Page:Henry rideout--The siamese cat.djvu/99

 cantered on ahead to see that their launch should have steam up. At the outskirts of the village he cantered back again, calling:

"To your left, please! We'll ride straight to the landing. I have boys to take the ponies home." He swung before them towards the river.

"Very thoughtful, isn't he?" sighed Aunt Julia. "But we should thank that kind young officer."

"I'll go," said Owen. He had already reined about.

In the verandah of barracks the young Dane looked up from inspecting Mannlicher carbines. Handsome and impassive, he saluted, bowed gravely to the message of thanks.

"But there's another matter," continued Owen. "Out there in the ruins we found a man killed, the dead body—"

"Ah, yes," interrupted the Dane slowly.