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diff --git a/28442.txt b/28442.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f41323d --- /dev/null +++ b/28442.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7401 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + +_The Motor Boys_ + +NED, BOB AND JERRY +ON THE FIRING LINE + +Or + +The Motor Boys Fighting +for Uncle Sam + +BY +CLARENCE YOUNG + +AUTHOR OF "THE MOTOR BOAT SERIES" +"THE RACER BOYS SERIES," +"THE JACK RANGER SERIES," ETC. + +ILLUSTRATED + +NEW YORK +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + + + +BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG + + 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid. + +THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES + + THE MOTOR BOYS + THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND + THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO + THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS + THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC + THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC + THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS + THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES + THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING + THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER + THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA + THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER + +THE MOTOR BOYS--SECOND SERIES + + NED, BOB AND JERRY AT BOXWOOD HALL + NED, BOB AND JERRY ON A RANCH + NED, BOB AND JERRY IN THE ARMY + NED, BOB AND JERRY ON THE FIRING LINE + +THE JACK RANGER SERIES + + JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS + JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP + JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES + JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE + JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB + JACK RANGER'S TREASURE BOX + +THE RACER BOYS SERIES + + THE RACER BOYS + THE RACER BOYS AT BOARDING SCHOOL + THE RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE + THE RACER BOYS ON THE PRAIRIES + THE RACER BOYS ON GUARD + THE RACER BOYS FORGING AHEAD + +Copyright, 1919, by + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + +Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. The Spy Alarm 1 + + II. A Man and a Snake 11 + + III. A Puzzled Professor 18 + + IV. A Two-Girl Problem 29 + + V. More Girls 35 + + VI. Noddy Nixon 43 + + VII. Off for France 53 + + VIII. The Training Camp 59 + + IX. On the Firing Line 71 + + X. In the Trenches 78 + + XI. A Night Patrol 88 + + XII. Bob Is Missing 96 + + XIII. "Just Like Him!" 108 + + XIV. A Desperate Chance 116 + + XV. The Sniper 123 + + XVI. Over the Top 129 + + XVII. "Fried Holes" 136 + + XVIII. The School Janitor 145 + + XIX. News at Last 153 + + XX. A Queer Question 162 + + XXI. A Visitor 171 + + XXII. An Unexpected Capture 177 + + XXIII. Great Preparations 184 + + XXIV. "S. I. W." 194 + + XXV. The Black Box 201 + + XXVI. A Disappearance 209 + + XXVII. St. Mihiel 218 + + XXVIII. In Argonne Forest 226 + + XXIX. Captured 232 + + XXX. Recaptured 243 + + + + +NED, BOB AND JERRY ON THE FIRING LINE + +CHAPTER I + +THE SPY ALARM + + +"There's a German on the ground! Get him!" + +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. + +"Put some pep into it! Lively now! Get the Germans!" + +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. + +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 of the guns, to which +the stabbing bayonets were attached, made deep impressions on the +yielding forms. + +"There's a German on the ground! Get him!" + +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---- + +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. + +"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!" + +"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. + +And it was, as nearly as it could be approximated, for the sacks +stuffed with hay or other yielding material, suspended on framework +as is a football dummy or scattered over the ground, were called +"Germans," by the drilling officers. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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 +positions they had been in before the order to charge bayonets had +been given. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +There was a murmur to this same effect from all in the line. + +"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. + +"There wouldn't be much left of a German to send home after _he_ got +through with him," commented Ned Slade, as the sergeant handed Jerry +back the gun. "He surely has some poetry of motion--Sergeant Black +has." + +"That's the way I tried to do it," said Bob, to his chums, Ned and +Jerry. "Only----" + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Didn't you feel the weight of it?" asked Ned Slade. + +"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. + +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." + +"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!" + +"Oh, some chow will set you up all right," commented Ned. + +"Oh, say that again!" sighed the stout lad. "Them words fill me with +mad desire!" + +"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. + +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 lines, turned the dismissing of the group over to the first +lieutenant. + +The breechblocks of the guns were opened, clicked shut again, and then +came the welcome words: + +"Comp _sissed_!" + +That is what the lieutenant snapped out. But what he really meant, and +what the members of it understood, was: + +"Company dismissed!" + +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. + +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. + +"Hello! what's up?" asked Jerry Hopkins, coming to a halt. + +"Matter where?" inquired Ned. + +"Over that way," and Jerry pointed. "Either somebody is hurt, or +there's a riot." + +"Let's go!" cried Ned. + +"Wait until after grub," advised Bob, with an anxious look toward the +mess hall. + +"It won't take but a minute," suggested Jerry. "Look, everybody's +going. We might as well be in it. If everybody is late to mess +there'll be enough left for us to eat. Come on!" + +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. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Anybody hurt?" + +"Is the place on fire?" + +These were some of the questions that flew from one to the other. + +"It's a spy!" some one said. "They've caught a German spy in camp, and +they're going to lynch him!" + +"Oh, boy!" yelled Ned. "We must see this!" + +"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." + +"Maybe not," agreed Bob. "But there sure is some excitement." + +And there was. Even Jerry had to admit that. + +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 frequent and certain. There was +an excited, seething crowd about the place. + +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: + +"Can you tell us, Sir, what it's all about?" + +"Have they really caught a spy?" added Bob eagerly. + +"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." + +"He won't last long, if he is," commented Ned. + +"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." + +He turned away, but the advice he had given Ned, Bob and Jerry was not +very welcome. + +"This is our sleeping barracks, anyhow," said Ned. "We have a right to +stick around, and go in, too." + +"If they let us," added Bob. + +"Come on, let's try," suggested Jerry. "Here's a place," and he led +the way through a thinning 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. + +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. + +"What in the world is up now?" asked Jerry of his chums. + +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: + +"Don't go in there!" + +"Why not?" asked Bob. + +"Did the spy try to shoot any one?" Ned wanted to know. + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A MAN AND A SNAKE + + +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. + +"Come off, Jack, what are you doing? Trying to string us?" asked Ned +of the lad who had spoken of the snake. + +"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!" + +"Is he joking, Ted?" asked Jerry of another of the lads who had rushed +out in such haste. + +"Not a bit of it! I saw the snake myself. It isn't quite as big as a +barrel, but it certainly is long." + +"Come on, fellows!" called Jerry to his two chums. "We've got to see +this!" + +"What!" cried Jack Wade, "you aren't going in there, are you?" + +"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?" + +"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!" + +"But what connection has he with the snakes?" Bob questioned. + +"Not any that I know of," replied Jack. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Me, either," added Bob. "Say, are you sure you saw a snake?" he asked +the lads who had rushed out in such a hurry. + +"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. + +"Cut out the comedy stuff!" murmured Bob. + +"Well, if there's a real snake in there I want to see it!" exclaimed +Jerry. "Come on!" and he pushed open the door which had swung shut +after the exit of the excited lads. + +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. + +"There it is!" suddenly cried Ned, pointing. + +"What--the spy?" asked Bob. + +"No, the snake! See it?" + +He pointed. There was no doubt of it. A long, glistening, brown body +was seen to glide under a row of cots. + +"It's a snake all right," assented Jerry, "but not half as big as I +thought. It's just like one I've seen----" + +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: + +"What is going on here? What is all the excitement about?" + +It appeared that he had just entered at the doorway around which were +grouped the excited officers and men. + +"We have caught a spy," some one said. + +"He must have let the big snake loose!" another added. + +"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!" + +At this command a protesting cry came from the midst of a group of +soldiers who were guarding the man arrested as a spy. + +"Don't shoot my snake! Don't shoot my pet snake!" came the entreaty. +"He is worth a fortune! Don't harm him!" + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +"The Motor Boys on Road and River," was the last volume of the first +series, the final volume to carry that title. + +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." + +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 as well. When vacation came they went to a +Western ranch and had fun, as well as helped in an important piece of +work. + +And then came the Great War. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"That snake sure is real!" cried Bob, as he saw the serpent writhing +about. "And whoever has him for a pet must be nervy." + +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Jerry. "The spy is going right for the +snake!" + +"And look who the spy is!" added Ned. + +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 +through which they might fire at the serpent. + +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. + +"Don't shoot him! Don't shoot my pet! He is worth thousands of +dollars!" cried the reputed spy. + +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. + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A PUZZLED PROFESSOR + + +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. + +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. + +"Look out!" came the cry. "It's only his bluff! He's trying to escape. +Catch the spy!" + +"That's right!" shouted several, who seemed to agree with what had +been said. + +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 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. + +"Get him! Don't let the spy escape!" came the cry. + +"Yes! Let's see you get him--with that snake for a protector," +murmured one. + +"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." + +"Shoot the snake!" came the cry. + +"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. + +"Ticula!" burst out Ned. "Is that her name, Professor Snodgrass?" + +The little man started, and peered through his glasses in the +direction of the voice. + +"Ha! It seems there is some one here who knows me," he said. "I cannot +see him, but I seem to recognize the voice." + +"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." + +"And named Ticula!" added Jerry, with a laugh. + +"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 _Python +Reticulatus_; 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. + +"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?" + +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. + +Ticula seemed uneasy at being stared at by so many eyes, and she began +to writhe and twist as 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. + +"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." + +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: + +"Great Scott! he's taking an awful chance. That's a constrictor, and +it can crush an ox!" + +But Professor Snodgrass gazed mildly through his glasses at those +surrounding him and inquired: + +"Are you all three there--Ned, Bob and Jerry?" + +"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." + +"Yes, I think an explanation is very much in order," said the +colonel, who had urged some of his men to shoot the snake. