THE GIANT GUN
When John came back to the world he was conscious of a painful throbbing
in his head, and that he was lying in a very awkward position. He seemed
to be doubled up with his feet nearly as high as his head. Around him
were narrow, earthy walls, but above him was a sky full of stars.
"Well, if I'm dead," he muttered, "they certainly didn't take the
trouble to bury me very well. I didn't know it was the fashion in this
country to leave tombs open."
But he felt too weak and languid to "unbury" himself, and lay for a
little while in this awkward position. He saw the same circle of
peaceful sky, but he heard nothing. The Uhlans, whose rush he faintly
remembered, evidently had passed on. He rubbed his head where the
throbbing was most acute and felt a big lump there.
But his skull was not fractured. He felt of it gingerly, and it seemed
to be as solid as ever.
He lay a little while longer and made an effort. Slowly and painfully he
straightened himself out and stood up. His head rose considerably above
the edge of the hole, in which he had lain, and he saw a country free
from troops, where he stood. But he heard beyond him in the direction of
Paris the flashing and roaring which had been going on for days. The
German army had marched over him, and for some mysterious reason had
left him there.
John looked at the hole in which he stood. It was not more than three or
four feet across and at the bottom lay his automatic, which he was glad
to find as he had plenty of cartridges left in his belt. But how had
such a queer place happened to be there? And how had he come to be in
it?
He rubbed his hand several times across his face. The throbbing in his
head was becoming less acute. Evidently he had been there a long time,
as he saw a faint touch of daylight in the east. He drew himself out of
the hole, saw some pieces of metal lying near and then knew the truth.
One of the giant shells striking there had made the cavity and luckily
for him he had fallen into it. The German cavalry riding by in the night
had passed him, unseeing.
"I never expected one of those big shells to be so kind to me," murmured
John.
He drew himself out of the hole, and flexed and tensed his muscles until
his physical vigor returned. The throbbing in his head continued to
decrease, and he felt confident and cheerful. He began to believe that a
special Providence was watching over him. If a giant shell, intended to
destroy his comrades and himself, merely made a safe hiding place for
him while the triumphant legions stalked past then he was indeed a
favorite child of fortune.
It was early dawn and the air was very crisp and fresh. He drew deep
breaths of it, and continually grew stronger. Far to the southwest he
saw a long, white line of smoke, and beneath it the rapid flash of many
great guns. The horizon thundered. It was the pursuing German army, and
John sighed. "Still on the road to Paris," he murmured.
He wondered what had become of his comrades in that wild charge of the
Uhlans in the night, but his was a most hopeful nature, and since they
had escaped he must have done so too. Moreover, fortune as he had
observed was watching over them as well as himself. Safe therefore in
supposition they slipped from his mind.
He stood for a little space watching the line of battle, as it rolled
off toward the southwest and then he looked at the ground about him, the
lovely country torn to pieces by the armies. He had resented sometimes
that attitude of superiority assumed by Europeans, but, here was Europe
gone mad. Americans were sane and sensible. No military monarchs or
military autocracies could drag them into wholesale war.
It was the spectacle spread before him that caused John to condemn
Europe for the moment. The armies had passed on, but all about him lay
the dead. Most of them had been torn horribly by shells and shrapnel,
while some had met a quick death from the bullets.
He saw the gray of the Germans and the khaki of the English often close
together. Two or three shattered cannon also lay in the fields, and
abandoned guns were numerous. Here and there were overturned wagons and
in one of them he found food.
After eating he sat down and considered. His momentary feeling of
revulsion had passed. He was heart and soul for the Franco-British
cause, and he meant to rejoin the army. If he could not find his own
company of the Strangers he would go with the British again. But the
direction in which he must go was obvious. To Paris. Everything was
going toward Paris now, because the German army was driving that way. He
resolved upon a great curve to the right which would take him around the
invading force, and then flight with the others to the capital.
He knew that he must act quickly, his decision once taken. German
reserves or bands of cavalry might come up at any moment. He found a
rifle beside one of the fallen soldiers, and cartridges in his belt. He
did not hesitate to appropriate them and he walked swiftly toward a
little wood on his right, where he drank at a brook and bathed his face
and wound.
He was never cooler, and his mind was never more acute. He calculated
that at the present rate of decrease his headache would all be gone by
night, and by that time also he would pass the right flank of the German
army. A man walking could not go so very fast, but at least he could go
as fast as an army, impeded by another army still intact.
