He fell
one way, and the motor cycle fell another.
CHAPTER V
SEEN FROM ABOVE
John's period of unconsciousness was brief. The sweep of air from a
gigantic shell, passing close, had taken his senses for a minute or two,
but he leaped to his feet to find his motor cycle broken and puffing out
its last breath, and himself among the dead and wounded in the wake of
the army which was advancing rapidly. The turmoil was so vast, and so
much dust and burned gunpowder was floating about that he was not able
to tell where the valiant Vaugirard with the remainder of his staff
marched. In front of him a regiment, cut up terribly, was advancing at a
swift pace, and acting under the impulse of the moment he ran forward to
join them.
When he overtook the regiment he saw that it had neither colonel, nor
captains nor any other officers of high degree. A little man, scarcely
more than a youth, his head bare, his eyes snapping fire, one hand
holding aloft a red cap on the point of a sword, had taken command and
was urging the soldiers on with every fierce shout that he knew. The
men were responding. Command seemed natural to him. Here was a born
leader in battle. John knew him, and he knew that his own prophecy had
been fulfilled.
"Geronimo!" he gasped.
But young Bougainville did not see him. He was still shouting to the men
whom he now led so well. The point of the sword, doubtless taken from
the hand of some fallen officer, had pierced the red cap which was
slowly sinking down the blade, but he did not notice it.
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