Another point of importance soon made itself manifest; they not only had ceased to head in the direction of Paris, but seemed gradually swinging around, and following an oblique course back toward the battle line.
Still Thad had figured all that out before, and for one he was not in the least surprised. It might mean they would see still more of the furious fighting along the Marne before they quit this region for good.
There were a few vehicles on the road, they soon discovered. These must be going to another part of the front, taking supplies. Some master mind back there in Paris, with accurate road maps to consult, was directing all these movements of laden vans and wagons. Every want of the army in the way of ammunition, food and other supplies had to be figured on with mathematical precision. Thad was utterly stunned whenever he tried to imagine how all this could be done; and yet as a scout he already knew the great value of system.
Louder grew the deep muttering away off there on their left, and ahead as well, for more than one section of Joffre’s army of the defence was in action on this morning, the third of the terrible battles. Bumpus had fallen strangely silent. He simply sat there, gripping the side of his seat, and listening, with his heart beating very fast, as the dreadful tattoo rose and fell like the waves of the sea. Much as he might want to find himself face to face with the commanding general of the French armies, of whom he had heard so much, Bumpus dreaded seeing those painful sights again. He was of the opinion, and rightly too, that this disputed ground between the lines was no proper place for himself and chums, who would show considerably more wisdom if they made direct for Paris, and even beyond.
“My stars! but it’s getting pretty noisy around here again, let me tell you,” Giraffe called out, having to elevate his voice considerably in order to make himself heard.
“We’ve covered a good many miles since leaving that other road, you see,” explained Thad, speaking over his shoulder, “and then, again, along here the fighting line must lie further south than where we left it. I can hear shells bursting; with the roar of the big guns they muffle the sound of the motor working, so that sometimes I almost fear it has gone back on me.”
“Not while we’re making all this speed,” Allan put in, sagaciously, as he glanced at the trees, and the low stone buildings that seemed to fairly flit past in swift succession.
“But what’s all that mean ahead there, Thad?” suddenly asked Giraffe, he of the eagle eye; “looks to me like there might be quite a squad of motors heading in our direction; and say, it also strikes me that the man with the horses is whipping ’em like fun in the bargain. Talk to me about a panic, that has all the earmarks of one! What under the sun could have happened?”
“We must try and find out,” snapped Thad. “I’ll see if one of them won’t give us information.”
“But for goodness’ sake, Thad,” said Bumpus, “don’t try to swing across, so as to block the road; because they’re coming licketty-split, and might run right over us, you know.”