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diff --git a/28442-h/28442-h.htm b/28442-h/28442-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..444c1bf --- /dev/null +++ b/28442-h/28442-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8004 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line, by Clarence Young. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + td p {text-align:center; margin:0 auto} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.2em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + hr.booklist {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:60px;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line, by Clarence Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line + The Motor Boys Fighting for Uncle Sam + +Author: Clarence Young + +Release Date: March 29, 2009 [EBook #28442] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NED, BOB, JERRY ON FIRING LINE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt='cover' src='images/illus-cvr.jpg' /></div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<table summary='title page' style='margin:auto; border-style:double; padding:20px;'> +<tr><td> +<p style='font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1.5em; font-style:italic;'>–––––– The Motor Boys ––––––</p> +<p style='font-size:2em; margin-bottom:20px;'>NED, BOB AND JERRY<br />ON THE FIRING LINE</p> +<p style='font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:4em;'>Or<br />The Motor Boys Fighting<br />for Uncle Sam</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'>BY</p> +<p style='font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:0.5em;'>CLARENCE YOUNG</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:30px;'>AUTHOR OF “THE MOTOR BOAT SERIES”<br />“THE RACER BOYS SERIES,” “THE<br />JACK RANGER SERIES,” ETC.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> +<tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:-.5em; margin-bottom:-.5em;'>ILLUSTRATED</p> +</td></tr> +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> +<tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:30px;'>NEW YORK</p> +<p style='font-size:1.2em;'>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY</p> +</td></tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<table summary='title page' style='margin:auto; border:2px solid black; padding:20px 40px;'> +<tr><td> +<span style='font-size:larger;'>BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG</span><br /> +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.<br /> +Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid. +</td></tr> + +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> + +<tr><td><p>THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES</p></td></tr> + +<tr><td> + <table summary=""> + <tr><td> + <p style='text-align:left; font-size:smaller;'> + THE MOTOR BOYS<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA<br /> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER</p> + </td></tr> + </table> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> +<tr><td><p>THE MOTOR BOYS—SECOND SERIES</p></td></tr> + +<tr><td> + <table summary=""> + <tr><td> + <p style='text-align:left; font-size:smaller;'> + NED, BOB AND JERRY AT BOXWOOD HALL<br /> + NED, BOB AND JERRY ON A RANCH<br /> + NED, BOB AND JERRY IN THE ARMY<br /> + NED, BOB AND JERRY ON THE FIRING LINE</p> + </td></tr> + </table> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> +<tr><td><p>THE JACK RANGER SERIES</p></td></tr> + +<tr><td> + <table summary=""> + <tr><td> + <p style='text-align:left; font-size:smaller;'> + JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS<br /> + JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP<br /> + JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES<br /> + JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE<br /> + JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB<br /> + JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX</p> + </td></tr> + </table> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td><hr class='booklist' /></td></tr> +<tr><td><p>THE RACER BOYS SERIES</p></td></tr> + +<tr><td> + <table summary=""> + <tr><td> + <p style='text-align:left; font-size:smaller;'> + THE RACER BOYS<br /> + THE RACER BOYS AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br /> + THE RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE<br /> + THE RACER BOYS ON THE PRAIRIES<br /> + THE RACER BOYS ON GUARD<br /> + THE RACER BOYS FORGING AHEAD</p> + </td></tr> + </table> +</td></tr> + +</table> + +<p style='text-align:center'> +Copyright, 1919, by<br /> +<span class='font-variant:small-caps'>Cupples & Leon Company</span></p> + +<hr class='booklist' /> + +<p style='text-align:center'>Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Spy Alarm</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_THE_SPY_ALARM'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Man and a Snake</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_A_MAN_AND_A_SNAKE'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Puzzled Professor</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_A_PUZZLED_PROFESSOR'>18</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Two-Girl Problem</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_A_TWOGIRL_PROBLEM'>29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>More Girls</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_MORE_GIRLS'>35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Noddy Nixon</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_NODDY_NIXON'>43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Off for France</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_OFF_FOR_FRANCE'>53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Training Camp</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_THE_TRAINING_CAMP'>59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>On the Firing Line</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_ON_THE_FIRING_LINE'>71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In the Trenches</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_IN_THE_TRENCHES'>78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Night Patrol</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_A_NIGHT_PATROL'>88</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Bob Is Missing</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_BOB_IS_MISSING'>96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“Just Like Him!”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII_JUST_LIKE_HIM'>108</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Desperate Chance</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV_A_DESPERATE_CHANCE'>116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Sniper</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV_THE_SNIPER'>123</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Over the Top</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI_OVER_THE_TOP'>129</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“Fried Holes”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII_FRIED_HOLES'>136</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The School Janitor</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_SCHOOL_JANITOR'>145</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>News at Last</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX_NEWS_AT_LAST'>153</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Queer Question</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX_A_QUEER_QUESTION'>162</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Visitor</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI_A_VISITOR'>171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>An Unexpected Capture</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII_AN_UNEXPECTED_CAPTURE'>177</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Great Preparations</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII_GREAT_PREPARATIONS'>184</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“S. I. W.”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV_S_I_W'>194</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Black Box</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV_THE_BLACK_BOX'>201</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Disappearance</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI_A_DISAPPEARANCE'>209</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>St. Mihiel</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVII_ST_MIHIEL'>218</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In Argonne Forest</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVIII_IN_ARGONNE_FOREST'>226</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Captured</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIX_CAPTURED'>232</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Recaptured</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXX_RECAPTURED'>243</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<h2>NED, BOB AND JERRY<br />ON THE FIRING LINE</h2> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_THE_SPY_ALARM' id='CHAPTER_I_THE_SPY_ALARM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>THE SPY ALARM</h3> +</div> +<p>“There’s a German on the ground! Get +him!”</p> +<p>The sun glistened on scores of polished bayonets, +as sturdy figures, clad in olive drab, which +matched in hue the brown of the earth, sprang +from their trenches and rushed forward.</p> +<p>“Put some pep into it! Lively now! Get the +Germans!”</p> +<p>There were dull thuds, and there was a ripping, +tearing sound as the steel slashed its way through +the tough cloth. Along the swaying line rushed +the young soldiers, stabbing to right and left as +they went.</p> +<p>Now their weapons were directed downward +with deadly force, and they sank them into the +forms on the ground with such energy that the +earth beneath was torn and gashed, and the muzzles +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +of the guns, to which the stabbing bayonets +were attached, made deep impressions on the +yielding forms.</p> +<p>“There’s a German on the ground! Get him!”</p> +<p>Again the cry rang out, and again the rushing, +charging line surged forward, and then there followed +once more the thuds which told of the cold +steel going through and through and––</p> +<p>Then from the center of one of the charging +lines there came a laugh as a lad, having driven his +keen weapon home with too much force, being +unable to free it, raised on his gun a large sack +stuffed with hay, the fodder bristling out of one +of the gashes he had made.</p> +<p>“That’s the stuff, Chunky! Go to it!” yelled +his laughing comrades. “If you can’t get a German +any other way, stick him on the end of your +bayonet, bring him back to camp, and feed him to +death!”</p> +<p>“Silence in the ranks!” cried the sergeant who +was drilling the young soldiers of Camp Dixton +in bayonet practice. For this is what it was, and +not a charge on some Hun position; though from +the fervor with which the boys went at it, and the +fierce commands of their officers, a person hearing, +and not seeing, might be inclined to believe +that it was actual warfare.</p> +<p>And it was, as nearly as it could be approximated, +for the sacks stuffed with hay or other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +yielding material, suspended on framework as is +a football dummy or scattered over the ground, +were called “Germans,” by the drilling officers.</p> +<p>And, at the command: “There’s a German on +the ground! Get him!” it was the part of the +prospective soldier to rush at the recumbent sack +and stab it through and through with all his might, +trying to put into the stroke all the force he would +put into a similar one when he should attack the +enemy.</p> +<p>“You got your man all right, Chunky!” observed +a tall, bronzed lad, standing next to the +stout youth who had used his bayonet with such +force that he carried off one of the sacks as a +trophy. “You must be feeling pretty strong today.”</p> +<p>“Oh, let up, can’t you, Jerry?” begged the +badgered one. “The ground was soft under that +sack, and I didn’t think the steel would go through +so far.”</p> +<p>“Well, do that when you get on the firing line +in France and it will be all right,” commented another +lad, on the opposite side of the one addressed +as Chunky. “I wonder how much longer +we’re going to keep this up?”</p> +<p>“As you were!” came the sudden order, fairly +barked out from an instructing sergeant, and the +boys in the particular squad which included Ned, +Bob and Jerry, of whom more later, resumed the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +positions they had been in before the order to +charge bayonets had been given.</p> +<p>Chunky, or Bob Baker, to give his proper name, +managed to get rid of the encumbering sack on +his weapon, and marched back with the others. +They lined up at attention and waited for the +usual instruction and correction that followed each +charge, or other army practice.</p> +<p>“That was pretty good, boys,” said the sergeant, +as he glanced down the line, “but I’m sure +you can do better. A few of you were a bit slow.</p> +<p>“Now sometimes it’s all right to be slow, if +you have plenty of time, but in this business of +bayoneting Germans you won’t have much time to +spare, as you’ll find when you get on the other +side, which I hope will be soon.”</p> +<p>There was a murmur to this same effect from +all in the line.</p> +<p>“When you’re using your bayonet, use it first, +or the other chap may get ahead of you and—well, +you know what will happen then,” went on +the sergeant significantly. “And when you pull +your weapons out, do it this way,” and, taking a +gun from the hands of Jerry Hopkins, the sergeant +illustrated what he meant, using one of the +filled sacks as an enemy.</p> +<p>“There wouldn’t be much left of a German to +send home after <i>he</i> got through with him,” commented +Ned Slade, as the sergeant handed Jerry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +back the gun. “He surely has some poetry of +motion—Sergeant Black has.”</p> +<p>“That’s the way I tried to do it,” said Bob, to +his chums, Ned and Jerry. “Only––”</p> +<p>“Only you must have been thinking you were +going to leave your gun and bayonet sticking in +the ground to mark the place, so you could find +it the next time,” interrupted Jerry with a laugh. +For, the command “At Ease,” having been given, +the prospective soldiers were allowed to rest and +indulge in talk. The sergeant was called to one +side, while a lieutenant gave him some orders +about further practice and instruction.</p> +<p>“Aw, cut it out!” begged Chunky. “Guess you +forget the time you slept through first call, and +had to do kitchen police for two days.”</p> +<p>“Indeed I don’t forget it!” laughed Jerry. “It +isn’t a thing you can forget so easily. But let it +go at that. Only it did look funny, Chunky, and +you’d have said so yourself if you had seen it—it +certainly did look funny to see you rushing along +with the sack on the end of your gun.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you feel the weight of it?” asked Ned +Slade.</p> +<p>“Oh, Chunky’s getting so strong, since he has +his three square meals a day, regular, that he +doesn’t mind a little extra weight,” commented +another lad who stood in line near the three +chums. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></p> +<p>The drilling sergeant turned to his men again, +and once more sent them through the bayonet +charge. Then came other drills of various sorts, +designed to make the young soldiers sturdy and +strong, to fit them for the strenuous times that +loomed ahead in France—times to try men’s souls +and bodies. But to these times the lads looked +forward eagerly, anxious for the days to come +when they could go “over there.”</p> +<p>“Whew!” whispered Bob to Jerry and Ned, +between whom he stood as they marched across +the parade ground. “If this keeps up much longer +I’m going to be a wreck!”</p> +<p>“Oh, some chow will set you up all right,” commented +Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, say that again!” sighed the stout lad. +“Them words fill me with mad desire!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and you’ll fill the guardhouse if you don’t +stop talking so loud in the ranks,” warned a lad +behind Bob. “Cut it out. The lieutenant is looking +this way,” he added, speaking from the corner +of his mouth so the motion of his lips would not be +observed.</p> +<p>Rapidly the young soldiers marched across the +grass-grown parade ground, in orderly array, in +the last of the drills that morning. The company +to which Ned, Bob and Jerry belonged were +drawn up near their barracks, and Captain Theodore +Martin, after a glance over the two trim +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +lines, turned the dismissing of the group over to +the first lieutenant.</p> +<p>The breechblocks of the guns were opened, +clicked shut again, and then came the welcome +words:</p> +<p>“Comp <i>sissed</i>!”</p> +<p>That is what the lieutenant snapped out. But +what he really meant, and what the members of +it understood, was:</p> +<p>“Company dismissed!”</p> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry, with sighs of relief, which +were echoed by their comrades, turned to stack +their rifles and then prepared for “chow,” or, in +this case, the dinner mess.</p> +<p>As the three chums were heading in the direction +of the mess hall where, every day, two hundred +or more hungry lads and men were fed, they +saw some members of their company turn and run +in a different direction.</p> +<p>“Hello! what’s up?” asked Jerry Hopkins, coming +to a halt.</p> +<p>“Matter where?” inquired Ned.</p> +<p>“Over that way,” and Jerry pointed. “Either +somebody is hurt, or there’s a riot.”</p> +<p>“Let’s go!” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“Wait until after grub,” advised Bob, with an +anxious look toward the mess hall.</p> +<p>“It won’t take but a minute,” suggested Jerry. +“Look, everybody’s going. We might as well be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +in it. If everybody is late to mess there’ll be +enough left for us to eat. Come on!”</p> +<p>Accepting this argument, that such a general +rush toward the scene of excitement would result +in a general postponement of the meal, Bob, after +a moment of hesitation, joined his two chums. +They rushed toward one of the sleeping barracks, +and saw that a large crowd was congregating +around it.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“Anybody hurt?”</p> +<p>“Is the place on fire?”</p> +<p>These were some of the questions that flew +from one to the other.</p> +<p>“It’s a spy!” some one said. “They’ve caught +a German spy in camp, and they’re going to lynch +him!”</p> +<p>“Oh, boy!” yelled Ned. “We must see this!”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe it!” announced Jerry. +“There’ve been too many German spy scares. +They all turned out to be fakes. And, anyhow, +there won’t be any lynching.”</p> +<p>“Maybe not,” agreed Bob. “But there sure is +some excitement.”</p> +<p>And there was. Even Jerry had to admit that.</p> +<p>As the three Motor Boys—to give them the +name by which they had been known for some +time—neared the barracks, the rumors and statements +as to the capture of a spy became more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +frequent and certain. There was an excited, +seething crowd about the place.</p> +<p>A lieutenant, whom Ned, Bob and Jerry knew +well, as he came from their town of Cresville, +passed just then. The three chums saluted, and, +when this had been returned, Jerry asked:</p> +<p>“Can you tell us, Sir, what it’s all about?”</p> +<p>“Have they really caught a spy?” added Bob +eagerly.</p> +<p>“Well, whether he is a spy or not I can’t say,” +was the answer. “But I have been told that a +man, who was acting in a suspicious manner about +the camp, has been arrested. Some of the officers +are investigating now. I hardly think he will +prove to be a real spy, though.”</p> +<p>“He won’t last long, if he is,” commented Ned.</p> +<p>“They have him in the barracks there,” went +on the lieutenant. “They will bring him out soon, +I suppose, and put him in the guardhouse. Better +go back, boys,” he added. “There’s too much of +a crowd here now. I must help disperse it.”</p> +<p>He turned away, but the advice he had given +Ned, Bob and Jerry was not very welcome.</p> +<p>“This is our sleeping barracks, anyhow,” said +Ned. “We have a right to stick around, and go +in, too.”</p> +<p>“If they let us,” added Bob.</p> +<p>“Come on, let’s try,” suggested Jerry. “Here’s +a place,” and he led the way through a thinning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +portion of the crowd toward one of the doors of +the big wooden shack, in which he and his chums +slept while at Camp Dixton.</p> +<p>Suddenly there came a series of excited shouts +from within the building. Then several soldiers +were seen to rush out as though something had +chased them.</p> +<p>“What in the world is up now?” asked Jerry of +his chums.</p> +<p>They pressed forward toward the door from +which the excited soldiers had emerged, and one +of them, seeing that the three chums were about +to enter, cried:</p> +<p>“Don’t go in there!”</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“Did the spy try to shoot any one?” Ned +wanted to know.</p> +<p>“Don’t go in!” yelled another lad. “There’s +a snake in there as big as a barrel, and he’s skipping +around as lively as a kitten! Keep out if +you don’t want to meet sudden death. Oh, boy! +I saw him open his mouth, and one look was +enough. No more for me!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_A_MAN_AND_A_SNAKE' id='CHAPTER_II_A_MAN_AND_A_SNAKE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>A MAN AND A SNAKE</h3> +</div> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry paused a moment on the +threshold of the barrack building they had been +about to enter. From within came a sound of +commotion, as if several persons were quickly +rushing to and fro, and there were excited shouts.</p> +<p>“Come off, Jack, what are you doing? Trying +to string us?” asked Ned of the lad who had +spoken of the snake.</p> +<p>“Nothing of the sort!” protested the other. +“As true as I’m telling you, there’s a snake loose +in there as big as a barrel, and as long as a fence +rail around one of these cotton plantations!”</p> +<p>“Is he joking, Ted?” asked Jerry of another of +the lads who had rushed out in such haste.</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it! I saw the snake myself. It +isn’t quite as big as a barrel, but it certainly is +long.”</p> +<p>“Come on, fellows!” called Jerry to his two +chums. “We’ve got to see this!”</p> +<p>“What!” cried Jack Wade, “you aren’t going +in there, are you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Jerry. “We’ve had some +experience with snakes. Besides, we want to see +the spy. Is there a spy inside here, too?”</p> +<p>“There is!” cried another lad. “They caught +the spy dead to rights, planting a bomb under the +officers’ mess building. Wanted to blow ’em all +up when they were eating, I guess. Oh, he’s a +German spy, all right, and they have him tied +up!”</p> +<p>“But what connection has he with the snakes?” +Bob questioned.</p> +<p>“Not any that I know of,” replied Jack.</p> +<p>“Yes, he has, too!” asserted one of his chums. +“The spy had the snake. He was going to let him +loose in camp, hoping he’d bite and poison a lot +of us, I s’pose, so we can’t go to France to fight +the Huns.”</p> +<p>“Big snakes are seldom poisonous,” cried Jerry. +“This may be a python or a boa escaped from +some circus, though I haven’t heard of any animal +shows being around here lately.”</p> +<p>“Me, either,” added Bob. “Say, are you sure +you saw a snake?” he asked the lads who had +rushed out in such a hurry.</p> +<p>“As sure as we see you now, and you’re not +much smaller around the waist than this same +snake,” added Jack with a laugh.</p> +<p>“Cut out the comedy stuff!” murmured Bob.</p> +<p>“Well, if there’s a real snake in there I want +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +to see it!” exclaimed Jerry. “Come on!” and he +pushed open the door which had swung shut after +the exit of the excited lads.</p> +<p>Within the barracks the three Motor Boys saw +a scene of excitement. One end of the big building, +which was filled with cots and bunks, was +comparatively empty, but at the other there was +a group of officers and men. Some of them appeared +to surround the captive, though the three +chums could not just then get a glimpse of him.</p> +<p>“There it is!” suddenly cried Ned, pointing.</p> +<p>“What—the spy?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“No, the snake! See it?”</p> +<p>He pointed. There was no doubt of it. A +long, glistening, brown body was seen to glide +under a row of cots.</p> +<p>“It’s a snake all right,” assented Jerry, “but +not half as big as I thought. It’s just like one I’ve +seen––”</p> +<p>He was interrupted by a voice which rang out +above the murmurs from the group at the other +end of the barracks, and the commanding voice of +Colonel Shield demanded:</p> +<p>“What is going on here? What is all the excitement +about?”</p> +<p>It appeared that he had just entered at the +doorway around which were grouped the excited +officers and men.</p> +<p>“We have caught a spy,” some one said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></p> +<p>“He must have let the big snake loose!” another +added.</p> +<p>“Well, why don’t some of you shoot the reptile?” +asked the colonel. “A fine lot of soldiers +you are, I must say! Afraid of a snake! Where +will you be when you go up against the Germans? +Some one get a rifle and shoot the snake!”</p> +<p>At this command a protesting cry came from +the midst of a group of soldiers who were guarding +the man arrested as a spy.</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot my snake! Don’t shoot my pet +snake!” came the entreaty. “He is worth a fortune! +Don’t harm him!”</p> +<p>There was a commotion—a scramble. Several +men stumbled and fell, and from their midst a +figure dashed—a figure at the sight of which a +gasp of astonishment came from the three Motor +Boys.</p> +<p>And since Ned, Bob and Jerry have been called +Motor Boys several times I will take just a moment +here to tell who these lads were and something +about them; also why they were at Camp +Dixton. Of course, the readers who already know +this may skip what immediately follows and proceed +with the story.</p> +<p>As related in the initial volume of the first part +of this series, a book which is named “The Motor +Boys,” Ned Slade, Bob Baker and Jerry Hopkins +were chums of long standing. They lived in Cresville, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +not far from Boston, and the three lads were +well-to-do. Jerry’s mother was a wealthy widow, +while Bob’s father was a banker, and Ned’s a department +store owner.</p> +<p>The Motor Boys were so called because they +spent so much time in or about vehicles that depended +on gasoline motors for their activity. +They began with motorcycles and ended with airships—though +one should not say ended, for their +activities were far from over.</p> +<p>In the books succeeding the initial volume are +related the various adventures of the Motor Boys, +who journeyed to Mexico, across the plains, and +traveled much on the Atlantic and Pacific, both in +craft on the surface and in submarines. Their +trips above the clouds in aeroplanes and airships +were much enjoyed.</p> +<p>“The Motor Boys on Road and River,” was +the last volume of the first series, the final volume +to carry that title.</p> +<p>The second series began with “Ned, Bob and +Jerry at Boxwood Hall,” and the only change in +the stories was in the title, for the main characters +were still the “Motor Boys.”</p> +<p>The parents of the lads felt that they ought to +do some studying, and, accordingly, Ned, Bob and +Jerry were sent to Boxwood Hall. What took +place there formed not only a well-remembered +part in their lives, but furnished some excitement +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +as well. When vacation came they went to a +Western ranch and had fun, as well as helped in +an important piece of work.</p> +<p>And then came the Great War.</p> +<p>Our heroes could do nothing less than enlist, +and in the volume called “Ned, Bob and Jerry in +the Army,” which immediately precedes this one +you are reading, is told something of their life at +Camp Dixton, one of the training camps in the +South.</p> +<p>There the chums had learned to become soldiers, +and, with others of their kind, were eagerly +awaiting a chance to go over seas and fight it out +with the Huns.</p> +<p>And now we meet them again in the midst of excitement +over a spy scare—not the first of the kind +to happen in the camp, where, as the readers of +the volume before this will doubtless recall, the +activities of “Pug” Kennedy and “Crooked Nose,” +formed the basis for some real danger.</p> +<p>“That snake sure is real!” cried Bob, as he saw +the serpent writhing about. “And whoever has +him for a pet must be nervy.”</p> +<p>“Look! Look!” exclaimed Jerry. “The spy +is going right for the snake!”</p> +<p>“And look who the spy is!” added Ned.</p> +<p>There were shouts from the officers and men. +Several of the latter had gotten their rifles and +were edging about, trying to find an opening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +through which they might fire at the serpent.</p> +<p>The man who had broken away from his captors +rushed toward the end of the building where +Ned, Bob and Jerry had last seen the reptile, +which was now out of sight under some bunks.</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot him! Don’t shoot my pet! He +is worth thousands of dollars!” cried the reputed +spy.</p> +<p>And then, to the surprise and fear of all save +the Motor Boys, who had an insight into the truth, +the man fairly threw himself forward on the serpent, +as a football player falls on the ball.</p> +<p>“Ah, I have you! I have you, my beauty!” +cried the man. “You shall not get away from me +again, and they sha’n’t shoot you, either!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_A_PUZZLED_PROFESSOR' id='CHAPTER_III_A_PUZZLED_PROFESSOR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>A PUZZLED PROFESSOR</h3> +</div> +<p>For a moment there was comparative silence +in the big barrack building. It lasted while the +little man was crossing the room and hurrying toward +the big snake where it could be discerned +under a line of bunks. The words uttered by the +owner of the serpent were heard by the three +chums, as well as by every one else in the building.</p> +<p>And then, as the small man continued on his +way, and finally launched himself at the snake with +outstretched hands and arms, some one uttered a +warning yell.</p> +<p>“Look out!” came the cry. “It’s only his bluff! +He’s trying to escape. Catch the spy!”</p> +<p>“That’s right!” shouted several, who seemed +to agree with what had been said.</p> +<p>But if the little man—the “spy” as he had been +called—had it in mind to escape, he was taking a +queer way to go about it. For even as a rush toward +him on the part of those from whose midst +he had escaped began, the little man arose and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +held clasped in his arms the snake—or as much +of it as he could raise from the ground. On his +face was a look of anxiety relieved, and he fairly +beamed on those who confronted him. His former, +and would-be, captors had again come to a +halt. Almost any ordinary body of men and boys +would have done the same under like circumstances, +for there is an inherent fear of snakes in +almost every one.</p> +<p>“Get him! Don’t let the spy escape!” came +the cry.</p> +<p>“Yes! Let’s see you get him—with that snake +for a protector,” murmured one.</p> +<p>“I don’t mind getting shot at by a German,” +said a voice, “but I’ll be jiggered if I want to be +bitten by a snake.”</p> +<p>“Shoot the snake!” came the cry.</p> +<p>“No, please don’t, I beg of you!” pleaded the +little man in a mild voice that, somehow, carried +to the far end of the room. “Please don’t shoot +the most valuable snake I ever owned. Really +she is quite harmless; aren’t you, Ticula?” and he +looked up at the swaying head of the snake that +was weaving above him, as though to ask the serpent +to speak.</p> +<p>“Ticula!” burst out Ned. “Is that her name, +Professor Snodgrass?”</p> +<p>The little man started, and peered through his +glasses in the direction of the voice. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>“Ha! It seems there is some one here who +knows me,” he said. “I cannot see him, but I +seem to recognize the voice.”</p> +<p>“I should think you would,” chuckled Ned. +“We’ve traveled with you often enough, Professor. +But this is a new one—a pet snake as long as +a lasso.”</p> +<p>“And named Ticula!” added Jerry, with a +laugh.</p> +<p>“Oh, that is only a name I made up for her +out of her own proper, Latin one,” explained the +professor. “Her real name is <i>Python Reticulatus</i>; +but I call her Ticula for short. And, unless I am +greatly mistaken, it was Jerry Hopkins who spoke +to me that time. Am I right?” and he peered +about rather uncertainly, for the corner where the +three chums were standing was in deep shadow.</p> +<p>“You are right, Professor,” said Jerry. “And +we are as much surprised to see you here as to +‘meet up’ with your snake, as the folks in the South +say. What brought you here?”</p> +<p>Before Professor Snodgrass could answer—and +it has been, perhaps, guessed before this that +he was the “spy” referred to—a sudden movement +on the part of the snake made it necessary +for him to devote some attention to his “pet” as +he called her.</p> +<p>Ticula seemed uneasy at being stared at by so +many eyes, and she began to writhe and twist as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +though anxious to escape. There was a sudden +scramble on the part of the soldiers and officers +in the barrack building, but the three chums, having +faith in their old friend, the little scientist, did +not retreat.</p> +<p>“There now, Ticula,” murmured Professor +Snodgrass, in what he doubtless meant to be soothing +terms, “no one shall harm you. You’re excited +on account of getting out of your box, I +suppose. But I’ll soon have you back there.”</p> +<p>He reached up, and began to stroke the snake +back of the weaving head, and gradually the +forked tongue, that had been playing in and out +with the quickness of lightning, was quieted. Ticula +seemed to regain her composure. She settled +down, wrapping a fold or two about the little +man, who did not seem at all alarmed at the movements +of the snake, though one officer murmured:</p> +<p>“Great Scott! he’s taking an awful chance. +That’s a constrictor, and it can crush an ox!”</p> +<p>But Professor Snodgrass gazed mildly through +his glasses at those surrounding him and inquired:</p> +<p>“Are you all three there—Ned, Bob and +Jerry?”</p> +<p>“All present and accounted for, Professor,” answered +Jerry, with a laugh. “And now that Ticula +seems quiet, perhaps you’ll explain what it all +means.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think an explanation is very much in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +order,” said the colonel, who had urged some of +his men to shoot the snake.</p> +<p>“First let me get my pet back in her sleeping +box,” said the little scientist. “She will be quieter +then. If one of you gentlemen will have the kindness +to bring me the box you took away from me, +I’ll put Ticula to sleep.”</p> +<p>“Bring in the box,” commanded a lieutenant. +“We caught this man, Sir,” said the lieutenant, addressing +the colonel, “hanging around the officers’ +mess hall with a box. We thought it contained an +infernal machine, and that he might be a German +spy. We brought him here to talk to him, and +then we discovered the snake crawling around. +The box is outside.”</p> +<p>“Have it examined and brought in,” said the +colonel. “It is just possible,” he added with a +smile, “that the prisoner is what he claims to be—a +naturalist. Is there any one here who knows +him?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes, Sir,” answered Ned, Bob and Jerry in a +chorus.</p> +<p>“Come forward and explain,” ordered the colonel.</p> +<p>The three chums advanced and saluted. Professor +Snodgrass seemed to be having a little +trouble quieting the snake, which had again raised +her head and was hissing at the crowd in front of +her. Some explanations were necessary, it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +seem, and Ned, Bob and Jerry seemed the best +qualified to offer them.</p> +<p>“We know Professor Snodgrass very well, Sir,” +said Jerry. “He has often traveled with us, and +we have helped him in his collection work. He is +connected with some of the largest museums, and +goes about getting rare specimens for them. He +is no more a German spy than we are.”</p> +<p>“Glad to know it,” commented the colonel. +“Do you know anything about this mysterious box +he had?”</p> +<p>“No; but it is probably what he says it is—a +cage for this snake, Sir,” explained Jerry. “He +has any number of specimen boxes and cages when +he travels.”</p> +<p>By this time some of the men had brought in +the box in question. It was painted green, and +was about three feet long—in itself rather a good +load for one man to carry, not so much on account +of its weight as because of its shape, but with the +big snake inside, one man could not have lifted it.</p> +<p>“That’s a snake box,” said Jerry, after he had +examined it, “but it is a new one—I never saw it +before.”</p> +<p>“No, I had it made especially for Ticula,” explained +the professor, who had again succeeded in +quieting the serpent. “Now, my little pet,” he +went on, “I’ll put you to bed.”</p> +<p>The box was brought forward and set down on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +the floor in front of the professor. The man who +brought it dropped it quickly and made a hasty +retreat at the nearer sight of the reptile.</p> +<p>Then the scientist gently lowered the serpent’s +head toward the box, which was lined with cloth. +The snake seemed to recognize her quarters, for, +without hesitation, she coiled herself down in the +case, the perforated lid of which was then closed.</p> +<p>“There, now she is all right,” said the professor. +“I shall not let her loose again until to-morrow, +and then––”</p> +<p>“What?” yelled a lieutenant. “Are you going +to turn her loose around here <i>again</i>?”</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked the professor. “The observations +I hoped to make to-day as to her feeding +habits in the open have been spoiled because +you arrested me as a spy. I could not conclude +my experiments, and I must continue them to-morrow. +But do not be alarmed. Ticula, though +rather large, is perfectly harmless to man. Indeed, +she has not yet gotten her full growth. She +is only fifteen feet long, and her kind often grows +to twenty-six feet and weighs nearly two hundred +pounds. Ticula is a mere baby.”</p> +<p>“Some baby!” murmured a voice, and even the +colonel laughed.</p> +<p>“And now I suppose I am at liberty to go with +my property?” asked the professor, looking +around inquiringly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></p> +<p>“Well, since it seems that you are not a German +spy, I fail to see that we have any reason for holding +you,” returned the commandant. “As for the +snake, I think the men—and I may say myself—would +feel obliged if you did not turn it loose +again.”</p> +<p>“Well, I suppose I can select some other place +for my experiments,” murmured the professor, in +rather disappointed tones. “But this spot was +ideal. There are so many rats and mice about +a camp of this sort that a snake or two would be +very beneficial.”</p> +<p>“I have no doubt,” said the colonel dryly. +“And yet, somehow, I think I prefer the rodents. +But I should be glad to have you explain further +just what your experiments are in reference to +your reptile. I am interested. I shall be pleased +to have you lunch with me,” he went on, for, now +that he had a chance to observe, he saw that Professor +Snodgrass was a cultured gentleman, as +well as, he presumed, a devoted scientist. The +colonel was something of a student himself.</p> +<p>“I should like to lunch with you,” said the professor, +“but my three friends—Ned, Bob and +Jerry—are here and––”</p> +<p>“We’ll see you later,” whispered Jerry. +“We’re enlisted men and can’t mess in the officers’ +quarters. You must dine with the colonel +and we’ll see you later.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span></p> +<p>“All right,” assented the professor, and accepted +the colonel’s invitation. “Help me carry +Ticula out to my auto and I’ll see you after dinner,” +he went on to the boys.</p> +<p>“Have you an auto here?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“Yes. I left it just beyond the confines of the +camp. I have an old friend of yours with me, +too,” he went on. “He helped me carry my snake +here.”</p> +<p>“An old friend?” murmured Bob.</p> +<p>“Yes, Pete Bumps who used to be your father’s +hired man. I’ve engaged him as a helper since +you boys joined the army. He runs my auto for +me and helps me catch specimens. He isn’t afraid +of snakes.”</p> +<p>And old Pete Bumps it was who greeted Ned, +Bob and Jerry as they accompanied the professor +to his car.</p> +<p>Pete had left the Baker service some time ago, +and had secured a place as janitor of a college in +which the professor taught, he briefly explained to +the boys. There the professor had engaged him +just prior to starting out on his present expedition.