John also saw beyond them a battery of eight field guns, idle now and with their gunners asleep beside them.

He had no doubt that other troops in thousands were not far away and that, in truth, they were in the very thick of the German army.
The chateau and its grounds were enclosed by a high iron fence and the little procession of carts stopped at the great central gate.

A group of officers who had been sitting on the grass, reading a newspaper, came forward to meet them and John, to his amazement and delight, recognized the young prince, von Arnheim.

It was impossible for him to regard von Arnheim as other than a friend, and springing impulsively from the cart he said: "I had to leave you for a while.

It had become irksome to be a prisoner, but you see I've come back." Von Arnheim stared, then recognition came.
"Ah, it's Scott, the American! I speak truth when I say that I'm sorry to see you here." "I'm sorry to come," said John, "but I'd rather be your prisoner than anybody else's, and I wish to ask your courtesy and kindness for the young lady, sitting in the rear of the cart, Mademoiselle Julie Lannes, the sister of that great French aviator of whom everybody has heard." "I'll do what I can, but you're mistaken in assuming that I'm in command here.