Just before the outburst, Patchou gave a high, excited yelp and leaped from the jeep. “Patchou!” Captain Dobie shouted furiously. “Come here, boy. _Patchou!_” The dog streaked, with flying tail, back toward the château gates, stretched to his utmost to cover ground. With piercing yelps of delight he jumped into the arms of a girl. She had turned at his barking and then suddenly run to meet him. Captain Dobie regarded the slim figure with amazement. Slacks, army jacket, man’s cap from which soft black hair like André’s escaped. And the same gray-blue eyes. A flash of enlightenment burst over Dobie. Irritated to fury, he muttered, “Jumping Jehosophat! Now we have _Marie_ Gagnon!” [Illustration] CHAPTER EIGHTEEN _The Secret Tunnel_ Captain Dobie’s heart and thoughts were with the men under his command. Beyond that, he was desperately aware of great armies fighting a hard battle near by. Seeing Marie here, knowing André was also in the battle area, he thought angrily, “This is too much.” “Ma’moiselle,” he shouted, “this is no place for you. Find cover immediately!” Marie looked up. “You do not understand,” she said. “This dog belongs to my brother. André must be here somewhere. Patchou couldn’t get this far alone.” “I _do_ know,” replied the captain. “Get under that gateway quickly--and _hold_ that dog.” When Marie crouched under the arch, he explained quickly how he had come to know André. Marie said nervously, “You haven’t seen him?” “No! Since I left your home, I have not.” The captain’s voice was sharp with anxiety. “And I haven’t time to look for him now. My men are in that burning barn with Germans all around it. I’ve ordered covering smoke shells dropped to help them escape. And I can’t understand what’s held the shells up.” He hesitated. Looking with deep concern at Marie, he spoke more gruffly. “I’m just afraid there’s a good chance André may be in that barn.” Marie ran out a step or two and pointed. “In _that_ barn?” she cried. “Oh! I can get him out then. Come, Patchou!” Captain Dobie stood up and shouted, but Marie and Patchou had disappeared through the cottage door--not across the field. Captain Dobie sank back, fuming. The flames were spreading across the barn roof. He switched on the radio and waited irritably. When there was no response, he reached back into the jeep for grenades which he hooked into his belt. He had just grasped his gun firmly, and gingerly lowered a leg to the ground, when Patchou barked and wriggled out of the cottage door. At the same instant Slim came around the garden wall and stopped in his tracks, staring at the doorway. “Ouvarski!” he shouted and then, “_André!_” Captain Dobie’s head snapped toward the cottage. A tall officer stood behind Patchou, and with him was André. Behind Lieutenant Ouvarski and André straggled several dusty, smoke-blackened men. They moved a few steps forward.