Halfway across I distinguished two human forms leaning over the railing, and following their example I perceived a half-dozen _hommes du genie_ hard at work mining the foundation of the center arch. So these bridges were to be blown up, too! What was I to do? Stay on the other side and wait for my caravan or cross over and risk my chances alone? A reflector from below swung upward, illuminating the bridge. "George!" I gasped. One of the two figures straightened abruptly! In a second the boys had recognized me. "What are you doing here? Where are the others?" I poured out a dozen eager questions, not giving them time to reply. When almost breathless I stopped and they explained that the caravan had been halted on the outskirts of Melun. No refugees were allowed in after nightfall. Fortunately the boys bethought themselves of my wounded man's clothes and arms, and thanks to these they were allowed to pass and deliver them to the gendarmerie. Remembering that I had friends at Barbizon they had sent the others there by a round-about route, and had come on to find me. "But how did you get here?" "Cesar brought us." "Where is he? And Betsy?" "Oh, we found a dentist who had an empty stable. He took them in. Betsy refused to leave the cart. She's never had such a picnic in her life: been traveling all day in a ten pound box of lump sugar!" All worry had vanished, now that I found my line of conduct traced for me. The chief thing at present was to get something to eat. So we pushed ahead up the hill in the ever-deepening obscurity. We walked on in silence for what seemed an interminable distance. Once I fancied I had mistaken directions and was about to despair when the tramp of feet coming toward us revived hope. A second later a brawny arm turned a lantern into my face and a huge police dog growled close to my heels. "Are you the person who is going to Dr. Masbrennier's?" "Yes." "_Tres bien_. Are these boys with you?" "Yes." "Then follow me. We're closing up the doctor's house, but I'll look after you." Without further ado we trudged on behind our guide, who after another hundred yards, turned into a gateway and led us up the stone steps of a sumptuous dwelling. Opening the door, he lit the electric light and stepped into the vestibule. "Come in," he said. "I'll be back in a moment." And he disappeared. There we stood, Leon, George and myself, waiting for something to happen, for someone to appear. Five--ten--fifteen minutes must have elapsed--still not a sound anywhere. I was just beginning to wonder if we had not been the dupes of some practical joke, when from a room opening into the vestibule a light shone forth. The curtains parted and our friend of the highroad appeared. "Isn't much--but such as it is you're welcome. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable." And again he disappeared.