“It’s all done, Miss, and as good as any one might manage it. I reckon you’ll get along with that tire for some time now.”
“I wish I knew how to repay you two noble boys for doing what you have,” the grateful Red Cross nurse said, with earnestness.
“I think you have more than repaid us as it is,” declared Jack, “in giving us the news you did about my chum’s brother.”
Amos looked a little confused, as though he hardly knew how what he meant to say might be taken; still he was very set in his ways, and once he had allowed a thing to get a grip on his mind he could not be easily discouraged.
“Perhaps I’m bold to mention such a thing, Miss,” he started to say, “but after we went to all the trouble to plaster him up, somehow we seem to take a personal interest in that German.”
“I don’t seem to follow you,” she said, as she climbed upon the seat of the ambulance again, alongside the Belgian boy chauffeur who was ready to once more guide the car of mercy along its way to the field hospital, where its ghastly cargo could be taken aboard.
“From the cupola of a chateau that had been pillaged by the German army,” explained Jack, “we saw a detachment of Uhlans, that had become caught back of the British lines, being hotly pursued by some cavalrymen. Two were shot, and fell alongside the road. Afterwards we came on one of them who was badly wounded.”
“You stopped and assisted him, I am sure,” she said, quickly. “It would be just like such gallant boys. Besides, this is no affair of yours, and I can see how German interests appeal partly to you, even though you may be at heart on the side of the Allies. What do you want me to do? Tell me quickly, please.”
Jack described how they had left the poor wounded Uhlan near the mansion she was sure to notice on the way to the field hospital for a load of the wounded.
“On the way back,” said Amos, “if by any means you can crowd just one more in your ambulance, will you take him along? I ask this favor partly because he is our patient, and our professional interest has been aroused.”