</p> +<p>“Come on. We’ve got to hurry back to mess,” +said Jerry to his chums. “But we want to have a +talk with you, Professor, after you finish dining +with the colonel. We want to hear what you are +doing here again. I should think once being taken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +for a German spy was enough,” and he laughed at +the recollection of a former occasion, when the +professor, coming to visit his friends at Camp +Dixton, had been halted on his way through the +lines after some insects.</p> +<p>“I never thought of that,” admitted the scientist. +“I certainly remember coming down here in +the spring, but I forgot about the spy business.”</p> +<p>This was not surprising, since the professor seldom +remembered for very long anything not directly +connected with his favorite study.</p> +<p>And so, with the snake in the box safely confined +to the care of Pete Bumps in the automobile, +Professor Snodgrass went back to dine with the +colonel, while the three chums hastened to their +delayed mess.</p> +<p>“You never know when he is going to turn up,” +remarked Ned.</p> +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Jerry. “I wonder what +he’s after now?”</p> +<p>They did not have long to wait before learning. +Soon after mess they saw the professor coming +down their company street and, as they had a brief +respite from drills on account of the strenuous +work of the morning, the boys took him to a quiet +spot and began to ask him questions.</p> +<p>“But first of all, tell us if there is anything the +matter?” begged Jerry. “You look worried. Are +you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p>“Yes,” admitted the little scientist, “I don’t +mind admitting that I am worried—and puzzled, +too.”</p> +<p>“What about?” asked Bob. “Ticula hasn’t got +loose, has she?”</p> +<p>“No, I went over to see, after dining with your +colonel, whom I found to be a most delightful +man, though his ignorance of reptiles and insects +is painful. But, as I say, I assured myself of the +safety of Ticula. Pete has her in the auto.”</p> +<p>“Then what’s worrying you?” demanded Ned.</p> +<p>“Well, I have a problem to solve and I don’t +know how to do it,” was the answer.</p> +<p>“Has it anything to do with the war?” Jerry +queried.</p> +<p>“Yes, it has,” was the unexpected answer. +“And now that you boys are in the army and expect +to go across to France soon, perhaps you can +help me. I’ll tell you the puzzle I am trying to +solve.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_A_TWOGIRL_PROBLEM' id='CHAPTER_IV_A_TWOGIRL_PROBLEM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>A TWO-GIRL PROBLEM</h3> +</div> +<p>Jerry Hopkins stretched himself lazily and +comfortably out on the grass under the shade tree +where he and Bob and Ned had taken Professor +Snodgrass for a little talk. They were far removed +from the center of the camp, so the noise +of the men drilling or at their various occupations +came but faintly.</p> +<p>“Do you mean that your problem has to be +solved on the other side of the water, Professor?” +asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“Part of it has. And I am anxious to get +across as soon as possible to begin.”</p> +<p>“What?” cried Ned. “You don’t mean to say +you, too, are going to France, Professor?”</p> +<p>“I hope to,” was the answer. “I have arranged +to go, and I have my passport and some +letters of introduction.”</p> +<p>“But what are you going for?” asked Bob. +“Don’t you know you will be in the midst of terrible +fighting? You can’t solve any problems +there. It will be a bedlam of noise.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“And the noise is just what I want,” said Mr. +Snodgrass. “That is one of my problems—to find +out the effect of noise on the organisms of certain +insects and reptiles. Men suffer from shell shock, +and why should not insects suffer from the terrific +noise of bursting guns? Most insects are noise-producers +themselves,” he went on, in something +of his class-room manner, which the boys so well +remembered at Boxwood Hall. “The grasshopper, +the katydid and the cricket, to give them their +common names, each have a song of their own. +These insects are found in France, as well as here, +though in somewhat different form.</p> +<p>“Now I have a theory that a long-continued +series of terrific noises may produce structural +changes in insects, so as to change the character +of their ‘songs’ as I prefer to call their sounds. +This can best be studied on the battlefields of +France, though I suppose I could get the same +effect here, if there was a continuous thunderstorm +with vivid lightning.</p> +<p>“But, as that condition is impossible to bring +about, I shall best find it in France, and thither I +am going, soon I hope. This snake experiment +is only a brief one, undertaken at the behest of a +friend of mine who is writing a book on the feeding +habits of pythons.”</p> +<p>“Is that what brought you back to our camp?” +asked Jerry. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></p> +<p>“Yes. This particular part of the South at this +season of the year has the very climate suited to +pythons and other large snakes of the tropics.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure it’s hot enough,” murmured Bob, +mopping his perspiring face. “I’m glad we got +out of drill this afternoon. But go on, Professor. +I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”</p> +<p>“Well, there isn’t much to tell about the snake,” +said the scientist. “I purchased Ticula, as I call +her, some time ago from a museum. She is a fine +specimen of the regal python. Originally she +came from Borneo, where she was captured when +very young. As I stated, she has not yet attained +her growth, and I have succeeded in making quite +a pet of her.”</p> +<p>“Deliver me from such pets!” murmured Ned.</p> +<p>“Ticula is not a venomous snake,” went on the +professor. “None of the constrictor type of serpents +is, though their power to crush their prey +in their folds is enormous. They depend on that +power, while the poisonous snakes kill their prey +by the use of their venom. But Ticula and I are +quite friendly.</p> +<p>“My friend, who is writing a book on snakes, +asked me to find out something of how pythons +capture their food, and, knowing there would be +plenty of large rats in the vicinity of a camp, on +account of the great food supply there, I came +here with my pet snake. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span></p> +<p>“I suppose I should have secured permission +from some officer to let loose the serpent near one +of the buildings, but I forgot all about it, thinking +of the problem I have to puzzle over. I also +forgot for the time being, that you boys were here +at Camp Dixton, or I should certainly have communicated +with you and got you to help me.</p> +<p>“But I went at it alone. Pete and I carried the +box, with the snake in it, of course, close to one of +the buildings. I did not know until later that it +was the officers’ mess hall. Then Pete left me +alone.”</p> +<p>“How did you manage to get through the sentry +lines unchallenged?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” frankly answered the professor. +“I suppose it was because no one saw us; or +they may have supposed we were bringing some +supplies to one of the officers. Then, there was +a sham battle going on not far away at the time, +and that may have taken the attention of the sentries. +Anyhow, I got through the lines, and, +opening the box, let Ticula out to roam about and +catch a rat if she could.</p> +<p>“I was crawling around after her, watching her +as she went under the building when suddenly a +soldier pounced on me and yelled that I was a +German spy. I was never more surprised in all +my life.”</p> +<p>Jerry and Bob chuckled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>“I should think you might be!” laughed Ned. +“Then what happened?”</p> +<p>“Well, they handled me rather roughly, and +took me into custody, as I suppose it is called. +They seemed to think Ticula’s box was an infernal +machine. They were very much excited, and I +was trying to explain to them who I was, when +Ticula suddenly crawled up through a hole in the +floor in the building where I was being questioned.”</p> +<p>“And then there was more excitement, I suppose,” +said Jerry.</p> +<p>“There was—considerable,” admitted the professor. +“Then you boys came in, and—well, it’s +all over now. But I surely feared for a moment +they might shoot my snake.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it was rather a close call,” observed Bob. +“But did you have a good dinner with the colonel?”</p> +<p>“Listen to him, would you!” protested Ned. +“All he can think of is eating!”</p> +<p>“Cut it out!” growled Bob, as Ned poked him +in the ribs. “I just wanted to know what sort of +feed they give the officers.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Jerry significantly. “Merely an +academic interest, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“Sure!” assented Bob. “That’s all.”</p> +<p>“Well, the dinner was very good, though I cannot +say that I remember what I ate,” confessed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +the professor. “I was thinking too much of something +else.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean you were puzzled as to how to +study the effect of the noises of the French battlefields +on grasshoppers and crickets?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“No,” and the professor shook his head. +“This is an altogether different problem. It is, as +I might call it, the problem of two girls.”</p> +<p>“Two girls!” cried the three Motor Boys in a +chorus. “Two girls?”</p> +<p>They looked at the little professor, whose eyes, +mildly blinking behind his strong glasses, regarded +the lads curiously.</p> +<p>“Two girls,” repeated the little scientist. “The +problem I have to solve concerns two girls.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_MORE_GIRLS' id='CHAPTER_V_MORE_GIRLS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>MORE GIRLS</h3> +</div> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry looked at one another. +Then they turned their glances on the professor.</p> +<p>“Whew!” softly whistled Jerry. “Can it be +possible that our dear friend is in love—and with +two girls at once? This is getting serious!”</p> +<p>It would have been had Jerry’s diagnosis been +correct. But it was wrong, as was proved a moment +later, when the professor, with a sigh, resumed +his narrative.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, “I am much concerned over two +girls—young ladies I suppose would be the more +proper designation. I have never seen either of +them.”</p> +<p>Jerry breathed more freely, and so did his +chums. Clearly if the professor had not seen the +two girls he could not be in love with them. And +the professor in love was something unthinkable. +He never would have remembered, from one day +to the next, the name of the favored lady.</p> +<p>“And, boys,” went on Professor Snodgrass, “I +think you will agree with me that it is quite a problem +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +to try to find in Europe, at this particular +time, two girls I have never seen, that I may deliver +to them a small fortune, and claim one myself.”</p> +<p>“Say, this is getting worse and more of it!” +cried Ned. “What does it all mean, Professor? +Are you in earnest about these girls and the effect +of war noises on insects?”</p> +<p>“I am in earnest about both problems—never +more so,” was the answer, and it needed but a +glance at the face of the scientist to disclose this +fact. “But perhaps I had better explain.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you had,” said Jerry with a smile.</p> +<p>“And never mind about the insects—tell us +about the girls,” urged Bob.</p> +<p>“Yes, relieve his mind,” agreed Ned. “He +hasn’t heard from his dear Helena in some hours, +I guess.”</p> +<p>“Oh, cut it out!” protested the stout lad.</p> +<p>“The two girls to whom I refer,” went on Professor +Snodgrass, “are the nieces of my late +friend, Professor Emil Petersen.”</p> +<p>“The man who wrote the book on trigonometry +that we used to study at Boxwood Hall?” +asked Ned.</p> +<p>“The same,” murmured Professor Snodgrass. +“Professor Petersen was an eminent mathematician, +and the world did not fully estimate his +worth. His mathematical work was only a branch +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +of his many-sided activities. Professor Petersen +died about three months ago, and he left me a +most peculiar legacy.”</p> +<p>“Peculiar in what way?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“It is like this,” said the little scientist, as he +pulled up a blade of grass, and examined it under +a powerful hand glass to see if any strange insects +might be crawling on it. “Professor Petersen, +unlike most of us professional men, was very +wealthy. He was a Swede, and his wealth came to +him from his father. He never used much of it, +and the money accumulated.</p> +<p>“After his death I was surprised to learn that +he had made me one of his heirs, but under certain +conditions. It appears that in his younger +days Professor Petersen was estranged from his +brother and sister, on account of some family matters. +They received an equal share with him from +their father’s estate, but they made unwise investments, +and soon lost the major portion of their +inheritances. The professor kept his. Perhaps +that was one reason for the estrangement.</p> +<p>“At any rate, some coldness existed, and it was +not until just before his death that the professor +wished to be reconciled. Then it was too late, as +his brother and sister were both dead. But each +had left a daughter, and the young ladies were +studying abroad—somewhere in France or Germany, +I believe, when the war broke out. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>“I was greatly surprised, when the will was +made public, to learn that I was to have half the +professor’s not inconsiderable wealth, on a certain +condition.”</p> +<p>“And what condition?” remarked Jerry, as the +professor hesitated.</p> +<p>“That condition is as follows. I am to seek out +these two nieces of my dead friend and give them +each a fourth of his estate. The other half I am +to have for myself if I fulfill the trust. That is, I +get it if I can succeed in finding the two girls, and +I need not tell you that I shall be very glad of the +large sum of money—not for myself, oh, no!” +said Professor Snodgrass quickly, “but that I may +devote it to the furtherance of the interests of +science. If I can solve the problem, and find the +two girls, I shall have a large sum at my disposal, +and I can then fulfill a life-long desire to undertake +the study of the insects of the Amazon River. +That is what I have always desired to do since I +took up my studies, but I always lacked the means. +Now, if I succeed in finding these two girls, I shall +have wealth enough to travel in South America.”</p> +<p>“And where are the girls?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“Somewhere in Germany or France,” was the +answer. “The latter country, I think. I have, +among my papers, their last address. But since +the war there is no telling where I may find them. +I have written a number of letters, but have had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +no answers. Now I must go to seek them, and, +at the same time, make a study of the effect of battle +noises on crickets and grasshoppers. Is it any +wonder that I seem puzzled? Was there ever +such a hard problem for a peace-loving scientist +to solve?”</p> +<p>“It isn’t going to be easy,” admitted Ned. +“Then you really expect to go across?”</p> +<p>“Yes. And since I understand you are going, +we may go together; or at least meet there, for I +suppose I shall not be allowed on a transport, being +a civilian.”</p> +<p>“Hardly,” assented Jerry. “But if, as you +say, you have passports and credentials and letters +of introduction, it may be arranged. You had +better see our colonel. He seems to have taken +quite a notion to you.”</p> +<p>“Thank you; I will,” promised the scientist. +“And now I think I had better go back and see +about Ticula and Pete Bumps. Pete may be worried +about me.”</p> +<p>“Just a moment,” suggested Ned. “If we are +to help you in the search for these two girls, we +ought to know something more about them.”</p> +<p>“That is right,” assented the professor; “and +I hope you will help me. The problem of finding +the two young ladies would be easy were it not +for the war. But they have been missing since +the conflict started, and I can get no trace of them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +I hope they are still living, for, if they are +dead, all the wealth Professor Petersen left goes +to a humane society for the care of distressed cats +and dogs and to provide a shelter for them. Not +that I object to cats and dogs,” he hastily added, +“but I think some other form of scientific activity +might be chosen. However, Professor Petersen +was very peculiar, and, after all, it was his money. +Will you boys help me?”</p> +<p>“Indeed we will!” cried Jerry. “But how are +we to go about it? What part of France were +the girls last in?”</p> +<p>“And what are their names?” Bob demanded.</p> +<p>“And what do they look like?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“That last question I can answer first,” said +the professor. “I happen to have recent pictures +of them. They sent them to their uncle following +the deaths of their parents, and after the reconciliation, +and Professor Petersen left them to me, +with certain other material, documents and such, +to aid me in the search. Here are the girls—their +names are Gladys Petersen and Dorothy +Gibbs.”</p> +<p>He reached in his pocket and took out a folded +paper. As he opened it he gave a start and hastily +closed it again.</p> +<p>“That isn’t it,” he murmured. “Those are +some dried specimens of <i>ameba</i> that I wish to +study under a microscope.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p> +<p>“What are <i>ameba</i>?” asked Jerry. “Fish?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly,” answered the professor with a +smile, “though I secured these from a little pond +on the other side of the camp. <i>Ameba</i> are microorganisms +of the simplest structure—a protoplasm +which is constantly changing in shape. Very interesting—very +interesting indeed, but not the pictures +of the girls. Ah, here they are,” he added, +as he replaced the first paper and took out a second. +From the folds of that he produced two +unmounted photographs at which the boys gazed +with interest.</p> +<p>They saw the likenesses of two pretty girls in +traveling costume, and the pictures had, obviously, +been snapped by an amateur at some country +place, for there was a barn and fields in the background.</p> +<p>“The girls took these pictures themselves, I +understand,” explained the professor. “They +sent them to their uncle.”</p> +<p>“Which is which?” asked Jerry. “I mean +which is Gladys and which is Dorothy?”</p> +<p>“The names are on the reverse side of the +photographs, I believe,” said the professor, and +so it proved.</p> +<p>“They are both pretty,” observed Jerry.</p> +<p>“I rather fancy Gladys,” murmured Ned.</p> +<p>“Dorothy seems real jolly,” stated Bob.</p> +<p>“Here! None of that, young man, or I’ll write +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +to Helena Schaeffer, and tell her how you’re carrying +on!” warned Jerry, shaking a finger at his +stout chum.</p> +<p>“Aw, you––” began Bob.</p> +<p>But at that moment there came an interruption. +A small, very much excited lad came fairly bounding +over the grass toward the figures of the three +chums and Professor Snodgrass.</p> +<p>“Oh, here you are!” cried the newcomer. +“Found you at last—thought I never would—asked +everybody—nearly got stabbed by a sentry—had +to jump out of the way of a bullet—whoop—but +here I am—Gosh! Say, it’s good to see +you again—I told ’em I could find you—awful +hot, ain’t it? Lots of things going on—never +saw so many soldiers in all my life—here they are, +girls! I found ’em!”</p> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry gazed in amazement at +the small lad. Ned murmured his name—Andy +Rush—and then Jerry, looking over the head of +the excited little chap, descried three girls approaching.</p> +<p>“Girls! Girls!” murmured the tall lad. +“More girls! What does it mean?”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_NODDY_NIXON' id='CHAPTER_VI_NODDY_NIXON'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>NODDY NIXON</h3> +</div> +<p>Events were transpiring so rapidly for Ned, +Bob and Jerry in the last few hours, that it was +no wonder they were somewhat startled. Coming +from strenuous bayonet practice to hear of a spy +alarm, to have that augmented by excitement over +the big snake, to learn that the “spy” was none +other than Professor Snodgrass, and then to hear +of his strange mission, would have been almost +too much for any group of lads less sophisticated +than this trio.</p> +<p>And hardly had they digested the news about +the two missing girls, in a search for whom they +mentally agreed they would join, than along came +excitable Andy Rush and—more girls.</p> +<p>“There’s Mollie Horton!” cried Ned, recognizing +a girl who lived near him in Cresville, and +with whom he was very friendly.</p> +<p>“Yes, and I see Alice Vines,” added Jerry.</p> +<p>“And Helen Gale is with her,” commented Bob. +“I’m glad she came! Helen’s a great girl for +sport and––”</p> +<p>“You’d better be careful how you talk,” warned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +Jerry, as the girls continued to approach. “Helen +and Helena are names very much alike, but if you +get them mixed up—well, Helen isn’t one to stand +any nonsense.”</p> +<p>“Aw, say––” began Bob, and then the nearer +approach of the three girls, to whom Andy Rush +was beckoning, put a stop to any further talk concerning +them.</p> +<p>It might be added, to explain Jerry’s reference, +that Helena Schaeffer was a girl in whom Bob +Baker felt more than ordinary interest. At first, +because of the pro-German leanings of her father, +she had been a bit cold toward Bob when he joined +the army with his chums, to fight the Kaiser. +But, as readers of the volume preceding this know, +Helena changed her attitude, much to Bob’s relief.</p> +<p>“Well, of all the sights that are good for sore +eyes!” cried Ned, as he hurried forward to greet +the girls, an example followed by his chums. +“What fine wind blew you here?”</p> +<p>“We didn’t come in an airship!” burst out +Andy Rush. “I wanted to, but they wouldn’t—’fraid +they’d fall—swoop up—swoop down—get +here quicker—fall maybe—maybe not—lots of +fun, anyhow. Gosh, it’s great—I say, fellows, +are you going––”</p> +<p>Jerry gently but firmly took hold of Andy by +the ear, and, pointing to Professor Snodgrass, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +who was wandering about a distant field in search +of possible insects, said:</p> +<p>“Andy, you go and aid in the interests of +science, and, incidentally, cool off. We’ll see you +later.”</p> +<p>And Andy, whose rapid flow of words had been +suddenly stopped, looked once at the tall, bronzed +lad, and then followed the instructions to the letter. +So, whether he wanted it or not, Professor +Snodgrass had the assistance of the small youth.</p> +<p>“Well! Well!” exclaimed Jerry, as he shook +hands lingeringly with Alice. “How did you get +here?”</p> +<p>“Going to enlist?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Maybe they’re going to join the girls’ motor +corps,” suggested Bob, who had attached himself +to Helen.</p> +<p>“No, we just came on a visit,” explained Mollie.</p> +<p>“To see us?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Of course!” was the mischievous answer. +“We got lonesome back in Cresville, with all the +nice boys gone, and so we got Andy to bring us +down here.”</p> +<p>“And if we believe that, I suppose you’ll tell +us another,” laughed Jerry. “Seriously now, how +did you happen to come, and how long are you +going to stay? Fellows, we’ll have to get furloughs +and take the girls around. Not that there’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +much to see down here, but we’ll do our best,” +he added.</p> +<p>“Cease! Cease!” commanded Ned, holding +up his hand like a traffic officer in front of Jerry. +“Let’s hear how they happened to come.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that is soon told,” remarked Alice. +“Mollie’s aunt lives not far from here.”</p> +<p>“And she invited Mollie down on a visit,” +added Helen. “And Mollie was good enough to +ask us, so we all came together. We reached +there yesterday, and, knowing you boys were at +camp here, we decided to come out to see you, +which we have done.”</p> +<p>“And for which we are duly grateful,” added +Jerry. “But what about Andy Rush? I never +was more surprised in my life when I heard his +usual flow of language. How did he happen to +be with you?”</p> +<p>“That was just an accident, a coincidence, or +whatever you want to call it,” said Mollie, with a +laugh. “When Andy heard we were coming down +this way he asked if he couldn’t come with us. +He says he is going to enlist. He isn’t going to +wait to be drafted. He said he’d sort of look +after us on our way down.”</p> +<p>“But it’s been the other way about!” laughed +Alice. “We’ve had to watch him all the while. +He was always hopping about, talking to strangers, +and every time the train stopped at a station +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +longer than a minute he’d get off, and we’d be in +a fix for fear he’d be left. But he’s here, thank +goodness!”</p> +<p>“Going to enlist!” cried Ned. “Why, he’s too +<i>small</i>.”</p> +<p>“That’s what they told him back in Cresville +when he tried it,” remarked Alice. “But we must +give Andy credit for being a determined little +chap. He’s sixteen, and he says lots of boys of +sixteen have gone in, and he’s going. He said if +the recruiting officer at home wouldn’t take him +one here at camp might. So he came with us, and +I believe he’s going to ask you boys to use your +influence to get him into the army.”</p> +<p>“A heap of influence we have!” laughed Ned. +“Privates—with Jerry just made corporal.”</p> +<p>“Well, Andy was very nice to us on the way +down,” said Helen, “so please do all you can for +him.”</p> +<p>“We will!” promised Jerry. “And now tell us +about yourselves, and how all the folks are at +home. Oh, but it’s great to see you again!”</p> +<p>Then followed a talk until it was time for the +three chums to report for drill duty.</p> +<p>“What are you girls going to do this evening?” +asked Bob.</p> +<p>The girls looked at one another.</p> +<p>“Oh, just sit around, I suppose,” remarked +Mollie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>“No, you’re not!” cried Jerry. “There’s a +dance in town—a really nice place—and we’ve +been wishing for some girls to come along to help +us out. It’s under the auspices of the local Y. W. +C. A. And if we can get off––”</p> +<p>“Oh, we’ll get off all right!” broke in Ned +eagerly.</p> +<p>“If worst comes to worst, we’ll have the professor +ask the colonel on our behalf. The prof +seems to pull a pretty good stroke with the C. O. +So a dance it is to be!” declared Bob.</p> +<p>And a dance it was. The boys received permission +to remain away from camp until midnight, +passes being issued to them, and they at once proceeded +to “doll up,” as Bob expressed it.</p> +<p>A joyous week followed, for the girls were to +remain in the vicinity of Camp Dixton, at Mollie’s +aunt’s house for some time, and they asked nothing +better than to have the company of the three +chums as often as it might be possible.</p> +<p>Of course, Ned, Bob and Jerry did not have +very much time to themselves during the day, and +some of their nights were occupied. But fate +was kind to them, and they had several dances +with the girls, and also went to “shows” at the +local Y. M. C. A., as well as entertaining the girls +by escorting them about the cantonment.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, Professor Snodgrass received permission +to loose his pet snake, Ticula, in certain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +restricted areas, so that he might observe her feeding +habits in the open.</p> +<p>“But I cannot stay here very long,” he told the +boys. “I must soon begin to prepare for my trip +to Europe. I simply must make an attempt to +find those two girls.”</p> +<p>“And we’ll help you!” declared Jerry. “Just +wait a few days more. I think our orders to go +across are coming.”</p> +<p>And come the orders did. The day before the +three home-town girls were to return to Cresville +orders came for the larger part of the soldiers at +Camp Dixton to leave for France.</p> +<p>“Hurray!” cried Ned, Bob and Jerry, as they +saw the orders posted. “Now we’ll get a whack +at the Germans!”</p> +<p>“And I’m going, too!” declared Andy Rush. +“I’ll go if I have to leave as a stowaway! I’ve +simply got to fight—get me a gun—let me go in +an aeroplane—I want action—got to do something—can’t +keep still—Hurray for Uncle Sam!”</p> +<p>“Say, you’ll burst a blood vessel if you aren’t +careful!” cautioned Ned. “Better go slow, +Andy.”</p> +<p>But Andy Rush was not the lad for that, and +he hurried about the camp, more excited than +ever, seeking for a chance to go abroad.</p> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry, with thousands of their +chums, were to go to Hoboken, New Jersey, there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +to go aboard a transport and be escorted to +France. By a stroke of good luck, and by pulling +some official, or scientific wires, Professor Snodgrass +received permission to go on the same vessel. +He hurriedly sent his pet snake to a museum +to be cared for until his return, mailed his specimens +of <i>ameba</i> to a scientific friend to be made +into microscopical slides, and then, having fitted +himself out with as many specimen boxes and +other paraphernalia as he was permitted to take, +announced that he was ready for his dual mission—the +seeking out of the two girls that he might +apprise them of their good fortune and to undertake +the study of the effect of war noises on crickets +and katydids.</p> +<p>The final drills, bayonet practices, hikes and +other camp activities were held, and then the order +came to break camp. Professor Snodgrass +went on ahead, promising to meet the three chums +in Hoboken, and Mollie, Alice and Helen departed +for Cresville, their good-byes to the boys +being rather tearful, it must be admitted.</p> +<p>As for Andy Rush, he disappeared on the day +when the young soldiers were to take the train for +the North, and no one seemed to know what had +become of him.</p> +<p>“Guess he found he couldn’t get in the army, +and he went back home,” remarked Ned.</p> +<p>Finally the three chums were on their way for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +the fighting front with thousands of fellow soldiers, +some being volunteers and others of the +selective service.</p> +<p>Many and varied were the thoughts of our +heroes as the train bore them northward. What +would be their fate in France? Would they ever +see home again, or would they be left across the +water with the others who died that civilization +might live? And mingled with these thoughts +were others as to the mission of Professor Snodgrass.</p> +<p>“It surely is some commission—trying to find +two girls with just their photographs and nothing +much else to go by,” commented Ned.</p> +<p>“But we have done harder things,” added +Jerry.</p> +<p>The journey North was rather tiresome, but +the boys and their companions enlivened it as +much as possible by singing, telling stories, and +general activities.</p> +<p>Once, when the train was delayed at a junction +the three Cresville friends got out, as did hundreds +of others, to “stretch their legs.” There +was another train-load of young soldiers on a siding, +having come from another camp, and lads +from this were also walking up and down.</p> +<p>As Ned, Bob and Jerry stood together, looking +at a group of recruits who had been trained in +Texas, they heard a voice saying: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p> +<p>“This drafting business makes me sick! I don’t +like it at all!”</p> +<p>“Maybe you’d rather have been passed over,” +suggested some one.</p> +<p>“Naw, you get me wrong!” was the answer. “I +want to fight all right, but I want to do it my own +way. I’d have enlisted in the air service if they’d +given me time enough. I was thinking of it when +the draft law went into effect, and then I couldn’t. +I know a lot about airships. I used to run one, +and I invented one, too.”</p> +<p>“Did it fly?” some one wanted to know.</p> +<p>“It would have if it hadn’t been for some mean +fellows in my town who didn’t want me to beat +them,” was the announcement. “You wait until +I get on the other side! I’ll show ’em what flying +is, if they give me the chance, and Jerry Hopkins +and his pals sha’n’t stop me, either!”</p> +<p>“Did you hear that?” asked Ned in a low +voice.</p> +<p>“I should say so!” exclaimed Bob. “We ought +to know who that is.”</p> +<p>“Noddy Nixon, without a doubt!” remarked +Jerry. “And up to his old tricks! I hope he +isn’t going on the same transport with us!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_OFF_FOR_FRANCE' id='CHAPTER_VII_OFF_FOR_FRANCE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>OFF FOR FRANCE</h3> +</div> +<p>Noddy Nixon needs no introduction to my old +readers. This rich and impudent lad had, more +than once, done his best to injure the Motor Boys, +and, with the plotting of Jack Pender and Bill +Berry, a Cresville n’er-do-well, had too often succeeded.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t see anything of Bill or Jack,” +observed Jerry, as he looked toward Noddy +Nixon, and noted, that the bully was surrounded +by a group of strange recruits.</p> +<p>“Yes, if he’s by himself he won’t be so hard to +handle,” agreed Ned. “But I wonder where he +came from? He ought to be in jail!”</p> +<p>“I suppose he came from some training camp—same +as we did,” observed Bob. “And he +looks as though he had been well fed, too. He’s +as fat as butter.”</p> +<p>“That’s Chunky all over—thinking of the eating +end,” laughed Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes, Noddy is fat all right—too fat!” declared +Jerry. “He hasn’t been drilled as hard as we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +have, or else he got a desk position somewhere +and held on to it.”</p> +<p>“Did you hear the bluff he was throwing about +trying to enlist in the air service?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” agreed his tall chum. “Talk about his +being an expert flier! Say, do you remember his +<i>Tin Fly</i>?”</p> +<p>“I should say so!” laughed Bob. “The flying +machine that wouldn’t go up. That was a hot +one! But keep quiet—he’s looking over this +way.”</p> +<p>Noddy, indeed, seemed to have his attention +attracted to the three friends. At first he looked +uncomprehendingly, and then, as the features of +the lads toward whom he had acted so meanly +became plainer, he stared and finally exclaimed:</p> +<p>“What are you fellows doing here?”</p> +<p>“The same as you, I imagine,” was Jerry’s cool +answer. “We are going to fight in France.”</p> +<p>Jerry said afterward he wanted to add that he +and his chums had “volunteered” to do this fighting, +but he did not think it would be quite fair to +the drafted men with Noddy who, to do them justice, +were in the same class as the best of patriots. +The selective service law solved many problems, +but Noddy’s was not among them. As the boys +learned later, the town bully had done his best to +evade the draft, and had only registered when +threatened with military action. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>Then he made a virtue of necessity and talked +big about having tried to volunteer in the air service, +only to be refused. But most of those who +heard Noddy Nixon talk understood him, and +were not at all taken in.</p> +<p>“Where’d you fellows train?” asked Noddy, +moving over toward his Cresville acquaintances.</p> +<p>“Camp Dixton,” answered Ned. Then he +added to Bob and Jerry: “Come on, fellows, I +think our train’s about to pull out.”</p> +<p>None of the Motor Boys had any relish for +talk with their former enemy. As for Noddy, he +seemed to think he was doing them a favor by +noticing them, and as they turned away he said:</p> +<p>“Camp Dixton isn’t in it with Upyank, where +our bunch was trained! We’ll show you when we +get to France!”</p> +<p>“I hope we don’t run across him,” murmured +Jerry, as they got back to their seats, for Ned’s +alarm had proved true, and their train soon did +pull out. Noddy and his crowd were a little later +in starting from the junction, and then, as the +Motor Boys were hauled on to their destination to +embark for France, they discussed the past doings +of the bully, and wondered how he would +conduct himself in war.</p> +<p>From that they switched to the more pleasant +topic of the recent visit of the girls, and speculated +on what had become of Andy Rush. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>“They might enlist him and let him talk some +of the Huns to death,” suggested Ned. “He +could do that to perfection. But I’m afraid he’s +too small to get in the army.”</p> +<p>“I wonder if we’ll ever find the professor’s two +girls?” ventured Bob, meaning thereby Gladys +Petersen and Dorothy Gibbs.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe we’ll have much time to look +for them, if the fighting keeps up as fiercely as it +has,” and Jerry handed his chums a paper he had +purchased, which gave a detailed account of some +of the first fighting of the American Expeditionary +Force, in the Toul sector, at Seicheprey. This +fighting had taken place in April, and it was late +in June when Ned, Bob and Jerry, with others +from their camp, were on their way to France in +that great movement of troops which was to +prove the turning, and winning, point of the war. +The account in the paper of the fighting at Seicheprey +was a delayed one sent through the mail by +a correspondent.</p> +<p>“Yes, it is getting hot,” observed Ned. “But +still we promised the professor we’d help him look +for the girls.”</p> +<p>“And so we shall, if we get the chance,” declared +Jerry. “I know what it would mean to the +professor if he lost his half of the fortune and +had to give up his work on the insects of the +Amazon. Oh, we’ll help him all right!”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus-057.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 367px; height: 571px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 367px;'> +THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS WERE CROWDING ON BOARD.<br /> +<i>Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line.</i> <i>Page 57</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></div> +<p>The journey of the boys to the “Atlantic Seaport,” +as Hoboken and New York, as well as +other well-known cities, were called in the newspapers +during the war, was not eventful. Their +train was one of many hundreds rushing troops +to the transports, and in due time Ned, Bob and +Jerry found themselves getting off at a big dock +in Hoboken and going aboard a transport—a former +German liner, her machinery rebuilt after the +ship’s German crew had done their best to disable +it.</p> +<p>“Well, we’re here!” announced Jerry, as he +eased his pack from his shoulders to the deck, an +example followed by Ned and Bob.</p> +<p>“Yes, we’re here, and we’ll soon be—there!” +and Ned nodded in the direction of France—or +where he thought it was.</p> +<p>Somewhere a band was playing. Thousands of +soldiers were crowding on board, and there would +be more thousands after them—a stream that +would not end until Prussianism had been dealt its +death-blow.</p> +<p>There was a period of seeming chaos while the +troops were getting settled and disposing of their +baggage. Then the three chums had a chance to +look about them, and proceeding to the stern of +the vessel they glanced across the Hudson to New +York, where the towering buildings showed dimly +through a harbor haze. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></p> +<p>“Wonder when we’ll see them again,” remarked +Jerry, in a low voice.</p> +<p>Neither of his chums answered. They were +thinking, though.</p> +<p>Late that afternoon the preparation and bustle +seemed redoubled. More soldiers and a number +of officers came aboard, and then, suddenly, after +bugles had blared and bells had clanged, there +was a tremor through the big transport.</p> +<p>“We’re off!” cried Bob.</p> +<p>“For France!” added Ned.</p> +<p>“And I’m glad to be with you!” said a voice +behind Jerry, who, turning, beheld Professor +Snodgrass.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_TRAINING_CAMP' id='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_TRAINING_CAMP'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE TRAINING CAMP</h3> +</div> +<p>My readers may well guess that Ned, Bob and +Jerry were glad to see the scientist. He was +like part of their “own folks,” and though they +had many friends among their army chums, and +though they liked, and were liked, by their officers, +our three heroes felt that with Professor Snodgrass +along it was like taking part of Cresville +aboard with them.</p> +<p>“So you got here all right, did you?” asked +Ned with a smile, as he and the others shook +hands with the scientist.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’m here; and I wish we were across. I +dread the voyage.”</p> +<p>“Submarines?