Choosing his course he followed it without swerving for a long time,
keeping as well as he could in the shadow of woods and hedges. The day
was as beautiful as any that he had seen, flecks of white on a
background of blue and a pleasant coolness. The inhabitants of the
villages had fled, but several times he saw small bands of Uhlans. Then
he would drop down in the trampled grass, and wait until they passed out
of sight.
But he feared most the watchers of the sky. He saw monoplanes, biplanes,
Taubes, and every kind of flying machine soaring over the German army.
Once he heard the rattle of a Zeppelin, and he saw the monstrous thing,
a true dragon flying very close to the ground. Then he crept farther
under the hedge and lay flat, until it was miles away in the southwest.
In the afternoon he found a cottage in the forest, still occupied by a
sturdy couple who believed that France was not yet lost. They gave him
food, made up more for him, putting it in a knapsack which he could
carry on his back, and refused to take any pay.
"You are young, you are American, and you have come so far to fight for
France," the man said. "It would be a crime for us to take your money."
They also dressed his bruise which the peasant said would disappear
entirely in a day or two, and then as John was telling them adieu the
woman suddenly kissed him on the forehead.
"Farewell, young stranger who fights for France. The prayers of an old
woman are worth as much in the sight of God as the prayers of an
emperor, and mine may protect you."
Late in the afternoon John saw the battle thicken. The earth quivered
under his feet with the roll of the cannon, and the German line moved
forward much more slowly. It allowed him to gain in his own great,
private flanking movement. At twilight he rested a while and ate supper.
Then he pushed forward all through the night, and in the morning he saw
flying just above the trees an aeroplane which he recognized as the
Arrow.
Shouting tremendously he attracted at last the attention of Lannes who
dropped slowly to the ground. The young Frenchman was overjoyed, and, in
his intense enthusiasm wanted to embrace him. But John laughingly would
not allow it. Instead they shook hands violently again and again.
But after the first gladness of meeting Lannes was mournful.
"I have seen your friends Carstairs and Wharton," he said, "and they are
unhurt, but the German flood moves on. Only a miracle can save Paris. My
errand takes me there. Come, you shall have another flight with me, and
we shall see together, for perhaps the last time, that Paris, that city
of light, that crown of Europe, that fountain of civilization."
"I, an American, still hope for Paris."
"Then I do too."
John put on the coat and visor that Lannes gave him, and they took their
seats.
The _Arrow_ rose slowly, and John, with his visor and his clothing
adjusted carefully for speed and the colder air of the upper regions,
settled in his place. He felt an extraordinary sense of relief and
comfort. In the air he had a wonderful trust in Lannes, the most daring
of all the flying men of France, which perhaps meant the most daring in
the world.
He leaned back in his seat, and watched the strong arm and shoulders and
steady hand of his comrade. Again Lannes in the _Arrow_ was a master
musician playing on the keys of a piano. The _Arrow_ responded to his
slightest touch, rising swooping and darting. John, after the long and
terrible tension of so many days, released his mind from all
responsibility. He was no longer the leader, and he did not have any
doubt that Lannes would take him, where he ought to go. His feeling of
ease deepened into one of luxury.
They did not rise very high at present, and John could still catch
glimpses of the world below which was now a sort of blurred green,
houses and streams failing to show.
They sailed easily and John told much of what had befallen him and his
comrades, Carstairs the Englishman and Wharton the American.
"The British army came within a hair's breadth of destruction," he said,
"and I'm not so sure that it will escape yet."
"Oh yes it will," said Lannes, "after it once formed the junction with
our own army and they were able to retreat in a solid line the great
chance of the Germans to strike the most deadly blow of modern times
passed. And I tell you again that the French Republic of 1914 is far
different from the French Empire of 1870. We have the fire, the
enthusiasm, and the strength that the First French Republic commanded.
We are not prepared--that's why the Germans are rushing over us now--but
we will be prepared. Nor is our nature excitable and despondent, as
people have so often charged. Even though our capital be removed to
Bordeaux we'll not despair. Using your own phrase, we'll 'come again.'"
"What, has Paris been abandoned?"
"They're talking of it. But John, look toward the east!"
The _Arrow_ had dropped down low, toward a wood, until it almost lay
against the tops of the trees, blending with their leaves. Lannes
pointed with the finger of his free hand, after passing his glasses to
John.
John saw puffs of flame and white smoke, and the dim outline of masses
of men in gray, moving forward. From another line farther west came the
blaze of many cannon.
"Our men are making a stand," said Lannes. "Perhaps it's to gain time.
But whatever the reason, you and I hope it will be successful."
"And we may save our Paris," said John.
