“Von Arnheim—is he dead, too?” he asked presently. “Where did he come down?”
“On the other side of that little slope. He was killed by the fall. Bob, you did a wonderful day’s work! Think what Von Arnheim’s loss means!”
“We paid dearly enough for it,” said Bob sombrely.
On the day following the battle Captain Jourdin was buried behind Cantigny, in a part of his well-loved Picardy that the Boches had never reached. Officers, men and townspeople followed the body covered with the Tricolor; his brother aviators flew overhead along his path, and every honor that love and homage could devise was paid him.
At almost the same hour the body of Von Arnheim received honorable burial within the Allied lines. Above his grave were fired the three volleys which are the privilege of every soldier. Under Major Kitteredge’s directions Larry Eaton flew over the German lines and dropped a message announcing their ace’s death.
It was the 21st of June, one month after the capture of Château-Plessis.
CHAPTER XIV
A DESPERATE RESOLVE
When the air battle shifted south again toward Cantigny Lucy and her father were left in a state of dreadful uncertainty. Neither on that day nor the next did they learn the result of the fight, except for the vague rumors that went constantly from mouth to mouth among the friends of the Allies. These felt some hope that the Germans had met defeat, because of the complete silence their conquerors kept on the subject. German Victories were usually loudly proclaimed before them. But there was talk of heavy French and American losses, and this depressing news was all that Elizabeth could learn for Lucy.
Unable longer to bear the continual sight of the German officers and men in authority at the hospital, Lucy sought out Michelle the afternoon of the day after the battle.