"Where are we?" asked Ruth.
"Let us see," returned Major Marchand cheerfully. "I think we shall find somebody up this way."
They walked up the gully some hundreds of yards until they finally came out upon a narrow plain at the top. On this mesa was a ruined dwelling of two stories and some shattered farm buildings.
"Halt!" was the sudden command.
A man in khaki appeared from a clump of trees near the house, advancing his rifle.
"Friends," said the major quietly.
"Advance one friend with the countersign."
Major Marchand stepped ahead of Ruth and whispered something to the sentinel.
"Guess it's all right, Boss," said the sentinel, who evidently had no French. "But you can't proceed in this direction."
"Why not, mon ami?"