He was not conscious that he used the pronoun "our". He had become so
thoroughly identified with the cause for which he fought that it seemed
natural. The battle deepened in fury and volume. Although far away John
felt the air quivering with the roar of the great cannonade. They rose
somewhat higher and each took his turn at the glasses. John was awed by
the spectacle. As far as he could see, and he could see far, men,
perhaps a half million of them, were engaged in mortal struggle. The
whole country seemed to roar and blaze and innumerable manikins moved
over the hills and valleys.
Above the thunder of this battle rose a mighty crash that sent the air
rolling in circular waves. The _Arrow_ quivered and then Lannes dropped
it down several hundred yards, in order that they might get a better
view.
"It's one of their giant guns, a 42 centimeter," he said, "and it's
posted on that hill over to our right. I didn't think they could bring
so big a gun in the pursuit, but it seems that they have been able to do
so."
"And it's plumping shells more than a ton in weight, right into the
middle of the Franco-British army."
"It would seem so, and doubtless they're doing terrible destruction."
John was silent for a moment or two. He had felt an inspiration. It was
a terrible and dangerous impulse, but he meant to act upon it.
"Philip," he said, "have you any bombs with you?"
"A good supply, John. But why?"
"I propose that you and I fly over the mammoth gun and blow it up."
Lannes turned a little in his seat, and stared at his comrade.
"I hold that against you," he said.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't think of it first. I'm considered reckless, and it's
the sort of enterprise that ought to have occurred to me. Instead the
idea comes to you, a reserved and conservative sort of a fellow. But
John, you and I will try it. We'll either blow up that gun or die for
France. Search the heavens with the glasses, and see if any of the
German flyers are near."
"There are some dots far off toward the east, but I don't think they're
near enough to interfere with us."
"Then well try for the gun at once. We've got to sink low to be sure of
our aim, and for that reason, John, I'm going to ask you to drop the
bombs, while I steer. But don't do it, until I say ready because I mean
to go pretty close to the 'Busy Bertha.'"
"Good enough," said John, as Lannes passed him the bombs. His hand was
perfectly steady and so was that of Lannes on the steering rudder, as
they made a gentle curve toward the point, from which the mighty crash
had come. John knew that the bombs would not make a destructive
impression upon those vast tubes of steel, but he hoped to strike the
caisson or ammunition supply behind, and blow up one or two of the
shells themselves, involving everything in a common ruin. But to do so
he knew that they must fly very low, exposing themselves to the danger
of return fire from the Germans.
"I can see the gun now," said Lannes. "The gunners are all around it,
and infantry with rifles are near, but I'm going to make a swoop within
five hundred feet of it. Whenever we're directly over it drop two of the
bombs. It may be, it's most likely in fact, that neither will hit, but
I'll swoop down again and again, until we do, unless they get us first."
"I'm ready," said John, who had steeled every nerve, "and I'll do my
best."
He felt the rush of air as the _Arrow_ increased her speed, and shot
downward in a slanting curve, and he heard also a shout from below, as
the sinister shadow of the aeroplane showed black between the gunners
and the sky.
He leaned over and watched. He saw hundreds of eyes turned upward, and
he heard the crackle of many rifles, as they sent their bullets toward
the Arrow. Some whistled near, but the darting target, high in air, was
hard to hit and none touched it.
John paid no heed to the bullets, but watched the huge cannon with its
monstrous mouth upturned at a sharp angle to the sky. When he thought
they were directly over it he hurled two of the bombs at the caisson,
but they missed. They struck among the men, and several were killed, but
the gun and its equipment remained unharmed.
"Never mind," said Lannes, knowing that John felt chagrin. "You came
pretty close for a first trial. Now, ready, I'm going to swoop back
again."
The second attempt was not quite as good as the first, and a bullet
tipped John's ear, drawing blood. Off in the east the black specks were
growing larger, and they knew but little time was left to them now. The
German aeroplanes were coming.
The third swoop and with an eye and hand in perfect accord John threw
once and then twice. A terrific roar came from below. The giant cannon
had been blown from its concrete bed and lay a vast mass of shattered
steel and iron, with dead and dying men around it.
"One mighty blow for France!" exclaimed Lannes, and exultant they flew
westward, dipping low, now and then behind the trees to hide their
flight.
"Well consider it a good omen," said John.
"Are any of the Taubes pursuing now?" said Lannes.
"There's nothing in sight," replied John, after a long examination
through the glasses.
"Then, they can't find us," exclaimed Lannes, joyfully, "and now for
glorious Paris!"