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Yes, Sir," answered Ned, Bob and Jerry in a chorus. + +"Come forward and explain," ordered the colonel. + +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 seem, and Ned, Bob and Jerry seemed the best +qualified to offer them. + +"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." + +"Glad to know it," commented the colonel. "Do you know anything about +this mysterious box he had?" + +"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." + +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. + +"That's a snake box," said Jerry, after he had examined it, "but it is +a new one--I never saw it before." + +"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." + +The box was brought forward and set down on 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. + +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. + +"There, now she is all right," said the professor. "I shall not let +her loose again until to-morrow, and then----" + +"What?" yelled a lieutenant. "Are you going to turn her loose around +here _again_?" + +"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." + +"Some baby!" murmured a voice, and even the colonel laughed. + +"And now I suppose I am at liberty to go with my property?" asked the +professor, looking around inquiringly. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"I should like to lunch with you," said the professor, "but my three +friends--Ned, Bob and Jerry--are here and----" + +"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." + +"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. + +"Have you an auto here?" asked Bob. + +"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." + +"An old friend?" murmured Bob. + +"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." + +And old Pete Bumps it was who greeted Ned, Bob and Jerry as they +accompanied the professor to his car. + +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. + +"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 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. + +"I never thought of that," admitted the scientist. "I certainly +remember coming down here in the spring, but I forgot about the spy +business." + +This was not surprising, since the professor seldom remembered for +very long anything not directly connected with his favorite study. + +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. + +"You never know when he is going to turn up," remarked Ned. + +"That's right," agreed Jerry. "I wonder what he's after now?" + +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. + +"But first of all, tell us if there is anything the matter?" begged +Jerry. "You look worried. Are you?" + +"Yes," admitted the little scientist, "I don't mind admitting that I +am worried--and puzzled, too." + +"What about?" asked Bob. "Ticula hasn't got loose, has she?" + +"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." + +"Then what's worrying you?" demanded Ned. + +"Well, I have a problem to solve and I don't know how to do it," was +the answer. + +"Has it anything to do with the war?" Jerry queried. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A TWO-GIRL PROBLEM + + +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. + +"Do you mean that your problem has to be solved on the other side of +the water, Professor?" asked Jerry. + +"Part of it has. And I am anxious to get across as soon as possible to +begin." + +"What?" cried Ned. "You don't mean to say you, too, are going to +France, Professor?" + +"I hope to," was the answer. "I have arranged to go, and I have my +passport and some letters of introduction." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Is that what brought you back to our camp?" asked Jerry. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Deliver me from such pets!" murmured Ned. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"How did you manage to get through the sentry lines unchallenged?" +asked Jerry. + +"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. + +"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." + +Jerry and Bob chuckled. + +"I should think you might be!" laughed Ned. "Then what happened?" + +"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." + +"And then there was more excitement, I suppose," said Jerry. + +"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." + +"Yes, it was rather a close call," observed Bob. "But did you have a +good dinner with the colonel?" + +"Listen to him, would you!" protested Ned. "All he can think of is +eating!" + +"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." + +"Oh," said Jerry significantly. "Merely an academic interest, I +suppose." + +"Sure!" assented Bob. "That's all." + +"Well, the dinner was very good, though I cannot say that I remember +what I ate," confessed the professor. "I was thinking too much of +something else." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Two girls!" cried the three Motor Boys in a chorus. "Two girls?" + +They looked at the little professor, whose eyes, mildly blinking +behind his strong glasses, regarded the lads curiously. + +"Two girls," repeated the little scientist. "The problem I have to +solve concerns two girls." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +MORE GIRLS + + +Ned, Bob and Jerry looked at one another. Then they turned their +glances on the professor. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"And, boys," went on Professor Snodgrass, "I think you will agree with +me that it is quite a problem 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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Perhaps you had," said Jerry with a smile. + +"And never mind about the insects--tell us about the girls," urged +Bob. + +"Yes, relieve his mind," agreed Ned. "He hasn't heard from his dear +Helena in some hours, I guess." + +"Oh, cut it out!" protested the stout lad. + +"The two girls to whom I refer," went on Professor Snodgrass, "are the +nieces of my late friend, Professor Emil Petersen." + +"The man who wrote the book on trigonometry that we used to study at +Boxwood Hall?" asked Ned. + +"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 of his many-sided activities. +Professor Petersen died about three months ago, and he left me a most +peculiar legacy." + +"Peculiar in what way?" asked Ned. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"And what condition?" remarked Jerry, as the professor hesitated. + +"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." + +"And where are the girls?" asked Jerry. + +"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 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?" + +"It isn't going to be easy," admitted Ned. "Then you really expect to +go across?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. 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?" + +"Indeed we will!" cried Jerry. "But how are we to go about it? What +part of France were the girls last in?" + +"And what are their names?" Bob demanded. + +"And what do they look like?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +He reached in his pocket and took out a folded paper. As he opened it +he gave a start and hastily closed it again. + +"That isn't it," he murmured. "Those are some dried specimens of +_ameba_ that I wish to study under a microscope." + +"What are _ameba_?" asked Jerry. "Fish?" + +"Not exactly," answered the professor with a smile, "though I secured +these from a little pond on the other side of the camp. _Ameba_ 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. + +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. + +"The girls took these pictures themselves, I understand," explained +the professor. "They sent them to their uncle." + +"Which is which?" asked Jerry. "I mean which is Gladys and which is +Dorothy?" + +"The names are on the reverse side of the photographs, I believe," +said the professor, and so it proved. + +"They are both pretty," observed Jerry. + +"I rather fancy Gladys," murmured Ned. + +"Dorothy seems real jolly," stated Bob. + +"Here! None of that, young man, or I'll write to Helena Schaeffer, +and tell her how you're carrying on!" warned Jerry, shaking a finger +at his stout chum. + +"Aw, you----" began Bob. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"Girls! Girls!" murmured the tall lad. "More girls! What does it +mean?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NODDY NIXON + + +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. + +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. + +"There's Mollie Horton!" cried Ned, recognizing a girl who lived near +him in Cresville, and with whom he was very friendly. + +"Yes, and I see Alice Vines," added Jerry. + +"And Helen Gale is with her," commented Bob. "I'm glad she came! +Helen's a great girl for sport and----" + +"You'd better be careful how you talk," warned 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." + +"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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"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----" + +Jerry gently but firmly took hold of Andy by the ear, and, pointing to +Professor Snodgrass, who was wandering about a distant field in +search of possible insects, said: + +"Andy, you go and aid in the interests of science, and, incidentally, +cool off. We'll see you later." + +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. + +"Well! Well!" exclaimed Jerry, as he shook hands lingeringly with +Alice. "How did you get here?" + +"Going to enlist?" asked Ned. + +"Maybe they're going to join the girls' motor corps," suggested Bob, +who had attached himself to Helen. + +"No, we just came on a visit," explained Mollie. + +"To see us?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +"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 much to see down here, but we'll do +our best," he added. + +"Cease! Cease!" commanded Ned, holding up his hand like a traffic +officer in front of Jerry. "Let's hear how they happened to come." + +"Oh, that is soon told," remarked Alice. "Mollie's aunt lives not far +from here." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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 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!" + +"Going to enlist!" cried Ned. "Why, he's too _small_." + +"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." + +"A heap of influence we have!" laughed Ned. "Privates--with Jerry just +made corporal." + +"Well, Andy was very nice to us on the way down," said Helen, "so +please do all you can for him." + +"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!" + +Then followed a talk until it was time for the three chums to report +for drill duty. + +"What are you girls going to do this evening?" asked Bob. + +The girls looked at one another. + +"Oh, just sit around, I suppose," remarked Mollie. + +"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----" + +"Oh, we'll get off all right!" broke in Ned eagerly. