“The whole French army had been held for just such an opening. It was sent forward with impetuous speed to strike like an avalanche. The lieutenant said that already the blow had started to fall, and that there could be no doubt about the Germans being in retreat, heading north again to positions they must have arranged for along the Aisne River.”
“Hurrah! that makes me sing for joy!” cried Josh, exultantly; “then Paris isn’t going to fall like a ripe plum into the hands of the invincible German army. They counted without their host that time, I guess.”
“Much of the praise for what has happened goes to Joffre because he kept his army intact and refused to risk a general engagement until he believed the time was ripe. When Von Kluck exposed his flank, and that new army came out of Paris to threaten it, Joffre knew the fatal hour was at hand. Then he struck home, and already they are pushing the Germans back along the Marne with frightful slaughter.”
Josh was so pleased with hearing this wonderful news that he went around and insisted on shaking hands with each of his chums.
“Why, I’m nearly as tickled over it as if it was Washington that had been spared from the hand of the despoiler,” he went on to say, hilariously; “those Germans are learning something, it seems to me. They believed their army couldn’t be beaten, but by now their commanders know there are others just as brave as Germans–French, British, Belgians, Russians, yes, and Americans too among the lot. I’ll sure be able to sleep better after hearing that glorious news, Rod.”
Somehow they seemed to feel that their machines would not be disturbed again during the balance of that particular night, so fraught with big events for the people of imperiled France. All of them managed to get to sleep again without much trouble, and really knew nothing more until the sun shining in Rod’s face awoke him.
They were soon dressed, and on entering the other part of the farmhouse found that breakfast was already under way. Rod had to explain a lot of things to the old Frenchman, who it seemed had not been awakened by what had occurred in the night, but had heard something of the event from his daughter.
It was worth while to see how both of them smiled when they heard about the sudden change of plans of the German general, and that even then, when the big guns were once more commencing to speak in the distance, it marked the retreat of the rash invaders who had expected to take Paris as easily as they had battered down the defences of Liege and Namur in Belgium, with their wonderful forty-two centimetre cannon.
The incident of the night, while at the time it had been quite thrilling, was already relegated to the past. Rod and his chums had really been through so much that was exciting during the time they owned those motorcycles, that events of this type were only so many reminiscences, once they had passed.
They had a bountiful breakfast, and then prepared to mount for another ride over the good roads lying north of the French capital.