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, I wasn’t thinking of them,” answered +the professor. “But I am anxious to get across, +not only to begin my study of the effect of war +noises on European insects, but to search for those +two young ladies. I have been reading considerable +about war conditions in France and Germany +since Professor Petersen made me his part heir, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +and I fear the young ladies may have a hard +time.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they are very likely to,” assented Ned. +“But until we get there we can’t do anything to +help them. However, we’ll do our best for you +and them when we do get there—if we have a +chance—after getting a Hun or two,” he added.</p> +<p>“That’s right,” said Mr. Snodgrass. “The winning +of the war is the first consideration. I wish +I were young enough to fight. But I have contributed +to the Red Cross, to the Salvation Army, +the Knights of Columbus and the Y. M. C. A. +and the Y. W. C. A.; and I’ve mailed every magazine +I finished reading and sent over all the books +I could spare.”</p> +<p>The boys winked at one another. They gave +full credit to Professor Snodgrass for his contributions +to the five organizations, which, with the +Jewish Welfare League, did so much to help win +the war.</p> +<p>“But if the boys in camp over there had to depend +for reading on the dry, scientific magazines +and books the professor sent them they’d be hard +put,” commented Jerry to his chums, afterward.</p> +<p>“Well, we’re moving, anyhow,” observed Bob, +as he and the others noticed that tugs were backing +the transport out into the river. “Now that +we’re under way, don’t you think we’d better go +and see about––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>“Grub!” finished Jerry, fairly taking the word +out of Chunky’s mouth.</p> +<p>The stout lad glared a moment, and then said:</p> +<p>“Well, yes, grub! Why not? We have to +eat, don’t we?”</p> +<p>“You said it, Bob!” exclaimed Ned. “Go to +it!”</p> +<p>But the boys found they need not have worried +about the matter of eating or sleeping. Competent +hands had the comfort of the soldiers in +charge and there was nothing lacking that could +be obtained. They were taken in charge by officers, +divided into squads, assigned to certain lifeboats, +and told where to report when an alarm +for a submarine attack, real or simulated, was +sounded.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass told how he had secured +permission to come aboard the transport with his +friends, the young soldiers—no easy matter—and +how he had been designated as a “correspondent,” +though Jerry Hopkins, on hearing this, remarked:</p> +<p>“I suppose if he did send any news it would be +to the <i>Bug Hunter’s Review</i>, describing the life +of an insect on an army transport.”</p> +<p>“Very likely,” agreed Ned.</p> +<p>And so, amid the blaring whistle salutes of river +craft, the former German liner dropped down the +bay and started for France with the young soldiers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +who were to do their part in ending barbarous +militarism forever.</p> +<p>It was not exactly a gay trip. There were many +who were seasick in spite of the calm weather, and +there was little to do on board. Only a few books +were available to read, and these were in constant +use. Aside from lifeboat drill there was +little to occupy the boys.</p> +<p>But there was always the fear of a submarine +attack when they should reach the infested zone, +and the boys looked forward to this as something +that would relieve the monotony.</p> +<p>There was a gun crew on the transport—several +of them, in fact—and the troop ships were +escorted by war vessels and the swift, snake-like +destroyers, which moved with such remarkable +speed.</p> +<p>One day, after the usual lifeboat drill, which +was held at different hours each day so that none +would suspect when it was coming, the three chums +were standing near the forward gun, rather idly +scanning the water. The night had been a dreary +one, cooped up as they were in the darkness, for +now that they were approaching the danger zone, +all but the most necessary lights were dimmed.</p> +<p>Up above, and on various parts of the deck, +were the lookouts, scanning with strained and +eager eyes the expanse of water ahead of them for +a sight of the white wake that would indicate a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +periscope, or, perchance, hoping to see the wet, +glistening sides of a “steel fish” itself, as it broke +water before sending the deadly torpedo.</p> +<p>“Well, boys, how goes it?” asked a voice behind +the three chums, and they recognized Professor +Snodgrass.</p> +<p>As Jerry turned to speak to him, having finished +a remark in which he had speculated as to +what had become of Noddy Nixon, who was not +on board, one of the men cried:</p> +<p>“What’s that?”</p> +<p>He pointed to a spot about two points off the +port bow, and Ned, Bob and Jerry, as well as +several others, distinctly saw a little commotion +in the water.</p> +<p>“A sub, as sure as you’re a foot high!” cried +a marine, just as a bugle call to quarters was +blown, for a lookout, too, had observed the disturbance +in the water.</p> +<p>Instantly the gun crew was in action, and several +shots were fired from the bow gun. The reports +had hardly ceased echoing when some remarkable +activity was displayed, not only aboard +the transport, but on the part of the convoying +squadron.</p> +<p>As the shells splashed into the sea near the spot +where the commotion had been observed, there +were smudges of black smoke at several points on +either side of the troopship. These were the funnels +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +of the destroyers belching out clouds of vapor +that told of their approach under forced draught. +And as the other guns on the transport awoke and +began firing on the suspected submarine, up came +racing the swift craft, the men on board eagerly +looking for a target.</p> +<p>Then their big guns got into action, and for a +time the sea in the vicinity of the suspected place +was churned by exploding shells, while one destroyer, +the fastest of the flotilla, shot right over +the place where the lookout thought he had seen +a periscope, and dropped two depth bombs that +added further to the churning of Neptune’s element.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, for the second occasion in a short +time, lifeboat stations were sounded, and the soldiers, +donning their life preservers, took their +places to await what might follow—possibly, an +order to abandon ship after she had been struck +by a torpedo.</p> +<p>But this contingency did not arise. The destroyers +swarmed around the transport, seeking in +vain for something substantial on which to expend +their ammunition, and then the scare was +over.</p> +<p>And whether it was only a scare, or whether a +real submarine had shown her periscope and then +dived before sending a torpedo, could, of course, +only be surmised. But no chances were being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +taken, and the transport on which the Cresville +boys traveled was not the only one of the American +Expeditionary Forces that believed itself the +object of a frustrated attack.</p> +<p>“If that was a sub, it came out pretty far to +meet us,” observed Jerry, when the excitement had +died away and they were at ease once more.</p> +<p>“No telling where they’ll be found,” said a noncommissioned +officer. “If that had been one I +believe we’d have got her, though.”</p> +<p>“Surest thing you know!” declared Ned Slade +emphatically.</p> +<p>This was the only incident that marked the passage. +Of course, at various times, especially during +the nights, the lookouts may have imagined +they saw the wake of a periscope or a torpedo, +but there was no general alarm.</p> +<p>And finally, after what really was a tiresome +voyage, and one the end of which was welcomed +by all, the transport docked at a certain port in +France, and Ned, Bob and Jerry were able, with +their water-weary comrades, to go ashore.</p> +<p>“Here at last!” murmured Jerry, as he and his +chums sought their own company.</p> +<p>“And where are the Huns we’re going to +fight?” asked Bob, looking around at the strange +scenes.</p> +<p>“Oh, we won’t see them right away,” returned +Ned. “It’ll be more training camp for ours for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +a while. But we’ll see real fighting soon enough. +Don’t worry.”</p> +<p>“It can’t come any too soon for me, Buddy!” +exclaimed a tall, Southern lad, with whom the +Motor Boys had become chummy at Camp Dixton. +“Lead me to it!”</p> +<p>But there was much to be done before this +would occur. After the boys had disembarked +they were inspected, roll was called, and then they +were told to march to a designated depot, there +to eat and be fitted out for a march to the French +village where they were to be billeted until sent to +a training camp.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass could not, of course, stay +with the army boys, but he announced that he +would follow them as closely as possible, and keep +in communication with them. As soon as might +be he would arrange to begin the search for the +two missing girls.</p> +<p>Not all that Ned, Bob and Jerry had read of +the gigantic work undertaken to fit out and maintain +the American armies in France prepared them +for what they saw. The port where the transport +docked had been transformed. Great storehouses +and warehouses were erected. Whole railway +systems had been built, with the American locomotives +replacing the diminutive French ones. And +the French population and army representatives +were as much surprised at the initiative and wonderful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +progress of the American forces as were +the new recruits themselves.</p> +<p>“Say, we’re going into this war with both feet!” +exclaimed Jerry admiringly.</p> +<p>“That’s the only way to do it,” said Ned. “The +harder we go at it the sooner it will be over.”</p> +<p>They had their “chow,” and even Bob admitted +that it was “mighty good,” and, as you +know, he was a connoisseur.</p> +<p>Then, with their comrades, the three Motor +Boys marched to the place where they were to +spend the night before going to the training camp. +This was a small French village, and its quaint +beauty, unspoiled by the Germans, was very attractive +to the sea-weary soldiers.</p> +<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry were billeted with five others +at a French farmhouse, where they were given +beds in the attic. The “beds” were only piles of +clean straw, but the lads were delighted with them +after their close bunks on the ship.</p> +<p>“I can roll over now without falling out,” said +Ned, with a sigh of comfort as he stretched out.</p> +<p>They drew their rations the following morning, +and breakfasted most heartily, if not luxuriously, +and were ready for what the day held for +them. This was nothing else than a journey to +their training camp, which, they learned, was +some miles behind the front lines where the fighting +was going on. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>“But you’ll be moved up as fast as it’s possible +to do so,” said the officer who directed them. +“The fighting’s getting heavier and heavier.”</p> +<p>And this was true, for about this time the 42d +American Division was in position east of Rheims +where, a little later, a great German attack was +launched, and, as all the world now knows, was +flung back with disaster to the Hun forces.</p> +<p>The railroad journey, from a point near their +disembarkation port to their training camp, was +not a very comfortable one, as the troops had to +travel in cars that were used at times for horses. +But every one was in good spirits, and little inconveniences +were laughed at.</p> +<p>And finally, after three days, the welcome word +was given to leave the trains and march to the +camp. This was situated in a beautiful part of +France—that is, it had been beautiful before the +spoliation by the Huns, and there Ned, Bob and +Jerry, with thousands of their comrades, prepared +for the last phase of their training. Before +them was the enemy.</p> +<p>“Well, here at last!” remarked Jerry, as he +eased himself from his pack, and, with his two +chums, stacked the guns together. “I wonder +what happens first?”</p> +<p>“Suppose you come over and have some chocolate?” +suggested a voice behind the boys, and, +turning, they saw a pleasant-faced young man, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +whose hair, however, was gray. He wore a semi-military +uniform, but a glance at his sleeve showed +the red triangle, and the letters “Y. M. C. A.” +were not needed to tell his character.</p> +<p>“Come over and make yourselves at home,” he +went on. “You’ll have time before you’ll be +called on to report.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, we will,” said Jerry. “Some +chocolate would touch the spot.”</p> +<p>“I’ve got two spots that need touching,” +laughed Bob.</p> +<p>“Won’t you boys come, too?” invited the Y. M. +C. A. worker, as he turned to some others who +had marched up as Ned, Bob and Jerry were moving +away.</p> +<p>“What? Trail in with a lot of psalm-singing +goody-goodies?” was the sneering retort of one, +and it needed only a glance to show that the +speaker was Noddy Nixon.</p> +<p>“He’s here—worse luck!” murmured Ned.</p> +<p>“No Y. M. C. A. for mine!” sneered Noddy.</p> +<p>“Boor!” muttered Bob, in protest.</p> +<p>“There is a Knights of Columbus station next +to ours, and a Salvation Army hut, as well as a +Jewish Community station, here in camp,” was +the gentle answer of the secretary. “If you prefer +one of those you will be very welcome, I +know. We are all working together for you +boys.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>“None for mine!” sneered Noddy. “I want +some cigarettes!”</p> +<p>“I can let you have some at my <i>foyer</i>,” said the +secretary, with a smile. “I don’t smoke myself, +but I like the smell of it mighty well. Come +along.”</p> +<p>But Noddy laughed sneeringly, and would not +go. However, Ned, Bob and Jerry accompanied +the Y. M. C. A. man, and very glad they were to +buy, at a modest price, some cups of chocolate, +and also some cakes of it to put in their pockets.</p> +<p>“These Y. M. C. A. and K. C. places are all +to the merry!” voted Ned. “They were great +back at Camp Dixton, but they’re twice as good +here!”</p> +<p>“And we’ll look after you, as well as we can, +when you get on the firing line,” said their new +friend. “You’ll have to depend on the Salvation +Army lassies for doughnuts, but we can give you +smokes and chocolate almost any time. Have +some more!”</p> +<p>He made the boys and their comrades so welcome +that they hated to leave to go to roll call. +But this must be done, and soon they were assigned +to barracks, much the same as in Camp +Dixton.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_ON_THE_FIRING_LINE' id='CHAPTER_IX_ON_THE_FIRING_LINE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>ON THE FIRING LINE</h3> +</div> +<p>The training Ned, Bob and Jerry went through +in the French camp, though on a more intense +scale and with greater attention to detail, was +much like that which they had obtained at Camp +Dixton, and that has been related at length in the +volume preceding this.</p> +<p>There were the same drills to go through, only +they were harder, and in charge were men who +had seen terrible fighting. Some of them were +American army officers, sent back from the front +to instruct the new recruits, and others were +French and British officers, detailed to teach the +raw troops who, at first, were brigaded with the +veterans.</p> +<p>It was rise early in the morning, drill hard all +day, attend some school of instruction in the evening, +and then, after a brief visit perhaps to the +Y. M. C. A. hut or one of the other rest tents, go +to bed, to get up and do it all over again the next +day.</p> +<p>But the boys never felt it monotonous, nor did +they complain of the hard work. They knew it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +was necessary, and here on the very fighting +ground itself—in wonderful France—there was +a greater incentive to apply oneself to the mastering +of the lessons of the war.</p> +<p>Then, too, they saw or heard at first hand of +the indescribable cruelties and atrocities of the +Huns. Ned, Bob, Jerry, and their comrades saw +with what fervor the French and British were +proceeding with the war, and their own spirits +were inflamed.</p> +<p>No work was too hard for them, from learning +to throw hand grenades, taught by men who +had had them thrown at them, to digging trenches +laid out after the fashion of those on either side +of No Man’s Land. Then came small sham engagements, +when, imagining the sample trenches +to be held by Germans, a company would storm +them to drive out the “enemy.”</p> +<p>In fair and rainy weather this work went on, +and it rained more often than not, as Jerry wrote +home to his mother. The chums could write, but +there was no telling when the missives would be +delivered, nor when they would get any in return, +for there was such congestion that the mail service +broke down at times, and no wonder. So, though +eventually the home folks—and in them is included +“the girls”—got all the mail intended for them, +there were days of anxious waiting.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the Motor Boys were perfecting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +themselves as soldiers, and were winning the commendation +of their officers. Jerry was promoted +to be first corporal, and in his squad of seven were +Ned and Bob, much to their delight.</p> +<p>“It’s a pleasure to take orders from you, old +man,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“Well, I won’t give any more than I have to,” +remarked the tall lad, now taller and more +bronzed than ever.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass had managed to find quarters +in a village not far from camp, and from +there he came to see the boys occasionally. He +was getting his affairs in shape to proceed with +the study of the matter at present under his attention.</p> +<p>“Have you heard anything from Miss Petersen +or Miss Gibbs?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“No, not a word,” was the answer. “I have +sent several letters, and made inquiries of the +authorities here, but the latter give me very little +encouragement. That’s bad, too; for I’ve just +had word from home that makes my share in +that inheritance seem of more importance than +ever,” and the professor gave a little sigh.</p> +<p>“Why, what’s happened, Professor?” questioned +Jerry, with quick sympathy.</p> +<p>“I lent some money,” explained Professor +Snodgrass, “to one of my friends—an old friend +with whom I went through college—to help him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +over a hard place. But he has not got over his +troubles; in fact, his affairs are growing worse, +and it looks as if I would never get my money +back. And that will cripple me, cripple me badly, +boys. Yes, I need the money that Professor +Petersen was good enough to leave me.”</p> +<p>“Well, let’s hope that you find those girls +quickly, Professor, and get that inheritance very +soon,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“But I am afraid I shall have to wait until you +boys capture Germany, and then I can go in and +search.”</p> +<p>“Us boys—with help,” chuckled Jerry.</p> +<p>“Well, if it keeps up the way we’ve started +we’ll soon have the Hun on the run!” declared +Ned, and he spoke with some truth, for soon was +to be the beginning of the successful American advance.</p> +<p>Greatly to their relief the boys saw little of +Noddy Nixon, for he was housed in barracks at +the opposite end of the camp from those in which +they were billeted. But they met him occasionally, +and listened with ill-concealed disgust to his +boasts, and his talk of having tried in vain to enlist +before he was drafted.</p> +<p>“If they’d give me an aeroplane I’d go over the +German lines and make ’em sit up and take notice!” +boasted the bully.</p> +<p>“Why don’t you send home for what’s left of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +your ‘<i>Tin Fly</i>’?” asked Ned, with a wink at his +chums.</p> +<p>“Aw, you dry up!” commanded Noddy, for this +airship, which he had once built to compete in an +exhibition, was a sore point with him, as it had not +justified its name.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, all along the line in the sector +where the American troops were stationed hard +fighting was going on. On either flank were +French and English forces, but the boys of Uncle +Sam were holding up their end of the work exceedingly +well.</p> +<p>“When can we get into it?” sighed Ned one +evening, when reports came in of heavy fighting, +during which certain American units had won distinction.</p> +<p>“Very soon, so I hear,” returned Jerry. “Our +intensive training is nearly over. We may be +moved up to the front any day now.”</p> +<p>“The sooner the quicker,” cried Bob. “Maybe +the eats won’t be so good farther front, but we’ll +see some action!”</p> +<p>Of course, there had been “action” in plenty at +camp, but it was of the safe variety, and this did +not appeal to the boys.</p> +<p>Then their chance came. One morning after +drill emotion, like electricity, seemed to run +through the camp.</p> +<p>“What’s up?” came the queries from all sides. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>“We’re ordered to the firing line!” was the answer.</p> +<p>And then came cheers! Cheers that showed of +what stuff America’s fighters were made.</p> +<p>The news proved true. That evening, under +the cover of darkness, so that no lurking Hun +planes might detect the movement, a considerable +body of troops from the training camp was sent +up toward the front, to relieve some battle-scarred +units.</p> +<p>At first, as the three chums and their comrades +marched along, there was joking and laughing. +Then this died away. The seriousness of the situation +began to be comprehended. It was not +that any one was afraid. The boys were realizing +the gravity of the occasion, that was all.</p> +<p>“Hark! what’s that?” asked Bob, as he +marched along with Ned, Jerry, as corporal, being +file leader. “Is it thunder?”</p> +<p>They stepped lightly so as to listen more intently.</p> +<p>“The guns!” explained a lieutenant hurrying +past. “Those are the guns on the firing line you +hear. There must be a night attack.”</p> +<p>The guns of the front! Fighting was actually +very near, for, though the boys in camp had often +heard a distant rumble when there was a big +bombardment on, this was the first time they had +heard so plainly the hostile guns. It gave them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +a thrill, even as they felt the ground tremble beneath +them.</p> +<p>And so, in the darkness, they moved up to +their new camp—a camp on the very edge of the +fighting; and from where they came to a halt, to +wait for morning before being assigned to the +trenches, they could see the lurid fires that flared +across No Man’s Land.</p> +<p>Tired and weary, but with an eagerness nothing +could subdue, the chums and their comrades +awoke the next morning as the bugle called them. +At first they could not realize where they were, +and then with a rush it came to them.</p> +<p>“On the firing line!” cried Jerry. “Just where +we wanted to be! Now for some action!”</p> +<p>Hardly had he spoken when there sounded a +terrific explosion, and the boys were fairly blown +off their feet, toppling to the ground.</p> +<p>There was action for them!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_IN_THE_TRENCHES' id='CHAPTER_X_IN_THE_TRENCHES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>IN THE TRENCHES</h3> +</div> +<p>Stunned and bruised, the three chums and +several of their comrades around them were incapable +of action for a little while. Then, as +Jerry raised himself from the ground, he heard +Bob ask:</p> +<p>“What hit us, anyway? Are the Germans attacking?”</p> +<p>“Gee!” was Bob’s muttered protest.</p> +<p>“Get up!” some one cried. “You’re all right. +It was a bomb from a Hun plane, but it missed +its mark.”</p> +<p>“Seems to have hit me all right,” observed Ned, +whose face was bleeding, though only from +scratches.</p> +<p>“You were knocked down by the concussion,” +explained the officer who had told them to get up. +“It was a close call all right, but no one is hurt. +Fall in for roll call!”</p> +<p>Ned, Bob, Jerry, and some of the other soldiers +scrambled to their feet. They had been on +the point of answering roll call when the explosion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +came, and now that the danger was over, at least +for the time being, they had a chance to see what +had caused it.</p> +<p>The aeroplane from which the bomb had been +dropped was not now in sight, but this is what had +happened. One of the German machines passing +over the front line, as they often did, had escaped +the Allied craft, and had also managed to pass +through the firing of the anti-aircraft guns. +Whether the machine had gone some distance +back, hoping to drop bombs on an ammunition +dump, or whether it came over merely to take a +pot shot at the American trenches, was never +known.</p> +<p>But the aviator had dropped a large explosive +bomb, which, luckily for the Motor Boys and their +comrades, had fallen into an open space, though +not far from one of the camouflaged stations +where the soldiers were quartered before being +taken up to the front-line trenches. The explosion +had blown a big hole in the ground and damaged +some food stores, but that was all, except that +when the Americans were about to answer roll +call they were knocked down by the concussion, +and some, like Ned, were scratched and cut by +flying dirt and stones, or perhaps by fragments of +the bursting bomb.</p> +<p>“See, no one is hurt,” went on the officer, as if +to reassure those who were soon to take their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +places in the front-line trenches. “Good luck was +with you that time.”</p> +<p>“I hope it keeps up,” murmured Bob. “It’s a +mean trick to shoot a man before he has his +breakfast,” and then he wondered why the others +laughed.</p> +<p>They all looked curiously, and it may be said, +thankfully, at the big hole made by the bomb. As +the officer had said, only good luck had prevented +some of the boys from filling that hole.</p> +<p>After this Jerry was silent and thoughtful.</p> +<p>“Well, what’s next?” asked Ned, after an examination +had shown that his wounds were merely +scratches, for which he refused to go to the hospital, +or even a dressing station.</p> +<p>“Breakfast, I hope,” said Bob, and this it +proved to be.</p> +<p>The excitement caused by the dropping of the +bomb soon died away, though Ned, Bob, Jerry, +and some of the other soldiers who had not yet +been under hostile fire, felt their nerves a bit unsteady +for some time.</p> +<p>But the veterans, of whom there were many, +appeared to take it as a matter of course. It had +happened before, they said, and probably would +again.</p> +<p>“But that’s what we came here for—war,” remarked +Jerry, as he and his chums finished their +breakfast—no very elaborate meal, and one to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +which little time was given. “We’ve got to take +our chances.”</p> +<p>Up and down the line, on either side of the +sector where the three chums were to receive their +baptism of fire, already begun, could be heard dull +booming. It was the firing of heavy guns, and +might indicate an attack in progress or one being +repelled by either side. Here the Allied and German +lines were close together, in some places the +front-line trenches being less than six hundred +feet apart. Between was the famed and terrible +No Man’s Land.</p> +<p>“I wonder if Professor Snodgrass will ever get +up as far as this,” mused Ned, as they prepared +to go back to their quarters and begin the day’s +business.</p> +<p>“The firing wouldn’t keep him away, if he +thought he could find some bugs,” answered Jerry. +“And if he wants to ascertain the effect of noises +on crickets all he has to do is to bring the crickets +here. We can supply the noise.”</p> +<p>“I should say so!” agreed Bob. “It’s getting +worse, too! Listen to that!”</p> +<p>Indeed, with the broadening of day the noise +of the big and small guns increased. Whether a +great battle was impending or merely local engagements, +the boys had no means of knowing.</p> +<p>The position to which they had been brought, +and where they would spend about a week, holding +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +the front and supporting line trenches, until +relieved by a new command, ran up and over a +little wooded hill. From this vantage point, which +had more than once been stormed in vain by the +Germans, could be seen the country beyond No +Man’s Land—a portion of France held by the +enemy. And in the brief glimpse the Motor Boys +had of it, smoke-covered and stabbed with flashes +of fire here and there as it was, they saw something +of what war meant.</p> +<p>“The professor is going to have some job on +his hands if he expects to find any young ladies +on the other side of that,” and Ned waved his +hand to indicate the terrain possessed by the +Huns.</p> +<p>“Oh, we can get through if we attack in force,” +declared Bob. “And maybe that’s why they +brought us up—there may be going to be an attack.”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to get through—for objects big +and little; that the professor may find his girls +and his inheritance and,” and here Ned’s lips set +a little grimly, “that we may help to bring back +freedom to the earth.”</p> +<p>“There may be an attack all right, if Foch, +Pershing and the other generals think it’s a good +time for it,” said Jerry. “But as for having it +postponed until our arrival, well, you boys have +some ideas of your ability.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I didn’t mean that!” cried Bob. “I meant +that maybe we’d be in the big battle.”</p> +<p>“I hope we are,” said Ned. “We want to do +our share.”</p> +<p>This opportunity soon came to the boys. As +soon as they reached their headquarters—a series +of ruined buildings in which they had passed the +night—they were told to get ready to go up and +take their places in the trenches. But first they +were given a little talk by one of the officers, who +explained the necessity of donning gas masks at +the first alarm. Other instructions were given, +and then, when it was seen that every man had +everything he needed, from the first-aid kit to the +grotesque-looking gas mask, the trip to the first-line +trenches was begun.</p> +<p>So much has been written about the World War +that it seems needless to explain anything about +the trenches. As all know, they were a series of +ditches, about six feet deep, dug along in front +of similar ditches constructed by the enemy. The +distance between the two lines of trenches varied +from a few hundred feet to several thousand.</p> +<p>The ditches, or trenches, were not in straight +rows. They zig-zagged to make attacks on them +more difficult. There were several rows of +trenches on both sides of No Man’s Land. This +was so that in the event of an attack the men +could fall back from one line of trenches to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +other, fighting meanwhile to drive off the enemy.</p> +<p>The trenches were narrow, about wide enough +for one man, though two might pass by squeezing. +At intervals, however, were wider places where +food or wound-dressing emergency stations could +be established. At other places there were large +excavations where dugouts were constructed, and +there relief parties rested and slept if they could +between periods of duty.</p> +<p>The bottoms of some of the trenches were covered +with “duck boards,” or short planks, with +spaces between to let the water run out, and in +certain parts of France it seemed to some of the +boys to rain about three hundred out of the three +hundred and sixty-five days of the year.</p> +<p>The trenches were sometimes braced with +boards and cross pieces of wood, such as is often +used when a sewer is dug through the streets, and +again wicker-work, or jute bagging, might be +used to hold the earth firm.</p> +<p>Below the top of the trenches, in certain places, +were projections. These were firing steps, and +the men stepped up on these to aim their rifles at +the enemy. In certain other places were set up +improvised periscopes, so that an officer could +look “over the top,” and, by a series of reflecting +mirrors, observe what was going on in the enemy’s +country.</p> +<p>Again, at other places in the trenches, light +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +artillery, such as machine guns and grenade +throwers were set up. Here and there were little +stoves to warm the food brought up whenever a +relief party could get through the rain of shells. +In some places heavy concrete or wooden dugouts +were constructed, well under ground, though +the Germans did more of this than the Allies, the +Hun trenches being very elaborate at times.</p> +<p>And it was to these trenches that Ned, Bob and +Jerry, with their comrades, were led. There they +would remain on duty for a specified time differing +under varying conditions, or until an attack was +either made by them or by the enemy. After +that, in case the enemy were successful, trenches +farther in the rear must be occupied. But in the +event of the German attack being repulsed, and a +counter-attack carrying the Allies forward, advanced +trenches—possibly those deserted by the +Huns—would be used.</p> +<p>“Forward!” came the command, and the three +Motor Boys advanced. They did not march long +in open formation. To do this would be dangerous, +within range of the German guns as they +were, and, too, they might be seen by a Hun observer +in an aeroplane. So, in a little while the +advancing squad, of which Ned, Bob and Jerry +formed a part, found itself in a communicating +trench. This was a ditch dug at right-angles to +the front-line trenches, and through this the relief +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +passed, and food and ammunition were brought +up.</p> +<p>The communicating trench zig-zagged, as did +the front-line ones, to provide greater safety, and +the boys finally gave up trying to guess in which +direction they were going. All they could see was +the sky above their heads.</p> +<p>Suddenly, however, the trench widened, and +they saw another crossing it. At this point, too, +there was what seemed to be a rough door, made +of planks nailed together.</p> +<p>“This is your dugout,” said the leading officer, +indicating that Ned, Bob and Jerry, with some +others, were to remain there, while he led the rest +farther on.</p> +<p>“Glad you’ve come,” remarked a haggard-looking +officer, who was to be relieved by the commander +of the squad in which were the three +chums.</p> +<p>“Has Fritz been bothering you?” asked Lieutenant +Anderson, who was in charge of the relief.</p> +<p>“Has he? Well, rather! And then some! +You have my permission to stay as long as you +please! Come on, boys!” and he led his war-weary +men back to a rest billet.</p> +<p>“Make yourselves at home, fellows,” said the +lieutenant. “And wipe your feet before you come +in,” he added with a laugh, as he looked down at +his muddy boots. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span></p> +<p>The passwords had been given and received. +The other relief party had passed on to allow +other worn-out men to get some rest. Ned, Bob +and Jerry looked about them. They were in a +dirt ditch, filled here and there with puddles of +water from the last rain, and the clouds still hung +in the sky.</p> +<p>“Where are the German trenches?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Where? Right in front of us—over there,” +and the lieutenant pointed. “Wait, I’ll show you, +and everybody get this, and take a lesson from +it!” he added.</p> +<p>He held up a steel helmet on the end of a +stick. In an instant it went spinning off and fell +at his feet in the trench. He picked it up, pointing +grimly to a neat little hole through it and +said:</p> +<p>“That’s what will happen to any one of you +if he sticks his head up. You’re in the front-line +trench. Don’t forget it!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_A_NIGHT_PATROL' id='CHAPTER_XI_A_NIGHT_PATROL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>A NIGHT PATROL</h3> +</div> +<p>Every one who saw the heavy steel hat so +neatly pierced by the swift bullet was impressed +by the object lesson, as the lieutenant had intended +all of them should be. But, somehow or other, +Bob Baker seemed more fascinated than either +of his chums, and, indeed, more than any other +member of that particular relief squad.</p> +<p>“Did a Hun bullet do that?” asked Bob, as he +picked up the head protector and looked at the +hole.</p> +<p>“That’s what it did, my boy,” answered the +officer. “And that’s what will happen to you, or +any one else, if you stick your head up above the +trench.”</p> +<p>“And the Huns did that!” murmured Bob, who +seemed not to be able to efface from his mind the +picture of the punctured, spinning helmet. “Then +we’re right within range of their fire.”</p> +<p>“Considerably so,” answered the lieutenant. +“In places the German trenches are only six hundred +feet away, and that’s nothing for the modern +rifle. It can kill at over a mile.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></p> +<p>“So, Chunky,” observed Jerry, “you’ve been +under fire now.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Bob, and his voice was sober, +“we’ve been under fire.”</p> +<p>“Of course this isn’t anything!” the lieutenant +exclaimed with a laugh, as he kicked aside the +bullet-punctured helmet Bob had dropped. “This +is just a little byplay. You’ll be under heavier +fire than this, but don’t worry. It takes a good +many bullets to get a man. However, don’t think +of that. Do your duty. That’s what you’re here +for!”</p> +<p>The lieutenant looked somewhat anxiously into +the faces of the relief squad he was to command. +Every officer likes to know that he has the bravest +of men in the army, and this young officer was no +exception. The firing line where the Motor Boys +now were—the front-line trenches—was no place +for cowards.</p> +<p>But the faces that looked back into the young +lieutenant’s gave no reflection of fear. And at +this he breathed in relief. There was puzzled +wonder on the countenance of some, and grim +determination on others, and this last was what +counted.</p> +<p>And then began for the Motor Boys and their +chums a life of the utmost tension, strenuousness, +and danger, although theirs was a comparatively +quiet sector at that particular stage of the war, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +and they were holding the trenches more to guard +against a surprise attack than anything else.</p> +<p>“Well, there’s one comfort,” remarked Jerry, +as he was placed in his station in the trench, with +Bob on one side and Ned on the other, both within +talking distance.</p> +<p>“What?” asked Bob. “Do we get better eats +here?”</p> +<p>“Eats, you heathen!” exclaimed Ned. “Can’t +you forget that once in a while? What are you +going to do if the Germans make you a prisoner? +They won’t feed you at all!”</p> +<p>“Then I won’t be a prisoner!” declared Bob. +“But what were you going to say about comfort, +Jerry?”</p> +<p>“We don’t have to drill,” was the answer.</p> +<p>And this was true. All the life of the camp +was now done away with, even the training camp +of France, where the boys had finished their war +education, so to speak. But if they did not have +to drill there was plenty else to occupy them.</p> +<p>While on duty in the trench they had constantly +to be on the alert, and this not to guard against +the unexpected approach of some friendly officer, +bent on determining how his sentries were performing +their duty, but to be on the watch against +the approach of a deadly enemy. There must be +no sleeping—not even dozing—on post.</p> +<p>Then, too, there was work to do. There was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +food and water to bring up, and fire wood to +scurry for when the chance offered, for it was not +often possible to bring up hot rations to the front +lines, and the boys heated their own as best they +could, in discarded tin cans with a few twigs for +fuel.</p> +<p>There were lines of trenches to cut, dugouts +to repair after they had been blown to bits by +the German guns, and there was barbed wire to +replace under cover of darkness when it had been +severed by the rain of steel and lead from the +enemy’s guns.</p> +<p>So the three chums and their comrades found +no lack of things to keep them busy in the +trenches. They had their hours off, of course, +when they were permitted to go back to the dugout, +and there, in comparative safety, they might +try to sleep. This was not easy, for though in +a manner they became used to the constant roaring +and blasting of the big guns, there was always +an under-current of disturbances of other kinds. +They were on the firing line, and the enemy did +not let them forget it.</p> +<p>Every day the aeroplanes went over the lines, +and more than once there was a battle in mid-air +above where Ned, Bob and Jerry were on duty. +Once a Hun plane came down in flames, so near +they could hear the thud as it struck.</p> +<p>At times, after a period of comparative quiet, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +the trenches on both sides of No Man’s Land +would suddenly awaken into life. This would be +caused by a fear, either on the part of the Germans +or the troops from America, that one or the +other was starting a raid. Then the machine guns +would open fire, they would be augmented by the +rifles of the men, and, if the shooting kept up long +enough, the rival batteries would awaken and the +big guns would speak.