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Below, a boy appeared, leading Rickerl's horse from the stables; there were lanterns moving along the drive, and dark figures passing, clustering about the two steaming horses of the messengers, where a groom stood with a pail of water and a sponge. Everywhere the hum of voices rose and died away like the rumour of swarming bees. "War!" "War is declared!" "When?" "War was declared to-day!" "When?"
Indeed, considering his peculiarly strained relations with the Uhlans of Rickerl's regiment, it behooved him to get across the Belgian frontier very promptly. Now he not only had Lorraine, he had the woman who loved him and who was ready to sacrifice herself and him too for the honour of France.
He saw Rickerl run after him, seize the bridle, stumble, recover, and hang to the stirrup; but the horse tore away and left him running on behind, one hand grasping his naked sabre, one clutching a bit of the treacherous bridle. "À mort les Uhlans!" shouted the franc-tireurs, their ferocious faces lighting up as Rickerl's horse eluded its rider and crashed away through the saplings.
Jack still clutched Rickerl's sabre, and the tall corn, brushing the blade, fell under the edge, keen as a scythe. "I can go no farther," breathed Jack, at last. "Wait a moment, Ricky." The hot air in the depths of the wheat was stifling, and they stretched their heads above the sea of golden grain, gasping like fishes in a bowl. "Perhaps I won't have to surrender you, after all," said Jack.
He saluted, and, looking straight into Rickerl's eyes, said, "Zum Befehl, Herr Hauptmann! I am at your convenience also." "When you please!" shouted Rickerl, crimson with fury. "Retire!"
"The war is none of your affair," said Rickerl, flushing. "You brought it on yourself this hanging business. Good heavens! the whole thing makes me sick! I can't believe that two weeks ago we were all there together at Morteyn " "A pretty return you're making for Morteyn hospitality!" blurted out Jack. Then, shocked at what he had said, he begged Rickerl's pardon and bitterly took himself to task.
For this war is nearly ended, Jack, nearly ended a battle or two, a siege or two, nothing more. What can stand against us? Not this bewildered France." Jack was silent. Rickerl's blue eyes sought his; he rested his square chin on one hand and spoke again: "Jack, do you know that that I love your sister?" "Her last letter said as much," replied Jack, coldly. Rickerl watched his face.
He seemed to see him yet, blond, dusty, the sweat in beads on his blanched cheeks, the crimson furrow in his colourless scalp. He had seen, too, the padded yellow shoulder-knots bearing the regimental number "11," and he knew that he had shot a trooper of the 11th Uhlans, and that the 11th Uhlan Regiment was Rickerl's regiment. He set his teeth and stared fearfully over his shoulder.
"And you called off your bloody pack of hangmen for me," said Jack; "I'm devilish grateful, Ricky indeed I am and you know I'd be glad to have you in the family if if it wasn't for this cursed war. Never mind, Dorothy generally has what she wants, even if it's " "Even if it's an Uhlan?" suggested Rickerl, gravely. Jack smiled and laid his hand on Rickerl's arm.
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