The leader of the Uhlans
pushed his helmet back a little from his forehead, and looked down at
John, who had been disarmed but who stood erect and defiant.
"It is odd, Mr. Scott," said Captain von Boehlen, "how often the
fortunes of this war have caused us to meet."
"It is, and sometimes fortune favors one, sometimes the other. You're
in favor now."
Von Boehlen looked steadily at his prisoner. John thought that the
strength and heaviness of the jaw were even more pronounced than when he
had first seen the Prussian in Dresden. The face was tanned deeply, and
face and figure alike seemed the embodiment of strength. One might
dislike him, but one could not despise him. John even found it in his
heart to respect him, as he returned the steady gaze of the blue eyes
with a look equally as firm.
"I hope," said John, "that you will send back Mademoiselle Lannes and
the nurses with her to her people. I take it that you're not making war
upon women."
Von Boehlen gave Julie a quick glance of curiosity and admiration. But
the eyes flashed for only a moment and then were expressionless.
"I know of one Lannes," he said, "Philip Lannes, the aviator, a name
that fame has brought to us Germans."
"I am his sister," said Julie.
"I can wish, Mademoiselle Lannes," said von Boehlen, politely in French,
"that we had captured your brother instead of his sister."
"But as I said, you will send them back to their own people? You don't
make war upon women?" repeated John.
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