</p> +<p>It was one day, when the three chums had been +on duty in the front-line trench about a week, that, +as they were talking about the chance of seeing +Professor Snodgrass and helping him in his search +for the two girls, something spun past Ned’s +head with a whine, and, with a vicious ping, imbedded +itself in the trench wall behind him.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” exclaimed Bob.</p> +<p>“That sniper again,” answered Ned. “That’s +the closest he’s come. We’d better move, fellows, +or he may get one of us.”</p> +<p>“A sniper!” exclaimed Jerry. “Has he been +taking pot shots at you?”</p> +<p>“Several of ’em. I’ve tried to get him, but I +can’t figure out where he hides. Better move +down the trench a bit. He seems to train his gun +on this particular spot.”</p> +<p>“Gee!” gasped Bob.</p> +<p>Bob and Jerry had moved up from their own +stations to where Ned was placed, as it was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +quiet period of the day, and it was while they were +talking that the shot came.</p> +<p>“I’d like to have a try at him,” said Jerry. “It’s +queer he can send a bullet down into this trench. +It must come from above. A shot from the German +trenches wouldn’t reach here over the top, +unless it was fired up, and landed here as it came +down.”</p> +<p>“Then it would be a spent ball,” argued Bob, +“and it wouldn’t sing out the way that one did.”</p> +<p>“You’re right,” agreed Ned. “It was fired +from above—you can tell that by the slant it took +as it came in. But it didn’t come from an aeroplane. +There hasn’t been any over the trench for +a long while. No, it’s some German sniper, and +he’s out there in the woods, I believe. Up a tree, +most likely, where he can fire down into our +trench. He must have a long-range rifle.”</p> +<p>“We ought to try to get him,” argued Jerry. +“Have you, Ned?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ve tried to bait him, so I could find out +where he shoots from and nip him in return, but +I haven’t been able to.”</p> +<p>“Then I’m going to have a shot at him,” declared +Jerry, who was rated as an expert in the +use of the rifle, as his badge showed.</p> +<p>But his plan of getting revenge on the Hun, +who had so nearly shot Ned, was not destined to +be carried out at once. For just then the relief +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +of the boys came up, and they were marched back +to the dugout for a rest period.</p> +<p>It was after they had enjoyed this, and were +counting on again doing their turn in the trenches +that their chance came to go out on night patrol, +one of the most dangerous missions in the line of +duty.</p> +<p>So far, since the Motor Boys had come up to +the firing line, there had been no really serious +fighting in their immediate sector. On either side +of them there had been skirmishes, but a mile or +so away, so they had had no chance to participate. +Also there had been night raids, but Ned, Bob +and Jerry had not been in them.</p> +<p>This does not mean that Ned, Bob and Jerry +were in no danger, for, as has been shown, a bullet +came near ending Ned’s career. And aside from +this, there had been bombs dropped near them +from Hun aeroplanes, and once a whole portion +of the trench, just beyond where they were stationed, +had been caved in by a shell from a German +gun, and several brave lads had been killed, +while others were terribly injured. But Ned, Bob +and Jerry had come out unscathed.</p> +<p>Also there had been waves of gas—the ordinary +chlorine gas, and again the more dangerous +mustard variety. In fact, the Germans used their +yellow-cross and their green-cross gases alternately +against the sector where the Cresville chums were. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +But prompt use of the protective masks prevented +any casualties.</p> +<p>So, as has been said, when the three chums were +resting in the dugout, wondering what their next +duty would be, an officer came in, and, when he +had returned the salutes, he said:</p> +<p>“Volunteers are wanted for a raiding party to-night. +There’s a German dugout not far away, +and the commander thinks we have a good chance +to get some prisoners and thus learn a thing or +two about what Fritz is up to in this section. +There’s also a chance, as I needn’t mention, that +none of us will come back. Now then, who wants +to go?”</p> +<p>There was a moment of hesitation, and then, +to the credit of the young soldiers, every one +stepped forward.</p> +<p>“Um!” mused the officer. “I can’t use you all. +Thank you, just the same. Now let’s see,” and +he proceeded to pick out his squad.</p> +<p>To their delight Ned, Bob and Jerry were selected, +and at once began to prepare for the dangerous +mission. None of them gave more than +a passing thought to the reflection that all might +safely return or none of them come back.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_BOB_IS_MISSING' id='CHAPTER_XII_BOB_IS_MISSING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>BOB IS MISSING</h3> +</div> +<p>Careful preparations had been made for this +night raid. It was the constant effort of both +sides, during the period of trench fighting, to get +possession of facts which would allow successful +attacks to be carried out later. And to do this it +was needful to get close to the enemy’s line. By +so doing, certain things might be overheard in the +talk among the soldiers, or (for the results of the +listening were uncertain) better still, was the capture +of prisoners. Once they were taken back of +the lines, questioned and searched, much of value +might be obtained.</p> +<p>This, as a matter of fact, worked much better +for the Americans than it did for the Germans. If +the Huns did succeed in capturing, during a raid, +some of our boys, they got little information from +them about the units with which the boys of Uncle +Sam were connected. Nor did the Huns learn +much as to the strength of the forces opposed to +them, except, perhaps, in the way of exaggeration.</p> +<p>“The American captive is more inclined to utter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +the equivalent of ‘nothing doing,’” remarked +Jerry, one day when discussing the matter.</p> +<p>On the other hand, the German prisoners captured, +almost invariably, were glad that their fate +had thus been ordered. They were sure of decent +treatment, they were in no more danger of being +killed and, more than anything else, they would be +better fed than in their own trenches.</p> +<p>So it is no wonder they gave valuable information +under the skilful questioning of the American +officers. Still this information had to be carefully +checked up before being acted on, as it would not +do to run into danger as a result of what some +Hun captive told.</p> +<p>“We are going out to try our luck,” explained +the lieutenant who was to lead Ned, Bob, Jerry, +and their comrades, numbering half a score, out +on a night raid. “There’s a German dugout not +far from here, and near by a machine-gun nest, +and if we can get close enough to rush it, and capture +those we don’t kill, we may make it possible +for a big forward movement—if the information +we get is of the right sort. So get ready. Gas +masks, hand grenades—rifles will be in the way—automatic +pistols, of course, and don’t forget to +blacken your faces.”</p> +<p>This precaution was always taken by night raiding +parties. The Germans adopted the habit of +sending up illuminating devices, known as “star +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +shells,” at frequent intervals over No Man’s +Land. This was to guard against a party of the +enemy advancing on the trenches. The shells +gave a very bright light, and nothing stands out +more conspicuously in such a glare than a white +face. So it was the custom to blacken countenances +and hands when a night-raiding party went +over the top.</p> +<p>It was not without a little feeling of nervousness +and apprehension that the three friends and +their chums made their preparations. But it was +an apprehension of failure rather than fear. +They wanted to succeed, to get results, and they +were afraid they might fail. They were not +afraid, personally. Still they were taking big +chances, and they all knew it.</p> +<p>“Ought we to leave some word for Professor +Snodgrass?” asked Ned, as he and his friends +were making ready about midnight.</p> +<p>“Word about what?” Jerry inquired.</p> +<p>“Well, in case we don’t come back we can’t help +him in his search, as we promised.”</p> +<p>“If we don’t come back our friends will know +it, and they can tell the professor if he inquires +for us,” said Jerry grimly. “Let it go at that. If +we get back we’ll be here ourselves in case the +professor ever gets this far to the front. If we +don’t get back—well, he’ll have to get some one +else to help him. Come on!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>The last word was given, the final preparations +had been made. Then silently, like shadows of +the night, the figures crept out of the trench in the +darkness and advanced toward the German lines.</p> +<p>The American barbed wire had been cut in +places to let the party through. To pass the German +barrier they would have to do their own cutting, +and they were provided with tools for this +purpose.</p> +<p>Silently they went down the lane of wire, now +and then passing grim sentries to whom the password +was given. And then, coming to the gap in +the wire, Ned, Bob and Jerry, with the others, +passed through. Each member of the party carried +an automatic pistol and several hand grenades. +These were small, hollow containers, of +cast-iron, loaded with a powerful explosive, which +was set off after a certain trigger or spring or +firing pin (according to the type used) was released +by the thrower. The explosive blew the +grenade to bits, and it was scored, or crisscrossed, +by deep indentations so that the iron would break +up into small pieces like shrapnel. The grenades +could be carried in a pouch or in the pocket, and +were harmless as long as the detonating device +was not disturbed.</p> +<p>Silently the lieutenant led his men forward. +Jerry Hopkins, the only noncommissioned officer +in the squad, marched next, as in the event of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +lieutenant being killed the command would fall to +him.</p> +<p>No talking was permitted, and each man knew +what he was to do, so no orders were necessary. +On and on they went, and presently they found +themselves traveling over the battle-scarred and +shell-pitted territory of No Man’s Land. They +had got close to the German barbed wire when +suddenly, as though their movements had been +watched, several star shells were sent up by the +Huns.</p> +<p>Instantly every man in the party fell flat on his +face and did not move. It was the only thing to +do. They resembled, as nearly as they might, +the dead which lay all about them on the desolate +field.</p> +<p>And some of the dead had been there a long +time, as it was impossible for either side to bury +them, though occasionally, at night, parties went +out to bring in those in whom it was hoped a spark +of life still remained.</p> +<p>Jerry found that he had thrown himself down +close beside a dead Hun. He wanted desperately +to move, for his position was grimly unpleasant, +but he did not dare. This was not the most glorious +side of war, but it was vitally necessary.</p> +<p>However, thanks to the precaution of blackened +faces and hands, and to the dark uniforms, +the party of night-raiders must have resembled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +the dead all about them, for no firing followed the +illumination of star shells.</p> +<p>Then, when it was dark again, the party rose +and went on. Good luck attended them thus far, +in that they reached the German barbed wire undiscovered. +Then began the ticklish work of cutting +it, and in this there was much danger.</p> +<p>For some of the wire was under great tension, +and, when cut, made a twanging sound like a +broken harp or piano string. And this sound carried +far in the silence of that sector. Other sectors +were not so quiet, for firing was going on +along both lines of trenches, though what movement +was under way the Motor Boys did not +know.</p> +<p>The sound of the wire as it was cut was deadened +as much as possible by having a man hold +the strand on either side of the place to be cut. +This helped some, but not always, as the wire +twisted itself from the grips of the soldiers, and +sometimes the barbs injured them.</p> +<p>“All cut, Lieutenant,” reported Jerry, as the +final strand was severed. The commanding officer +had been on watchful patrol while this was +being done.</p> +<p>“Good!” was the low-voiced answer. “Come +on, now. Every man with a grenade in either +hand!”</p> +<p>Once more the party went forward. They were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +past the first German barbed wire now, but the +way was still not completely open, for more opposing +strands were found farther on. However, +this was not unexpected, for often three or more +lines of this American invention were to be found +opposing the American forces.</p> +<p>Once more the cutters were called into play, +and as the last strand was severed a dog, somewhere +within the Hun lines, barked. Instantly all +in the raiding party crouched down, for a burst +of star shells might follow immediately.</p> +<p>However, the dog must have been believed to +be a false alarmist, or else he was barking at some +other disturbance than that caused by the raiders, +for darkness still reigned.</p> +<p>Then, after waiting a moment to make sure all +was right, the lieutenant led his men forward. So +far they had not been challenged by the enemy, +but now this immunity was to end, for when they +had passed the final wire barrier and were advancing +with tense steps toward the German dugout, +with grenades in readiness, there came a +sharp, guttural order to halt.</p> +<p>It was in the German tongue, as they all knew, +and they all realized that the crucial moment had +come.</p> +<p>The lieutenant, seeing a figure in the darkness +before him, shot at it pointblank with his pistol. +There was a murmured exclamation, and the sentry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +went down, his finger pressing the trigger of +his rifle, discharging it as he fell dead.</p> +<p>“Come on now, boys! Give it to ’em!” cried +the officer.</p> +<p>“Forward!” shouted Jerry Hopkins, and with +Ned and Bob at his heels he rushed ahead, the +others stumbling after him. They had reached +the German trenches, and from them now poured +several defenders. The main body were in the +dugout a little farther on, and it was desired to +attack this, and, if possible, capture some prisoners.</p> +<p>“Come on! Come on! Down with the Huns!” +cried the lieutenant, and his battle yell was echoed +by Jerry and the others.</p> +<p>Then began a fight in the dark, the details of +which were never very clear to the Motor Boys. +Bob said he let loose all the grenades he had at +the advancing party of Germans and then rushed +at them, head down, as though advancing the ball +for a touchdown.</p> +<p>Ned declared that he fired his automatic pistol +until he realized that it was empty, and then, +throwing it away, thought for the first time of the +grenades he carried. Then he began using them.</p> +<p>There was a deafening noise as the grenades +of the Americans exploded in the faces of the advancing +Huns, and they, in turn, threw hand +bombs and opened fire with their rifles. The attack +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +awoke to life sentries and guard parties all +along the line, and the scene was illuminated by a +burst of star shells.</p> +<p>“Come on! Into the trenches! They can’t see +us there so well!” yelled Jerry.</p> +<p>“That’s the idea!” commanded the lieutenant. +“Get to the dugout!”</p> +<p>So desperate and sudden had been the attack of +the Americans that, after the first resistance, the +Germans gave way and ran back, jumping down +into the trenches whence they had come.</p> +<p>The raiding party asked nothing better than +to follow, and for a time pursued the Huns along +their own trenches, the bursting star shells above +giving light enough to see.</p> +<p>“Are you there—Ned—Bob?” demanded Jerry, +as he ran on, following the tortuous line of the +trench.</p> +<p>“I’m here!” answered Ned.</p> +<p>“So’m I,” added Bob. “Haven’t a shot left, +though.”</p> +<p>“Here, take these,” and Jerry handed over +some spare grenades he had in a pouch slung at +his back. “Don’t pot any of our men, though. +Some are ahead of us.”</p> +<p>On ran the Motor Boys, and in another moment +they came to the dugout—a pretentious affair of +concrete, now well lighted, for the alarm of the +attack had spread. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p> +<p>One of the raiding party threw a hand grenade +inside the structure. There was a powerful explosion, +not enough, indeed, to wreck the stout +place, but sufficient to send the inmates scurrying +out—what were left of them.</p> +<p>“<i>Kamerad! Kamerad!</i>” some of the wounded +ones cried, and others held up their hands.</p> +<p>“Come on!” shouted the lieutenant. “Gather +’em in and let’s get back. This place is getting too +hot for us.”</p> +<p>He spoke with truth, for on all sides the big +guns were now beginning to bark, and a general +engagement might be precipitated.</p> +<p>Some of the Americans snatched guns from the +now cowed Germans, and prodded them back +along the trench with the points of the bayonets. +Others held hand grenades or automatic pistols +ready, and the order to retreat was given.</p> +<p>Half a dozen Hun prisoners had been captured, +but at a price, for when the lieutenant, hurrying +his men back across No Man’s Land, began to +look over his party, he found three were missing. +They had either been killed or wounded, or were +left prisoners in the trenches.</p> +<p>“Are you there, boys?” asked Jerry again, of +his chums, and he received reassuring answers +from both.</p> +<p>“Hurt?” was his next inquiry, as they raced +across the stretch, stopping every time there was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +a burst of star shells, and crouching down, making +their prisoners do the same, to take shelter +in some shell holes, some half-filled with water +and others containing dead bodies.</p> +<p>“I’m all right,” Bob answered. “Only a bit +scratched by some Hun’s bayonet, I guess.”</p> +<p>“A bullet or a bayonet touched me in the side,” +came from Ned. “It’s bleeding a bit, but not +much. I’m all right.”</p> +<p>Some of the others who were able to come back +were not so fortunate, however, and two died later +of wounds received in that night raid.</p> +<p>But the main party succeeded in getting back to +the American lines, and hurried through the opening +in the barbed wire, where a relief or a rescue +party, whichever might be required, was in waiting.</p> +<p>“Good work!” commended the captain to his +lieutenant. “And you got some prisoners?”</p> +<p>“Six!”</p> +<p>“That’s fine. Couldn’t be better. Get down +now, there may be a Hun barrage in a minute. +They’ll be ripping mad when they find out what’s +happened. This was one of their main posts, and +Prussians were on guard.”</p> +<p>Jerry and Ned were each guarding a Hun prisoner, +making him walk along ahead with upraised +hands, while the guns, taken away from the Germans +themselves, served as compelling weapons. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span></p> +<p>Into the trenches they had left a short time before +the raiders made their way, and went to the +dugout where they were to report. There the +commanding officer of that sector met them.</p> +<p>Coming into the comparatively well-lighted +place from the darkness, Jerry blinked as he +looked at the captured Germans and then glanced +to see how badly Ned was hurt.</p> +<p>He saw that his chum was pale, and noted blood +on his hands, but Ned smiled in a reassuring way. +Then, for the first time, Jerry noticed that Bob +was not with them.</p> +<p>“Where’s Chunky?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“Who?” asked the lieutenant. “I thought we +only left Black, Jones, and Porter behind. Is +there another missing?”</p> +<p>“Bob Baker, sir,” answered Jerry. “But he +was with us when we got back within our own +wire. I was talking to him.”</p> +<p>“Send out a searching party!” ordered the captain. +“It is possible he was hit and didn’t say anything +about it, or a stray bullet may have found +him after he reached our lines. Send out and +see!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_JUST_LIKE_HIM' id='CHAPTER_XIII_JUST_LIKE_HIM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>“JUST LIKE HIM!”</h3> +</div> +<p>Jerry and Ned both confessed, afterward, that +the sinking feeling, which seemed to carry their +hearts away down into their muddy shoes, was +greater at the knowledge that Bob was missing +than it had been when they set out in the darkness +to raid the Germans across the desolate stretch of +No Man’s Land.</p> +<p>It was all so unexpected. He had gone through +the baptism of fire with them—he had helped capture +the Huns—and had been, seemingly, all right +on the return trip. And then, on the very threshold +of his own army home, so to speak, he had disappeared.</p> +<p>“Did any one see him fall or hear of his being +hit?” asked the lieutenant, as he prepared to lead +out a searching party. Ned and Jerry, of course, +and by rights, would be members of it.</p> +<p>“No, he was right near me, Sir, and he said particularly, +when I asked him, that he was only +scratched,” declared Jerry. “I made sure Ned +was the worst hurt.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>“How much are you hurt?” asked the captain, +turning to Jerry’s chum.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s only a scratch, Sir,” was the quick +answer. “I can’t feel it now.”</p> +<p>Ned did not speak the exact truth, but he did +not want to be kept back from the search.</p> +<p>“Very well,” said the captain. “You may go, +but don’t go too far. Much as we would like to +find Baker we must not take too many chances +and endanger this whole post. Be as quick as you +can.”</p> +<p>With their hearts torn between a desire for +vengeance and apprehension, Ned and Jerry went +out with the others. The riot started by the raid +had quieted down, and it was possible for the +searchers to advance above their own trenches +without drawing the German fire.</p> +<p>First the sentries who had been on duty near +the gap in the American wire were questioned. +They had seen the party depart and come back, +but they had not noticed any member of it fall as +though wounded, and they were positive no Germans +had been able to get near enough to capture +Private Baker.</p> +<p>“But what can have happened to him?” asked +the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“He may have been wounded internally, and +didn’t speak of it, Sir,” suggested Ned, whose own +wound was troubling him woefully. “Then he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +may have become so weak that he fell in the trench +somewhere without a sound.”</p> +<p>“That is possible. We must make a careful +search.”</p> +<p>This was done with pocket flashlights, for any +general illumination would have, perhaps, drawn +a German attack. But no sign of Bob was revealed. +It was most mysterious, how he could +disappear so suddenly and completely. Of course, +in the general confusion, much more than this +might have happened and not been noticed. But +unless he had gone back after speaking to Jerry, +he must either have fallen well within the American +lines or have been captured there. And the +last did not seem possible.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the lieutenant, “we’ll have to go +over in No Man’s Land and take a chance there. +He must have gone back after something, and +been potted. I’ll have to go back and report +and––”</p> +<p>He paused to listen. The tramp of approaching +feet could be heard along the trench. Every +man stood at attention, for it was possible that +the enemy had slipped in between sentries and +were going to pay a return visit.</p> +<p>But a moment later the murmur of voices was +heard—voices that were unmistakably American. +Some one asked:</p> +<p>“Is your squad stationed here?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“About here, yes, Sir,” was the answer, coming +out of the darkness.</p> +<p>“It’s Chunky!” cried Jerry.</p> +<p>“That’s Bob!” added Ned, joyously.</p> +<p>And a moment later there came into the dim +light of the flashlights the stout chum himself, +escorted by three soldiers. He seemed to be all +right, and he carried something that was not a +grenade, in one hand.</p> +<p>“Where have you been, Chunky?” demanded +Jerry. “We’ve been looking everywhere for +you.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” added the lieutenant, “will you please +explain why you did not report back with the rest +of us?”</p> +<p>Bob seemed a trifle surprised at the rather stern +order, but he smiled and answered:</p> +<p>“Why, I thought, as long as we got back all +right, I was relieved from duty, so I went to get +something to eat.”</p> +<p>“Something to eat!” exclaimed the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Something to eat,” calmly repeated Bob. +“You see it was this way. I was terribly hungry––”</p> +<p>“Nothing unusual,” murmured Jerry, but the +stout lad, paying no attention to the interruption, +went on:</p> +<p>“So when I got back with the rest, after we +captured the Huns, I smelled something cooking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +farther up in our trenches. I knew some of the +fellows on duty there, and I felt sure they’d give +me something to eat. It was liberty links they +were cooking, sir, and––”</p> +<p>“Liberty links!” interrupted the lieutenant. +“What are those?”</p> +<p>“They used to be called Frankfurters,” explained +Bob with a grin; “but since the war that’s +too German. So I went to get some liberty links, +and I got ’em!” he added with a sigh of satisfaction.</p> +<p>“Well! Well!” exclaimed the lieutenant. And +then, as he thought of what Bob and the others +had gone through with that night, he had not the +heart to add more.</p> +<p>“I only meant to run up in a hurry to where +they were cooking ’em,” explained Bob, “and +come back with some for my bunkies. But I got +to talking and eating––”</p> +<p>“Mostly eating,” murmured Jerry.</p> +<p>“And then I forgot to come back,” finished +Bob.</p> +<p>“We told him he’d better report, Sir,” said one +of the escorting party. “He was with our bunch +all right, and when he told us he’d been out with +the night raiders and had slipped off before reporting +back, we told him he’d better report. So +we showed him the way, as the trenches are sort +of mixed up around here.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p> +<p>“Very well,” said the lieutenant, trying not to +smile. “You may go back to your posts. Everything +is explained.”</p> +<p>And so Bob was restored to his company again, +and in view of the successful raid no reprimand +was given him. The capture of the German prisoners +proved important, as information was obtained +that proved of the greatest value afterward.</p> +<p>Ned’s wound turned out to be only a flesh one, +but it was painful enough, and kept him in the +hospital a week. He would have fretted over +thus being kept away while Bob and Jerry were +fighting, but, as a matter of fact, his two chums +received a rest period at this time, and so were +out of the trenches the same time that Ned was.</p> +<p>But the war was far from won, and every man +possible was needed on the firing line, so that, in +due season, the three chums found themselves back +again. And under no very pleasant circumstances.</p> +<p>For it rained and rained, and then rained some +more, though Jerry insisted that where they got +the water from was a mystery.</p> +<p>It was a most desolate period, when the trenches +were knee-deep in mud and when casualties +mounted by reason of unusual activity on the part +of the Huns. But the three friends and their comrades +stuck grimly to the work. There were local +attacks, and counter-attacks, and night raids, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +all of which Ned, Bob and Jerry did their share.</p> +<p>Then, one day, they were given a surprise. +Some new recruits were brought up to the front-line +trenches, to be initiated, and among them was +Noddy Nixon.</p> +<p>“I’ve come to show you fellows how to get a +Hun!” he boasted in his usual style. “Give me a +chance, and I’ll show you how to fight, though I’d +rather be in an aeroplane.”</p> +<p>“Truth to tell, I guess he’d rather be back +home, but he doesn’t dare go,” declared Jerry.</p> +<p>Not very much to their delight, the Motor Boys +learned that Noddy was to be quartered near +them, and he was on duty in the trenches in the +post adjoining theirs.</p> +<p>There came a period of fierce attacks on the +part of the Huns, when they laid down such an +artillery barrage that for three days it was impossible +for any relief to come to the men in the +trenches, and they had to live on what food they +had when the firing began. They did not actually +starve, but there was not any too much to eat, and +there was a lack of hot things, which were much +needed as it rained almost constantly.</p> +<p>By hard work Ned, Bob and Jerry had managed +to get together some wood which they kept +dry in a niche in the trench, lined with pieces of +tin. The wood they used to make a little fire to +warm their coffee. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p> +<p>Coming in from several hours of duty one rainy +evening, the three chums were anticipating having +something hot to drink made over their little fire +of cached wood.</p> +<p>But when Bob, who by virtue of his appetite +considered himself the cook, went to get the fuel, +it was not there.</p> +<p>“Boys, the wood is gone!” he cried.</p> +<p>“Who took it?” demanded Jerry.</p> +<p>Ned inspected the place. He picked up a piece +of damp paper, and in the light of his flash torch +read the scrawled writing which said:</p> +<p style='margin-left:2.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“Borrowed your wood. Give it back to +you some day.</p> +<p style='margin-left:2.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:right'>“<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Noddy Nixon.</span>”<br /></p> +<p>For a moment there was silence, and then Jerry +burst out with:</p> +<p>“Well, if that isn’t just like him—the dirty +sneak!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_A_DESPERATE_CHANCE' id='CHAPTER_XIV_A_DESPERATE_CHANCE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>A DESPERATE CHANCE</h3> +</div> +<p>Disappointment rendered the three chums incapable +of action for the moment. They just +stood and looked at the place where their little +store of wood had been hidden. Now it was +gone, and with it the hope of a hot supper from +that particular source.</p> +<p>“What are we going to do?” asked Bob +blankly.</p> +<p>“We ought to go down to the post where that +sneak is and get the wood back,” declared Ned. +“And tell his chums what sort of fellow they have +bunking with ’em!”</p> +<p>“No, don’t do that,” advised Jerry, who had +cooled down after his first passionate outburst. +“That will make trouble. Noddy would only +laugh at us, and some of the others might. It +isn’t the first time wood has been taken.”</p> +<p>“I was just hungry for something hot,” sighed +Bob, as he thought of the cold rations.</p> +<p>“So was I,” added Ned. “Isn’t there anything +we can do?” he went on. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></p> +<p>Jerry looked about. Here and there about the +dugout their comrades were eating as best they +could, no one, it appeared, having anything hot. +It was at a critical period during the fighting, and +the commissary and transportation departments +were suffering from a temporary breakdown. Still +the men had enough to eat, such as it was.</p> +<p>“Well, we might as well have grub now—even +if it is cold,” said Jerry, after considering matters. +“No telling when we’ll have to stand off a +Hun raid or go into one ourselves, and then we +won’t have time to eat.”</p> +<p>“That’s so!” agreed Bob, more cheerfully. “It +would be fierce if we didn’t have anything to chew +on at all. But when I catch that Noddy Nixon—well, +he’d better watch his step, that’s all.”</p> +<p>“He’s a coward, and lazy!” declared Ned. +“Else he’d rustle his own wood. I had hard work +to get that bunch. There was a German sniper +who had a pretty fine bead on the place where I +saw the sticks, but I went down the trench a way, +and began firing at him from there.”</p> +<p>“Did you hit him?” asked Bob eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t expect to. But I drew his attention +to that particular spot. He thought a sharpshooter +was there, and he laid his plans to get him. +That took his attention off the pile of wood, and +I sneaked out and got it. Now Noddy Nixon has +it!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>“I hope he burns his tongue on the hot soup or +coffee or whatever he heats with it,” was the most +charitable thing Jerry said. And the others +echoed this. Their nerves were on edge from the +constant fighting and danger they were in, and +they were in no mood to be trifled with. And at +such times trifles that otherwise would be laughed +at assumed large proportions.</p> +<p>However, there was no help for it. The three +chums, as did their comrades in the trenches, ate +their supper cold, and then, cleaning themselves +as best they could from the wet, sticky mud, they +prepared to get what sleep they might until it was +their turn to go on duty again.</p> +<p>The dugout was as comfortable as any of its +kind, but it was not like home, of course, and its +accommodations were far short of even the worst +camps the Motor Boys had put up at during their +many journeys. Still there was not a word of +complaint. It was war—war for freedom—and +discomforts were laughed at.</p> +<p>“Name of a name, how it rains! as our friends +the French say,” exclaimed Jerry, as he came into +the dugout prepared to turn in, for he had been +sent on a message by an officer after supper.</p> +<p>“Hard?” asked Ned, who, like Bob, was in a +sort of bunk.</p> +<p>“Hard? I should say so. Look; my tin hat is +dented from the drops!” and Jerry took it off and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +pretended to point out indentations made by the +rain drops. He shook his slicker, and a spray of +moisture flew about.</p> +<p>“Here! Quit that!” called a tall, lanky soldier +from the bunk across from Jerry. “If you want +to give a moving picture of a Newfoundland dog +go outside! I’m just getting dry.”</p> +<p>“Beg your pardon, old man!” exclaimed Jerry. +“I didn’t realize how wet I was.”</p> +<p>He took off some of his garments, hanging them +where they might possibly get partly dry by morning, +and then turned in. Whether he and his +chums would get a peaceful night’s sleep or not, +depended on the Huns across No Man’s Land. If +an attack was started it meant that the soldiers in +the dugouts, as well as those on guard in the +trenches, would have to jump into the fight. With +this end in view, every one on turning in for the +night had his weapons ready, and few did more +than make an apology for undressing. That was +left until they went on rest billet. Guns, grenades +and gas masks were in readiness for instant +use.</p> +<p>But the night passed undisturbed.</p> +<p>“Oh, for some hot coffee!” exclaimed Bob, as +he tumbled out the next morning in answer to the +call to duty.</p> +<p>“Dry up!” ordered Jerry. “You ought to be +glad to get it cold!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>“Well, I’ll try to be,” assented Bob. “Where’s +Ned?”</p> +<p>“Said he was going to see if he could get a bit +of wood for a fire. But if he finds any, which isn’t +likely, it’ll be as wet as a sponge after this rain. +Suffering hand grenades! will it ever let up?” cried +Jerry, for it was still pouring.</p> +<p>Simple preparations were going on for breakfast. +There was no sign yet of any of the carriers +with big kettles of hot coffee or soup, and it +was evident that the commissary had not yet been +reorganized since the last breakdown.</p> +<p>Afterward the boys learned that the reason for +the failure of their supplies to arrive was due to +the fact that their sector was temporarily cut off +by an attempted flanking movement on the part +of the Germans. The Americans were in greater +danger than they knew, but, at the time, all they +thought of was the lack of hot rations.</p> +<p>“Ned ought to come back,” remarked Jerry, as +he and Bob prepared to eat. “He’ll be reported +late, and this isn’t any time for that. I guess––”</p> +<p>But Jerry did not finish, for just then came a +tremendous explosion, so close that for a moment +he and Bob thought a Hun shell had been dropped +in the dugout near which they were sitting under +an improvised shelter.</p> +<p>Instantly the trench was a scene of feverish activity. +Everyone expected a raid, and breakfast +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +was hastily set aside, while the soldiers caught up +their guns.</p> +<p>“It’s all right,” an officer called. “Fritz just +took a pot shot at one of our trucks out on the +road.”</p> +<p>“Did he get it, Sir?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“I should say so! Look here!”</p> +<p>A curve in the road passed close by this line of +trenches. It was a road used to take supplies to +another part of the American battleline, and vehicles +passed along it only at night, as it was within +range of some of the German guns, though fairly +well camouflaged. But this auto truck, returning +in the early hours of the morning after having delivered +a load of ammunition, had been caught by +a shell. Afterward it was learned that the truck +had broken down on the return trip and that the +driver had been delayed in repairing it, so that +he had to pass the danger point in daylight.</p> +<p>Whether or not the German battery was on the +lookout for just such a chance as this, or whether +it was a mere fortuitous opportunity of which +advantage was taken, could not be learned. But a +shell containing high explosive, though, fortunately +for the driver, not a large one, landed near +the automobile and shattered it.</p> +<p>This was the detonation which had so startled +Jerry and Bob, and now, with others, they looked +over the top of the trench at the ruins of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +truck. It was blown apart, and the wooden body +and wheels were scattered about while the engine +was a mere mass of twisted and fused metal.</p> +<p>“Look! They didn’t get the driver!” cried +Bob, for as he spoke the man in charge of the +truck picked himself up from a clump of bushes +where he had been tossed, and limped toward the +American line. He had escaped death by a +miracle.</p> +<p>Then something else attracted the attention of +Bob, Jerry, and the others. It was the sight of +Ned Slade creeping along toward a pile of splintered +wood—all that was left of the demolished +truck.</p> +<p>“Who’s that? What is he doing?” cried the +officer in charge of that part of the trench. “Does +he hope to rescue the driver? Can’t he see that +the man is safe and is coming in? Who is he?”</p> +<p>“Private Slade, Sir,” replied Jerry.</p> +<p>“But what is he doing? That’s a foolhardy +piece of business, trying to reach that truck. It’s +under the fire of the German trench, as well as +within range of their battery. What is he trying +to do?”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_THE_SNIPER' id='CHAPTER_XV_THE_SNIPER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE SNIPER</h3> +</div> +<p>All stood looking from the trench at the actions +of Ned Slade.</p> +<p>“Look!” cried Bob, pointing to his chum. +“He’s picking up pieces of wood!”</p> +<p>“Has he gone crazy?” murmured the officer, +peering through his glasses at Private Slade. +“Does he think he can salvage anything from the +wreck?”</p> +<p>Just what Ned was thinking of was not evident. +He moved here and there amid the ruins of the +ammunition automobile, picking up bits of wood +until his arms could hold no more. It was raining +heavily, and when Ned stepped into a puddle +the mud and water could be seen to splash.</p> +<p>And then, when Ned could carry no more and +turned to come back to his own trench, the Germans, +in theirs, suddenly awoke to the chance they +had been missing. There were sharp reports, and +something besides rain drops splashed into the +pools of water all about Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></p> +<p>“They’re firing at him! He’ll be killed!” cried +Bob.</p> +<p>“It seems very likely!” said the officer grimly. +“Who gave him permission to go out like that, +and why did he do it?”</p> +<p>No one answered. No one knew what to say.</p> +<p>And now Ned, aware of his own danger, began +to run toward the trench. He came on, stooping +over to offer less of a target to the Germans, and +he zig-zagged as he leaped forward. But through +it all, through the hail of lead, he did not drop the +pieces of the demolished truck he had picked up.</p> +<p>The firing from the German lines became hotter, +and a machine gun began to splutter.</p> +<p>“It’s all up with him now!” said the officer, with +something like a groan. “I’ll order our guns to +shell the Hun trench, but it will be too late!”