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Meanwhile, Professor Snodgrass received permission to loose his pet +snake, Ticula, in certain restricted areas, so that he might observe +her feeding habits in the open. + +"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." + +"And we'll help you!" declared Jerry. "Just wait a few days more. I +think our orders to go across are coming." + +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. + +"Hurray!" cried Ned, Bob and Jerry, as they saw the orders posted. +"Now we'll get a whack at the Germans!" + +"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!" + +"Say, you'll burst a blood vessel if you aren't careful!" cautioned +Ned. "Better go slow, Andy." + +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. + +Ned, Bob and Jerry, with thousands of their chums, were to go to +Hoboken, New Jersey, there 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 _ameba_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +"Guess he found he couldn't get in the army, and he went back home," +remarked Ned. + +Finally the three chums were on their way for the fighting front with +thousands of fellow soldiers, some being volunteers and others of the +selective service. + +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. + +"It surely is some commission--trying to find two girls with just +their photographs and nothing much else to go by," commented Ned. + +"But we have done harder things," added Jerry. + +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. + +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. + +As Ned, Bob and Jerry stood together, looking at a group of recruits +who had been trained in Texas, they heard a voice saying: + +"This drafting business makes me sick! I don't like it at all!" + +"Maybe you'd rather have been passed over," suggested some one. + +"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." + +"Did it fly?" some one wanted to know. + +"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!" + +"Did you hear that?" asked Ned in a low voice. + +"I should say so!" exclaimed Bob. "We ought to know who that is." + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OFF FOR FRANCE + + +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. + +"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. + +"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!" + +"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." + +"That's Chunky all over--thinking of the eating end," laughed Ned. + +"Yes, Noddy is fat all right--too fat!" declared Jerry. "He hasn't +been drilled as hard as we have, or else he got a desk position +somewhere and held on to it." + +"Did you hear the bluff he was throwing about trying to enlist in the +air service?" asked Ned. + +"Yes," agreed his tall chum. "Talk about his being an expert flier! +Say, do you remember his _Tin Fly_?" + +"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." + +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: + +"What are you fellows doing here?" + +"The same as you, I imagine," was Jerry's cool answer. "We are going +to fight in France." + +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. + +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. + +"Where'd you fellows train?" asked Noddy, moving over toward his +Cresville acquaintances. + +"Camp Dixton," answered Ned. Then he added to Bob and Jerry: "Come on, +fellows, I think our train's about to pull out." + +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: + +"Camp Dixton isn't in it with Upyank, where our bunch was trained! +We'll show you when we get to France!" + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +"I wonder if we'll ever find the professor's two girls?" ventured Bob, +meaning thereby Gladys Petersen and Dorothy Gibbs. + +"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. + +"Yes, it is getting hot," observed Ned. "But still we promised the +professor we'd help him look for the girls." + +"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!" + +[Illustration: THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS WERE CROWDING ON BOARD. +_Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line._ _Page 57_] + +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. + +"Well, we're here!" announced Jerry, as he eased his pack from his +shoulders to the deck, an example followed by Ned and Bob. + +"Yes, we're here, and we'll soon be--there!" and Ned nodded in the +direction of France--or where he thought it was. + +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. + +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. + +"Wonder when we'll see them again," remarked Jerry, in a low voice. + +Neither of his chums answered. They were thinking, though. + +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. + +"We're off!" cried Bob. + +"For France!" added Ned. + +"And I'm glad to be with you!" said a voice behind Jerry, who, +turning, beheld Professor Snodgrass. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE TRAINING CAMP + + +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. + +"So you got here all right, did you?" asked Ned with a smile, as he +and the others shook hands with the scientist. + +"Yes, I'm here; and I wish we were across. I dread the voyage." + +"Submarines?" asked Jerry. + +"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, and I fear +the young ladies may have a hard time." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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----" + +"Grub!" finished Jerry, fairly taking the word out of Chunky's mouth. + +The stout lad glared a moment, and then said: + +"Well, yes, grub! Why not? We have to eat, don't we?" + +"You said it, Bob!" exclaimed Ned. "Go to it!" + +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. + +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: + +"I suppose if he did send any news it would be to the _Bug Hunter's +Review_, describing the life of an insect on an army transport." + +"Very likely," agreed Ned. + +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 who were to do their part in ending barbarous +militarism forever. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 periscope, +or, perchance, hoping to see the wet, glistening sides of a "steel +fish" itself, as it broke water before sending the deadly torpedo. + +"Well, boys, how goes it?" asked a voice behind the three chums, and +they recognized Professor Snodgrass. + +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: + +"What's that?" + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +"No telling where they'll be found," said a noncommissioned officer. +"If that had been one I believe we'd have got her, though." + +"Surest thing you know!" declared Ned Slade emphatically. + +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. + +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. + +"Here at last!" murmured Jerry, as he and his chums sought their own +company. + +"And where are the Huns we're going to fight?" asked Bob, looking +around at the strange scenes. + +"Oh, we won't see them right away," returned Ned. "It'll be more +training camp for ours for a while. But we'll see real fighting soon +enough. Don't worry." + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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 progress of the American forces as were the new recruits +themselves. + +"Say, we're going into this war with both feet!" exclaimed Jerry +admiringly. + +"That's the only way to do it," said Ned. "The harder we go at it the +sooner it will be over." + +They had their "chow," and even Bob admitted that it was "mighty +good," and, as you know, he was a connoisseur. + +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. + +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. + +"I can roll over now without falling out," said Ned, with a sigh of +comfort as he stretched out. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Suppose you come over and have some chocolate?" suggested a voice +behind the boys, and, turning, they saw a pleasant-faced young man, +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. + +"Come over and make yourselves at home," he went on. "You'll have time +before you'll be called on to report." + +"Thank you, we will," said Jerry. "Some chocolate would touch the +spot." + +"I've got two spots that need touching," laughed Bob. + +"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. + +"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. + +"He's here--worse luck!" murmured Ned. + +"No Y. M. C. A. for mine!" sneered Noddy. + +"Boor!" muttered Bob, in protest. + +"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." + +"None for mine!" sneered Noddy. "I want some cigarettes!" + +"I can let you have some at my _foyer_," said the secretary, with a +smile. "I don't smoke myself, but I like the smell of it mighty well. +Come along." + +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. + +"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!" + +"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!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ON THE FIRING LINE + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But the boys never felt it monotonous, nor did they complain of the +hard work. They knew it 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Meanwhile the Motor Boys were perfecting 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. + +"It's a pleasure to take orders from you, old man," said Ned. + +"Well, I won't give any more than I have to," remarked the tall lad, +now taller and more bronzed than ever. + +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. + +"Have you heard anything from Miss Petersen or Miss Gibbs?" asked +Jerry. + +"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. + +"Why, what's happened, Professor?" questioned Jerry, with quick +sympathy. + +"I lent some money," explained Professor Snodgrass, "to one of my +friends--an old friend with whom I went through college--to help him +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." + +"Well, let's hope that you find those girls quickly, Professor, and +get that inheritance very soon," said Ned. + +"But I am afraid I shall have to wait until you boys capture Germany, +and then I can go in and search." + +"Us boys--with help," chuckled Jerry. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Why don't you send home for what's left of your '_Tin Fly_'?" asked +Ned, with a wink at his chums. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Very soon, so I hear," returned Jerry. "Our intensive training is +nearly over. We may be moved up to the front any day now." + +"The sooner the quicker," cried Bob. "Maybe the eats won't be so good +farther front, but we'll see some action!" + +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. + +Then their chance came. One morning after drill emotion, like +electricity, seemed to run through the camp. + +"What's up?" came the queries from all sides. + +"We're ordered to the firing line!" was the answer. + +And then came cheers! Cheers that showed of what stuff America's +fighters were made. + +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. + +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. + +"Hark! what's that?" asked Bob, as he marched along with Ned, Jerry, +as corporal, being file leader. "Is it thunder?" + +They stepped lightly so as to listen more intently. + +"The guns!" explained a lieutenant hurrying past. "Those are the guns +on the firing line you hear. There must be a night attack." + +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 a thrill, even as they felt the ground +tremble beneath them. + +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. + +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. + +"On the firing line!" cried Jerry. "Just where we wanted to be! Now +for some action!" + +Hardly had he spoken when there sounded a terrific explosion, and the +boys were fairly blown off their feet, toppling to the ground. + +There was action for them! + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IN THE TRENCHES + + +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: + +"What hit us, anyway? Are the Germans attacking?" + +"Gee!" was Bob's muttered protest. + +"Get up!" some one cried. "You're all right. It was a bomb from a Hun +plane, but it missed its mark." + +"Seems to have hit me all right," observed Ned, whose face was +bleeding, though only from scratches. + +"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!" + +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 came, and now that the danger was over, at least for the +time being, they had a chance to see what had caused it. + +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. + +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. + +"See, no one is hurt," went on the officer, as if to reassure those +who were soon to take their places in the front-line trenches. "Good +luck was with you that time." + +"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. + +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. + +After this Jerry was silent and thoughtful. + +"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. + +"Breakfast, I hope," said Bob, and this it proved to be. + +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. + +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. + +"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 +which little time was given. "We've got to take our chances." