An orderly came with pencil and telegraph blank. Guild wrote:
We are happy to learn that you are to recover. Gratitude, respect, salute from me; from her, gratitude and love. It will always be the hand. May the auspicious day come quickly.
Gueldres, Capt. Reserve.
The orderly took the blank; Guild returned the salute of the Cuirassier and followed the soldier who was carrying their luggage.
An automobile stood there, garnished with two white lanterns and a pair of white flags.
A moment later they were speeding through the darkness out across a vast dim plain.
An officer sat in the front seat beside a military chauffeur; behind them, on a rumble, was seated a cavalryman.
In a few minutes the first challenge came; they stopped; helmeted figures clustered around them, a few words were whispered, then on they rolled, slowly, until there came another challenge, another delay; and others followed in succession as the tall phantoms of Uhlans loomed up around them in the night.
Two of these lancers wheeled and accompanied the automobile at a canter. One of the riders was a trumpeter; and very soon the car halted and the Uhlan set his trumpet to his lips and sounded it.
Almost immediately a distant bugle answered. The cavalryman on the rumble stood up, hung one of the lanterns to a white flag, and waved it slowly to and fro. Then the mounted Uhlan tied the flag to his lance-tip, hung the lantern to it, and raised it high in the air. Already the chauffeur had piled their luggage by the roadside; the officer got out, came around, and opened the door. As Karen descended he gave her his arm, then saluted and sprang to his place. The car backed in a half circle, turned, backed again, swung clear around, and went humming away into the darkness.
From the shadowy obscurity ahead came the trample of horses.