"Oh, yes, Fräulein. He is a fliegender Mann—they stripped the uniform from him when he was brought in."
The bearers did not see the girl's face as they lifted the hero from the stretcher to the clean cot. She gazed with both amazement and horror at his countenance. It was masked in a fortnight's growth of beard—a reddish whisker—and the inflamed welt of a bullet marred one cheek. His rather long hair was tossed back from his brow. Just at the roots of it was a sharply defined scar—the mark of a not long-healed wound.
She was left alone beside the cot as the bearers clumped out in their heavy boots. Enthralled, Belinda continued to gaze upon the features which, disguised as they were, she could not fail to recognize.
Behind her Jacob called softly:
"Fräulein! Fräulein! the Herr Doktor Herschall approaches to inspect the ward."
CHAPTER XIX
OVER THE ENEMY'S LINES AT NIGHT
The report Captain Raphael Dexter brought Sanderson, that Belinda was missing from the hospital unit, at first benumbed the young aviator's mind. He could scarcely believe it; yet the Yankee shipmaster's insistence could not be denied.
Frank finally was assured that the captain had undoubtedly obtained correct information. The tragedy was a fact.
For tragic the happening was, Sanderson had every reason to believe. A girl left behind in the abandoned hospital station at the mercy of the Prussians! Tales of their treatment of helpless women were not unsubstantiated.