A light smile passed swiftly over Cotton's face.
"You're a little late, Lieutenant Scott," he said.
"I know it, sir, but I've brought Lieutenant Carstairs and Lieutenant Wharton with me. There have been obstacles which prevented our speedy return. We've done our best."
"I can well believe it. You left on horseback, and you return by air. But I'm most heartily glad to see all three of you again. I feared that you were dead."
"Thank you, sir," said John. "But we don't mean to die."
"Nevertheless," said Captain Colton, gravely, "death has been all about us for days and nights. Many of the Strangers are gone. You will find the living lying in the little valley just beyond us, and you can resume your duties."
Lannes, after a word or two, left them, and Caumartin took the Omnibus to another part of the field. Lannes' importance was continually growing in John's eyes, nor was it the effect of imagination. He saw that under the new conditions of warfare the ability of the young Frenchman to carry messages between generals separated widely could not be overrated. He might depart that very night on another flight.
"May I ask, sir," he said to Captain Colton, "to what command or division the Strangers are now attached?"
"To that of General Vaugirard, a very able man."
"I'm glad to hear it, sir. I know him. I was with him before I was taken by the Germans."