The Red Cross Barge

en so wide to be French shells, and if that were so, there might soon be sharp fighting in the very streets of Valoise. Anxiously he began asking himself which would

an's words of warning. It might well be true that Jeanne Rouannès would be safer in her Red Cross uniform-safer, that is, from the discourtesy of rough, stern words. Not for a moment did Max Keller fear or admit, even in his innermost heart, that his fellow-countrymen could behave ill to the women of conquered France. To his mind such

type of German is prepared to pay to any pretty woman with whom a lucky chance brings him in contact. Governed by that secret, reluctant knowledge, the Herr Doktor at last traced out a certain line of conduct for himself-one, too, which he believed it would be quite easy to carry out. That course was to take Mademoiselle Rouannès back

ur house leads?'

strange to Max Keller, for he was a brave man, he realised that it was the curious, sinister clamour caused by the undisciplined tra

uannès moved closer to him, so close that he heard the hoarse, despairi

ad, that of a trapped creature, in her pale face. But every wind

tery again?' She spoke in En

ips trembled, and her hands were pressed together. He divined the mingled fear

me are you

could lift her beautiful soul up into the ether where his own had dwelt ever since he had first seen h

town of Valoise, and once more he repeated reassuringly, 'With me are you quite safe.' And indeed he believed what he said. He had no fear but that his fellow-cou

d come over the Herr Doktor's mind a disagreeable recollection of the old priest's hurried, broken a

advantage. And then, while this unspoken fear was still passing through his brain, there suddenly s

r's disciplined eyes, presenting a sorry, and indeed, a shocking appearance. Some lacked th

German troops appeared after the hard-fought battle of Charleroi. And yet? And yet there had been a vas

wo figures standing in the sunlit square, their line wavered, and some of

of a non-commissioned officer, one, too, who

to it? My men are badly in need of food and rest, and every inn in the lower part of the town has already b

w voice. He felt bewildered-bewildered and strangely oppressed. '

As for wine'-he shrugged his shoulders. 'Just now the Mayor was required to produce twenty thousand bottles of wine. Do you know, Herr Doktor, how many he offers to provide?' He waited, and as the Herr Doktor remained silent, he suddenly

t plenty of good wine

rleroi, and the men who stood staring stupidly before him. The victors of Char

comrades who passed that way three weeks ago seem to have been locusts-what they couldn't drink they took

d, and angry. His face cleared somewhat as he came up to his two fellow-countrymen, and softened as his eye rested on the black-draped, fair-ha

ur fellows stayed here a week and ate and drank up everything-the locusts? Not content with drinking up all the wine, it's clear that they also took all the young women away with th

f the Red Cross. It is in that capacity that she is now un

e grace to look

back to her hospital, and, unless it is absolutely necessary, do not go down into the lower part of the town. When I said just now that there was no wine left in Valoise, it wa

Paris for this Sister of Compassion. Her father was my colleague, a doctor, that is, of the Red Cross, and on his bed of death I promised him to try and procure a s

is from any of us just now,' he said slowly. 'No doubt the time will come when you will be able to do so. But we do not

one wor

ow less than nothing about it-only the bare fact. Ask Von Kluck the reason the next time you meet him! For the last three days we have been fighting-fighting and, well, yes, retreating, by ni

eated the Herr Dokt

ing but astounding victories-such victories as have blessed us hitherto-in war. The British, at any rate are done-rolled up, put out of action altogether. It is a new French army which circled

ch just behind you

wn yet awhile. We have found excellent gun positions up there'-he pointe

are our m

h army-at least that was the general disposition when I was last in touch with the Staff.

rise! Once it is disposed of, we shall renew our advance on Paris.' He hesitated for a moment, and then the pleasure of finding a listener conquered prudence. 'The Crown Prince did not come up to time. H

never seen the Crown Prince, but from various things he had