I replied with a nod.
"We're lost," they said, "cut off from our brigade."
"That's nothing. How many of you are there? Enough to fight? The
Germans are coming on hard and fast."
"We're only two and our horses are done for. We were driven out of
Coulommiers this morning."
My driver threw up his hands and sobbed.
"Our friend John's horse went lame and we left him at the bottom of the hill while we came up to reconnoiter. We can't leave him down there all alone."
"He's gone—gone—I swear it. Followed the French chasseurs on my bicycle, leading his mount!"
"Thank God!"
"Now then, how far the Germans will come is a question. They'll probably go in and occupy the town, and there's just one thing for us to do—bolt."
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz—the lead fairly splashed around us!