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I should say so!" agreed Bob. "It's getting worse, too! Listen to +that!" + +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. + +The position to which they had been brought, and where they would +spend about a week, holding 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oh, I didn't mean that!" cried Bob. "I meant that maybe we'd be in +the big battle." + +"I hope we are," said Ned. "We want to do our share." + +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. + +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. + +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 +other, fighting meanwhile to drive off the enemy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Again, at other places in the trenches, light 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. + +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. + +"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 passed, and +food and ammunition were brought up. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Has Fritz been bothering you?" asked Lieutenant Anderson, who was in +charge of the relief. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"Where are the German trenches?" asked Ned. + +"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. + +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: + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A NIGHT PATROL + + +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. + +"Did a Hun bullet do that?" asked Bob, as he picked up the head +protector and looked at the hole. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"So, Chunky," observed Jerry, "you've been under fire now." + +"Yes," said Bob, and his voice was sober, "we've been under fire." + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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, and +they were holding the trenches more to guard against a surprise attack +than anything else. + +"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. + +"What?" asked Bob. "Do we get better eats here?" + +"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!" + +"Then I won't be a prisoner!" declared Bob. "But what were you going +to say about comfort, Jerry?" + +"We don't have to drill," was the answer. + +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. + +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. + +Then, too, there was work to do. There was 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At times, after a period of comparative quiet, 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. + +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. + +"What's that?" exclaimed Bob. + +"That sniper again," answered Ned. "That's the closest he's come. We'd +better move, fellows, or he may get one of us." + +"A sniper!" exclaimed Jerry. "Has he been taking pot shots at you?" + +"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." + +"Gee!" gasped Bob. + +Bob and Jerry had moved up from their own stations to where Ned was +placed, as it was a quiet period of the day, and it was while they +were talking that the shot came. + +"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." + +"Then it would be a spent ball," argued Bob, "and it wouldn't sing out +the way that one did." + +"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." + +"We ought to try to get him," argued Jerry. "Have you, Ned?" + +"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." + +"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. + +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 of the boys came up, and they were marched back to the dugout +for a rest period. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. But prompt use of the +protective masks prevented any casualties. + +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: + +"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?" + +There was a moment of hesitation, and then, to the credit of the young +soldiers, every one stepped forward. + +"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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BOB IS MISSING + + +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. + +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. + +"The American captive is more inclined to utter the equivalent of +'nothing doing,'" remarked Jerry, one day when discussing the matter. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +This precaution was always taken by night raiding parties. The Germans +adopted the habit of sending up illuminating devices, known as "star +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. + +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. + +"Ought we to leave some word for Professor Snodgrass?" asked Ned, as +he and his friends were making ready about midnight. + +"Word about what?" Jerry inquired. + +"Well, in case we don't come back we can't help him in his search, as +we promised." + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Silently the lieutenant led his men forward. Jerry Hopkins, the only +noncommissioned officer in the squad, marched next, as in the event of +the lieutenant being killed the command would fall to him. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +However, thanks to the precaution of blackened faces and hands, and to +the dark uniforms, the party of night-raiders must have resembled the +dead all about them, for no firing followed the illumination of star +shells. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"All cut, Lieutenant," reported Jerry, as the final strand was +severed. The commanding officer had been on watchful patrol while this +was being done. + +"Good!" was the low-voiced answer. "Come on, now. Every man with a +grenade in either hand!" + +Once more the party went forward. They were 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was in the German tongue, as they all knew, and they all realized +that the crucial moment had come. + +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 went down, his finger pressing the trigger of his rifle, +discharging it as he fell dead. + +"Come on now, boys! Give it to 'em!" cried the officer. + +"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. + +"Come on! Come on! Down with the Huns!" cried the lieutenant, and his +battle yell was echoed by Jerry and the others. + +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. + +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. + +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 awoke to life +sentries and guard parties all along the line, and the scene was +illuminated by a burst of star shells. + +"Come on! Into the trenches! They can't see us there so well!" yelled +Jerry. + +"That's the idea!" commanded the lieutenant. "Get to the dugout!" + +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. + +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. + +"Are you there--Ned--Bob?" demanded Jerry, as he ran on, following the +tortuous line of the trench. + +"I'm here!" answered Ned. + +"So'm I," added Bob. "Haven't a shot left, though." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"_Kamerad! Kamerad!_" some of the wounded ones cried, and others held +up their hands. + +"Come on!" shouted the lieutenant. "Gather 'em in and let's get back. +This place is getting too hot for us." + +He spoke with truth, for on all sides the big guns were now beginning +to bark, and a general engagement might be precipitated. + +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. + +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. + +"Are you there, boys?" asked Jerry again, of his chums, and he +received reassuring answers from both. + +"Hurt?" was his next inquiry, as they raced across the stretch, +stopping every time there was 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. + +"I'm all right," Bob answered. "Only a bit scratched by some Hun's +bayonet, I guess." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Good work!" commended the captain to his lieutenant. "And you got +some prisoners?" + +"Six!" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Where's Chunky?" he demanded. + +"Who?" asked the lieutenant. "I thought we only left Black, Jones, and +Porter behind. Is there another missing?" + +"Bob Baker, sir," answered Jerry. "But he was with us when we got back +within our own wire. I was talking to him." + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"JUST LIKE HIM!" + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"How much are you hurt?" asked the captain, turning to Jerry's chum. + +"Oh, it's only a scratch, Sir," was the quick answer. "I can't feel it +now." + +Ned did not speak the exact truth, but he did not want to be kept back +from the search. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"But what can have happened to him?" asked the lieutenant. + +"He may have been wounded internally, and didn't speak of it, Sir," +suggested Ned, whose own wound was troubling him woefully. "Then he +may have become so weak that he fell in the trench somewhere without a +sound." + +"That is possible. We must make a careful search." + +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. + +"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----" + +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. + +But a moment later the murmur of voices was heard--voices that were +unmistakably American. Some one asked: + +"Is your squad stationed here?" + +"About here, yes, Sir," was the answer, coming out of the darkness. + +"It's Chunky!" cried Jerry. + +"That's Bob!" added Ned, joyously. + +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. + +"Where have you been, Chunky?" demanded Jerry. "We've been looking +everywhere for you." + +"Yes," added the lieutenant, "will you please explain why you did not +report back with the rest of us?" + +Bob seemed a trifle surprised at the rather stern order, but he smiled +and answered: + +"Why, I thought, as long as we got back all right, I was relieved from +duty, so I went to get something to eat." + +"Something to eat!" exclaimed the lieutenant. + +"Something to eat," calmly repeated Bob. "You see it was this way. I +was terribly hungry----" + +"Nothing unusual," murmured Jerry, but the stout lad, paying no +attention to the interruption, went on: + +"So when I got back with the rest, after we captured the Huns, I +smelled something cooking 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----" + +"Liberty links!" interrupted the lieutenant. "What are those?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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----" + +"Mostly eating," murmured Jerry. + +"And then I forgot to come back," finished Bob. + +"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." + +"Very well," said the lieutenant, trying not to smile. "You may go +back to your posts. Everything is explained." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +For it rained and rained, and then rained some more, though Jerry +insisted that where they got the water from was a mystery. + +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 all of which Ned, Bob and Jerry did their share. + +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. + +"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." + +"Truth to tell, I guess he'd rather be back home, but he doesn't dare +go," declared Jerry. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But when Bob, who by virtue of his appetite considered himself the +cook, went to get the fuel, it was not there. + +"Boys, the wood is gone!" he cried. + +"Who took it?" demanded Jerry. + +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: + + "Borrowed your wood. Give it back to you some day. + + "NODDY NIXON." + +For a moment there was silence, and then Jerry burst out with: + +"Well, if that isn't just like him--the dirty sneak!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A DESPERATE CHANCE + + +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. + +"What are we going to do?" asked Bob blankly. + +"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!" + +"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." + +"I was just hungry for something hot," sighed Bob, as he thought of +the cold rations. + +"So was I," added Ned. "Isn't there anything we can do?" he went on. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Did you hit him?" asked Bob eagerly. + +"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!" + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Hard?" asked Ned, who, like Bob, was in a sort of bunk. + +"Hard? I should say so. Look; my tin hat is dented from the drops!" +and Jerry took it off and pretended to point out indentations made by +the rain drops. He shook his slicker, and a spray of moisture flew +about. + +"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." + +"Beg your pardon, old man!" exclaimed Jerry. "I didn't realize how wet +I was." + +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. + +But the night passed undisturbed. + +"Oh, for some hot coffee!" exclaimed Bob, as he tumbled out the next +morning in answer to the call to duty. + +"Dry up!" ordered Jerry. "You ought to be glad to get it cold!" + +"Well, I'll try to be," assented Bob. "Where's Ned?" + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"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----" + +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. + +Instantly the trench was a scene of feverish activity. Everyone +expected a raid, and breakfast was hastily set aside, while the +soldiers caught up their guns. + +"It's all right," an officer called. "Fritz just took a pot shot at +one of our trucks out on the road." + +"Did he get it, Sir?" asked Jerry. + +"I should say so! Look here!" + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Private Slade, Sir," replied Jerry. + +"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?