John saw far below a vast scene of wreckage, amid which lay many dead or
wounded men. Motors were blown to pieces and cannon dismounted.
"Score heavily for us," said Lannes. "I scarcely hoped for such a goodly
blow as this while we were on our way!"
John would not look down again. Despite the value of the deed, he
shuddered and he was glad when the _Arrow_ in its swift flight had left
the area of devastation far behind.
"We're flying over the French now," he said. "So I expected," said
Lannes. "Can you see a hill crested with a low farm house?"
"Yes," replied John, after looking a little while. "It's straight ahead.
The house is partly hidden by trees."
"Then that's the place. You wouldn't think we'd come nearly fifty miles,
would you, John?"
"Fifty miles! It feels more like a thousand!"
Lannes laughed, this time with satisfaction, not excitement.
"You'll find there the general to whom we reported first," he said, "and
he'll be glad to see us! I can't tell you how glad he will be. His joy
will be far beyond our personal deserts. It will have little to do with
the fact that you, John Scott, and I, Philip Lannes, have come back to
him."
The circling _Arrow_ came down in a meadow just behind the house, and
officers rushed forward to meet it. Lannes and John, stepping out, left
it in charge of two of the younger men. Then, proudly waving the others
aside, they walked to the low stone farmhouse, in front of which the
elderly, spectacled general was standing.
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