</p> +<p>He jumped down off the firing step, where he +and the others, including Jerry and Bob, were +standing, and started for the nearest telephone +that connected with a battery.</p> +<p>Just then Ned was seen to stagger.</p> +<p>“He’s hit!” some one cried.</p> +<p>But if he was the lad who had taken such a desperate +chance did not stop. He dropped a piece +of wood, but still he ran on, stooping over, and +darting from side to side.</p> +<p>And at last he reached the trench where Bob, +Jerry, and his other comrades awaited him. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +rain had made the top of the trench slippery, and +Ned, striking this while going at full speed, fairly +slid down into the ditch, the wood dropping from +his arms all about.</p> +<p>“There you are!” he cried, as he recovered +himself. “Enough wood for two fires! Now we +can have something hot for breakfast! Bob, start +the coffee boiling! I’m like you—hungry!”</p> +<p>For a moment the others stood staring at him, +and then the officer came back.</p> +<p>“Did they get him?” he cried. “If they did +they’ll pay for it. We’ll wipe out the Hun trench +in another minute!”</p> +<p>Then he saw Ned, standing, surrounded by the +splintered, wooden parts of the ammunition truck.</p> +<p>“Oh, you’re here,” said the officer, mechanically, +as Ned saluted. “Well, what in the name of +General Pershing did you want to do that for?”</p> +<p>“I wanted some wood to make a fire for breakfast, +Sir,” answered Ned simply. “Some one took +our supply last night, and when I saw the truck +blown to pieces and noticed that the driver was +safe, I thought it a good chance to get some fairly +dry fuel. So I took it. Better pick it up though, +or it won’t be dry long,” he added to Jerry, and +the latter, with Bob’s help, obeyed. Ned had done +his share.</p> +<p>The officer stared at Ned as though the young +soldier were a new sort of fighter, and then, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +a shake of his head, turned away. It was past +belief or understanding.</p> +<p>As the three chums moved back to where they +had set up an improvised stove, where they could +build a fire with the truck pieces Ned had brought +in, the ground shook with the thunder of the +American guns that soon enforced silence in the +German trenches. It was revenge for having fired +on Ned.</p> +<p>Technically Ned had been guilty of a breach of +the regulations, but though his venture into the +open had resulted in a whole battery being sent +into action, nothing further was said, officially, of +his conduct. Perhaps his bravery was admired by +the officer who saw it.</p> +<p>At any rate Ned, Bob and Jerry had a warm +breakfast, which they shared with some of their +chums, and then the day’s duty began. It was +performed in the rain, that seemed never-ceasing. +The bottom of the trench was a ditch of mud, in +spite of the duck boards laid down.</p> +<p>“Too bad Professor Snodgrass isn’t here,” remarked +Ned, as he pulled one foot up from the +mud and looked at it with the remark that he +wanted to make sure he still had the foot attached +to his person.</p> +<p>“Too bad the professor isn’t here! Why?” +asked Bob.</p> +<p>“Oh, he might find some new kind of bug in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +this—soup!” and Ned stirred the thick mud in +the bottom of the trench with the butt of his gun. +“It might be more interesting than seeing how +noises affect French crickets.”</p> +<p>“Crickets!” cried Jerry. “I feel sorry for any +self-respecting cricket that would stay here to be +affected. But, speaking of the professor, I wish +we could see him again. It would be like hearing +from home, and the letters are few and far between.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” admitted Ned. They had had +some missives from their people, and also the +girls, Alice, Helen and Mollie, while Bob, in addition, +had had a note from Helena Schaeffer, who +said she was knitting for the Red Cross. But, of +late, no mail had come in.</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t be surprised to see the professor +walk in on us any day,” mused Jerry. “He’s +likely to do it.”</p> +<p>“Then he’d better get a hustle on, or he may +not find us here,” observed Ned.</p> +<p>“Why not?” Bob inquired.</p> +<p>“Well, there’s a rumor that we’re soon going +to attack again,” answered Ned. “And when we +go over the top we don’t come back to the old +trenches. We make new ones. So the professor, +if he doesn’t come soon, may find we have changed +our address.”</p> +<p>“Going to make an attack!” Jerry spoke softly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +“Well, that’s the way to win the war. I hope it +will stop raining, though. I hate to fight in the +rain.”</p> +<p>But still the dreary drizzle kept up, and through +it the soldiers plodded in the mud of the trench. +It was nearly time for the three chums to be relieved +when Ned, who had a post at the right of +Jerry, suddenly gave a start, following a distant +report.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked his tall chum.</p> +<p>In answer Ned pointed to a spattery hole in +the trench wall behind him.</p> +<p>“The German sniper again,” he said. “And +I’m going to see if I can’t spot him. We’ve got +to get him!”</p> +<p>Ned took off his tin helmet and put it on his +bayonet. Then he slowly raised it above the top +of the trench, at the spot where the bullet had +come in. A moment later there was a vicious +“ping!” and the helmet bore a deep indentation.</p> +<p>“Spotted!” cried Ned. “I see where he keeps +himself! And now, fellows, if you’ll help, we’ll +get Mr. Fritz Sharpshooter, and get him good! +I’ve got his address now!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI_OVER_THE_TOP' id='CHAPTER_XVI_OVER_THE_TOP'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>OVER THE TOP</h3> +</div> +<p>“We haven’t much time,” remarked Jerry, as +he glanced at the watch on his wrist. “We’ll be +relieved in five minutes.”</p> +<p>“That’s long enough,” returned Ned, with a +grim laugh. “If this fellow who has tried to get +me—or one of you—so often, runs true to form, +he’s done his last shooting. I know where he +keeps himself.”</p> +<p>“Where?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>Ned took his chums by the arms, and led them +a little way down the trench where there was an +improvised periscope. It was not being used by +the officer in charge just then, and Ned peered +through it.</p> +<p>He said nothing for a moment, and then called +to Jerry:</p> +<p>“Take a look at that brush pile just inside the +first line of German wire.”</p> +<p>“I see it,” remarked Jerry, after a look +through the mirror arrangement.</p> +<p>“Well, that’s where Mr. Fritz is keeping himself,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +said his chum. “It’s just in line with the +direction from which that last bullet came. I’ve +been thinking for some time that he was hidden +there, but I wasn’t sure until I saw the flash of his +gun as he nearly hit me just now. But now I’ll +get him!”</p> +<p>“That bush doesn’t seem big enough to shelter +a man,” observed Bob, as he, too, took an observation.</p> +<p>“There’s a hole dug under it, and he’s hiding in +that,” said Ned. “At first I thought the sharpshooter +was popping at us from some height, and +I believe he was, a week or so back. But now he +has changed his tactics. He’s doing ground sniping, +and that bit of bush hasn’t any roots.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“I mean it’s a bit of camouflage. The sharpshooter +moves it about with him, thinking we’ll +believe it’s natural. He scoops a hole, gets in +with only his head sticking out, and puts this bit +of foliage in front of him as a screen. Now, Bob, +you take your helmet, and when I tell you hold it +up on your gun. Jerry, you come with me down +the trench a way, and please don’t fire until after +I do. If I miss, you get him, but I want first +shot.</p> +<p>“I want Bob to draw his fire, if he can,” explained +Ned. “I’ll be in reserve to shoot as soon +as I see the flash. If I miss you take him. It’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +got to be nip and tuck, and we’ll have to make it a +snap shot, for he’ll drop back into the hole after +he fires.”</p> +<p>“Go to it!” advised the tall lad. “I’m with +you.”</p> +<p>Quickly they made their preparations. While +Ned and Jerry went a little way down the trench, +Bob took off his helmet and put it on the end of +his gun. He then awaited the signal from +Ned.</p> +<p>“Show your tin hat!”</p> +<p>Slowly, and simulating as much as possible a +soldier raising his head above the top line of the +trench, Bob elevated the helmet. Hardly had he +done so when there came a sharp crack, and the +helmet spun around on the point of the bayonet as +a juggler spins a plate on the end of his walking +stick.</p> +<p>“Right O!” cried Ned, and, almost in the same +detonation as the firing of the German’s gun, +Ned’s rifle spoke. The clump of bushes seemed +to spout up into the air, blown by some underground +explosion, and then a figure was seen to +half leap from what must have been an excavation.</p> +<p>“You got him!” cried Jerry.</p> +<p>“Yes,” assented Ned, as he lowered his gun. +“You won’t have to shoot, old man. Fritz won’t +do any more pot-hunting.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p> +<p>So that was the end of one German sharpshooter.</p> +<p>The three chums were congratulated by their +relief, which came soon after that, on ridding that +part of this particular sector of a menace that +had long been in evidence. More than one American +had been killed or wounded either by this +sharpshooter or by one who had adopted the same +tactics, and Ned, Bob and Jerry had well earned +the thanks of their comrades.</p> +<p>“Have you heard anything more about going +over the top soon?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“Nothing definite,” replied Ned, who had +started the rumor. “But don’t you feel a sort of +tenseness all around—as though something were +going to happen?”</p> +<p>“I do,” answered Bob. “I think it’s going to +happen that I’m going to have some chow. I +smell it coming!”</p> +<p>“You’re a heathen materialist!” declared Ned.</p> +<p>Bob proved a true prophet, for a few minutes +later a relief squad came to the dugout with a +traveling kitchen, or rather, some of the products +of one in the shape of hot beef stew and coffee.</p> +<p>Following the ending of the career of the German +sniper, the three Motor Boys, after several +strenuous days in the trenches, went back again to +a rest billet. There they recuperated, and really +enjoyed themselves. There were letters from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +home to cheer them, and also a communication +from Professor Snodgrass.</p> +<p>The little scientist said he had tried in vain to +get some trace of the two missing girls, and expressed +the hope of seeing the boys soon, to get +the benefit of any advice they could give him. He +also stated that he was progressing well with his +scientific work of noting the effect of terrific noises +on insects. But, somehow or other, the Motor +Boys did not take as much interest in the pursuit +of the scientist as they had formerly.</p> +<p>“The war has changed everything,” declared +Jerry.</p> +<p>“But, of course, we’ll help him find the girls +if we can,” suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, of course,” agreed his tall chum.</p> +<p>Their stay in the rest camp was made pleasant +by the ministrations of the Y. M. C. A. and the +Knights of Columbus representatives. The chums +and their comrades spent much time in the different +huts, where they were entertained and could +get hot chocolate, candy or chewing gum—rations +not then issued by the army commissary.</p> +<p>“If it wasn’t for these organizations war would +be a whole lot worse than it is,” declared Jerry, +as they came from a Y. M. C. A. meeting and +moving-picture show one evening.</p> +<p>“And don’t forget the Salvation Army!” chimed +in Bob. “The fried holes those lassies turn out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +are the best I ever ate—not excepting those +mother used to make.”</p> +<p>“Yes, those doughnuts fill a big void, even if +they have a hole in the middle,” agreed Ned.</p> +<p>But all good things—even Salvation Army +doughnuts—come to an end some time, and so did +the rest period of the three friends. Back to the +trenches they went, to find out that what Ned had +predicted was about to happen. An attack of considerable +magnitude was in preparation, and it +was to be as much of a surprise to the Germans +as possible.</p> +<p>“It’s going to be over the top all right,” declared +Jerry, when, one evening, they received +their final instructions. The attack, preceded by +a brief artillery preparation, was to take place at +dawn, the “zero hour” selected.</p> +<p>It was believed, and was proved true as after +events showed, that by considerably shortening the +artillery fire, the Germans would be unprepared. +They were used to the big guns bombarding them +for a day or more at a stretch before the infantry +came over. This was to be a change.</p> +<p>The night before the attack was a nervous one. +Yet those not on duty managed to get some sleep. +For many it would be their last.</p> +<p>Then came the general awakening, and the +moving of the men along the trenches to the posts +assigned to them. Each squad of men was in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +charge of an officer, commissioned or noncommissioned, +and in Jerry’s squad were Ned and Bob.</p> +<p>“Go over the top with a rush when you get the +signal, which will be three whistles after the barrage +has ceased,” were the instructions, and Ned, +Bob, and Jerry, with their comrades, prepared to +do this.</p> +<p>There was a period of tense waiting and then, +with a suddenness that shook their nerves and +bodies, as well as the whole earth about them, the +big guns opened fire.</p> +<p>That the Germans were taken by surprise was +evident by the failure to answer. For perhaps +five minutes it seemed as though a thousand of the +most terrific of thunder storms had been condensed +into one.</p> +<p>Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the firing +ceased. The “zero hour” had arrived.</p> +<p>Three shrill whistles, repeated from many +points, sounded on the now silent but quivering air. +Not a German gun had yet awakened.</p> +<p>“Over the top!” came the cry, and the friends, +with thousands of other brave lads, scrambled up +the ladders from the trenches and started toward +the German lines.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII_FRIED_HOLES' id='CHAPTER_XVII_FRIED_HOLES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>“FRIED HOLES”</h3> +</div> +<p>Ned, Bob, and Jerry were stationed in a sector +which was alternately defending the lines against +the Germans and attacking them in that part of +the country where the trend of the war eventually +led up to the terrific battles of St. Mihiel and the +Argonne Forest. But, up to this time, no one had +guessed that the whole nature of the war would be +so quickly changed with the advent of the Americans, +nor was it suspected what terrible fighting +would have to be undertaken by our boys; though, +of course, they were ready for the worst.</p> +<p>So that the battle in which the Motor Boys and +their comrades were now about to engage was +merely what was termed a local engagement.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, it meant everything—life and +death—to those engaged in it, though there was +never a thought of death in the hearts of any of +the brave men who went over the top as the big +guns ceased thundering and the shrill whistles gave +the signal.</p> +<p>“Come on, boys!” yelled Jerry, as he led Bob +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +and Ned forward, followed by the others in the +particular squad of which Jerry had charge. +“Come on!”</p> +<p>“Yi! Yi! Yip!” screamed a young giant from +the South, as he leaped ahead of some of his +chums to the side of Jerry. “Show the Fritzies +how we fight!”</p> +<p>And together he and Jerry rushed on, followed +by Ned and Bob—a quartette acting as one man.</p> +<p>It was the first really big battle in which the +Cresville chums had taken part. They had been +out on skirmish work and on night patrol, and +they had come in conflict with parties of Germans, +but no large bodies. They had even each been +wounded slightly, but never before, in all their +lives, had they had a part in such a hailstorm of +death, such a turmoil of blood, mud, smoke, gas +and flying bullets as now. On and over the rough +shell-pitted ground they rushed toward the German +trenches. On they rushed in the gray dawn +of the morning, firing as they ran, hardly stopping +to take aim, for they could see the gray, indefinite +mass before them, and knew they were the +German troops who had rushed out of their +trenches to meet the onslaught.</p> +<p>At first the attack had been a surprise—a surprise +so great that the Germans could not, at the +beginning, reply even with adequate rifle fire, to +say nothing of artillery and machine guns. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></p> +<p>But, in a moment, seemingly, all this was +changed. Tongues and slivers of fire began to +spit out from the gray ranks opposing the Americans. +There was a snarl of the lighter artillery +guns, the spiteful bark of the rifles and the wicked +rat-a-tat-tat of the machine guns, which the Germans +depended on, more than on anything else, +to stop a rush of our infantry.</p> +<p>Half way across No Man’s Land rushed Ned, +Bob, and Jerry, with their cheering, madly yelling +comrades, and then the toll of death began. It +was the fortune of war. Those that lived by rifles +and bayonets must perish by them, and for the +deaths that they exacted of the Huns their lives +were exacted in return.</p> +<p>Jerry, who with grim-set face and blazing eyes +rushed on at the side of the tall Southern giant, +heard a dull thud. Then came a sort of gasping, +choking cry that was audible even above the horrid +din of battle. Jerry, in a glance, saw his big +comrade crumple up in a heap, the whole front of +his body torn away by a piece of shell. And for +one terrible instant Jerry felt that he, himself, +must fall there, too, so terrible was the sight. But +he nerved himself to go on, and a backward glance +showed that Bob had to leap over the dead body +of the lad who but a moment before was yelling +encouragement to others.</p> +<p>But it was war, and it had to be. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></p> +<p>On and on they rushed. Now they were at the +first line of the German barbed wire. Some of it +had been cut by the swift firing of shrapnel before +the troops came from their trenches. But enough +remained to be a hindrance, and quickly the men +with cutters surged forward to open the way.</p> +<p>It was while the Americans were held up here +that the Germans took fearful and heavy toll of +them with their machine guns, which were now +sputtering with terrific firing. Scores of brave +men went down, some never to rise again. Others, +only slightly wounded, staggered for a minute, +paused behind some dead comrade’s body to +adjust a bandage, and then went on.</p> +<p>Forward they rushed. Through the barbed +wire now, trampling down the cruel strands, never +heeding the bleeding wounds it tore in them, never +heeding the storm of bullets, minding not the +burst of shrapnel or high explosive.</p> +<p>On and on they went, yelling and shouting; +maddened with righteous anger against a ruthless +foe. Forward once more. Somehow, though +how they did it they never knew, Ned, Bob, and +Jerry stuck close to one another. Since the death +of the Southerner the three chums were in line +together, and stormed on. Their rifles were hot +in their hands, but still they fired.</p> +<p>“The first-line trenches!” yelled Ned, as he +pointed through the smoke. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span></p> +<p>And there, indeed, they were. They had passed +over No Man’s Land through a storm of death +which held many back. They had mastered the +barrier of the wire, and now were at the first line +of the German defense. And so fierce and terrible +had been the rush of the Americans the Germans +had fallen back, so that, save for lifeless +gray bodies, the trenches were unoccupied.</p> +<p>“Forward! Forward! Don’t stop! Go on!” +yelled the officers.</p> +<p>A certain objective had been set, and the commanders +were fearful lest the troops, thinking +that to capture the first German trenches was +enough, would stop there.</p> +<p>But they need not have been apprehensive. +The boys of Uncle Sam were not of that sort. +They wanted to come in closer contact with the +Boches. And they did.</p> +<p>On over the first-line trenches they rushed, but +now the fighting became hotter, for they were in +the midst of machine-gun nests, placed there for +just such a contingency. Death was on every side +now—horrible death. A bullet clipped Jerry’s +ear, but he only laughed—half madly and unconsciously, +no doubt—and rushed on. A man was +killed in front of him, and, falling forward, +tripped the tall lad, so that, for one terrible instant +Bob and Ned thought their chum had been +killed. But Jerry sprang up again, and, seeing a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +knot of Germans just ahead of him, tossed a hand +grenade among them. As a wisp of fog shuts out +a view, so the smoke of the grenade hid the group +of Huns for a moment. And when a swirl of the +air lifted the smoke curtain, a gray heap on the +ground was all that remained. It was like some +vision of the night, constantly changing.</p> +<p>On and on they rushed, shouting and shooting, +yelling and being yelled at. They panted for +breath, their tongues clove to their dry mouths, +they suffered horribly for water, but there was +only blood about them.</p> +<p>Forward they surged. So great was the first +rush that they fairly were carried—it did not seem +that they took themselves—beyond the last of that +particular line of German trenches. Now they +were actually on the open ground beyond—the +space where the Huns had their reserves, and these +were now quickly thrown into the battle.</p> +<p>Clip after clip of cartridges had been used by +the boys, and they were drawing on their reserve +supply now. But the battle was not going with +the same rush. The Germans were holding even +as a desperate eleven holds when it is on its own +goal line and the opponents are madly striving to +shove it over and out of the way, that a touchdown +may be made.</p> +<p>Following the instructions they had received, +the Americans began to look for what shelter they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +could find—a hole in the ground, a heap of dirt, +the body of some fallen man, a slain horse, a heap +of rubbish, a dismantled machine gun, anything +that, for a time, would fend off a bullet.</p> +<p>The first, or shock-wave, of troops had gotten +as far as it was advisable to go, and they must +wait a moment for reinforcements and for the +artillery to come up. So it was that they threw +themselves flat, to escape the storm of bullets that +drove into their very faces.</p> +<p>There was no question, now, of surprising the +enemy. He was fully awake to his danger, and +had rushed all his available troops into the conflict. +He had an unusually large number of machine +guns, and on these he depended more than +on artillery or rifle fire to break up the attack. +And nothing more effectual could have been +chosen. Only, the Americans were determined +not to be stopped.</p> +<p>Hastily they began entrenching, digging shallow +ditches in which to find shelter. It does not take +much of a mound of earth to provide a shield +against rifle or machine-gun bullets, and in ten +minutes an advancing body of troops can provide +themselves with temporary protection, while in +half an hour they can almost be in trenches, +though these are not as deep as the permanent +ones.</p> +<p>While part of the advancing Americans still +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +maintained a fusillade from their rifles and from +a few machine guns that had been rushed up, others +used the intrenching tools. Then, when all +were under temporary shelter, they began assaulting +the Boches from their vantage places.</p> +<p>But now the Germans had begun to fight back +with their artillery, only, fortunately for Ned, +Bob, and Jerry, and their comrades, the range +was not yet ascertained, so that the shots flew well +over their heads. The shells landed back of the +American trenches which had been abandoned +when the order came to go over the top, and as +this ground was temporarily vacant no great harm +was done.</p> +<p>“There go our guns again!” cried Ned into +Jerry’s ear, as he lay stretched out beside his tall +chum.</p> +<p>“Yes. They’re trying to drive the Huns back +so we can go on. We’ve got to get farther than +this.”</p> +<p>The battle was now one of longer range, the +first fierceness of the infantry having spent itself. +Indeed, the men were practically out of ammunition, +though a reserve stock was being rushed to +them under the cover of the American guns.</p> +<p>A considerable space, corresponding to No +Man’s Land, separated the two lines, and over the +heads of the prostrate men flew the shells of their +respective batteries. So, for the time being, except +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +for stray shooting of rifles and machine guns, +the two confronting lines of infantry were comparatively +safe.</p> +<p>It was during this lull that Bob, looking back +from where he was sheltered by a little hill of +earth and stones, uttered a cry.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry quickly. +“Are you hit, Chunky?”</p> +<p>“Hit? No! But look there! Fried holes! +See ’em!”</p> +<p>For an instant both Ned and Jerry thought that +Bob had been seriously hurt, and was out of his +head. But they looked to where he pointed and saw +a man in the uniform of the Salvation Army coming +across the ground over which the Americans +had recently stormed. And the intrepid noncombatant +carried on either arm a big basket of a type +well known to our American fighters.</p> +<p>“Fried holes!” cried Bob. “Fried holes! Salvation +Army doughnuts, fellows! I’m going to +get some!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_SCHOOL_JANITOR' id='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_SCHOOL_JANITOR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>THE SCHOOL JANITOR</h3> +</div> +<p>Just how it happened that the Salvation Army +worker had ventured into that place of death none +knew, and none stopped to inquire. Probably the +man, in his eagerness to serve, did not realize +where he was nor how he got there. Naturally +he would have been denied permission to go forward +during an engagement—that was no time +nor place for a noncombatant. But he probably +had not asked. He had made his way through a +rain of lead and steel to a zone of comparative +safety. And there he stood, as if bewildered, with +his baskets of cheer on his arms.</p> +<p>And now a sudden change in the battle made +the zone of comparative safety one of danger. +For the range of the German guns became +shorter. The muzzles were being depressed to +seek out those intrepid Americans who had rushed +over the first Hun trenches and were waiting to +rush onward again. This must not be, thought +the Huns, and so they sought them out to kill +them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p> +<p>So it was that as Bob spied the “fried holes” +the dispenser of them gave a start as a bullet or a +piece of shell flew close to his head. He was in +grave danger now, and realized it. But he did +not falter. He gave one backward glance, not +with an idea of retreating, that is sure, but to see +if there were any near him in that direction whom +he might serve. Then he saw the prone lines +ahead of him.</p> +<p>“Me for some of those!” yelled Bob, as he rose +from his improvised trench.</p> +<p>“Lie still, you chump!” shouted Ned. “Do +you want to be killed?”</p> +<p>“No more than you did when you got the wood +from the busted truck,” was the answer. “But +I’ve got to have some of those doughnuts!”</p> +<p>And Bob, never heeding the fact that he would +be a shining target for the guns of the Germans, +started to run toward the Salvation Army man.</p> +<p>Some of the officers, from where they were stationed +among the troops, saw him.</p> +<p>“Come back! Come back! Who is he? +What’s he doing? Is he going to desert in the face +of the enemy?” were some of the commands and +cries.</p> +<p>But it needed only a glance to show that Bob +never had a notion of deserting. He ran toward +the man with the baskets of doughnuts on his +arms. Crisp, golden-brown doughnuts they were, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +fresh from one of the traveling kitchens where, +behind the lines, the Salvation Army lassies made +them—a devoted service that will never be forgotten, +but will rank with that of the Red Cross +and be immortal.</p> +<p>And now, as might have been expected, the +Germans saw the two figures—the only upright +ones in that particular neighborhood. And the +inevitable followed. They were fired at.</p> +<p>Both offered good marks, but Fate, Providence, +or whatever you choose to call it, favored them, +or else the Germans were wretched shots, which +last, in a measure, is known to be true.</p> +<p>At any rate, Bob and the Salvation Army man +met and Bob took charge of one of the baskets +of doughnuts. That, too, was to be expected.</p> +<p>“Come on—run for it!” yelled the stout lad. +“This place is getting hot!”</p> +<p>And indeed it was, for all about their feet were +little spurts of earth, showing where the bullets +were striking. And together they ran on toward +the war-worn, weary figures of the men in the shallow +trenches. Straight to where he had left his +comrades Bob led the brave man, and they were +received with a cheer.</p> +<p>Though it was desperately against all orders +and discipline for Bob to do what he had done, not +an officer rebuked him. And then the “fried +holes” were quickly handed out to the fortunate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +ones in that section of the line, the officers refusing +any, so that the weary men might have some +little refreshment.</p> +<p>“Halves only—each man only take a half!” +cried Ned, when he saw how many men there were +and how few—in spite of the two big baskets—the +doughnuts were.</p> +<p>Bob looked a trifle crestfallen, but he agreed +with a smile, and to his eternal credit be it said +that when he broke the one doughnut he saved for +himself, and it came apart in two unequal pieces, +he gave the larger section to a comrade on his +right.</p> +<p>“Bravo, Chunky!” said Jerry softly, as he observed.</p> +<p>And then, as if in horrible contrast to this +peaceful scene, the battle began again.</p> +<p>“Forward!” came the orders, and the three +chums, with their comrades, sprang from their +shelter.</p> +<p>And as Bob left the shallow hole he had dug +for himself to see what became of the Salvation +Army man, he saw him roll gently over on his +side, a little hole in his forehead showing where +death had entered from one of the hundreds of +bullets that were now sweeping down among the +troops. But there was a smile on his lips.</p> +<p>And there died a very brave and gallant gentleman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></p> +<p>Burst and roar and rumble and thunder and +shriek and yell and cry and sob succeeded, accompanied +and overlapped one another. The battle +was on again in all its horrid fury.</p> +<p>Forward rushed the troops, freshened by their +rest, with more ammunition of death. Forward +they rushed, driving the Germans back, out of the +trenches improvised by the Huns. Forward they +rushed while the American guns lifted the barrage +to protect them, and the German cannon crashed +out their answer.</p> +<p>On they went, stumbling, falling, getting up +again some of them, never rising again many of +them. Bloody and mud-stained, powder-grimed +and sweat-marked, torn and panting, cut and +bruised, with dry tongues that swelled in their +blackened mouths. With eyes that saw nothing +and everything—the sight of comrades torn to +pieces beside them, the falling of beloved officers, +the tearing of great holes in the ranks, and the +closing of those holes by a living wall of others +who offered themselves for the sacrifice.</p> +<p>Forward they rushed, shouting and firing, tossing +hand grenades into the midst of the dust-gray +bodies of the Huns that opposed them. Onward +they leaped and ran and staggered and jumped, +but always onward.</p> +<p>A yell on their left caught the ears of Jerry and +his chums. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p> +<p>“Are we giving way?” asked Ned, grimly despairing.</p> +<p>“No! It’s the tanks! Look!” screamed Bob.</p> +<p>And the tanks it was. A score of them, great +lumbering giants, impervious to everything save +heavy guns, on they crawled, smashing concrete +machine-gun nests as though they were but collections +of vipers’ eggs in a field.</p> +<p>These tanks turned the tide of battle at that +particular point. For the Germans were putting +up a stiff resistance, and were about to launch a +counter-attack, as was learned later.</p> +<p>But with the tanks to protect them, to splatter +death from their armored machine guns, to spread +terror and fear among the Huns, the day was +saved.</p> +<p>On rushed the Americans, Ned, Bob, and Jerry +among them, while all about them thundered the +big guns, rattled the rifles, adding their din to +the tat-a-tat-tat of the machine guns.</p> +<p>And then the Germans, unable to withstand this +withering fire and being inadequately supported +by their artillery, broke in confusion and ran—ran +to escape the terrible death that awaited them +from the avengers of a world dishonored by the +Boches.</p> +<p>Wave after wave of storming troops now +surged over the positions lately occupied in force +by the Germans. Up the wooded slopes they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +swept, taking possession of dominant heights so +long desired. The objective was more than won, +and the American position much improved.</p> +<p>The fury of the fighting began to die away. +But it was still terrific in spots, for there were +many machine-gun nests left behind when the Huns +retreated, and the holders of them were told to +die at their posts. Many did.</p> +<p>When Ned, Bob, Jerry, and some of their comrades, +led by an officer, approached one of the +dugouts there was no sign of life. It had been +spouting death from a machine gun but a little +while before, however.</p> +<p>“Look out!” some one shouted. “Maybe +they’re playing possum!”</p> +<p>And so it was, for as the group advanced there +was a burst of fire, and half a dozen men went +down. Ned and Bob had a vision of Jerry crumpling +up at the very entrance of the dugout, and +their hearts seemed to stop beating.</p> +<p>“Drive ’em out! Kill the Boches! Wipe ’em +up!” yelled the survivors.</p> +<p>With a fierce yell, Ned tossed into the open +doorway a hand grenade. It exploded with terrific +force, partly wrecking the place, and then in +rushed he and his comrades, with gleaming bayonets.</p> +<p>“<i>Kamerad! Kamerad!</i>” came the cowardly +appeal from the Germans. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>And a moment later out of the dugout where +the machine gun had been concealed came four +German soldiers, all that was left alive of a company +of twenty, and of these four two were badly +wounded.</p> +<p>Ned and Bob, seeing that the place, the last +of any opposition in that section, was captured, +were about to turn back to see if Jerry was still +alive, when a second look at one of the German +prisoners caused Ned to cry:</p> +<p>“Nick Schmouder!”</p> +<p>“<i>Ja!</i>” came the answer, and then, in German, +he asked:</p> +<p>“Who speaks my name?”</p> +<p>“Nick Schmouder!” said Ned again.</p> +<p>“Do you know this man?” asked an officer +sharply.</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ned. “He used to be a janitor +at Boxwood Hall, a school I attended.”</p> +<p>And the face of Nick Schmouder showed as +much wonder as did that of Ned Slade.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX_NEWS_AT_LAST' id='CHAPTER_XIX_NEWS_AT_LAST'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>NEWS AT LAST</h3> +</div> +<p>“Well, well, Nick! To think of meeting you +here!” exclaimed Bob.</p> +<p>“Don’t speak to the Hun!” some one called, +and then, for the first time, Ned and Bob seemed +to realize that the little man, with whom they had +been on friendly terms at college, was an +enemy.</p> +<p>But such was the case. It was only one of +many queer incidents of the war, and more than +one fighting American found among the prisoners +sent back, after he and his comrades had cleaned +up a Boche nest, some man he had known back +home—a former waiter at a club, perhaps, or a +man who delivered his groceries.</p> +<p>“How came you here?” asked Nick Schmouder, +with scarcely a trace of German accent, as he and +the other prisoners stood with upraised hands, +though one of the survivors had to drop his as he +fell in a heap because of weakness from his +wounds.</p> +<p>“We came here to teach the Kaiser how to walk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +Spanish,” said Bob. “I didn’t think you’d fight +against us, Nick, after what you learned at Boxwood +Hall.”</p> +<p>“Ach! I was forced to,” was the answer. “I +am glad it is over—that I am a prisoner. I did +not like this war. I shall be glad when it is over +and you have won. It is terrible! Listen, I will +a secret tell,” and he did not seem afraid of the +effect it might have on his apathetic comrades. +“Every time I shoot the machine gun I point it at +the ground so it will kill no Americans. I do not +want to kill them.”</p> +<p>“Hum, that’s a good story to tell now!” said +the incredulous officer. “Take ’em to the rear +with the other prisoners. Wait, though, this one +can’t walk. He’ll have to have a stretcher. I’ll +have his wounds patched up. But take the others +back. Corporal Hopkins!” he called.</p> +<p>“Corporal Hopkins is wounded, Sir,” reported +Ned, with a catch in his voice. “He may be dead. +He fell just as we stormed this place, Sir!”</p> +<p>“Oh, I did not know that. See to him at once. +Here!” he called to some stretcher-bearers who +were coming up, “we may need you!”</p> +<p>They hurried forward, and, leaving Nick +Schmouder and the other German prisoners under +guard, the officer, with Ned, Bob, and some other +Americans, went back to where Jerry had been +seen to fall. It was just outside of a little defile +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +leading to the dugout where the machine gun had +wrought such havoc.</p> +<p>“There—there he is!” faltered Ned, as he +pointed to the crumpled-up body of his chum, and +Bob turned his face away, for it seemed to be the +end of Jerry Hopkins.</p> +<p>There was blood on Jerry’s head, and blood +had seeped out from his right leg, near the knee. +Poor Jerry lay very still, and about him were +heaped others, who were unmistakably dead.</p> +<p>The lieutenant bent over the corporal and made +a hasty examination. There was relief on his +face—relief which was reflected on the countenances +of Ned and Bob as he said:</p> +<p>“He’s still alive, but badly hurt, I’m afraid. +Take him back as gently as you can.”</p> +<p>Ned and Bob helped lift him on to the stretcher. +Jerry did not move, and so faint was his breathing +that there were times when it seemed to stop +altogether.</p> +<p>Desperately as Ned and Bob wanted to go back +to the dressing station to learn how it fared with +their chum, they must stay on duty in the advanced +position they had helped to win. It must be consolidated +as much as possible before night, or the +Germans might launch a counter offensive.</p> +<p>And so, when the Hun machine gun had been +turned about, ready to rake any advancing lines +of its recent owners, other measures were taken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +to insure the holding of the position won at such +cost.</p> +<p>“I’d like to have a talk with that Nick,” said +Bob, as he and Ned paused for a moment in their +work of digging trenches.</p> +<p>“Yes, isn’t it strange to meet him here like this? +If he fired any of the shots that did up Jerry +Hopkins, why––”</p> +<p>Ned did not finish, but Bob knew what his chum +meant.</p> +<p>Feverishly the Americans worked, and to good +purpose, for when darkness began to fall they +were in strong front trenches with supporting lines +back of them, and the artillery was partly in place. +If the Germans wanted to take that particular +hill again they would have to work for every inch +of it.</p> +<p>And now the commissary department got busy, +and hot soup and coffee was rushed up to the well-nigh +exhausted men. Never was a meal more +welcome.</p> +<p>“But it doesn’t taste any better than those +doughnuts did,” declared Bob, as he sat on a pile +of dirt, sipping coffee from a tin cup, his face and +hands plastered with mud and other dirt.</p> +<p>“You took an awful chance, though, Chunky,” +said his chum.</p> +<p>“No more than that Salvation Army man did. +He was braver than I, because it was my business +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +to be where I was, and he didn’t have to if he +didn’t want to.”</p> +<p>“Well, that’s so,” agreed Ned. “But say, I’m +going to see if we can’t find out how Jerry is. +If he—if he’s––”</p> +<p>But he did not have the heart to finish.</p> +<p>As much had been done as was possible that +day, after the terrific battle, and with the arrival +of fresh reserves those who had borne the brunt +of the fighting were sent to the rear to rest. Ned +and Bob were among these, and, obtaining permission, +they went to the dressing station to learn +Jerry’s fate.