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SNIPER + + +All stood looking from the trench at the actions of Ned Slade. + +"Look!" cried Bob, pointing to his chum. "He's picking up pieces of +wood!" + +"Has he gone crazy?" murmured the officer, peering through his glasses +at Private Slade. "Does he think he can salvage anything from the +wreck?" + +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. + +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. + +"They're firing at him! He'll be killed!" cried Bob. + +"It seems very likely!" said the officer grimly. "Who gave him +permission to go out like that, and why did he do it?" + +No one answered. No one knew what to say. + +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. + +The firing from the German lines became hotter, and a machine gun +began to splutter. + +"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!" + +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. + +Just then Ned was seen to stagger. + +"He's hit!" some one cried. + +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. + +And at last he reached the trench where Bob, Jerry, and his other +comrades awaited him. The 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. + +"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!" + +For a moment the others stood staring at him, and then the officer +came back. + +"Did they get him?" he cried. "If they did they'll pay for it. We'll +wipe out the Hun trench in another minute!" + +Then he saw Ned, standing, surrounded by the splintered, wooden parts +of the ammunition truck. + +"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?" + +"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. + +The officer stared at Ned as though the young soldier were a new sort +of fighter, and then, with a shake of his head, turned away. It was +past belief or understanding. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Too bad the professor isn't here! Why?" asked Bob. + +"Oh, he might find some new kind of bug in 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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"I shouldn't be surprised to see the professor walk in on us any day," +mused Jerry. "He's likely to do it." + +"Then he'd better get a hustle on, or he may not find us here," +observed Ned. + +"Why not?" Bob inquired. + +"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." + +"Going to make an attack!" Jerry spoke softly. "Well, that's the way +to win the war. I hope it will stop raining, though. I hate to fight +in the rain." + +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. + +"What is it?" asked his tall chum. + +In answer Ned pointed to a spattery hole in the trench wall behind +him. + +"The German sniper again," he said. "And I'm going to see if I can't +spot him. We've got to get him!" + +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. + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OVER THE TOP + + +"We haven't much time," remarked Jerry, as he glanced at the watch on +his wrist. "We'll be relieved in five minutes." + +"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." + +"Where?" asked Bob. + +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. + +He said nothing for a moment, and then called to Jerry: + +"Take a look at that brush pile just inside the first line of German +wire." + +"I see it," remarked Jerry, after a look through the mirror +arrangement. + +"Well, that's where Mr. Fritz is keeping himself," 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!" + +"That bush doesn't seem big enough to shelter a man," observed Bob, as +he, too, took an observation. + +"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." + +"What do you mean?" asked Jerry. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +"Go to it!" advised the tall lad. "I'm with you." + +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. + +"Show your tin hat!" + +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. + +"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. + +"You got him!" cried Jerry. + +"Yes," assented Ned, as he lowered his gun. "You won't have to shoot, +old man. Fritz won't do any more pot-hunting." + +So that was the end of one German sharpshooter. + +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. + +"Have you heard anything more about going over the top soon?" asked +Jerry. + +"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?" + +"I do," answered Bob. "I think it's going to happen that I'm going to +have some chow. I smell it coming!" + +"You're a heathen materialist!" declared Ned. + +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. + +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 home to cheer them, and also a +communication from Professor Snodgrass. + +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. + +"The war has changed everything," declared Jerry. + +"But, of course, we'll help him find the girls if we can," suggested +Ned. + +"Oh, of course," agreed his tall chum. + +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. + +"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. + +"And don't forget the Salvation Army!" chimed in Bob. "The fried holes +those lassies turn out are the best I ever ate--not excepting those +mother used to make." + +"Yes, those doughnuts fill a big void, even if they have a hole in the +middle," agreed Ned. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +charge of an officer, commissioned or noncommissioned, and in Jerry's +squad were Ned and Bob. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the firing ceased. The "zero hour" +had arrived. + +Three shrill whistles, repeated from many points, sounded on the now +silent but quivering air. Not a German gun had yet awakened. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"FRIED HOLES" + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Come on, boys!" yelled Jerry, as he led Bob and Ned forward, +followed by the others in the particular squad of which Jerry had +charge. "Come on!" + +"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!" + +And together he and Jerry rushed on, followed by Ned and Bob--a +quartette acting as one man. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But it was war, and it had to be. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"The first-line trenches!" yelled Ned, as he pointed through the +smoke. + +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. + +"Forward! Forward! Don't stop! Go on!" yelled the officers. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Following the instructions they had received, the Americans began to +look for what shelter they 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +While part of the advancing Americans still 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. + +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. + +"There go our guns again!" cried Ned into Jerry's ear, as he lay +stretched out beside his tall chum. + +"Yes. They're trying to drive the Huns back so we can go on. We've got +to get farther than this." + +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. + +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 for stray +shooting of rifles and machine guns, the two confronting lines of +infantry were comparatively safe. + +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. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry quickly. "Are you hit, Chunky?" + +"Hit? No! But look there! Fried holes! See 'em!" + +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. + +"Fried holes!" cried Bob. "Fried holes! Salvation Army doughnuts, +fellows! I'm going to get some!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SCHOOL JANITOR + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Me for some of those!" yelled Bob, as he rose from his improvised +trench. + +"Lie still, you chump!" shouted Ned. "Do you want to be killed?" + +"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!" + +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. + +Some of the officers, from where they were stationed among the troops, +saw him. + +"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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Come on--run for it!" yelled the stout lad. "This place is getting +hot!" + +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. + +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 ones in that section +of the line, the officers refusing any, so that the weary men might +have some little refreshment. + +"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. + +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. + +"Bravo, Chunky!" said Jerry softly, as he observed. + +And then, as if in horrible contrast to this peaceful scene, the +battle began again. + +"Forward!" came the orders, and the three chums, with their comrades, +sprang from their shelter. + +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. + +And there died a very brave and gallant gentleman. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A yell on their left caught the ears of Jerry and his chums. + +"Are we giving way?" asked Ned, grimly despairing. + +"No! It's the tanks! Look!" screamed Bob. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Wave after wave of storming troops now surged over the positions +lately occupied in force by the Germans. Up the wooded slopes they +swept, taking possession of dominant heights so long desired. The +objective was more than won, and the American position much improved. + +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. + +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. + +"Look out!" some one shouted. "Maybe they're playing possum!" + +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. + +"Drive 'em out! Kill the Boches! Wipe 'em up!" yelled the survivors. + +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. + +"_Kamerad! Kamerad!_" came the cowardly appeal from the Germans. + +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. + +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: + +"Nick Schmouder!" + +"_Ja!_" came the answer, and then, in German, he asked: + +"Who speaks my name?" + +"Nick Schmouder!" said Ned again. + +"Do you know this man?" asked an officer sharply. + +"Yes," answered Ned. "He used to be a janitor at Boxwood Hall, a +school I attended." + +And the face of Nick Schmouder showed as much wonder as did that of +Ned Slade. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +NEWS AT LAST + + +"Well, well, Nick! To think of meeting you here!" exclaimed Bob. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"We came here to teach the Kaiser how to walk Spanish," said Bob. "I +didn't think you'd fight against us, Nick, after what you learned at +Boxwood Hall." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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!" + +"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!" + +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 leading to the dugout where the machine +gun had wrought such havoc. + +"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. + +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. + +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: + +"He's still alive, but badly hurt, I'm afraid. Take him back as gently +as you can." + +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. + +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. + +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 +to insure the holding of the position won at such cost. + +"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. + +"Yes, isn't it strange to meet him here like this? If he fired any of +the shots that did up Jerry Hopkins, why----" + +Ned did not finish, but Bob knew what his chum meant. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"You took an awful chance, though, Chunky," said his chum. + +"No more than that Salvation Army man did. He was braver than I, +because it was my business to be where I was, and he didn't have to +if he didn't want to." + +"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----" + +But he did not have the heart to finish. