Would he be compelled to follow the prince halfway across Europe.

Oh, why had he left the Hotel de l'Europe even for a moment?
With Picard's help he might have been able to hold off Auersperg and his followers, or a lucky shot might have disposed of the prince.

He felt it no crime to have wished for such a chance.

But strengthening his heart anew he took up the burden that had grown heavier.
"_Auf wiedersehen,_ Lieutenant Schmidt," he said, and whistling softly to himself he began his passage through the German lines, showing his passport more than a dozen times before he passed the last trench and rifle pit, and was alone among the hills behind the German lines.

He might have reached the railroad and have gone by train to Metz, but he preferred, for the present at least, to cling to the country, even at the risk of much physical hardship and suffering.
He still carried his blankets, and he was traveling through a region which had been much fought over in the earlier stages of the war.