</p> +<p>Their hearts leaped with joy when they were +told that, aside from a bad scalp wound and a +bullet through the fleshy part of his leg, their +chum was all right.</p> +<p>The high-powered bullets do infinitely less +damage than the old-fashioned slower-moving +sort, and the wound in Jerry’s leg was a clean +one.</p> +<p>Not so, however, the cut on his head, which +was from a piece of burning shell, making a jagged +wound that, however, did not touch the bone.</p> +<p>“He’ll be back in line again in three weeks,” +declared the surgeon to Ned and Bob, and those +were the happiest words they ever had heard.</p> +<p>The next morning, after a feverish night in +which they slept but little, they were allowed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +see Jerry, and they found him in better condition, +relatively, than themselves. For he had been +given a bath and cleaned after his wounds were +dressed, whereas Ned and Bob were still caked +with the mud, dirt, and grime of battle. But it +was honorable dirt, as a Japanese might say. +Most honorable and cherished.</p> +<p>“Well, how about you, old man?” asked Ned, +as the Red Cross nurse said they might talk a little +to their injured chum.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m all right. Feel fine! Just knocked +out a little. Save a few Huns for me for the next +rush.”</p> +<p>“Oh, we’ll do that all right,” agreed Bob. +“Too bad you had to get yours just as we won the +game.”</p> +<p>“We won it, so I hear,” observed Jerry.</p> +<p>“Yes, cleaned ’em up,” went on Ned. “And +whom do you guess we caught in the last batch of +prisoners?”</p> +<p>“Not Professor Snodgrass!”</p> +<p>“No. But some one who knows him. Nick +Schmouder!” exploded Bob.</p> +<p>“What? Not the janitor at Boxwood Hall? +The fellow who helped us get the goat upstairs +into the physics class?”</p> +<p>“The same!” laughed Ned; and Jerry chuckled +so at the recollection of one of the jokes of their +college days that the nurse was forced to say she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +would order his chums away unless he remained +more quiet.</p> +<p>“I’ll be good!” promised the tall lad. “But +that is rich! How did it happen?”</p> +<p>“Don’t know,” admitted Ned. “I’m going to +have a talk with him if I can.”</p> +<p>“Let me know what he says,” begged Jerry. +“I don’t suppose you have heard anything about +the professor or his quest for the two girls?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Bob. “I guess he’ll never find +them. It’s worse than looking for a cent down a +crack in the boardwalk at Atlantic City. But I +don’t suppose you could convince the professor +of that.”</p> +<p>“No,” agreed Jerry. “I’m mighty sorry, too. +You remember what he said about losing the +money he had lent to a friend of his and needing +this bequest from Professor Petersen. Well, if +you see or hear from him let me know. I won’t +be able to get about for a week—maybe more.”</p> +<p>Bob and Ned stayed until the nurse sent them +away, but they promised to call again as soon as +allowed. Then, as they were relieved from duty, +they went to an officer and received permission to +talk to the prisoner, Nick Schmouder, after explaining +about him.</p> +<p>The man had been a janitor at Boxwood Hall +when Ned, Bob, and Jerry attended there. He +had been a good friend to the three chums, and, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +as mentioned, had assisted them in performing +what they were pleased to term a “joke.”</p> +<p>The boys had forgotten all about him, and it +was with the utmost wonder they met him again +under such strange and strenuous circumstances.</p> +<p>“How did you come to get into the war?” asked +Bob, as he and Ned talked to the prisoner, who +was in a wire cage with hundreds of others.</p> +<p>“Oh, it was an accident, yet. I came back to +Germany to see my old father, and I was caught +here when the war broke out. I had not served +my full time in the army, and so I had to go in +again. Ach! how I hate it. But tell me—why +are you here?”</p> +<p>“The same reason that brought every other +good American over,” replied Ned sharply. “We +want to wipe Prussian militarism off the face of +the earth.”</p> +<p>“And a good job, I say!” declared Nick +Schmouder. “It is like a bad disease germ. One +of those bugs Professor Snodgrass used to show +me in the microscope. Ah, I wish I was back at +Boxwood Hall with him. He was a nice little +man.”</p> +<p>“Yes, he was,” agreed Ned. “And you may see +him, if you stay around here.”</p> +<p>“See him? Is the professor in the war, too?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly,” Bob answered. “He is here on +a scientific mission. Something about war noises +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +and insects. But he is after something else, too. +A friend of his, Professor Petersen––”</p> +<p>“Professor Emil Petersen?” cried Nick +Schmouder in such a strange voice that Ned and +Bob stared at him. “Did you say Professor Emil +Petersen?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know that I mentioned his first name, +but it is Emil,” answered the stout lad. “Why, +do you know him?”</p> +<p>“Know him? Why, he once lived in the same +German town where my father and mother lived,” +declared the former janitor. “They were friends,—my +father worked for him and my mother had +looked after him when he was sick—and when +the professor, who was studying or something, had +to go away, he left his two nieces––”</p> +<p>“Two nieces!” burst out Ned and Bob together. +“Do you mean Miss Gladys Petersen +and Miss Dorothy Gibbs?”</p> +<p>“Yes! Those were the names,” announced +Schmouder easily. “He left the two nieces with +my father and mother. They were nice girls!”</p> +<p>“Listen to that!” cried Ned, thumping Bob on +the back. “News at last! We must tell Jerry +this!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX_A_QUEER_QUESTION' id='CHAPTER_XX_A_QUEER_QUESTION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>A QUEER QUESTION</h3> +</div> +<p>So unexpected was the news given by the captured +Boxwood Hall janitor that for a moment +or two Ned and Bob could scarcely believe it. +That the information, so much desired and so +ardently sought after, should come to them by +accident, while, doubtless, Professor Snodgrass +was using every energy to that end, seemed +scarcely believable. Yet there could be no doubt +of it. Still Ned was a bit cautious, and restrained +his stout chum from rushing to the hospital to tell +Jerry.</p> +<p>“We don’t want any mistake in this,” remarked +Ned. “Are you sure, Nick, that this is the same +Professor Petersen whom we mean, the same one +Professor Snodgrass means?”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how there can be any mistake,” declared +the former janitor. “I often heard Professor +Petersen speak of Professor Snodgrass, +and I know him well enough. I could tell him in +the dark.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I guess that’s right,” assented Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>“But there may be two Professor Petersens—the +name is not uncommon in Germany, at any rate.”</p> +<p>“There is no mistake,” declared Schmouder. +“I admit there may be several Professor Petersens, +but hardly two who would have nieces named +Dorothy Gibbs and Gladys Petersen.”</p> +<p>“That seems to clinch it,” declared Bob.</p> +<p>“Yes, I guess so,” agreed his chum. “But what +else can you tell us about them, Nick, and where +are the girls now?”</p> +<p>The German prisoner shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>“As for where they are now, I do not know,” +he answered. “My father and mother live in a +little town not far from Metz. It was there Professor +Petersen came sometimes to study and write +his books, when he was not in his own country or +in your country, lecturing or visiting Professor +Snodgrass.</p> +<p>“Just before this terrible war, which I wish with +all my heart I had never seen, Professor Petersen +came to this little town, bringing for the first time +his two nieces. I happened to be there on a visit—I +came to see my parents, and now I wish I +hadn’t.</p> +<p>“No, I will not say that!” quickly exclaimed the +man. “I am glad I saw them; but I wish I had +sent for them to come to the United States to see +me. It would have been safer for them and me, +for we shall lose this war—I can see that.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> +<p>“You said it!” declared Bob, with energy.</p> +<p>“Tell us all you can,” urged Ned. “We have +a great interest in finding these girls.”</p> +<p>“Well, I am sorry I cannot tell you more,” replied +Schmouder. “As I said, I came back just +before the war broke out, was caught and sent +to the army. I saw Professor Petersen in my +home town then with the two young ladies. There +was some story about his having been reconciled +to them after a long estrangement, but I did not +pay much attention to that.</p> +<p>“All I know is that I saw the young ladies and +knew they were the nieces of the professor. They +had been traveling in France and Germany, it was +said. Then the professor left just before war +was declared. He suspected it was coming, and +said he had certain investigations he wished to +make before the fighting started. He left the two +young ladies in charge of my father and mother, +telling them he would be back as soon as he could, +and that, thereafter, he would look after them.”</p> +<p>“What happened next?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“The war,” answered Schmouder succinctly. +“That spoiled everything. I had to go away and +leave my parents. What has become of them I +do not know.”</p> +<p>“Haven’t you heard from them?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Not lately, no. Soon after I was forced to +join the army I had a letter, in which they told +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +me they were going farther into Germany to be +safer.”</p> +<p>“And what about the two girls and Professor +Petersen?” Bob queried.</p> +<p>“What happened to Professor Petersen I cannot +tell you,” was the answer. “As for his two +nieces, my father wrote that they had gone on +some scientific expedition shortly after the professor +left them, and were not expected back for a +month.”</p> +<p>“Were they scientists too?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“I believe so,” answered the former janitor. +“They loved study, as did their uncle. At any +rate they, too, went into the interior of Germany +just before the war broke out, and what has happened +to them I do not know any more than I +know what happened to Professor Petersen.”</p> +<p>“We can tell you what happened to him,” said +Ned. “He died in America, and left a lot of +money.”</p> +<p>“So!” exclaimed Schmouder. “Well, it will do +no one any good these terrible days.”</p> +<p>“Maybe it will, and perhaps it won’t,” replied +Bob. “At any rate, he left half his fortune to +Professor Snodgrass on condition that our friend +find the two nieces and give them the other half +of the fortune.”</p> +<p>“Ach! Well, I shall be glad if the young ladies +get something,” said Schmouder. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“Yes, but the trouble is they won’t get it if they +can’t be found,” said Ned. “And Professor Snodgrass +won’t get anything, either. Now if you +could only tell us where these two girls are to be +found, why––”</p> +<p>“That I could not do—no one could in these +days!” declared the prisoner earnestly. “I will +help you all I can. I am an American at heart, +and I hope you will believe me when I say that +every gun I fired sent its bullets only into the +ground. I could not shoot at my former friends. +Germany is no longer a friend to me!”</p> +<p>“Nor to any one else,” declared Bob. “Gee! +but it’s tough to be so near the solution and then +to fail.”</p> +<p>“Don’t give up yet,” advised Ned. “We can +tell Professor Snodgrass what we have learned, +and maybe he can find a way to get in communication +with the young ladies. It’s a pity Professor +Petersen didn’t give them half his fortune when +he was alive, and save all this bother.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it would have been a good idea!” scoffed +his chum. “The girls and Professor Snodgrass +would have been better off. But, as a rule, people +don’t do that sort of thing. I haven’t noticed +your father—nor mine—giving away half of his +possessions. However, the money may be lost +entirely now. I don’t see how it can be paid over, +inherited or whatever the term is anyhow, in these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +days. Maybe the war has wiped out Professor +Petersen’s fortune.”</p> +<p>“I hardly think that,” said the former janitor. +“He was not a German, and his wealth was not +in that country. He was a very careful man, and +if he left any money to any one you may be sure +it is waiting for them, wherever they are.”</p> +<p>“That’s the point!” exclaimed Bob. “The +money may be all right, but we can’t find those +for whom it is intended. And if Professor Snodgrass +can’t locate the girls, all the fortune goes to +a humane society.”</p> +<p>“Ach! So?” exclaimed Nicholas Schmouder. +“Well, it is better that than Germany should get +it. Please tell your friends that I did never fire +my gun at them—always into the ground,” he +said wistfully, as the boys turned away from the +prisoners’ wire cage.</p> +<p>“We’ll do the best we can for you,” they said. +But there was little they could do to make life any +easier for their old friend, who, through no fault +of his own, was in a bad predicament.</p> +<p>When next they had a chance to visit Jerry the +two chums told him all they had heard, and the +wounded lad suggested that they should write to +Professor Snodgrass at once, urging him to come +on and have a talk with Schmouder. This Ned +and Bob did, though there was no certainty that +their letter would reach the scientist, or that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +would be able to obey the instructions in it. They +had his last address, but he was, at best, uncertain +in his movements, and now, with the great forward +movement of the American armies beginning, +it was hard for any one to get to the front.</p> +<p>“But we’ve found out something, anyhow,” declared +Ned. “The girls are somewhere in Germany, +if they are still alive, and it may be possible +for Professor Snodgrass to give them half the +money and keep the other half for his own necessities.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it may, and it may not. I hope it will, +though.”</p> +<p>Jerry, thanks to the nature of his wounds and +to his healthy constitution, made a remarkably +quick recovery, and though he was not ready to +go back to the front-line trenches when his chums +had to report for duty, it was probable that after +their next rest period he would join them.</p> +<p>It was hard for Ned and Bob to say good-bye +to their chum. They might never meet again, and +they knew it. But it was the fortune of war, and +had to be borne.</p> +<p>Fate, however, was kind to them, and Ned and +Bob were sent to a quiet sector. After some slight +skirmishes, which, however, were hard enough +on those engaged, they were again sent to the +rear to recuperate. There they found Jerry chafing +against being kept out of the fighting. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></p> +<p>“Feel all right?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Sure! Never better. I want to get at the +Huns again.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t hear from Professor Snodgrass, did +you?” inquired Bob.</p> +<p>“No. But I wrote to him again. Schmouder +has been sent back to the rear to work with other +prisoners, but I have his camp location so the professor +can interview him if he thinks it needful. +And say, a rather queer thing happened while you +were away.”</p> +<p>“What?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Well, Noddy Nixon came to see me.”</p> +<p>“He did!” cried Bob. “Well, the nerve of that +shrimp! After he took our wood!”</p> +<p>“What did he want?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, nothing in particular, as far as I could +make out. Just seemed to want to be friendly. +Asked me a lot of questions about how I was +treated in the hospital and whether I got enough +to eat.”</p> +<p>“You did, didn’t you?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“Sure. But I don’t quite see what Noddy was +aiming at. However, I didn’t trouble my head +much about it until yesterday.”</p> +<p>“Why yesterday?” Bob demanded.</p> +<p>“Well, the surgeon who patched me up came +and inquired if Noddy was a particular friend of +mine.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“Of course you told him he was!” laughed Ned.</p> +<p>“Like fun I did! No, I said I hadn’t any use +for him, but I didn’t go into particulars. After +all, Noddy is fighting on our side.”</p> +<p>“You mean he’s making a bluff at it!” growled +Bob. “But go on. Where does the queer part +come in?”</p> +<p>“Here,” answered Jerry. “The surgeon told +me Noddy took him to one side and asked very +particularly whether a wound in the hand or one +in the foot hurt the most. That’s what he wanted +to know.”</p> +<p>“He did!” cried Ned. “Well, what’s queer +about that?”</p> +<p>“Don’t you see,” resumed Jerry, “it looks as +though––”</p> +<p>But Jerry never finished that sentence, for as +he was speaking came cries of alarm from outside +the hospital and the firing of several guns, +while some one shouted:</p> +<p>“An air raid! An air raid! The Huns are +coming!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI_A_VISITOR' id='CHAPTER_XXI_A_VISITOR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>A VISITOR</h3> +</div> +<p>Jerry Hopkins, with his two chums and some +of the hospital patients who were able to move +about, rushed toward the sound of the shouting +and firing. Jerry’s leg wound was healed, and +save for a slight limp he was all right again.</p> +<p>The boys saw a group of soldiers gathered +about a battery of guns erected a short time before +to repel air raids. And that this was now a +time to use the weapons was evident after a glance +aloft.</p> +<p>For, hovering just below the clouds, were three +big Hun planes, and that they had come over the +lines to bomb the American positions was only +too evident.</p> +<p>There was no time to stop and inquire how the +hostile aircraft had managed to elude the vigilance +of the Allied airmen at the front. It was time to +act and act promptly, and at once the anti-aircraft +batteries opened, while word was quickly telephoned +to the nearest aerodrome, so that American, +French, or British fliers might ascend to attack +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +the Germans. It was the shooting at the +Hun planes with the guns nearest the hospital that +had broken in on Jerry’s remarks.</p> +<p>“They won’t bomb the hospital, will they?” +asked Ned, in wonder.</p> +<p>“They’re very likely to,” declared Jerry. +“Then later on they’ll claim they couldn’t see the +red crosses on the roof, or else they’ll say they +meant to drop bombs on an ammunition dump or +a railroad center and they miscalculated the distance—the +beasts!”</p> +<p>If the Huns intended to bomb the hospital now +it would not be the first time they had done such +a dastardly trick. And that they purposed sending +down explosives somewhere in the neighborhood +was evident from the tactics of the hostile +machines.</p> +<p>They flew about, so high above the group of +buildings containing the wounded and convalescents +as to make it difficult to hit them, and appeared +to be waiting their best chance to drop a +bomb where it would do the most damage.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, nurses and orderlies were moving +out their charges into the open, so there would be +less likelihood of their being caught in the collapsed +structures.</p> +<p>For a few minutes the scene was one of wild +confusion, and then army discipline was established +and matters went on as they should. Ned, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +Bob, and Jerry helped in taking out the wounded, +while the gun crews increased their fire at the +hostile planes.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a terrific explosion just in +the rear of the hospital. It shook the ground and +brought forth screams of agonized apprehension +on the part of men suffering from shell shock. +But either the bomb was misdirected or the Huns +were more merciful than they had been on other +similar occasions, for the bomb, dropped from one +of the aircraft, only tore a big hole in an adjacent +field.</p> +<p>“Too close for comfort, though,” declared +Ned.</p> +<p>“Our boys are gettin’ after ’em!” exclaimed +Bob, as he and his chums hurried back into the +endangered building to assist in taking out more +of the helpless ones.</p> +<p>This was true in two senses, for the fire of the +anti-aircraft batteries was increasing, and now +several Allied airmen were mounting aloft in their +swift machines to give battle to the attacking +Huns.</p> +<p>It was high time, too, for now bombs were +dropping on all sides of the hospital, and there +was no telling when the entire building might go +down in ruins. Whether the German airmen were +deliberately trying to hit the place where wounded +men were being saved from death, or whether they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +aimed their infernal machines at objects near it, +could not be said with certainty.</p> +<p>Fiercer and more rapid became the firing from +the anti-aircraft batteries established near the hospital +for this very purpose, and more Allied planes +took the air, seeking to drive off the invaders.</p> +<p>By this time most of the wounded had been carried +out and put under trees, in the open, wherever +it was considered safest for them.</p> +<p>Though from the ruthless manner in which the +Huns waged war no place was immune from their +bombs—even in the neighborhood of a hospital.</p> +<p>“Look! Look!” suddenly cried Ned. “They +got one!”</p> +<p>“That’s right!” echoed Jerry. “They’ve +brought one down!”</p> +<p>Tumbling over and over, in a fashion no airman, +however reckless, would dare to imitate as +a ruse, was one of the German planes. It had +been hit either by a shell from a battery, or the +bullets from one of the machine guns on an Allied +plane had found a mark.</p> +<p>Then, as the invading machine continued to fall, +out of control, it burst into flames, and a small +dark object was seen to detach itself from the +mass and fall to one side.</p> +<p>“There goes the pilot!” said Bob grimly. +“He’s done for.”</p> +<p>And so he was, and so was his machine. It was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +a horrible death, but none the less horrible than +he had planned for others—and helpless others, +too.</p> +<p>“There they go! They’ve had enough!” +shouted Ned, and as he spoke it was seen that the +Hun machines, which had been circling about, as +though looking for more targets on the ground +below, had turned and were speeding toward their +own lines, pursued by the American and other +machines, eager to visit on them just vengeance.</p> +<p>And then the hospital patients, some of them +wounded airmen themselves, watched the battle +of the clouds, out of danger now that the Huns +were in retreat.</p> +<p>The machines were so high that little could be +seen, but some one had a pair of glasses and reported +that one of the German craft was disabled +and was coming down out of control.</p> +<p>This information afterward proved to be correct. +Then during the battle which followed another +German machine was set on fire; so that a +total of three were destroyed, and another of the +six engaged in the raid sent back damaged, and +one of its occupants killed.</p> +<p>Nor did the Allied planes come off scatheless. +One was shot down and both occupants killed, +while another man was wounded. But the hospital +had not been bombed, which was the great +thing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>“Do you wonder that I’m aching to get back +into the fight against such beasts?” asked Jerry, +when the patients had once more been carried back +to the wards, and Jerry and his chums had resumed +their conversation in a quiet place outside.</p> +<p>“Don’t blame you a bit,” assented Ned. “But +we were talking about Noddy Nixon.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” resumed the tall lad. “I was saying he +asked a mighty queer question of the surgeon and +I have my own opinion––”</p> +<p>At that moment a smiling Red Cross nurse appeared +and said:</p> +<p>“There’s a visitor asking to see you, Mr. Hopkins.”</p> +<p>“A visitor for me!” exclaimed Jerry.</p> +<p>“Yes, do you wish to see any one?”</p> +<p>“Man or young lady?” asked Ned, with a mischievous +smile at his chum.</p> +<p>“Oh, a dear, little, bald-headed man, who peers +at you in such a funny way through his big glasses +and––”</p> +<p>“Show him in!” cried Ned, Bob and Jerry in +one voice.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII_AN_UNEXPECTED_CAPTURE' id='CHAPTER_XXII_AN_UNEXPECTED_CAPTURE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE</h3> +</div> +<p>The smiling Red Cross nurse had no need to +mention the name of the visitor. The boys knew +him for Professor Snodgrass after that description, +which could fit no one else. And the little +scientist it proved to be a moment later.</p> +<p>“Ah, here you are, boys!” he murmured, as +though he had just parted from them half an +hour before, and under ordinary circumstances, +instead of the great war being in the background. +“I am glad to see you. I want––”</p> +<p>He made a sudden motion toward the smiling, +Red Cross nurse, and instinctively she stepped +back, with something of a look of alarm on her +face.</p> +<p>“One moment—please!” exclaimed the professor. +“There is a most beautiful and rare butterfly +on your apron. I just want it for my collection,” +and, a moment later, he had safe in one of +his wire boxes the fluttering <i>Papilio</i>.</p> +<p>“Oh, how beautiful!” murmured the nurse. +“What are you going to do with the poor thing?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></p> +<p>“Preserve it so that others may gaze on its +beauty,” answered the professor with a bow. “It +will also aid me in my studies. This particular +butterfly is one I have long sought, because of the +peculiar markings. It is most lucky that I came +here to-day.”</p> +<p>“Well, it might have been unlucky if you had +happened to be hit by one of the German air +bombs,” said Jerry. “But we’re glad to see you. +We have good news for you about those two +girls.”</p> +<p>“Yes, so I understand from your letters. So +that janitor has seen them. Well, now I must follow +them up and give them their share of the fortune. +I came on as soon as I could after hearing +from you boys. I thank you for having my interests +at heart. Now where can I see this Nick +Schmouder and have a talk with him?”</p> +<p>The camp where the German prisoners were +detained was not many miles back of the hospital +where Jerry had recovered from his wounds, and, +as he would be able to travel the next day, and as +Bob and Ned could get furloughs, it was decided +that the four should make up a party and seek +out the former janitor, so that the professor +might hear, at first hand, all there was to be said.</p> +<p>These arrangements having been made, transportation +provided and the necessary permissions +having been secured, the professor and the three +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +Motor Boys, several hours later, sat down to have +a long chat and exchange experiences. Professor +Snodgrass told how he was progressing with his +work of studying the effects of battle noises on +insects, and the boys related their stories of fighting +and battles.</p> +<p>“And we thought old Jerry was gone when we +saw him go down outside the dugout where we +captured Schmouder,” finished Ned, as a climax to +his story.</p> +<p>“I thought so myself,” admitted the tall lad. +“But I’m as well as ever, and next week I’ll be +fighting again. What are your plans, Professor?”</p> +<p>“I must try to find those two young ladies. +The military authorities have been very good to +me. They have said I can go anywhere I like to +study the insects, provided I do nothing that would +betray any army secrets. And I have been very +careful.”</p> +<p>That is he was careful not to disobey his instructions, +but that he was anything but careful +of himself the boys learned later. They heard +stories of how he went up to the very front lines +of the fighting, so he might be nearer the big +guns, and he took with him cages of insects, noting +the effect of the concussions of the great cannons +on their nervous systems.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass would have laughed had +you called him a brave man, but he dared as much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +for his beloved science as others did for their +country’s honor. And, moreover, only the age +limit kept the professor out of the army.</p> +<p>The journey to the prison camp where Nick +Schmouder was held took place the next day, and +was accomplished without incident worthy of note.</p> +<p>But if Professor Snodgrass hoped to obtain +any more information from the former janitor +than the boys had about the two missing girls, he +was disappointed. For Nick Schmouder could +only repeat what he had already told. He was +glad to see Professor Snodgrass, and it was quite +pathetic to hear the man tell his story about having +always fired his gun into the ground to avoid +hurting any of those he called his friends.</p> +<p>“I didn’t believe there were any good Germans +in Germany any more,” said Jerry, “but I guess +Nick is pretty near one.”</p> +<p>So they listened to his stories, and Professor +Snodgrass made notes about the girls. He said +he would try to get into communication with them +through the parents of the former janitor, though +the latter did not know, himself, whether his +father and mother were still alive.</p> +<p>“Is it not terrible—awful—this war?” he cried. +“I wish all my countrymen were prisoners, and +then they could no longer fight, and we would have +peace.”</p> +<p>“Well, if it keeps on we’ll soon have most of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +the Kaiser’s army in a cage like this,” declared +Ned. “Don’t worry—we’re going to make a good +clean-up of it.”</p> +<p>“I hope you do,” said Schmouder, and many of +his fellow prisoners agreed with him.</p> +<p>At present all the professor could do was to +depend on some message getting to the missing +girls. As they were not prisoners of war it was +thought that perhaps some missive might reach +them, though all ordinary communication between +Americans and Germany was held up.</p> +<p>The girls, though of Swedish parentage, were +citizens of the United States, as the fathers of +both were naturalized; therefore, the diplomatic +channels of Sweden were closed to them, as the +money had been left in Professor Snodgrass’ care. +The Red Cross might aid, as a last resort, and if +that failed all that could be done was to wait until +after the war and then seek them out, if the two +nieces were still alive.</p> +<p>So, having dispatched several letters by different +routes, Professor Snodgrass prepared to spend +some time with the boys.</p> +<p>“I might as well study the effect here of noises +on insects, as to go back where I was,” he said. +“Here I shall be nearer those two young ladies, if +I can ever find a chance to reach them. We are +heading toward Metz, are we not?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and we’ll get there,” declared Jerry, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +by this time enough of General Pershing’s plans +had developed to show that his armies had this +town for one of its objectives. But there was +still a long way to go.</p> +<p>True to his determination, Jerry went back to +the front with his chums, and Professor Snodgrass, +by virtue of special permission, accompanied +them. The chums were welcomed by their +comrades, and once more took up the life of the +trenches.</p> +<p>It was one afternoon, just before time for them +to be relieved, that Ned, Bob, and Jerry had their +attention drawn to a stretch of No Man’s Land +in front of them, by hearing some of their comrades +say:</p> +<p>“Look at the bug-hunter! What in the name +of Billie Bejinks is he doing out there? He’ll be +bowled over by a German bullet just as sure as +guns!”</p> +<p>The three lads looked, and, to their surprise +and horror, saw Professor Snodgrass with something +supported on his back and partly in his arms, +walking across No Man’s Land in the direction +of the German trenches as unconcernedly as +though peace had been declared.</p> +<p>“Look at him!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to get him back!” cried Jerry.</p> +<p>An officer, who had heard the commotion, came +in from the nearest dugout and asked:</p> +<p>“Who gave him permission to go out there? +Is he deserting?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +<img src='images/illus-183.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 363px; height: 564px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 363px;'> +THEY MARCHED STRAIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN LINES.<br /> +<i>Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line.</i> <i>Page 183</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span></div> +<p>“Indeed he isn’t, Sir,” answered Ned. “I guess +he must be trying some experiment, or looking +for bugs.”</p> +<p>“Well it’s likely to be his last experiment,” was +the grim comment, “and about all he’ll find will +be bullets. Ah, I was afraid so. Look, they are +going to capture him!”</p> +<p>As he spoke the Americans, crouching in their +trench, saw three German soldiers leap out of +their ditch and advance toward the professor. +But the latter did not seem in the least afraid. +He walked on, for a moment not observing his +enemies, who were approaching from one side. +Then suddenly he noticed them.</p> +<p>But he did not run, nor did he show any sign +of fear, and then the most unexpected thing happened. +The Germans suddenly dropped their +rifles. Up in the air went their hands, and then +they turned and marched straight for the American +lines, the professor following behind, and +fairly driving them on in some mysterious way. +He had made a most unexpected capture.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII_GREAT_PREPARATIONS' id='CHAPTER_XXIII_GREAT_PREPARATIONS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>GREAT PREPARATIONS</h3> +</div> +<p>Watching him from the security of their +trench, Ned, Bob, and Jerry, their comrades, and +the officers on duty, could scarcely believe their +eyes as they saw what had happened. Yet there +was no delusion about it. Professor Snodgrass, +rashly venturing across No Man’s Land toward +the German trenches, was coming back and with +three prisoners. As Bob said afterward, it was +like the advertisements of the circus which boasted +of three rings and innumerable clowns.</p> +<p>“Three prisoners! Count ’em. Three!” Bob +yelled.</p> +<p>“Well, for the love of hot chocolate!” cried +Jerry, “what does it mean?”</p> +<p>“Search me!” answered Ned, succinctly. +“Looks as if he had ’em hypnotized!”</p> +<p>And so it did, for the Huns, as they came +nearer, wore on their faces looks of stupefied +astonishment.</p> +<p>Straight for the trench where his young friends +were, Professor Snodgrass marched his prisoners. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +He was in great danger, but he did not seem to +mind that, or even be aware of it. Doubtless it +was the latter, but, as a matter of fact, he was +within range of the big guns, as well as within shot +of rifles or machine guns.</p> +<p>Of course, though, had the Germans opened +fire on the professor from their trenches, they +would have run the chance of killing their own +three men, captives though the latter were. And, +too, had the Huns fired there would have at once +been answering fire from the Americans, for the +latter gunners were always on the alert, and once +word was passed up and down the line that the +little “bug-hunter” was out in No Man’s Land, +every man who knew or who had heard of him +was ready with his rifle—Ned, Bob and Jerry +among them—ready to take full toll in revenge +had he been fired on.</p> +<p>But the German trenches were silent, and for +good reason, as was learned later, so the professor +marched on with his prisoners, the latter never +once looking behind them, but walking with their +hands high in the air.</p> +<p>And the little scientist was as unconcerned as +though he was on his return from some insect-hunting +trip. His appearance was a bit unusual, +though, and Ned commented on it.</p> +<p>“What’s that thing on his back?” asked the +stout lad. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span></p> +<p>“Looks like a magnified haversack of new design,” +replied Ned.</p> +<p>“The professor hasn’t enlisted, has he?” some +one asked Jerry. “Not but what he’d make a fine +soldier,” was the added comment.</p> +<p>“No, I can’t imagine what he has on,” Jerry +answered. “We’ll soon find out, though.”</p> +<p>On came the professor, and when he had his +prisoners at the edge of the first American trench +he exclaimed, with a twinkle in his eyes:</p> +<p>“Here you are! Make yourselves at home! +Will some one please take charge of—er—these—specimens?” +asked the little scientist, and again +his eyes twinkled as he looked at the lieutenant +who was in command just then.</p> +<p>“Great guns, man alive! Did you go out to +get them?” asked the officer.</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly,” was the reply. “These +men tried to interfere with me in my work, and I +simply told them to mind their own business and +get out of the way. Bringing them over here +seemed the easiest way to get rid of them, so I +marched them along. Now I will go back and +finish––”</p> +<p>“Oh, no! Excuse me for seeming to be brusk +and arbitrary,” said the lieutenant smiling, “but +I can’t permit you to go back. For our own sake, +as well as yours. You might precipitate a general +engagement, and while we’re not running away +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +from anything like that, we are not looking for it +just now. Please stay here.”</p> +<p>“Very well, I will,” mildly agreed the professor. +“Perhaps I can as well continue my studies +here. But what shall I do with my—my specimens?” +and he nodded toward the Germans.</p> +<p>The prisoners were still standing with uplifted +hands, gazing at the professor as if the issue of +life and death depended on him as far as they were +concerned.</p> +<p>“Tell them they may put down their hands,” +begged the professor of the lieutenant. “They’re +in your charge now, and you had better give them +orders. Besides, I don’t speak their language very +well.”</p> +<p>“Then how in the world did you get them to +surrender?” asked the officer. “How did you, +alone, without a gun or a sword, or even a hand +grenade, capture three Germans?”</p> +<p>“Well, I fancy it was due to this,” and the professor +motioned to the strange contrivance on his +back. “I threatened them with total annihilation +if they didn’t do as I said and march for these +trenches, and they did. Whether they understood +me or not I don’t know. But up went their hands +and on they came.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they came on all right,” said the lieutenant. +“We saw that. But still I don’t understand.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span></p> +<p>At this one of the prisoners spoke.</p> +<p>“Haf ve der lieutnant’s bermission to lower our +hants?” he asked, speaking with a deep, guttural +accent.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the officer curtly. “But first we’ll +search you. Go through them,” he ordered one +of his men, and when an automatic pistol and +several hand grenades had been taken from each +of the prisoners, their hands were allowed to +come down. They uttered sighs of relief.</p> +<p>“Now, how did it happen?” went on the officer.</p> +<p>“Ve surrender to suberior force, und dot iss no +disgrace,” said the German soldier who had first +spoken. “Ven ve saw der little man ve try to +capture him. But he turned on us, und by der—vot +you call machine—on his back mit total destruction +threatened us. As ve did not vant to +die—vell, ve surrendered. Dot’s all!”</p> +<p>“<i>Ja!</i>” murmured his two companions.</p> +<p>“Yes, I guess that is all,” said the lieutenant, +smiling grimly. “Take ’em to the rear, to the +temporary prisoner-cage,” he ordered one of his +men. And then, when the Germans, with a last +wondering and fearful look at the professor, had +gone, the lieutenant, turning to the scientist, asked +with a smile:</p> +<p>“What sort of infernal machine have you there, +anyhow? Does it generate a new kind of gas?”</p> +<p>The professor laughed and unslung the apparatus +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +from his back, where it was carried by means +of straps, like those on a haversack.</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t a gas machine,” he said. “It’s just +a little apparatus for taking moving pictures of insects. +It’s as harmless as the chocolate sodas my +friend Bob likes so well. I got it up to take views +of grasshoppers and crickets, and I wanted to get +some pictures this morning of those insects showing +them as they hopped about normally. Then, +later, I intended to set the machine out in the open +space, and leave it there when heavy firing was +going on. I hoped to get contrasting pictures +then, and show the effect, if any, of the sound of +big guns on the creatures. But those Germans +spoiled my plans.”