His cry was echoed by Weber, but its tone was very different. The Alsatian's voice showed despair.
"I had forgotten," he exclaimed. "The river is too deep for fording, and the French have blown up the bridge! We're trapped!"
A deep flush came into the face of Carstairs. As in the case of John a touch of his first madness was returning. The three comrades were now wild together.
"Can you swim?" he shouted back to John.
"Yes!"
"And you?" to Wharton.
"Yes!"
"And you, too?" to Weber.
"Yes, fairly well; but what do you mean?"
"You wait two or three minutes and you'll see something. But when it's time to swim all of you be ready for it!"