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +The next morning, after a feverish night in which they slept but +little, they were allowed to 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. + +"Well, how about you, old man?" asked Ned, as the Red Cross nurse said +they might talk a little to their injured chum. + +"Oh, I'm all right. Feel fine! Just knocked out a little. Save a few +Huns for me for the next rush." + +"Oh, we'll do that all right," agreed Bob. "Too bad you had to get +yours just as we won the game." + +"We won it, so I hear," observed Jerry. + +"Yes, cleaned 'em up," went on Ned. "And whom do you guess we caught +in the last batch of prisoners?" + +"Not Professor Snodgrass!" + +"No. But some one who knows him. Nick Schmouder!" exploded Bob. + +"What? Not the janitor at Boxwood Hall? The fellow who helped us get +the goat upstairs into the physics class?" + +"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 would order his chums away unless he remained more quiet. + +"I'll be good!" promised the tall lad. "But that is rich! How did it +happen?" + +"Don't know," admitted Ned. "I'm going to have a talk with him if I +can." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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, as +mentioned, had assisted them in performing what they were pleased to +term a "joke." + +The boys had forgotten all about him, and it was with the utmost +wonder they met him again under such strange and strenuous +circumstances. + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"Yes, he was," agreed Ned. "And you may see him, if you stay around +here." + +"See him? Is the professor in the war, too?" + +"Not exactly," Bob answered. "He is here on a scientific mission. +Something about war noises and insects. But he is after something +else, too. A friend of his, Professor Petersen----" + +"Professor Emil Petersen?" cried Nick Schmouder in such a strange +voice that Ned and Bob stared at him. "Did you say Professor Emil +Petersen?" + +"I don't know that I mentioned his first name, but it is Emil," +answered the stout lad. "Why, do you know him?" + +"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----" + +"Two nieces!" burst out Ned and Bob together. "Do you mean Miss Gladys +Petersen and Miss Dorothy Gibbs?" + +"Yes! Those were the names," announced Schmouder easily. "He left the +two nieces with my father and mother. They were nice girls!" + +"Listen to that!" cried Ned, thumping Bob on the back. "News at last! +We must tell Jerry this!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A QUEER QUESTION + + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Yes, I guess that's right," assented Ned. + +"But there may be two Professor Petersens--the name is not uncommon in +Germany, at any rate." + +"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." + +"That seems to clinch it," declared Bob. + +"Yes, I guess so," agreed his chum. "But what else can you tell us +about them, Nick, and where are the girls now?" + +The German prisoner shrugged his shoulders. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"You said it!" declared Bob, with energy. + +"Tell us all you can," urged Ned. "We have a great interest in finding +these girls." + +"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. + +"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." + +"What happened next?" asked Bob. + +"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." + +"Haven't you heard from them?" asked Ned. + +"Not lately, no. Soon after I was forced to join the army I had a +letter, in which they told me they were going farther into Germany to +be safer." + +"And what about the two girls and Professor Petersen?" Bob queried. + +"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." + +"Were they scientists too?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +"We can tell you what happened to him," said Ned. "He died in America, +and left a lot of money." + +"So!" exclaimed Schmouder. "Well, it will do no one any good these +terrible days." + +"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." + +"Ach! Well, I shall be glad if the young ladies get something," said +Schmouder. + +"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----" + +"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!" + +"Nor to any one else," declared Bob. "Gee! but it's tough to be so +near the solution and then to fail." + +"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." + +"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 days. Maybe the war has wiped +out Professor Petersen's fortune." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +"Yes, it may, and it may not. I hope it will, though." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Feel all right?" asked Ned. + +"Sure! Never better. I want to get at the Huns again." + +"Didn't hear from Professor Snodgrass, did you?" inquired Bob. + +"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." + +"What?" asked Ned. + +"Well, Noddy Nixon came to see me." + +"He did!" cried Bob. "Well, the nerve of that shrimp! After he took +our wood!" + +"What did he want?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +"You did, didn't you?" asked Bob. + +"Sure. But I don't quite see what Noddy was aiming at. However, I +didn't trouble my head much about it until yesterday." + +"Why yesterday?" Bob demanded. + +"Well, the surgeon who patched me up came and inquired if Noddy was a +particular friend of mine." + +"Of course you told him he was!" laughed Ned. + +"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." + +"You mean he's making a bluff at it!" growled Bob. "But go on. Where +does the queer part come in?" + +"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." + +"He did!" cried Ned. "Well, what's queer about that?" + +"Don't you see," resumed Jerry, "it looks as though----" + +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: + +"An air raid! An air raid! The Huns are coming!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A VISITOR + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 the Germans. It was the shooting at the Hun planes with the +guns nearest the hospital that had broken in on Jerry's remarks. + +"They won't bomb the hospital, will they?" asked Ned, in wonder. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, +Bob, and Jerry helped in taking out the wounded, while the gun crews +increased their fire at the hostile planes. + +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. + +"Too close for comfort, though," declared Ned. + +"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. + +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. + +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 aimed their infernal machines at objects near it, could +not be said with certainty. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Look! Look!" suddenly cried Ned. "They got one!" + +"That's right!" echoed Jerry. "They've brought one down!" + +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. + +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. + +"There goes the pilot!" said Bob grimly. "He's done for." + +And so he was, and so was his machine. It was a horrible death, but +none the less horrible than he had planned for others--and helpless +others, too. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Don't blame you a bit," assented Ned. "But we were talking about +Noddy Nixon." + +"Yes," resumed the tall lad. "I was saying he asked a mighty queer +question of the surgeon and I have my own opinion----" + +At that moment a smiling Red Cross nurse appeared and said: + +"There's a visitor asking to see you, Mr. Hopkins." + +"A visitor for me!" exclaimed Jerry. + +"Yes, do you wish to see any one?" + +"Man or young lady?" asked Ned, with a mischievous smile at his chum. + +"Oh, a dear, little, bald-headed man, who peers at you in such a funny +way through his big glasses and----" + +"Show him in!" cried Ned, Bob and Jerry in one voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE + + +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. + +"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----" + +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. + +"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 _Papilio_. + +"Oh, how beautiful!" murmured the nurse. "What are you going to do +with the poor thing?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +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. + +These arrangements having been made, transportation provided and the +necessary permissions having been secured, the professor and the +three 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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +Professor Snodgrass would have laughed had you called him a brave man, +but he dared as much 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. + +The journey to the prison camp where Nick Schmouder was held took +place the next day, and was accomplished without incident worthy of +note. + +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. + +"I didn't believe there were any good Germans in Germany any more," +said Jerry, "but I guess Nick is pretty near one." + +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. + +"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." + +"Well, if it keeps on we'll soon have most of 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." + +"I hope you do," said Schmouder, and many of his fellow prisoners +agreed with him. + +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. + +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. + +So, having dispatched several letters by different routes, Professor +Snodgrass prepared to spend some time with the boys. + +"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?" + +"Yes, and we'll get there," declared Jerry, for 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. + +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. + +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: + +"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!" + +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. + +"Look at him!" yelled Ned. + +"We've got to get him back!" cried Jerry. + +An officer, who had heard the commotion, came in from the nearest +dugout and asked: + +"Who gave him permission to go out there? Is he deserting?" + +[Illustration: THEY MARCHED STRAIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN LINES. +_Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line._ _Page 183_] + +"Indeed he isn't, Sir," answered Ned. "I guess he must be trying some +experiment, or looking for bugs." + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +GREAT PREPARATIONS + + +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. + +"Three prisoners! Count 'em. Three!" Bob yelled. + +"Well, for the love of hot chocolate!" cried Jerry, "what does it +mean?" + +"Search me!" answered Ned, succinctly. "Looks as if he had 'em +hypnotized!" + +And so it did, for the Huns, as they came nearer, wore on their faces +looks of stupefied astonishment. + +Straight for the trench where his young friends were, Professor +Snodgrass marched his prisoners. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"What's that thing on his back?" asked the stout lad. + +"Looks like a magnified haversack of new design," replied Ned. + +"The professor hasn't enlisted, has he?" some one asked Jerry. "Not +but what he'd make a fine soldier," was the added comment. + +"No, I can't imagine what he has on," Jerry answered. "We'll soon find +out, though." + +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: + +"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. + +"Great guns, man alive! Did you go out to get them?" asked the +officer. + +"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----" + +"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 from anything like that, we are not +looking for it just now. Please stay here." + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Yes, they came on all right," said the lieutenant. "We saw that. But +still I don't understand." + +At this one of the prisoners spoke. + +"Haf ve der lieutnant's bermission to lower our hants?" he asked, +speaking with a deep, guttural accent. + +"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. + +"Now, how did it happen?" went on the officer. + +"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!" + +"_Ja!