</p> +<p>“And I fancy you spoiled theirs,” said the lieutenant +with a laugh. “So you threatened them +with your moving-picture machine, did you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I couldn’t think of anything else to do +when I saw them confronting me. So I yelled +that my machine was a new product of the war, +and that unless they did exactly as I said I would +at once destroy them, even down to their finger +nails, by a blast of terrible fire from the machine. +Fortunately they understood my very poor German, +mixed with English as it was.”</p> +<p>“Yes, very fortunately,” said the lieutenant. +“We saw them drop their guns and raise their +hands, and couldn’t understand. But your machine, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +harmless as it is, doubtless impressed them +as very dangerous.”</p> +<p>When Ned, Bob, and Jerry, as well as the others, +looked at the apparatus, they could understand +why an ignorant man, accustomed to obey +and do no thinking, took the picture machine for +some terrible engine of war. The Motor Boys +themselves had not seen it before, as the professor +carried it in sections in his luggage, and had +only fitted it together and used it that day.</p> +<p>It consisted of a black box, with numerous wires, +wheels, levers and projecting tubes. These latter +contained lenses and shutters, but the Germans +must have imagined devastating fire could spout +from them. And so they had surrendered.</p> +<p>“But I can’t understand why the others in the +trenches didn’t open fire on you,” said the officer.</p> +<p>They learned, later, the reason for this. It was +because the Germans had retired from that particular +part of the line. Whether for strategic +reasons, or otherwise, could not be learned, but +the three prisoners admitted that they, alone, had +been left in the trench.</p> +<p>Their orders were to remain quiet, and not to +attack, but if the Americans came out of their +trenches in force the German sentries were to fire +their rifles, as many hand grenades and machine-gun +rounds as possible, and then retreat, if they +could, to the next line of trenches. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p>But when Professor Snodgrass approached the +lines alone, the Germans, instead of firing, thought +they would capture him, and so the trio advanced +stealthily on the scientist. The result has been +seen.</p> +<p>“Well, it was a great piece of work,” declared +the lieutenant. “Not only the capture, but because +we learned that the Germans are falling +back. This may change our plans somewhat. I +must report to headquarters. And you, Professor +Snodgrass, had better come with me.”</p> +<p>“But what about my insects?”</p> +<p>“They will have to wait, I’m afraid. Besides, +there will be no heavy firing now. Later—well, +I’m afraid I can’t tell you of that now. It’s a +secret. But I think you’ll soon have a chance to +hear all the heavy firing you want.”</p> +<p>“I wonder what he meant?” asked Ned, of his +chums, as the professor, returning his “infernal” +insect moving-picture machine to his quarters went +away with the officer.</p> +<p>“Maybe we’re going to make a big attack,” suggested +Bob.</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” assented Jerry. “I heard some +rumors of it. Well, we’ll have to wait and see.”</p> +<p>They did not have to wait long, for that day +began preparations which, to those who understood, +indicated that a great attack was imminent.</p> +<p>Great stores of shell and ammunition were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +brought up under cover of darkness to the firing +line. Big guns were shifted in position and well +camouflaged. And there also arrived at the front +where the Motor Boys were stationed several batteries +of those wonderful French seventy-fives, +those guns which did so much to win the war, the +secret of which the Germans tried in vain to +learn.</p> +<p>It was after several days of hard work, during +which they saw little of Professor Snodgrass, that +Bob, seeking out his chums one afternoon, said:</p> +<p>“Guess what’s up!”</p> +<p>“Can’t,” Ned replied.</p> +<p>“Go on! Tell us!” cried Jerry.</p> +<p>“We’re going to have a lot of doughnuts and +chocolate candy!” cried Bob.</p> +<p>“Doughnuts!” shouted Jerry.</p> +<p>“Chocolate!” echoed Ned. “Where is it?”</p> +<p>“Safe,” laughed Chunky. “I struck a Salvation +Army man with an extra supply and I took +all he’d give me. They’re hidden in the trench, +near where we go on duty, and to-night we’ll have +a feast!”</p> +<p>“Good for you, Chunky!” cried Jerry. “I always +said you were all right!”</p> +<p>“Same here!” added Ned.</p> +<p>And that night, when the three chums were +about to go on duty in the dismal trenches, Bob +led them to a little place he had hollowed out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +under a rock, and lined with boards. It was a +hiding place known to all three.</p> +<p>“We can stick the stuff in our pockets,” he said, +“and eat it when we get hungry. Things are so +upset, getting ready for a big offensive, I guess, +that maybe the rations won’t come up on time. +But we’ll be fixed, anyhow.”</p> +<p>He opened the secret place, and then, as he +reached his hand in and drew it out empty, a queer +look came over his face.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“It’s gone!” faltered Bob.</p> +<p>Consternation showed on the faces of all three. +Ned and Jerry made a careful examination of the +hiding place after Bob. There was no doubt of +it—the treasure was gone! And sweets were +really a treasure to the men in the trenches.</p> +<p>“Who took ’em?” faltered Bob.</p> +<p>Jerry looked about, flashed his electric pocket +lamp, for the trenches were in the shadow now. +Suddenly he picked up a knife, and, as he held it +in his hand, he exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Noddy Nixon’s! He’s been up to his rotten +tricks again!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV_S_I_W' id='CHAPTER_XXIV_S_I_W'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>“S. I. W.”</h3> +</div> +<p>There seemed no doubt on the subject, at +least in the minds of the three Motor Boys. Bob +knew full well that he had left the treat of sweet +things in the hole in the wall of his trench. Now +the hole was empty, and a knife with Noddy Nixon’s +name on it was picked up at the very spot. +It surely indicated that Noddy had been there, +and it needed no very discerning mind, after one +was acquainted with the character of Nixon, to +say that he was the guilty one.</p> +<p>“What’ll we do?” gasped Bob.</p> +<p>“Let’s go and accuse him and get the stuff +away!” suggested Ned. “Maybe he hasn’t eaten +it all yet.”</p> +<p>“Not much chance but what he has,” commented +Jerry. “It wouldn’t last long with him +and his crowd. Still I’m in favor of letting him +know we’re on to his game. Let’s go and have +it out with him.”</p> +<p>But this was not to be. Just as the three chums +were about to go from their part of the trench to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +that where Noddy Nixon was stationed, the signal +sounded for Ned, Bob, and Jerry to take their +places on official duty.</p> +<p>“Too late!” exclaimed Bob. “We can’t reach +him now, and he’ll eat it all up.”</p> +<p>“The pig!” muttered Ned.</p> +<p>And they had to let the matter rest there. +They could not ask to be relieved from trench +sentry work to go and get back, possibly, doughnuts +and chocolate stolen by Noddy Nixon. It +was too trivial a matter from a military standpoint, +though to Ned, Bob, and Jerry, forced to +be on duty during the long, wet, dreary night, it +meant a great deal.</p> +<p>But it was another of the fortunes of war, and +it had to be borne.</p> +<p>However, it was not as bad as it might have +been, for during the night a relief party came +along with hot chocolate, and this was grateful to +the lads in the trenches.</p> +<p>“But I’ll have it out with Noddy to-day!” declared +Bob as he and his chums went off duty in +the morning. “I’ll turn him upside down; that’s +what I’ll do!”</p> +<p>But again his plans went astray, for orders +came from headquarters, shifting many of the +regiments, and the three friends found themselves +on the move, without a chance to see Noddy.</p> +<p>“But his company moves, too,” declared Ned, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +who had made some inquiries. “He’s in the same +division we are, and we’ll see him when we get +settled again.”</p> +<p>But they did not see Noddy Nixon again for +some time, though they heard of him, and under +tragic circumstances.</p> +<p>The guess the boys had made about a great +offensive was a correct one. The time had come +for the turning point in the war, and the backward +movement of the British and French was +about to stop. The American forces were increasing, +and now General Foch was able to put into +practice the strategy he had so long waited for. +He could attack, and with great hope of succeeding. +The turning point had been reached.</p> +<p>There were rumors and all sorts of stories floating +around the camp. Ned, Bob and Jerry had +been moved to the north and farther toward the +great Hindenburg line which was so soon to be +pierced, impregnable though the Germans boasted +it.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass, too, managed, by means +of some influence he possessed, to be allowed to +accompany that part of the army to which his +young friends were attached. He had not ceased +his efforts to locate the two girls, but he realized, +as did Jerry and his chums, that it was an almost +hopeless proceeding now. However, there was +still the study of explosive noises on insects to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +which the professor could devote himself, and he +did.</p> +<p>The boys noted, however, that the strain of his +uncertain financial situation was telling on the +little man. Cheerful as always, and seemingly +oblivious to practical affairs, yet there was at times +a strained look about his eyes.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said one day in answer to a question +Jerry put, “I have enough for my immediate +needs. If I do not get back what I lent to my old +friend—and I may even lose more, as I endorsed +a note for him to cover a loan from another—and +if I cannot use what Professor Petersen left +me, I shall have before long to give up my work +here, however. And, of course, the trip to the +Amazon and the investigations there must be +given up.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry, Professor. Can’t we––” began +Jerry.</p> +<p>“Tut, tut!” interrupted Professor Snodgrass, +with a kindly smile. “We’ll no doubt find the +girls—I hope so for their sake as well as my own—and +perhaps my friend may be able to adjust +his affairs, though I fear––Poor man, poor +Albert! It will be a dreadful thing for him to +lose all he has and be compelled to start the world +over again at his age.” And Professor Snodgrass +walked away, his personal trouble forgotten +in sympathy with his friend, the very man who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +was the cause of his own anxieties and probable +losses.</p> +<p>Vast were the preparations that went on for +the advance against the enemy. Never was there +such a collection of cannon, large and small. +Never was there such a store of powder and shell. +The back lines were like a hundred arsenals +turned into one. Food, too, there was in great +quantities, for it has been well said that an army +fights on its stomach, and there must be no lack of +nourishment when the troops went forward, as +they were destined to do.</p> +<p>All these war-like preparations the three chums +noted with every manifestation of delight. They +wanted to whip the Hun, and whip him well, and +all this argued for success. The soldiers knew +they would be well backed-up as they went forward, +and forward they were going.</p> +<p>Orders were given that every man must look +well to himself personally—to his uniform, his +belongings, and his weapons. All gas masks were +tested, and those in use for some time, or which +showed the least defect, were thrown away and +new ones issued. There must be no holding up +of the advance once it had begun, because of poison +gas. And it could not be doubted but what +the Germans would use it lavishly.</p> +<p>Rifles and hand grenades, likewise, were looked +to. Everything must be in readiness so there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +would not be an instant of unnecessary delay. But +it was the store of cannon and ammunition back +of the firing lines that was most amazing.</p> +<p>The three chums, being sent on duty to the rear +one day, had a chance to observe some of the +measures being taken there to insure the defeat +of the Kaiser’s troops. The ground was fairly +covered with ammunition boxes and shells—well +concealed from hostile airmen, of course, even +had they been able to pass that far to the rear. +And the guns, large and small, lined up ready for +the forward movement, were wheel to wheel for +miles and miles in extent. The greatest artillery +firing in the history of the world was about to take +place.</p> +<p>“If the professor wants to see the effect of a +rattle-te-bang on his bugs he’ll soon get his +chance,” said Jerry, and his chums could only +agree with him.</p> +<p>“I only wish one thing,” remarked Bob, as they +prepared to go back to the front, after having +accomplished their mission.</p> +<p>“What?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“I’d like to have it out with Noddy Nixon before +the big show. I just want to get one whack +at him for taking our wood and those doughnuts +and cakes of chocolate. Just one whack!”</p> +<p>But this “whack” Bob was destined never to +have. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></p> +<p>They again went on duty in the trenches. The +day of the great offensive was approaching.</p> +<p>Suddenly a shot rang out in the sector near the +three Motor Boys. They started, and Ned exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Can that be the signal for the attack?”</p> +<p>“No, it doesn’t begin until to-morrow,” said +Jerry. “That’s one of our own men. Guess his +rifle went off by accident.”</p> +<p>There was a little excitement, but what had +caused it the boys could not learn at the time, as +they must stay at their posts. But a little later, +when their lieutenant came through the trench, +Ned, saluting, asked:</p> +<p>“Did one of our sharpshooters get a Hun, +Sir?”</p> +<p>“No,” was the answer. “It wasn’t that. Private +Nixon was shot.”</p> +<p>“Noddy Nixon shot!” gasped Bob. “How?”</p> +<p>“S. I. W.,” was the terse reply of the officer, +as he passed on.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV_THE_BLACK_BOX' id='CHAPTER_XXV_THE_BLACK_BOX'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>THE BLACK BOX</h3> +</div> +<p>The three chums, standing in the wet and +muddy trench, looked at one another as this significant +remark was made. Bob either did not +catch what was said, or did not understand, for +he asked his companions:</p> +<p>“What did he say?”</p> +<p>“S. I. W.,” repeated Jerry.</p> +<p>“Self-inflicted wound,” translated Ned. “So +Noddy Nixon did that to himself to get out of the +big battle! Well, it’s just like the coward! I’m +glad he isn’t in our company!”</p> +<p>“So am I,” added Jerry.</p> +<p>“Self-inflicted wound,” repeated Bob.</p> +<p>“Well, he’s out of the fighting now,” declared +Ned, “though he’ll have the worst time he ever had +in his life. He’d better be dead by a Hun shell.”</p> +<p>Silence fell upon the three in the trench while, +not far from them, they could hear the commotion +caused as Noddy was taken away to a hospital. +And there, for some time, he remained safely if +not comfortably in bed, while his companions endured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +the mud and the blood of the trenches, +meeting death and wounds, or just escaping them +by a hair’s breadth to drive back the hordes of the +Boches.</p> +<p>But over Noddy’s cot, and over that of several +men on either side of him was a placard with +the significant letters:</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +<i>S. I. W.</i></p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>“Self-inflicted wound.” One of the most terrible +tragedies of the war—more tragic, even, +than the death of the gallant boys on the day the +armistice was signed, yes, within an hour of it. +For those letters indicated a disgrace that seldom, +if ever, could be wiped out.</p> +<p>Briefly it meant that a soldier afraid of going +into action with his comrades, went to some secluded +place and, aiming his gun or pistol at some +extremity—a hand or a foot—where a wound was +likely to be slight and not very painful, pulled the +trigger. Then followed the story that a stray +German bullet, coming over the top of the trench +as the man exposed himself, had done the deed.</p> +<p>But the nature of the wound, the character of +the bullet, and, above all, the appearance of the +man himself, told the real story. Sometimes the +victims would say their weapon went off by accident +as they were cleaning it, and this was perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +worst of all, for it put the canker of doubt +into genuine cases of this sort, and there are bound +to be some such in every army.</p> +<p>So Noddy was carried away to the hospital, and +“S. I. W.” was inscribed over his cot.</p> +<p>As to the causes leading up to the self-inflicted +wounds they are many and varied. Sometimes a +soldier may become fear-crazed, and irresponsible +for his act. Other men are just plain “yellow,” +clear through, and ought never to have gone into +the fighting. They should have confessed cowardice +at first, though, of course, that would be hard.</p> +<p>Sometimes, though rarely, these “S. I. W.” +cases “came back.” That is, they were given a +chance to redeem themselves and went to the fighting +front with a song on their lips and undaunted +courage in their eyes. And then, if they died doing +their duty they were absolved. But it was a +desperate chance.</p> +<p>Every one recognized that there was an element +of doubt in these cases, but as for Noddy +Nixon, when his significant question to the surgeon +as to the relative pain of a hand or foot +wound was recalled, he was condemned already. +He had shot himself slightly in the left foot. He +was dishonorably discharged when he was cured, +and sent home, and, therefore, did not trouble the +Motor Boys again, nor did Bob get his revenge +for the stolen articles. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span></p> +<p>Ned, Bob, and Jerry did not feel much like +talking after they learned what had happened. +They had no love for Noddy Nixon, and he had +treated them exceedingly badly in the past, as well +as tormenting them since they had been associated +in the army. But they knew that nothing they +could have done or said would have been half as +effective punishment as that which he had brought +on himself. Henceforth, among decent men, he +was an outcast; a pariah.</p> +<p>The long night passed. Sentries were changed, +a watch was kept to forestall any attack on the +part of the Germans, but none came. Save for the +occasional clash of a night patrol, or the false +alarm of some one on listening post, there was +little action during the hours preceding the great +offensive.</p> +<p>Their tour of duty ended, Ned, Bob, and Jerry +sought rest in the dugout. There, with but few +more comforts than in the trenches, they waited +until the time should come again for them to go +out and take a “mud bath,” as Ned called it.</p> +<p>For it rained often, and the trenches never +seemed to dry. Still at this stage of the war there +were more comforts for the men on the firing line +than when France and England first opposed the +advance of the gray hordes.</p> +<p>“When does the big show start?” asked Ned, +as he and his chums came out of the dugout for a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +few hours’ stay farther behind the lines. “I +thought the bombardment was to begin this morning.”</p> +<p>“Must be delayed for some reason,” said Jerry +with a yawn. “Come on, let’s go somewhere and +sit down. We’ll know when it’s time for the +shindig to start.”</p> +<p>“Let’s see if we can find the professor,” suggested +Bob. “We may have hard work to get +word to him after the fighting begins.”</p> +<p>This seemed a good plan, and it was followed. +Professor Snodgrass was billeted temporarily in +a farmhouse on the edge of a little French village +near which the boys were on duty. Thither they +went, and found their friend poring over books +and papers.</p> +<p>“Well, how goes it?” asked Jerry, after they +had all shaken hands.</p> +<p>“Well, indeed,” was the answer. “I have not +yet found the young ladies, but I expect to, soon. +I have heard that Mr. Schmouder, the father of +the janitor, who was looking after them, and who +knew something of their plans, moved from his +home town, outside of Metz, lately, and started +farther back into Germany.”</p> +<p>“Then I should think it would be harder than +ever for you to trace them,” suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“No, I think it will be easier,” said the professor, +but he did not explain how. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>“Getting the results you expected from the insect +noise campaign, Professor?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“Yes, my boy. It is a complete success. I even +have some moving pictures taken with my new machine +that helped me capture the Germans. Wait, +and I will show you.”</p> +<p>He seemed as cheerful as though no cloud of +financial trouble hung over his head and as though +the World War were being fought to give him +opportunity to test the effect of noise on the crickets. +He turned to a table in his room, and began +delving in a mass of things. To get at something +he wanted to exhibit to the boys, he set in the middle +of the floor a small, black box.</p> +<p>Just as he did that a soldier, evidently an officer +of some kind in the French army, stepped into +the room, and in a mixture of French and English +asked if Professor Snodgrass was there.</p> +<p>“I am he,” answered the scientist.</p> +<p>“Ah, zen you will please come with me,” said +the soldier. “You are wanted at ze headquarters.”</p> +<p>“Wanted at headquarters!” repeated the professor. +“What for?”</p> +<p>“Zis will explain,” and the officer handed a note +to Professor Snodgrass.</p> +<p>As the professor read it a smile came over his +face.</p> +<p>“Ah, I understand,” he said. “I will come at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +once. Boys, we will let the insect pictures wait a +minute. Perhaps you will be interested in my latest +discovery. Come, I am ready to go,” and he +picked up the black box from the floor and stood +in waiting.</p> +<p>The officer looked a little dubiously at the object +in the professor’s hand, and then at the three +boys.</p> +<p>“My orders did not include—<i>zem</i>!” he said, indicating +Ned, Bob, and Jerry, “nor—<i>zat</i>!” and +he pointed to the box.</p> +<p>“This has to come,” replied the professor. “It +is part of what I proposed. As for my friends, I +will be responsible for them.”</p> +<p>“Very well, sair!” and the Frenchman bowed +and led the way.</p> +<p>Wonderingly the boys followed Professor +Snodgrass, and presently found themselves at field +headquarters. A company of French soldiers +were standing about, and while waiting for the +summons to the presence of the headquarters officer +who had sent for him, Professor Snodgrass +set down on the ground the black box he had +brought.</p> +<p>Then he suddenly saw a curious insect crawling +along and became intent on its capture. The boys +were watching him and paid no attention to the +black box until they heard some one yell:</p> +<p>“Look out, boys! It’s an infernal machine in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +there—a bomb! He’s a spy and he’s going to +blow up the whole place. It’s an infernal machine—I +can hear the buzzing of the battery inside.”</p> +<p>An American soldier, who had approached the +box and had leaned over to inspect it, leaped away +and began running as he cried out his warning. +There was consternation among the officers and +men outside the headquarters building, and Professor +Snodgrass, pausing in his search for the +elusive insect, gazed up in surprise at the commotion.</p> +<p>“What has happened?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Some one says there’s a bomb in that black +box of yours,” explained Jerry.</p> +<p>“If there is, get it out of the way! Douse it +in water. Throw it away. Look out!” yelled several.</p> +<p>One or two soldiers started for the black box, +and others with ready bayonets for the professor, +for there had been a number of spies discovered +of late in that sector.</p> +<p>“Don’t touch that box!” cried the professor. +“Don’t open it! Keep away from it!”</p> +<p>And, as he hurried toward it, the soldiers +leaped back.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI_A_DISAPPEARANCE' id='CHAPTER_XXVI_A_DISAPPEARANCE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>A DISAPPEARANCE</h3> +</div> +<p>“Halt!”</p> +<p>It was the ringing voice of one of the officers +speaking, and so sharp was the tone that even Professor +Snodgrass paused in his movement toward +the black box.</p> +<p>“Don’t go any further,” went on the officer, +who stood dominating the scene. “Some one secure +that man, and then we’ll dispose of the box. +Take good care of him!” and he pointed to the +scientist.</p> +<p>Ned Slade, Bob Baker, and Jerry Hopkins +looked in astonishment at one another. What +could it all mean?</p> +<p>“Zere must be some mistake,” said the French +officer who had escorted the professor to headquarters.</p> +<p>“Mistake? No!” exclaimed the American officer +who had ordered a halt in the proceedings. +“But it would be a mistake if we let him get near +that black box. I heard all that was said. If that +is a bomb the best way to let him carry out his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +plan would be to set it going, even if he destroyed +himself. Some spies are capable of that.”</p> +<p>“Spy!” cried Jerry, instinctively, forgetting that +he was speaking to a superior officer. “Professor +Snodgrass isn’t a spy!”</p> +<p>“No, I am sure he is not!”</p> +<p>This was another officer speaking, one well +known to the professor, and who knew him. In +fact, it was this officer who had summoned the +former instructor of Boxwood Hall to headquarters.</p> +<p>“Don’t arrest the professor,” went on the latter +officer. “As for his black box, handle it just as he +tells you.”</p> +<p>“But, Colonel Lacombe,” protested the officer +who had interfered in the proceedings. “Surely +you––”</p> +<p>“I understand it perfectly, Major Dustan,” was +the smiling reply. “I’m sure you’ll find it all a +mistake when I explain, or rather, when Professor +Snodgrass explains. That is why I sent for him. +Will you come this way, if you please, Professor? +And bring the black box––”</p> +<p>At that instant the little scientist, who appeared +to have recovered his composure on the appearance +of his friend, the colonel, pointed to the black +box which, all this while, had remained on the +ground in front of the group of headquarters +buildings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p> +<p>“Look out!” shouted Professor Snodgrass. +“The box has been opened by mistake. They’re +coming out! Run, everybody!”</p> +<p>Turning, he caught hold of Bob, who was nearest +him, and began pulling him along.</p> +<p>The flight of the professor was contagious. +Every one near turned and fled, and Jerry, looking +over his shoulder, saw what seemed to be a black +cloud of smoke coming from the black box.</p> +<p>The heart of the tall, young soldier seemed to +fail him. After all, had a mistake been made? +Was it possible that a spy was using the innocent +and sometimes absent-minded professor for some +base and terrible end? Could there have been a +substitution made, and one of the harmless boxes +of the scientist exchanged for a deadly bomb +which he had, unwittingly, introduced at headquarters, +so that, exploding, it might kill a number +of valuable officers?</p> +<p>These thoughts flashed through Jerry’s mind +as he ran along beside Ned. The black cloud +from the box was becoming more dense.</p> +<p>“Maybe it’s only a smoke bomb,” thought +Jerry. “Or perhaps the powder, or whatever is +in it, has become wet, because of so much rain, +and is only burning instead of exploding. I hope +so.”</p> +<p>Then came a yell from some one. It was followed +by several other cries of physical distress. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></p> +<p>“Maybe it’s a new kind of poison gas the Germans +have taken this means to set off,” mused +Jerry as he leaped along. “But I don’t smell anything. +Could it be possible that spies have played +this trick on the professor?”</p> +<p>Jerry well knew that even with all his absent-mindedness +and his blind devotion to science, that +Professor Snodgrass would never, willingly, do +anything to harm the Allied cause.</p> +<p>And yet––</p> +<p>More yells came from the soldiers that had +been gathered around the black box and who +fled when Professor Snodgrass gave the alarm. +And the yells began to come from some of the +officers, too. They were not above giving vent +to either pain or surprise.</p> +<p>And then suddenly Jerry felt a sharp pain on +the back of his neck. At first he thought it might +have come from some missile, discharged noiselessly +from the black box. He clapped his hand +to the seat of the pain and at once became aware +that he had struck and crushed some small insect. +It came away in his hand, twisting and curling in +its death agony, and the pain in Jerry’s neck increased.</p> +<p>“Why!” he cried as he saw the bug. “Why, +it’s a wasp! A wasp!”</p> +<p>“Of course it is!” said Professor Snodgrass, +flapping his arms about his head, and Jerry now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +saw the reason. A number of vicious wasps were +buzzing about them.</p> +<p>“They’re wasps, with the worst stings of any I +ever saw!” yelled the professor. “That’s why I +want to get away. I was stung by one of them +once, and I’ll never forget it. Look out! Here +come more of ’em!”</p> +<p>There was a cloud of the wasps flying about +Bob, Jerry, and the professor now, and the tall lad +noted that the insects were also hovering around +other soldiers and officers. There was a black +cloud of them near the small case that had caused +such a scare.</p> +<p>“Was that what was in the black box?” asked +Jerry, as he dodged a wasp that seemed about to +alight on his nose.</p> +<p>“Yes. Wasps,” asserted the scientist. “The +most war-like wasps I have been able to discover +in this part of Europe. They are a cross breed +of the <i>Vespidæ Polistes</i>, <i>Eumenes</i>, and <i>Odynerus</i>, +and for stings are not to be equalled.”</p> +<p>“Wasps!” cried Jerry, as he swung and swatted +at some still buzzing around him. “What in the +world did you expect to do with them, Professor +Snodgrass? And why did you have them in the +black box?”</p> +<p>“I had them to show to one of the headquarters +officers,” was the answer. “But I think I +had better postpone the explanation until we get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +rid of our pursuers. Let’s go under those bushes. +I think we shall be safe then,” and the professor +unceremoniously dived under a clump of shrubbery, +an example followed by Jerry and some of +the others.</p> +<p>Ned and Bob, who had managed to accompany +the professor and their tall chum, were stung several +times before they, also, found shelter beneath +the thick leaves, and howls of pain from a number +of soldiers indicated that they, too, felt the stings +of the insects.</p> +<p>For a while there was as bad a rout of the headquarters +staff as if the Germans had overwhelmed +it. But finally the insects were dispersed, most of +them flying off to the woods, while those that remained +were beaten off, so that the officers and +men began to drift back again. The professor +and the Motor Boys came out of hiding, and then +curious looks began to be cast at the scientist and +the black box, which was now empty. The displaced +cover showed how the wasps had gotten +out.</p> +<p>“Is this the new weapon for causing a German +retreat that you promised to show me?” asked +the colonel of the professor, trying not to smile as +he put the question.</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Professor Snodgrass, “it is. +I am sorry, but I am afraid there are no specimens +left to show you. Some one must have tampered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +with the fastening of the case, and the insects came +out.”</p> +<p>“I can offer personal testimony that they came +out,” said the colonel, trying not to squirm. +“They came, they saw, and they conquered. And +all I have to say is that I thank you for your interest +in the matter, but that we shall have to decline +to add your new and very efficient, but uncontrollable, +weapon to the Allied armament.”</p> +<p>“Does that mean you can’t use the wasps?” +asked the professor.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid it does,” said the colonel. “You +see they are too uncertain—like the poison gas the +Germans first used. It came back on them. The +wasps might do that to us.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” agreed the little scientist, “they might.”</p> +<p>And then, as the last of the insects disappeared, +and the headquarters staff came back from various +places of refuge, Professor Snodgrass explained.</p> +<p>He had long wanted to do something to help +the Allied cause, and thought perhaps it might be +along the line of his studies of insects. Then the +idea of wasps had come to him. He knew the +vicious nature of the insects, and how fearlessly +they would attack anything in their way. It was +his idea that many thousands of the wasps might +be propagated in artificial nests and loosed on the +German armies preceding an attack by the Allies. +The wasps would certainly cause disorder, if not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +a rout, he thought, and so he had communicated +his idea to his friend, the colonel.</p> +<p>That is, he had communicated the fact that he +had the idea, but he had not disclosed the nature +of the “new weapon,” as he called it in a note. +Always willing to test anything new, the colonel +had sent for the professor, inviting him to bring +a model of the “new weapon” with him. The +officer supposed the “weapon” might be a gun, +projectile or powder.</p> +<p>“The idea was a good one in theory,” said +Jerry, as he and his chums went back with the professor, +who carried the now empty black box.</p> +<p>“And it worked out all right in practice,” declared +Ned. “I never saw a quicker retreat.”</p> +<p>“The only thing that spoils it, as the colonel +said,” added Bob, “is the inability of a wasp to +distinguish between a friend and a foe. If they +could be trained, now––”</p> +<p>“We’ll delegate that to you,” put in Ned.</p> +<p>“No, thanks! I’m stung badly enough as it +is.”</p> +<p>And the professor, sadly shaking his head over +the failure of his scheme, went back to work further +on his plan of making moving pictures of insects +hopping about under the stimulus of the +noise of big guns.</p> +<p>But for many a day the story of the wasps at +headquarters was told up and down the firing line. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>It was about a week after this, when preparations +for the big attack had almost reached completion, +that the three chums, having an hour or +so to spare, thought to call on Professor Snodgrass. +They went to the little house in the French +village where he had been staying, and inquired +for him.</p> +<p>“He has disappeared, Messieurs,” answered +the old woman who looked after the place.</p> +<p>“Disappeared!” echoed the boys blankly.</p> +<p>“Yes, Messieurs. He went out yesterday +morning without his hat to chase after a butterfly +he saw in the garden, and he did not come back. +He has disappeared. I am sorry, for he was a +nice man, though a trifle queer at times.”</p> +<p>“Well, what do you know about that?” gasped +Jerry, while his chums looked at him in wondering +amazement.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII_ST_MIHIEL' id='CHAPTER_XXVII_ST_MIHIEL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>ST. MIHIEL</h3> +</div> +<p>“What are we going to do?” asked Bob.</p> +<p>“What can we do?” Ned returned.</p> +<p>“Let’s go after him and bring him back!” exclaimed +the excitable Bob. “Maybe the Germans +have him!”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll not easily get him,” said Jerry. +“And, as a matter of fact, we can’t even try.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Because we can’t leave. All furloughs have +been stopped these last three days. We may go +into action any minute. If the professor is in +trouble we can’t help him.”</p> +<p>“That seems hard,” murmured Bob.</p> +<p>“It is,” agreed Jerry. “But it’s the fortune of +war. We’re here to fight, and we’ve got to do +that when the time comes. It may be that the +professor has only wandered off among our own +soldiers, or those of the French or English, after +a butterfly or some other bug.”</p> +<p>“But without his hat!” exclaimed Bob.</p> +<p>“And gone more than a day!” added Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p> +<p>“Those things wouldn’t worry him,” said Jerry. +“Half the time he forgets his hat, and it is midsummer +now. As for being gone more than a +day, he’s often spent longer than that chasing a +single flea. He is used to camping out, and he’ll +get along somehow. We’ll just have to let him +go, that’s all.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” agreed Ned; “but it’s too bad.”</p> +<p>It was, but there was nothing they could do. +The professor might wander into the enemy’s territory +and be captured, or he might come safely +back to the little French village.</p> +<p>“Though if he doesn’t come back what are we +to do with his things and about Professor Petersen’s +nieces?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“The best we can,” advised Jerry.</p> +<p>“After the war, if we’re alive, we can look for +the girls,” suggested Bob.</p> +<p>“Pretty slim chance of finding ’em,” murmured +Ned.</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t do much good, anyway, if we can’t +find the professor. The money was not left to us +to divide,” was Jerry’s comment.</p> +<p>Jerry had spoken truly when he said that all +leave had been stopped, for now were beginning +the final great assaults of the American and Allied +armies that were, if not actually to overwhelm the +Huns, at least to approach so nearly that state +that there was a distinction without a difference. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span></p> +<p>And it was well that Ned, Bob, and Jerry returned +to their station when they did, for not ten +minutes later the general order to move forward +was given up and down the long line.</p> +<p>“Forward!” was the battle cry—the watchword +that was to guide them all. “Forward!”</p> +<p>Forward they went, against Germany’s best +troops. Forward against a relentless and almost +impregnable foe. Forward in the name of Humanity, +Freedom, and Right. Forward all!</p> +<p>And as Ned, Bob, and Jerry marched with their +comrades up to the firing lines there began that +great movement of American troops which took +part in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient—the +wiping out of the great wedge the Germans +had driven into France. And with the wiping out +of this there began the final battle—the cleaning +of the Argonne Forest which brought an end to +the war.</p> +<p>For some time General Pershing and his general +staff had looked forward to the reduction of +the St. Mihiel salient. With that out of the way +it meant the concentration of the American divisions +in their own zone.</p> +<p>Late in August the line, beginning at Port sur +Seille, east of the Moselle, and extending to the +west through St. Mihiel, thence north to a point +opposite Verdun, was placed under the supervision +of the American commander. Later the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +American sector was extended across the Meuse +to the western edge of the Argonne Forest, and +included the Second Colonial French, which held +the point of the salient and the Seventeenth +French Corps, which occupied the heights above +Verdun.</p> +<p>As Ned, Bob, and Jerry marched on with their +comrades they saw, or became aware of, the immensity +of the preparations needed to make this +movement a success. For they had to move +against a German position second to none in +strength. To quote General Pershing:</p> +<p>“The preparation for a complicated operation +against the formidable defenses in front of us included +the assembling of divisions and of corps +of army artillery, transport, aircraft, tanks, ambulances, +the location of hospitals, and the molding +together of all of the elements of a great +modern army with its own railheads, supplied directly +by our own Service of Supply. The concentration +for this operation, which was to be a +surprise, involved the movement, mostly at night, +of approximately 600,000 troops, and required +for its success the most careful attention to every +detail.