeroplane, but we missed Weber. I
thought, though, that he'd get back to us, and I'm glad, very glad that
he's here."
"See him now," said Colton, "and find out what he wants."
He blew a whistle, and an orderly appeared, saluting.
"Bring Weber," said the captain.
The orderly returned with Weber, the two coming from one of the
narrow aisles, and John rose impulsively to meet the Alsatian. But
before offering his hand Weber saluted the captain.

"Go ahead. Tell all," said Colton briefly.
Weber first shook John's hand warmly. Evidently he had not been
living the life of the trenches, as he looked fresh, and his cheeks were
full of color. His gray uniform, with the blue threads through it, was
neat and clean, and his black pointed beard was trimmed like that of a
painter with money.
"We're old comrades in war, Mr. Scott," he said, "and I'm glad, very
glad to find you again. You and Lannes left me rather abruptly that
time near the Marne, but it was the only thing you could do. If by an
effort of the mind I could have sent a wireless message to you I'd have
urged you to instant flight. I hid in the bushes, in time reached one of
our armies, and since then I've been a bearer of dispatches along the
front. I heard some time back that you were still alive, but my duty
hitherto has kept me from seeing you. Now, it sends me to you."
His tone, at first eager and joyous, as was fitting in an old friend
meeting an old friend, now became very grave, and John looked at him
with some apprehension. Captain Colton motioned to a small stool.
"Sit down," he said to Weber. Then he offered the Alsatian a match and
a cigarette which were accepted gratefully. He made the same offer to
John, who shook his head saying that he did not smoke. The captain
took two or three deliberate puffs, and contemplated Weber who had
made himself comfortable on the stool.
"Military duty?" he asked. "If so, Scott's concern is my concern too."
"That is quite true, Captain Colton," said Weber, respectfully. "As Mr.
Scott is under your command you have a right to know what message I
bring."
"Knew you'd see it," said Colton, taking another puff at his cigarette.
"There! Germans have ceased firing!"
"And our men begin!" said John.

The moment the distant German thunder ceased the French reply,
nearer at hand and more like a rolling crash, began. It would continue
about an hour, that is until nightfall, unless the heavy clouds and falling
snow brought darkness much earlier than usual. The flakes were
coming faster, but the three were protected from them by the rude
board shelter. John again glanced anxiously at Weber. He felt that his
news was of serious import.
"I saw your friend Lieutenant Philip Lannes about three weeks ago at a
village called Catreaux, lying sixty miles west of us," said Weber. "He
had just made a long flight from the west, where he had observed much
of the heavy fighting around Ypres, and also had been present when the
Germans made their great effort to break through to Dunkirk