As everyone except Barbara was at work at the moment of the actual accident to the car, no one had seen her immediate action. However, the noise of the explosions so close to them naturally attracted the attention of the hospital staff. It was unusual, although it did happen now and then, for the German firing to be directed toward a Red Cross hospital. Perhaps it was intentional, perhaps a mistake had been made; one could only accept the fact that war is war.
Through a small telescope one of the hospital surgeons studied the position of the overturned ambulance a short time after Barbara succeeded in drawing Dick behind its shelter. Then he became aware that one of their Red Cross nurses was also beside the ambulance. He could distinctly see her uniform, even the Red Cross on her arm.
The next moment he called Dr. Milton, who happened to be passing with Nona Davis on their way to another case.
You may remember that the accident had taken place between a quarter and a half mile across the fields.
Therefore it was not difficult when Nona’s turn came to look through the telescope to recognize Barbara Meade. Dick she did not recognize, but indeed she paid scant attention to the khaki figure on the ground. Her interest was in her friend.
As soon as possible six volunteers made their way to the ambulance. Dick was carried safely back to the hospital and the two wounded men inside the ambulance whom he had been trying to save. Barbara walked beside them.
A little later, when the firing in the neighborhood had entirely ceased, the ambulance itself was righted and dragged back to the hospital for repairs. Fortunately, the car itself had been little injured.
CHAPTER XXI
An Unexpected Situation
Dick Thornton for a short time was desperately ill.