_" murmured his two companions. + +"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: + +"What sort of infernal machine have you there, anyhow? Does it +generate a new kind of gas?" + +The professor laughed and unslung the apparatus from his back, where +it was carried by means of straps, like those on a haversack. + +"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." + +"And I fancy you spoiled theirs," said the lieutenant with a laugh. +"So you threatened them with your moving-picture machine, did you?" + +"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." + +"Yes, very fortunately," said the lieutenant. "We saw them drop their +guns and raise their hands, and couldn't understand. But your +machine, harmless as it is, doubtless impressed them as very +dangerous." + +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. + +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. + +"But I can't understand why the others in the trenches didn't open +fire on you," said the officer. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"But what about my insects?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"Maybe we're going to make a big attack," suggested Bob. + +"Perhaps," assented Jerry. "I heard some rumors of it. Well, we'll +have to wait and see." + +They did not have to wait long, for that day began preparations which, +to those who understood, indicated that a great attack was imminent. + +Great stores of shell and ammunition were 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. + +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: + +"Guess what's up!" + +"Can't," Ned replied. + +"Go on! Tell us!" cried Jerry. + +"We're going to have a lot of doughnuts and chocolate candy!" cried +Bob. + +"Doughnuts!" shouted Jerry. + +"Chocolate!" echoed Ned. "Where is it?" + +"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!" + +"Good for you, Chunky!" cried Jerry. "I always said you were all +right!" + +"Same here!" added Ned. + +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 +under a rock, and lined with boards. It was a hiding place known to +all three. + +"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." + +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. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry. + +"It's gone!" faltered Bob. + +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. + +"Who took 'em?" faltered Bob. + +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: + +"Noddy Nixon's! He's been up to his rotten tricks again!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"S. I. W." + + +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. + +"What'll we do?" gasped Bob. + +"Let's go and accuse him and get the stuff away!" suggested Ned. +"Maybe he hasn't eaten it all yet." + +"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." + +But this was not to be. Just as the three chums were about to go from +their part of the trench to that where Noddy Nixon was stationed, the +signal sounded for Ned, Bob, and Jerry to take their places on +official duty. + +"Too late!" exclaimed Bob. "We can't reach him now, and he'll eat it +all up." + +"The pig!" muttered Ned. + +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. + +But it was another of the fortunes of war, and it had to be borne. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"But his company moves, too," declared Ned, who had made some +inquiries. "He's in the same division we are, and we'll see him when +we get settled again." + +But they did not see Noddy Nixon again for some time, though they +heard of him, and under tragic circumstances. + +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. + +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. + +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 which the professor +could devote himself, and he did. + +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. + +"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." + +"I am sorry, Professor. Can't we----" began Jerry. + +"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 was the cause +of his own anxieties and probable losses. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Rifles and hand grenades, likewise, were looked to. Everything must be +in readiness so there 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"I only wish one thing," remarked Bob, as they prepared to go back to +the front, after having accomplished their mission. + +"What?" asked Ned. + +"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!" + +But this "whack" Bob was destined never to have. + +They again went on duty in the trenches. The day of the great +offensive was approaching. + +Suddenly a shot rang out in the sector near the three Motor Boys. They +started, and Ned exclaimed: + +"Can that be the signal for the attack?" + +"No, it doesn't begin until to-morrow," said Jerry. "That's one of our +own men. Guess his rifle went off by accident." + +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: + +"Did one of our sharpshooters get a Hun, Sir?" + +"No," was the answer. "It wasn't that. Private Nixon was shot." + +"Noddy Nixon shot!" gasped Bob. "How?" + +"S. I. W.," was the terse reply of the officer, as he passed on. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE BLACK BOX + + +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: + +"What did he say?" + +"S. I. W.," repeated Jerry. + +"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!" + +"So am I," added Jerry. + +"Self-inflicted wound," repeated Bob. + +"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." + +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 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. + +But over Noddy's cot, and over that of several men on either side of +him was a placard with the significant letters: + + _S. I. W._ + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +So Noddy was carried away to the hospital, and "S. I. W." was +inscribed over his cot. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"When does the big show start?" asked Ned, as he and his chums came +out of the dugout for a few hours' stay farther behind the lines. "I +thought the bombardment was to begin this morning." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Well, how goes it?" asked Jerry, after they had all shaken hands. + +"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." + +"Then I should think it would be harder than ever for you to trace +them," suggested Ned. + +"No, I think it will be easier," said the professor, but he did not +explain how. + +"Getting the results you expected from the insect noise campaign, +Professor?" asked Jerry. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"I am he," answered the scientist. + +"Ah, zen you will please come with me," said the soldier. "You are +wanted at ze headquarters." + +"Wanted at headquarters!" repeated the professor. "What for?" + +"Zis will explain," and the officer handed a note to Professor +Snodgrass. + +As the professor read it a smile came over his face. + +"Ah, I understand," he said. "I will come at 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. + +The officer looked a little dubiously at the object in the professor's +hand, and then at the three boys. + +"My orders did not include--_zem_!" he said, indicating Ned, Bob, and +Jerry, "nor--_zat_!" and he pointed to the box. + +"This has to come," replied the professor. "It is part of what I +proposed. As for my friends, I will be responsible for them." + +"Very well, sair!" and the Frenchman bowed and led the way. + +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. + +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: + +"Look out, boys! It's an infernal machine in 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." + +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. + +"What has happened?" he asked. + +"Some one says there's a bomb in that black box of yours," explained +Jerry. + +"If there is, get it out of the way! Douse it in water. Throw it away. +Look out!" yelled several. + +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. + +"Don't touch that box!" cried the professor. "Don't open it! Keep away +from it!" + +And, as he hurried toward it, the soldiers leaped back. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A DISAPPEARANCE + + +"Halt!" + +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. + +"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. + +Ned Slade, Bob Baker, and Jerry Hopkins looked in astonishment at one +another. What could it all mean? + +"Zere must be some mistake," said the French officer who had escorted +the professor to headquarters. + +"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 plan would be to set it going, even if +he destroyed himself. Some spies are capable of that." + +"Spy!" cried Jerry, instinctively, forgetting that he was speaking to +a superior officer. "Professor Snodgrass isn't a spy!" + +"No, I am sure he is not!" + +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. + +"Don't arrest the professor," went on the latter officer. "As for his +black box, handle it just as he tells you." + +"But, Colonel Lacombe," protested the officer who had interfered in +the proceedings. "Surely you----" + +"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----" + +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. + +"Look out!" shouted Professor Snodgrass. "The box has been opened by +mistake. They're coming out! Run, everybody!" + +Turning, he caught hold of Bob, who was nearest him, and began pulling +him along. + +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. + +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? + +These thoughts flashed through Jerry's mind as he ran along beside +Ned. The black cloud from the box was becoming more dense. + +"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." + +Then came a yell from some one. It was followed by several other cries +of physical distress. + +"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?" + +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. + +And yet---- + +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. + +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. + +"Why!" he cried as he saw the bug. "Why, it's a wasp! A wasp!" + +"Of course it is!" said Professor Snodgrass, flapping his arms about +his head, and Jerry now saw the reason. A number of vicious wasps +were buzzing about them. + +"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!" + +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. + +"Was that what was in the black box?" asked Jerry, as he dodged a wasp +that seemed about to alight on his nose. + +"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 _Vespidae Polistes_, _Eumenes_, and _Odynerus_, and for stings +are not to be equalled." + +"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?" + +"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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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 with the fastening of the case, and the insects came out." + +"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." + +"Does that mean you can't use the wasps?" asked the professor. + +"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." + +"Yes," agreed the little scientist, "they might." + +And then, as the last of the insects disappeared, and the headquarters +staff came back from various places of refuge, Professor Snodgrass +explained. + +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 a rout, he thought, and so he had communicated his +idea to his friend, the colonel. + +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. + +"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. + +"And it worked out all right in practice," declared Ned. "I never saw +a quicker retreat." + +"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----" + +"We'll delegate that to you," put in Ned. + +"No, thanks! I'm stung badly enough as it is." + +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. + +But for many a day the story of the wasps at headquarters was told up +and down the firing line. + +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. + +"He has disappeared, Messieurs," answered the old woman who looked +after the place. + +"Disappeared!" echoed the boys blankly. + +"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." + +"Well, what do you know about that?" gasped Jerry, while his chums +looked at him in wondering amazement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +ST. MIHIEL + + +"What are we going to do?" asked Bob. + +"What can we do?" Ned returned. + +"Let's go after him and bring him back!" exclaimed the excitable Bob. +"Maybe the Germans have him!" + +"Then we'll not easily get him," said Jerry. "And, as a matter of +fact, we can't even try." + +"Why not?