“You’d better come to Orleans where we can look after you.”

“Sorry, but I’ve gone far enough south.”

“Alors au revoir et grand merci.”

“Au revoir.”

And a second later I found myself outside in the chilly darkness.

For the first time in my life I had the sensation of being utterly alone.  No one on earth knew where I was and if I had not had faith in Dr. Masbrennier’s promise of a warm dinner, I should gladly have indulged in a little fit of despair.  And so I wandered on down the dingy, black streets of Melun, where not a lamp post nor shop window was lighted, not a human being seemed astir.  Where was my little troupe?  How and when would we all meet?

Thus ruminating I came to a bridge.  A sentry flashed a pocket lamp in my face.

“On ne passe pas!”

I showed my armlet and he stepped aside.

Halfway across I distinguished two human forms leaning over the railing, and following their example I perceived a half-dozen hommes du genie hard at work mining the foundation of the center arch.  So these bridges were to be blown up, too!  What was I to do?  Stay on the other side and wait for my caravan or cross over and risk my chances alone?  A reflector from below swung upward, illuminating the bridge.

“George!” I gasped.

One of the two figures straightened abruptly!  In a second the boys had recognized me.  “What are you doing here?  Where are the others?”

I poured out a dozen eager questions, not giving them time to reply.  When almost breathless I stopped and they explained that the caravan had been halted on the outskirts of Melun.  No refugees were allowed in after nightfall.  Fortunately the boys bethought themselves of my wounded man’s clothes and arms, and thanks to these they were allowed to pass and deliver them to the gendarmerie.  Remembering that I had friends at Barbizon they had sent the others there by a round-about route, and had come on to find me.

“But how did you get here?”

“Cesar brought us.”

“Where is he?  And Betsy?”

“Oh, we found a dentist who had an empty stable.  He took them in.  Betsy refused to leave the cart.  She’s never had such a picnic in her life:  been traveling all day in a ten pound box of lump sugar!”

All worry had vanished, now that I found my line of conduct traced for me.  The chief thing at present was to get something to eat.  So we pushed ahead up the hill in the ever-deepening obscurity.  We walked on in silence for what seemed an interminable distance.  Once I fancied I had mistaken directions and was about to despair when the tramp of feet coming toward us revived hope.  A second later a brawny arm turned a lantern into my face and a huge police dog growled close to my heels.

“Are you the person who is going to Dr. Masbrennier’s?”

“Yes.”