</p> +<p>“The French were generous in giving us assistance +in corps and army artillery, with its personnel, +and we were confident from the start of +our superiority over the enemy in guns of all calibers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +Our heavy guns were able to reach Metz +and to interfere seriously with German rail movements. +The French Independent Air Force was +placed under my command which, together with +the British bombing squadrons and our air forces, +gave us the largest assembly of aviation that had +ever been engaged in one operation on the western +front.”</p> +<p>It must not be imagined that all this great army +went forward in a day or two, or that the battle +lasted but a short time. On the other hand, it +was a fight, tooth and nail, for almost every foot +of the way. The battle line from Les Esparages, +around the nose of the St. Mihiel salient to the +Moselle River was about forty miles, and was +greatly strengthened by artificial defenses. This +gives some idea of the task ahead of General +Pershing. If you will picture to yourself a distance +from your own home, as you sit reading +this, to some point distant forty miles, in the +woods or mountains, and then figure this forty +miles occupied by advancing troops, fighting +against a ruthless foe, you will have some idea of +the battle of St. Mihiel.</p> +<p>And it was forward into this battle that Ned, +Bob, and Jerry and their comrades moved. It +would be impossible to tell all that happened—of +the surging forward into the face of devastating +fire; of the men who fell at the sides of the chums, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +killed or desperately wounded; of the terrible and +awful sights they saw. For days they fought on. +Gaining ground here, losing, perhaps, a little +there, hiding all night in rain-filled shell-holes, +being driven out, but going back to recapture them +again. On and on they went.</p> +<p>They were weary to death, but they kept on, +and, for a wonder, such is sometimes the fortune +of war, neither Ned, Bob, nor Jerry was seriously +wounded. They received minor knocks, scratches, +and bruises, and once Bob’s cheek was grazed by +a bullet. But they did not have to drop out of +the fighting.</p> +<p>And it was fierce! No other word describes it. +They fought, and fought, and fought again, onward, +ever onward. For they must not stop. The +American army did not know that word.</p> +<p>And then, after nearly two weeks of steady +fighting, with only such rest for the exhausted +troops as was absolutely necessary, came the final +stage. Ned, Bob, and Jerry, staggering from +weariness, took their places in line one gray morning.</p> +<p>Suddenly about them thundered great salvos +of firing. It shook the very ground. The chums +looked at one another in wonder.</p> +<p>“This must be another big show,” shouted +Jerry. He had to shout to be heard above the +noise. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></p> +<p>“It is,” said Ned.</p> +<p>And it was. It was the final assault against the +last of the German defenses in St. Mihiel.</p> +<p>“Forward!” came the cry, given after four +hours of the greatest artillery barrage ever laid +down. At five o’clock, on the morning of September +12th, seven American divisions in the front +line advanced. They were assisted by tanks, +manned by Americans and French, and there were +groups of wire-cutters and other groups armed +with bangalore torpedoes. “These,” says General +Pershing, in his report, “went through the +successive bands of barbed wire that protected the +enemy’s front line and support trenches, in irresistable +waves on schedule time, breaking down +all defenses of an enemy demoralized by the great +volume of our artillery fire, and our sudden approach +out of the fog.”</p> +<p>And forward, in their own modest and humble +way, with this great army of liberation went Ned, +Bob, and Jerry. Shooting and being shot at they +went forward until the iron strength of the foe +was broken, and the cry sounded:</p> +<p>“They’re running away! We’ve got ’em beat!”</p> +<p>And thus it was. German troops were giving +way in a rout. Let General Pershing tell it in his +own simple way:</p> +<p>“Our 1st Corps advanced to Thiacourt, while +our 4th Corps curved back to the southwest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +through Nonsard. The 2d Colonial French +Corps made the slight advance required of it on +very difficult ground, and the 5th Corps took its +three ridges and repulsed a counter-attack. A +rapid march brought reserve regiments of a division +of the 5th Corps into Vigneulles in the early +morning, where it linked up with patrols of our +4th Corps, closing the salient and forming a new +line west of Thiacourt to Vigneulles and beyond +Fresnes-en-Woevre. At the cost of only 7,000 +casualties, mostly light, we had taken 16,000 prisoners +and 443 guns, a great quantity of material, +released the inhabitants of many villages from +enemy domination, and established our lines in a +position to threaten Metz. This signal success +of the American First Army in its first offensive +was of prime importance. The Allies found they +had a formidable army to aid them, and the enemy +learned finally that he had one to reckon with.”</p> +<p>And that was the battle of St. Mihiel.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII_IN_ARGONNE_FOREST' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII_IN_ARGONNE_FOREST'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>IN ARGONNE FOREST</h3> +</div> +<p>“Well, I reckon we get a rest now, don’t we?” +asked Bob of his two chums, as they were ordered +to report to a certain point with others of their +command.</p> +<p>“A rest?” cried Ned. “Say, Chunky, I’m going +to take a leaf out of your book and wish for +something to eat.”</p> +<p>“I guess we’ll get that, but I doubt if we get +much rest,” put in Jerry Hopkins. “I can smell +something cooking, but I don’t see ’em getting any +beds ready for us.”</p> +<p>And Jerry proved a true prophet, for there was +refreshment for the battle-worn troops—hot food +which they very much needed.</p> +<p>“Have we got to fight some more?” asked Bob, +as he ate his rations with every indication of appetite.</p> +<p>“I should say so!” cried Jerry. “Why, we’ve +got to take the Argonne Forest yet, and that’s +going to be worse than this.”</p> +<p>And it was. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></p> +<p>Without giving his divisions a rest, which he +dared not do, General Pershing, on the day after +the capture of St. Mihiel, sent some of them toward +the area back of the line between the Meuse +River and the western edge of the Forest of Argonne. +Though the fighting to gain St. Mihiel +had been terrific, with this out of the way the German +line was still intact from Switzerland to the +east of Rheims. The general attack, all along this +line, was with the hope of cutting it, and the part +assigned to the American armies was, as the hinge +of the Allied offensive, directed toward important +railway communications of the German armies +through Mezieres and Sedan.</p> +<p>Knowing that the Germans realized what it +would mean to them to lose the Argonne Forest, +General Pershing and his staff made every preparation +for success. To this end as much secrecy +as possible marked the advance of the Americans.</p> +<p>Says General Pershing:</p> +<p>“We expected to draw the best German divisions +to our front, and to consume them, while the +enemy was held under grave apprehension lest our +attack should break his line, which it was our firm +purpose to do.”</p> +<p>Ringing words that will go down in history to +the honor of America!</p> +<p>And with this advance, fighting as they went, +Ned, Bob, and Jerry, and thousands of their brave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +comrades, dashed forward into what was to be +one of the bloodiest and most desperate engagements +of the war. To let General Pershing tell +the story in part, by quoting again from his wonderful +report:</p> +<p>“On the night of September 25th our troops +quietly took the place of the French who thinly +held the line in this sector, which had long been +inactive. In the attack which began on the +26th we drove through the barbed-wire entanglements +and the sea of shell craters across No +Man’s Land, mastering all the first-line defenses. +Continuing on the 27th and 28th, against machine +guns and artillery of an increasing number +of enemy reserve divisions, we penetrated +to a depth of from three to seven miles and took +the village of Montfaucon and its commanding +hill and Exermont, Gercourt, Cuisy, Septsarges, +Malancourt, Ivoiry, Epinonville, Charpentry, +Very, and other villages. East of the Meuse one +of our divisions, which was with the 2d Colonial +French Corps, captured Marcheville and Rieville, +giving further protection to the flank of our main +body. We had taken 10,000 prisoners, we had +gained our point of forcing the battle into the +open, and were prepared for the enemy’s reaction, +which was bound to come, as he had good roads +and ample railroad facilities for bringing up his +artillery and reserves. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p> +<p>“In the chill rain of dark nights our engineers +had to build new roads across spongy, shell-torn +areas, repair broken roads beyond No Man’s +Land, and build bridges. Our gunners, with no +thought of sleep, put their shoulders to wheels and +drag-ropes to bring their guns through the mire +in support of the infantry, now under the increasing +fire of the enemy’s artillery. Our attack had +taken the enemy by surprise, but, quickly recovering +himself, he began to fire counter-attacks in +strong force, supported by heavy bombardments, +with large quantities of gas. From September +28th until October 4th we maintained the offensive +against patches of woods defended by snipers +and continuous lines of machine guns, and pushed +forward our guns and transport, seizing strategical +points in preparation for further attacks.”</p> +<p>And Ned, Bob, and Jerry had an honorable if +humble part in all this. Forward they fought their +way, now falling back as some fierce German resistance +turned into a counter-attack and again +rushing on to capture some little wooded knoll or +hold some group of trees after the Hun machine +gunners had been killed.</p> +<p>That was the worst of the fighting—against the +machine guns. They were almost as thick as +leaves in this Argonne Forest and the woods offered +excellent protection to the enemy.</p> +<p>But it was fight, if not exactly in the open, more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +nearly so than battles of the trenches, which the +Americans hated. It was like being on their own +ground, for, though the forest was in France, the +trees and bushes were like those in any dense +American woods.</p> +<p>“It’s like being with the professor on some bug-hunting +trip!” yelled Bob, as he and his chums +rushed on, firing as they went.</p> +<p>“Except it isn’t so healthy,” added Jerry. +“Look out!” he shouted, and he pulled Bob down +into the underbrush beside him only just in time, +for there came a burst of bullets from a machine +gun, concealed in a clump of trees, and but for +Jerry’s timely act when he saw it, Bob might have +been killed.</p> +<p>Then, with a yell, a company of Americans, +with Ned, Bob, and Jerry aiding them, rushed on +the Hun nest and wiped it out, turning the machine +gun on the gray troops about them.</p> +<p>So the fighting went on, bitterly and terribly, +as it had been going on for over a month, for this +was now the beginning of October.</p> +<p>There came a lull in the conflict in the immediate +neighborhood of the Motor Boys. They sank +down exhausted on the ground under the trees, +waiting for further commands, for an officer had +ordered a halt.</p> +<p>As the captain of the company to which Ned, +Bob, and Jerry had been assigned was approaching +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +to gather his men together, a runner came +along a scarcely defined path.</p> +<p>He saluted the captain, and talked to him for +a moment. Jerry, who was nearest his commander, +saw a queer look on the latter’s face. +Then, as the runner, with his message disappeared +into the depths of the forest, the captain turned +to his lieutenant, and our heroes heard him say:</p> +<p>“We’re cut off!”</p> +<p>“Cut off?”</p> +<p>“Yes, our battalion and another is surrounded +here in the Argonne Forest. There are Germans +all around us. We’re cut off. A runner has just +gone to see if he can get through and summon +help.”</p> +<p>“Surrounded!” was the thought that came to +all who heard. “Surrounded by the Germans! +Cut off!”</p> +<p>And then, almost as soon as that thought +formed came another.</p> +<p>“We’ll hold out until help comes or fight our +way through!”</p> +<p>And then began the tragic story of the “Lost +Battalions.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX_CAPTURED' id='CHAPTER_XXIX_CAPTURED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>CAPTURED</h3> +</div> +<p>Just how or why the two battalions became lost +and surrounded in the Argonne Forest probably +no one will ever know. It was probably a case +of the commands rushing on irresistibly to get as +far as possible into the fore of the fight, and in +going too far through over-zealousness. Or there +may have been misunderstandings, which would +not be uncommon in such a great battle.</p> +<p>However it was, two American battalions were +cut off from their supporting friends, and surrounded +by the Germans who, after having been +driven out of the woods at a certain point, stormed +back and closed the gap through which the two +battalions had gone. Thus they were held at the +mercy of the Huns.</p> +<p>But, as has been said, there was only one +thought in the minds of all—or rather, two. To +fight their way back and establish communication +with their comrades if possible, or to stand off the +attacking Germans until help came.</p> +<p>And then began a terrible time that lasted from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +October 2d to October 8th—a week of terror, +death and anguish. But the brave Americans bore +it all with fortitude. They had no thought of +surrender even when their food gave out and their +ammunition was reduced to the last few rounds.</p> +<p>Once it was certain that the two battalions were +surrounded by the Germans in the thick woods, a +plan of defense was laid out. The commanding +officers held a consultation and outlined what they +hoped to do. Sending runners for help was one +of these. But this plan did not succeed. Most +of the runners were either killed or captured. +Some may have gotten through, wounded, but for +some time it was impossible for the relieving army +to locate their lost comrades. Efforts were made +to find them by means of aeroplanes flying over +the woods, but the growth of trees and bushes +was so dense that no observations could be made.</p> +<p>And, all this while, the Germans were firing +steadily at the brave men whom they had surrounded +in a ring of steel. Mortars and machine +guns poured a storm of shot and bullets on them, +but the Americans replied in kind, killing and being +killed. For terrible toll was taken by the +Huns, who had the advantage.</p> +<p>Ned, Bob, and Jerry did their duty as it came +to them, as their companions did. Once Jerry, +volunteering as a runner from one position to +another, to take the place of a man killed, came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +to a lonely spot in the forest and as he advanced +he heard the shrill whine of a bullet near him.</p> +<p>Instinctively he felt where it came from, and +thought he had located the German sniper. Dropping +into a pile of leaves, as though shot, Jerry +watched from under his cap. He saw a Hun cautiously +raise his head from behind a distant stump, +and that was the last act on the part of that particular +German.</p> +<p>Jerry fired from his pistol, prone as he lay, and +the shot went true. Then the tall lad resumed his +journey, delivered the message and brought back +the answer.</p> +<p>The days and nights of terror passed slowly. +There was engagement after engagement. Time +after time the Americans tried to break through, +but were driven back with terrific loss. But the +Germans could not approach close enough to wipe +them out. Always when the Huns stormed there +was such a withering fire from the American guns +that the Kaiser’s troops fled back to the fastness +of the woods.</p> +<p>Then came the sending, under a flag of truce, +of the German commander’s invitation to surrender. +He asked the American commander to +give up, to save useless bloodshed, and said the +Americans taken prisoner would be well treated.</p> +<p>The American commander sent back an answer +which rang with defiance. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span></p> +<p>And the fighting went on.</p> +<p>It was awful! The food dwindled away as did +the ammunition. But still the surrounded battalions—now +less than half their original strength—would +not surrender.</p> +<p>“What will be the outcome?” asked Bob wearily, +as he and his chums, hidden in a shell hole, +held their part of the line.</p> +<p>“We’ll win! That’s what will be the outcome!” +cried Jerry fiercely. “We’ll show the Huns how +we fight!”</p> +<p>There came a terrific burst of firing, and a hail +of bullets swept over their heads.</p> +<p>“They’re coming on again!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>The firing increased, but it did not seem to approach +nearer. Instead, it appeared to be going +away.</p> +<p>“What can it mean?” asked Jerry.</p> +<p>“There’s heavy fighting going on over there,” +and Ned indicated a point in the forest where it +was known the Germans were in strong force.</p> +<p>There was activity among those that were left +of the two battalions. Last desperate efforts had +been made to send runners through the enemy +line to regimental headquarters to summon help, +but all had been killed or captured. It seemed the +end of everything, when this new and heavy firing +was heard.</p> +<p>And then, like a drink of cold water to a fever-dying +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +man, a ringing American cheer came +through the woods to the ears of the exhausted +ones.</p> +<p>“What is it? What is it?” cried Bob. “What +does it mean?”</p> +<p>“It means we’re rescued!” shouted Jerry, +jumping up and swinging his cap, disregarding +possible German snipers. “It means the relief has +come through!”</p> +<p>The lost battalions were found, the Germans +holding them in the forest were killed or driven +away, and the remainder of the men were saved.</p> +<p>So ended one of the most dramatic episodes of +the war, the losing and finding of these brave men +who would not surrender, but preferred death +first.</p> +<p>On came the relieving army, and there was rest +and food and sleep for the beleaguered ones—and +of it all perhaps they needed sleep most, for +they had not dared to rest much during that terrible +week.</p> +<p>“But it will be something to tell the folks back +home,” said Bob, as the three chums sat down +together, able to eat and talk without the fear of +a German bullet or shell.</p> +<p>“Yes, if we ever get there,” admitted Ned.</p> +<p>“And, all this while, we haven’t heard a word +from the professor,” said Jerry. “I’m worried +about him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></p> +<p>So were his chums, and if they could have seen +their friend at that moment their anxiety would +have been justified.</p> +<p>For briefly to chronicle the adventures that befell +the little scientist: The morning he had wandered +from his temporary French boarding place +without his hat, he really had gone in pursuit of a +strange and rare butterfly.</p> +<p>Then, as so often happened, he became so engrossed +in his scientific work that he forgot all +about everything else, and, before he knew it, he +was miles away from home—or what passed for +home in those days.</p> +<p>It was late afternoon when Professor Snodgrass +finally captured the butterfly which had +eluded him so long, and put it carefully away in +a pocket case. Then he began to think about +getting back. His stomach told him it was long +past his dinner hour.</p> +<p>Just how it happened he never knew, and probably +it would never happen again, but he managed +to wander across No Man’s Land at a place secluded, +and thinly guarded, and found himself +behind the German lines.</p> +<p>Professor Snodgrass was not aware of this. +He saw only that he was approaching a small +French village down a pleasant valley, so far +away from the immediate theater of war that the +distant guns made but a dull rumble. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p> +<p>At first the little scientist thought it was his +own humble village he was coming to, and it was +not until he saw some German soldiers about, and +noted the queer looks on the faces of the French +inhabitants, that he realized his mistake.</p> +<p>As it happened, the big American attack was in +progress, and every available soldier was being +rushed to the front, the few remaining in this village +being among the number. They were preparing +to leave.</p> +<p>So that, in their haste to obey orders and get +to their firing line, or perhaps because they were +too busy to notice one lone little American scientist, +no attention was paid to Professor Snodgrass.</p> +<p>When he saw that he was in an unfamiliar village +and began to ask questions, he was met with +astonished looks, perhaps as much at his peculiar +way of speaking French as anything else. But +one Frenchman said:</p> +<p>“How did you, an American, manage to get +through?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” answered the professor. “But +now I want to get back.”</p> +<p>“Impossible, Monsieur. But come, I will hide +you, if I can. I have some fellow countrymen of +yours at my house, or rather, some fellow countrywomen.”</p> +<p>“Americans?”</p> +<p>“Yes, two young ladies. They were left behind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +by a certain German, by name of Louder or +Chowder—name of a name—and I looked after +them. They will be glad to see you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear!” said the professor. “Ladies—American +ladies—here in this terrible place! I +must do what I can for them. Take me to them, +please.”</p> +<p>And the Frenchman did so, with all the caution +he could use. But it was not needed. Events +were transpiring that made the Germans think of +beginning a retreat instead of capturing one lone +United States college professor.</p> +<p>“Here!” exclaimed the Frenchman, as he ushered +his new friend into his humble home. “Here +are the ladies. I have brought you a fellow countryman,” +he added, nodding to his guests.</p> +<p>Two girls, whose pretty faces bore worried +looks, arose to confront Professor Snodgrass. +He bowed, rather flustered as he always was in +the presence of women, and then, as he looked intently +at the girls, a strange look came over his +face.</p> +<p>“Excuse me,” he murmured, as he reached for +something in his pocket. He took a card from an +envelope and, looking at one of his companions, +asked:</p> +<p>“Are you Gladys Petersen?”</p> +<p>“I am!” was the surprised answer. “But +how––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span></p> +<p>“And are you Dorothy Gibbs?” went on the +little scientist, turning to the other.</p> +<p>“That is my name, but––”</p> +<p>“Then I have found you,” said the little man +quietly. “My name is Snodgrass, and I have a +letter to you from your uncle, Professor Emil +Petersen. He leaves you half his fortune and me +the other half. I have been looking everywhere +for you, and now I have found you. But I wish +the boys were here.”</p> +<p>“What boys?” asked Miss Petersen.</p> +<p>Without answering this question the professor +explained his errand, and told of his long search +for the girls, to their no small astonishment. +They were shocked to hear of their uncle’s death, +but they had, long since, given up all hope of ever +sharing in his wealth, even though he had become +reconciled to them after the deaths of their parents.</p> +<p>“But it is all true,” said Professor Snodgrass. +“He wants you to share in his fortune, or rather, +he wanted you to, and I am to carry out his wishes +as expressed in his will. By so doing I get a fortune +for myself. It is really a great relief. But +now tell me—how did you girls get here? The +last I heard of you was that you were near Metz.”</p> +<p>“We were there,” answered Miss Petersen; +“but the German family with whom we were staying +after uncle went away thought the place in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +danger of capture and left, taking us with them. +Finally, after traveling about, they said we had +better shift for ourselves, as it was dangerous for +any German to befriend any American, which we +are. So we did what we could. We tried to make +our way to the Allied lines, but this was as far as +we could get. Tell me, Professor, do you think +the Americans will come?”</p> +<p>“Oh, of course! Yes!” asserted Professor +Snodgrass, who would have said anything, just +then, to gain time to think, and not to worry the +girls. “Of course they’ll be here, but perhaps we +had better go to meet them.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! Let’s!” cried Dorothy. “Poor +Uncle Emil! If he were only here! He was very +kind to us.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we loved him,” added Gladys softly. +“He was so much like you, Professor Snodgrass—you +remind me very much of him.”</p> +<p>“I am glad I do,” was the simple answer. +“Emil Petersen was a man to be proud of. He +was my friend. And now let us consider what is +best to do. I think we had better leave.”</p> +<p>And so, though only after much protest on the +part of the kind Frenchman, who warned them of +their danger, the three set out. A hat was provided +for Professor Snodgrass. They were going +to try to reach the American lines.</p> +<p>“I fear you will all be captured,” said their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +host. “And, if you are, it will go hard with you. +The Germans hate the Americans worse than ever +since the recent defeat of the Kaiser’s best troops. +I fear you will not get through.”</p> +<p>And they did not. Just as they seemed on the +point of success, having reached a French village +at a place opposite the Allied line, they were +halted as they were about to cross in a secluded +spot, and during a lull in the fighting.</p> +<p>In his innocence the professor made no effort +to conceal his purpose, and he and the young ladies +were turned back, while a German officer, smiling +in contempt, said:</p> +<p>“You will do for hostages if the Americans +come too close!”</p> +<p>“Oh, are they that near?” cried Dorothy.</p> +<p>“Too near—the pigs!” muttered the officer.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Gladys. “Maybe +they’ll save us after all!”</p> +<p>But, in spite of her brave words, she looked +worried as she and her cousin were led back. As +for Professor Snodgrass, he bowed his head. He +had failed. Oh, if only the boys had come!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXX_RECAPTURED' id='CHAPTER_XXX_RECAPTURED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>RECAPTURED</h3> +</div> +<p>Once more the desperate fighting was resumed. +Ned, Bob, and Jerry, after a brief rest, were again +thrown into the conflict after their rescue from +the dense Forest of Argonne. That wood had +not yet all been won, but it was in the way of +being. The Germans were fighting their last desperate +battles, and full well they knew it. Only +a miracle could save them now, and there was no +miracle for them.</p> +<p>Not that they did not fight, for they did. The +resistance to the American and Allied advance was +stiff and formidable, but it was overcome, and immense +losses inflicted on the Huns as they made +counter-attack after counter-attack.</p> +<p>It was one day, after some of the most severe +fighting of the war that they had ever seen, that +the battalion, in which Ned, Bob, and Jerry then +were, crossed a little stream, driving the desperately +defending Germans beyond it, and entered +a small French village. When the echo of the +shots had died away, and it was seen that the Huns +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +were in full retreat, the three chums and their +comrades, at the head of a victorious force, +marched down the main street of the quaint and +ancient little town.</p> +<p>Forth from their hiding places came the French +population, weary and scarred from four years +of enemy occupation. Here and there the tricolor, +so long hidden, waved in the wind. The +hated and dastardly Germans had departed, never, +please God, to come again!</p> +<p>Forward, into the recaptured town, marched +Ned, Bob, Jerry, and their comrades in arms. +With tears in their eyes the French people watched +the Americans come. It was the day so long +prayed for.</p> +<p>Near one of the half-ruined houses, which had +been their abode—their prison, in fact, since their +capture,—stood Professor Snodgrass and the two +young ladies.</p> +<p>“Oh, can you believe it, Gladys!” exclaimed +Miss Gibbs. “It doesn’t seem possible, does it, +that we are saved?”</p> +<p>“No, but I am beginning to believe that it is +not a dream any more. Those American soldiers +are real, aren’t they?”</p> +<p>“They are, indeed, young ladies,” said the professor. +“At last I shall be able to go back to my +collection, and finish, I hope, the moving pictures +of insects under the influence of big guns. Oh, I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +shall also hope to take you to safety with me,” he +added, as he thought of his wards. “If only the +boys were here!”</p> +<p>“What boys do you mean?” asked Miss Petersen. +“You have so often spoken of ‘the boys,’ but +you have never mentioned who they were.”</p> +<p>And this was true, for, just as the professor had +been on the point of doing so, he and the girls +had been captured by the Germans, and, since +then, he had not had the heart to speak of his +friends.</p> +<p>“Well, I can tell you now,” he said as he and +the two nieces of Professor Petersen watched the +victorious troops go marching by. “There are +three boys—three young men, American soldiers +who––”</p> +<p>The professor paused, and looked hard at a +certain group of marching Americans. He took +off his glasses, wiped them, and put them on again +to stare with all his power at three youths who +swung along with the <i>sang-froid</i> of veterans.</p> +<p>“Why!” exclaimed Professor Snodgrass. +“Why—bless my—bless—why, it’s Ned, Bob, and +Jerry themselves!” he fairly shouted. “Oh, there +they are! There are the boys themselves!” and +he rushed forward, tears of joy for the moment +dimming the glasses he had so carefully cleaned +a moment ago.</p> +<p>“There are the boys. Jerry! Ned! Bob! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +Here I am! And here are the girls! Hurrah! +Hurrah for the U. S. A.! Hurrah for President +Wilson! Hurrah for General Pershing! Down +with the Germans! The United States and the +Allies forever! Hurrah!”</p> +<p>There was a laugh in the ranks of the marching +Americans. Most of them did not catch all +that the little, excited, bald-headed man said, but +they laughed at his enthusiasm and loved him. +But Ned, Bob, and Jerry heard.</p> +<p>“It’s him!” yelled Bob.</p> +<p>“It’s the professor!” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“And the girls are with him!” added Jerry.</p> +<p>The lieutenant of the boys’ company, seeing that +something unusual was in the wind said:</p> +<p>“You may fall out. Join us later. We’ll probably +stay here a while. This is our objective, and +we’ve made it.”</p> +<p>And then the boys fell out and such a reunion +as there was!</p> +<p>The stories were told and retold, and Ned, Bob, +and Jerry, after having been presented to the +young ladies, listened to their accounts of what +had happened to them since they were caught in +war-torn Europe.</p> +<p>“And do you think we are safe now?” asked +Miss Petersen.</p> +<p>“As safe as in a church,” declared Bob. +“We’ve come to stay!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></p> +<p>And so the Americans had. As General Pershing, +in his report of the operations culminating in +the last phase of the Meuse-Argonne battles, said:</p> +<p>“The strategical goal which was our highest +hope was gained. We had cut the enemy’s main +line of communications, and nothing but surrender +or an armistice could save his army from complete +disaster.”</p> +<p>And the armistice of November 11, 1918, came, +bringing an end to the war.</p> +<p>And it also brings to an end this story. Not +that the fighting was all over, for there was some +after the boys and the professor and his charges +were so happily reunited. But the Motor Boys +had no further part in it. They remained in the +village where they had met the little scientist, as +a guard, until the Germans were so far away as to +render them harmless.</p> +<p>“And to think you found the girls all by yourself!” +exclaimed Ned, as they were talking over +the events after the first day of the capture of the +French town.</p> +<p>“Well, yes, I did manage to,” said the professor, +“though I never expected, when I started out +for a butterfly that morning, that I’d end up with +meeting the girls I so much wanted to see.”</p> +<p>“But we were glad to see you,” said Miss Gibbs.</p> +<p>“Very,” echoed Gladys.</p> +<p>Ned, Bob, and Jerry were very curious to know +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +what branch of scientific study Miss Petersen and +Miss Gibbs were interested in, for they remembered +that Nick Schmouder had said that they had +left his father’s home to go further into Germany +for some sort of scientific work. It developed, +however, that Schmouder, ashamed to confess +that, in his fright, he had abandoned the two girls, +had made up the story to clear himself of the +charge of cowardice and neglect.</p> +<p>“Well, I guess it’s all over but the shouting,” +said Bob, at last. “And now I guess nobody will +say anything if I eat.”</p> +<p>“We’re all with you, Chunky!” cried Ned. “I’m +as hungry as—as Bob Baker!”</p> +<p>But of the “shouting,” a little must be told. +For when the fighting was over, and it was certain +that Germany could never resume, when the armistice +had been signed and the victorious movement +of the Allies into Germany began, Jerry and his +chums were called one day before their assembled +comrades, and there, much to their surprise, they +were each given honorable mention for their acts +while on duty with the lost battalions in Argonne +Forest. Jerry, for his work as a runner received +the Distinguished Service Cross, and Bob and Ned +honorable mention for their part in the desperate +fight.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +<img src='images/illus-248.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 366px; height: 568px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 366px;'> +JERRY RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.<br /> +<i>Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line.</i> <i>Page 248</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>“They ought to decorate Professor Snodgrass +for going alone into the enemy’s territory and rescuing +two young ladies,” said Ned, when the +cheering was over.</p> +<p>“All I want to do is to get back to my bugs,” +sighed the little scientist, and he soon had his +wish. It might be added that his moving pictures +of insects, showing their actions when heavy guns +were being fired near them, were very successful, +and created a sensation in scientific circles, even +though the professor’s “wasp-gun” was not +adopted.</p> +<p>As soon as it was possible the two young ladies +were sent back to the United States with their +share of their uncle’s wealth, while Professor +Snodgrass made plans to use his share in making +a full and complete study of the insects of the +Amazon. Also, the boys learned later, Professor +Snodgrass used a part of his fortune to further +assist his old friend, and thus saved the fortunes +of this man and enabled him to pay all his debts, +including the money lent by the professor himself.</p> +<p>“And now I wonder what will happen to us!” +exclaimed Bob, when these three friends of theirs +had departed.</p> +<p>“Oh, I fancy we can find something to do,” said +Jerry. “I understand the problems of peace will +be as hard to solve as those of war, and we’ll +have to do our share.”</p> +<p>“Sure thing!” assented Ned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span></p> +<p>What was in store for the boys will be related +in the next volume of this “Motor Boys—Second +Series.” In that we will see how Ned, Bob and +Jerry covered themselves with glory by solving +a most unusual mystery.</p> +<p>A month or so later the three chums, with other +soldiers of the victorious armies, some of them +sorely wounded, were sent to a port in France, +there to take ship for home.</p> +<p>“And believe me!” exclaimed Bob, with feeling, +as he went on board, “France and Europe may be +all right, and so are those Salvation Army doughnuts, +but give me a piece of mother’s cherry pie!”</p> +<p>“So say we all of us!” chanted Ned and Jerry.</p> +<p>And then, as they stood together on deck, the +transport began her homeward trip.</p> +<h3>THE END</h3> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center'> +<span style='font-size:larger'>THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</span><br /> +BY LESTER CHADWICK<br /> +<br /> +<i>12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid.</i></p> +<div style='padding: .5em .5em 0 0; float: left; width:-1px;'> +<img src='images/illus-ad1.png' alt='' title='' style='' /><br /> +</div> +<p>BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS</p> +<p><i>or The Rivals of Riverside</i></p> +<p>Joe is an everyday country boy who loves +to play baseball and particularly to pitch.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE</p> +<p><i>or Pitching for the Blue Banner</i></p> +<p>Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding +school and play on the school team.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE AT YALE</p> +<p><i>or Pitching for the College Championship</i></p> +<p>Joe goes to Yale University. In his second year he becomes a +varsity pitcher and pitches in several big games.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE</p> +<p><i>or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher</i></p> +<p>In this volume the scene of action is shifted from Yale +college to a baseball league of our central states.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE</p> +<p><i>or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles</i></p> +<p>From the Central League Joe is drafted into the St. Louis +Nationals. A corking baseball story all fans will enjoy.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS</p> +<p><i>or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis</i></p> +<p>How Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay +in the box makes an interesting baseball story.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES</p> +<p><i>or Pitching for the Championship</i></p> +<p>The rivalry was of course of the keenest, and what Joe did to +win the series is told in a manner to thrill the most jaded reader.</p> +<p>BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD</p> +<p><i>or Pitching on a Grand Tour</i></p> +<p>The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world, playing in +many foreign countries.</p> +<p style='text-align:center'><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue.</i><br /> +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center'> +<span style='font-size:larger'>THE HARRY HARDING SERIES</span><br /> +By ALFRED RAYMOND<br /> +<br /> +<i>12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid.</i></p> +<div style='padding: .5em .5em 0 0; float: left; width:-1px;'> +<img src='images/illus-ad2.png' alt='' title='' style='' /><br /> +</div> +<p>The trials and triumphs of Harry Harding +and Teddy Burke, two wide-awake boys +who make a humble beginning on the +messenger force of a great department +store, with the firm resolve to become successful +business men, form a series of +narratives calculated to please the alert, +progressive boys of today.</p> +<p>HARRY HARDING—<i>Messenger “45”</i></p> +<p>When Harry Harding bravely decided to leave school in order +to help his mother in the fight against poverty, he took his first +long step towards successful manhood. How Harry chanced to +meet mischievous, red-haired Teddy Burke who preferred work +to school, how Teddy and Harry became messengers in Martin +Brothers’ Department store and what happened to them there, +is a story that never flags in interest.</p> +<p>HARRY HARDING’S YEAR OF PROMISE</p> +<p>After a blissful two weeks’ vacation, spent together, Harry +Harding and Teddy Burke again take up their work in Martin +Brothers’ store. Their “year of promise” brings them many +new experiences, pleasant and unpleasant, but more determined +than ever to reach the goal they have set for themselves, they +pass courageously and hopefully over the rough places, meeting +with many surprises and exciting incidents which advance them +far on the road to success.</p> +<p style='text-align:center'><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue.</i><br /> +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 0.21 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sat Mar 28 21:29:48 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line, by +Clarence Young + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NED, BOB, JERRY ON FIRING LINE *** + +***** This file should be named 28442-h.htm or 28442-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/4/4/28442/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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