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +"That seems hard," murmured Bob. + +"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." + +"But without his hat!" exclaimed Bob. + +"And gone more than a day!" added Ned. + +"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." + +"I suppose so," agreed Ned; "but it's too bad." + +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. + +"Though if he doesn't come back what are we to do with his things and +about Professor Petersen's nieces?" asked Ned. + +"The best we can," advised Jerry. + +"After the war, if we're alive, we can look for the girls," suggested +Bob. + +"Pretty slim chance of finding 'em," murmured Ned. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"Forward!" was the battle cry--the watchword that was to guide them +all. "Forward!" + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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: + +"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. + +"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. 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." + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Suddenly about them thundered great salvos of firing. It shook the +very ground. The chums looked at one another in wonder. + +"This must be another big show," shouted Jerry. He had to shout to be +heard above the noise. + +"It is," said Ned. + +And it was. It was the final assault against the last of the German +defenses in St. Mihiel. + +"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." + +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: + +"They're running away! We've got 'em beat!" + +And thus it was. German troops were giving way in a rout. Let General +Pershing tell it in his own simple way: + +"Our 1st Corps advanced to Thiacourt, while our 4th Corps curved back +to the southwest 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." + +And that was the battle of St. Mihiel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IN ARGONNE FOREST + + +"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. + +"A rest?" cried Ned. "Say, Chunky, I'm going to take a leaf out of +your book and wish for something to eat." + +"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." + +And Jerry proved a true prophet, for there was refreshment for the +battle-worn troops--hot food which they very much needed. + +"Have we got to fight some more?" asked Bob, as he ate his rations +with every indication of appetite. + +"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." + +And it was. + +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. + +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. + +Says General Pershing: + +"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." + +Ringing words that will go down in history to the honor of America! + +And with this advance, fighting as they went, Ned, Bob, and Jerry, and +thousands of their brave 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: + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +But it was fight, if not exactly in the open, more 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As the captain of the company to which Ned, Bob, and Jerry had been +assigned was approaching to gather his men together, a runner came +along a scarcely defined path. + +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: + +"We're cut off!" + +"Cut off?" + +"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." + +"Surrounded!" was the thought that came to all who heard. "Surrounded +by the Germans! Cut off!" + +And then, almost as soon as that thought formed came another. + +"We'll hold out until help comes or fight our way through!" + +And then began the tragic story of the "Lost Battalions." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +CAPTURED + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +And then began a terrible time that lasted from 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 to a lonely spot +in the forest and as he advanced he heard the shrill whine of a bullet +near him. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The American commander sent back an answer which rang with defiance. + +And the fighting went on. + +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. + +"What will be the outcome?" asked Bob wearily, as he and his chums, +hidden in a shell hole, held their part of the line. + +"We'll win! That's what will be the outcome!" cried Jerry fiercely. +"We'll show the Huns how we fight!" + +There came a terrific burst of firing, and a hail of bullets swept +over their heads. + +"They're coming on again!" yelled Ned. + +The firing increased, but it did not seem to approach nearer. Instead, +it appeared to be going away. + +"What can it mean?" asked Jerry. + +"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. + +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. + +And then, like a drink of cold water to a fever-dying man, a ringing +American cheer came through the woods to the ears of the exhausted +ones. + +"What is it? What is it?" cried Bob. "What does it mean?" + +"It means we're rescued!" shouted Jerry, jumping up and swinging his +cap, disregarding possible German snipers. "It means the relief has +come through!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Yes, if we ever get there," admitted Ned. + +"And, all this while, we haven't heard a word from the professor," +said Jerry. "I'm worried about him." + +So were his chums, and if they could have seen their friend at that +moment their anxiety would have been justified. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"How did you, an American, manage to get through?" + +"I don't know," answered the professor. "But now I want to get back." + +"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." + +"Americans?" + +"Yes, two young ladies. They were left behind 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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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: + +"Are you Gladys Petersen?" + +"I am!" was the surprised answer. "But how----" + +"And are you Dorothy Gibbs?" went on the little scientist, turning to +the other. + +"That is my name, but----" + +"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." + +"What boys?" asked Miss Petersen. + +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. + +"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." + +"We were there," answered Miss Petersen; "but the German family with +whom we were staying after uncle went away thought the place in +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?" + +"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." + +"Oh, yes! Let's!" cried Dorothy. "Poor Uncle Emil! If he were only +here! He was very kind to us." + +"Yes, we loved him," added Gladys softly. "He was so much like you, +Professor Snodgrass--you remind me very much of him." + +"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." + +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. + +"I fear you will all be captured," said their 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." + +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. + +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: + +"You will do for hostages if the Americans come too close!" + +"Oh, are they that near?" cried Dorothy. + +"Too near--the pigs!" muttered the officer. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Gladys. "Maybe they'll save us after all!" + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +RECAPTURED + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +"Oh, can you believe it, Gladys!" exclaimed Miss Gibbs. "It doesn't +seem possible, does it, that we are saved?" + +"No, but I am beginning to believe that it is not a dream any more. +Those American soldiers are real, aren't they?" + +"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 shall also +hope to take you to safety with me," he added, as he thought of his +wards. "If only the boys were here!" + +"What boys do you mean?" asked Miss Petersen. "You have so often +spoken of 'the boys,' but you have never mentioned who they were." + +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. + +"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----" + +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 +_sang-froid_ of veterans. + +"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. + +"There are the boys. Jerry! Ned! Bob! 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!" + +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. + +"It's him!" yelled Bob. + +"It's the professor!" cried Ned. + +"And the girls are with him!" added Jerry. + +The lieutenant of the boys' company, seeing that something unusual was +in the wind said: + +"You may fall out. Join us later. We'll probably stay here a while. +This is our objective, and we've made it." + +And then the boys fell out and such a reunion as there was! + +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. + +"And do you think we are safe now?" asked Miss Petersen. + +"As safe as in a church," declared Bob. "We've come to stay!" + +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: + +"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." + +And the armistice of November 11, 1918, came, bringing an end to the +war. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"But we were glad to see you," said Miss Gibbs. + +"Very," echoed Gladys. + +Ned, Bob, and Jerry were very curious to know 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. + +"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." + +"We're all with you, Chunky!" cried Ned. "I'm as hungry as--as Bob +Baker!" + +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. + +[Illustration: JERRY RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. +_Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line._ _Page 248_] + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"And now I wonder what will happen to us!" exclaimed Bob, when these +three friends of theirs had departed. + +"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." + +"Sure thing!" assented Ned. + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + +"So say we all of us!" chanted Ned and Jerry. + +And then, as they stood together on deck, the transport began her +homeward trip. + +THE END + + + + +THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES + +BY LESTER CHADWICK + +12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid. +BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS + +_or The Rivals of Riverside_ + +Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to play baseball and +particularly to pitch. + +BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE + +_or Pitching for the Blue Banner_ + +Joe's great ambition was to go to boarding school and play on the +school team. + +BASEBALL JOE AT YALE + +_or Pitching for the College Championship_ + +Joe goes to Yale University. In his second year he becomes a varsity +pitcher and pitches in several big games. + +BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE + +_or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_ + +In this volume the scene of action is shifted from Yale college to a +baseball league of our central states. + +BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE + +_or A Young Pitcher's Hardest Struggles_ + +From the Central League Joe is drafted into the St. Louis Nationals. A +corking baseball story all fans will enjoy. + +BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS + +_or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_ + +How Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay in the box +makes an interesting baseball story. + +BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES + +_or Pitching for the Championship_ + +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. + +BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD + +_or Pitching on a Grand Tour_ + +The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world, playing in many +foreign countries. + +Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue. + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers--New York + + + + +THE HARRY HARDING SERIES + +By ALFRED RAYMOND + +12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 80 cents, postpaid. +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. + +HARRY HARDING--_Messenger "45"_ + +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. + +HARRY HARDING'S YEAR OF PROMISE + +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. + +Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue. + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers--New York + + + + + +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.txt or 28442.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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