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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ae96a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53271 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53271) diff --git a/old/53271-0.txt b/old/53271-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a303087..0000000 --- a/old/53271-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5791 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry, by -James R. Driscoll - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry - -Author: James R. Driscoll - -Release Date: October 14, 2016 [EBook #53271] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIGHTON BOYS AT CHATEAU-THIERRY *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, John Campbell and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - More detail can be found at the end of the book. - - - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS SERIES - - BY - - LIEUTENANT JAMES R. DRISCOLL - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - WITH THE FLYING CORPS - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - IN THE TRENCHES - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - WITH THE BATTLE FLEET - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - IN THE RADIO SERVICE - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - WITH THE SUBMARINE - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - WITH THE ENGINEERS AT CANTIGNY - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - AT CHATEAU-THIERRY - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - AT ST. MIHIEL - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - IN THE ARGONNE - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - IN TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS - IN THE SUBMARINE TREASURE SHIP - - - - -[Illustration: IT WAS A RACE FOR A FEW SECONDS] - - - - - The BRIGHTON BOYS at - CHATEAU-THIERRY - - BY - LIEUTENANT JAMES R. DRISCOLL - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY - PHILADELPHIA - - - - - Copyright, 1919, by - THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. OVERHEARD 9 - - II. TRACED 15 - - III. “BANG” 22 - - IV. CAPTURED 29 - - V. REWARDED 40 - - VI. DISSENSION 49 - - VII. GETTING IN 58 - - VIII. IN IT 66 - - IX. REPRISALS 76 - - X. ZEALOUS BILLY 86 - - XI. “GONE WEST” 98 - - XII. TIM 110 - - XIII. WASH 125 - - XIV. SHIFTED 138 - - XV. ON THE WAY 150 - - XVI. YANKS 162 - - XVII. VICTORY 175 - - XVIII. BUSHWHACKING 189 - - XIX. BOURESCHES 204 - - XX. FRIENDS 221 - - XXI. DISTINGUISHED 229 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - IT WAS A RACE FOR A FEW SECONDS _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE - - THE AMBULANCE WAS STOPPED AS THOUGH IT - HAD BUTTED INTO A STONE WALL 74 - - DON CAUGHT HIM BY THE SHOULDER AND - WHIRLED HIM AROUND 152 - - THEY WENT RIGHT TO WORK DISLODGING THE - HUNS FROM THE HOUSES 213 - - - - -The Brighton Boys at Château-Thierry - - - - -CHAPTER I - -OVERHEARD - - -“You’re just plain scared, I guess.” - -“You’re just plain wrong. Anyway, people in glass shanties shouldn’t -throw rocks. I don’t see you trying to play soldier.” The last -speaker, a tall lad who sat nearest the window in the rear seat of -a crowded railroad car seemed exasperated by the uncomplimentary -suggestion of the boy beside him, a short, heavy-set, curly-headed -fellow, who looked even more youthful than his sixteen years. His -handsome face lighted up with a smile when he spoke; evidently there -was but little enmity back of his teasing. - -“If I were a telegraph pole and had your gray hairs, Stapley, you can -bet your number nines I’d be in camp. But they won’t take kids.” - -“That’s right, Richards; they won’t, unless a fellow’s dad signs his -consent. My dad won’t do it. So kindly apologize, will you? My gray -hairs deserve it; I’m a year older than you are, you know. Go on; I’m -listening.” - -“Come off! Anybody can coax his governor not to sign. Honest, now; -don’t you like the idea of getting a bullet--?” - -“Now cut that out. You think you’re some kidder, but it takes an -expert to kid me. Of course I know you’re sore over the lambasting we -gave your team at basket ball. All Brighton is laughing about it yet.” - -“Never get cross over accidents. Couldn’t help it if Terry wasn’t -fit. How about the game before that and the score? Eh?” Richards’ -smile broadened. - -“Well, was I sore?” Stapley challenged. - -“Like a hen after a bath. You couldn’t see anything but red. The same -at the class relay runs and--” - -“I’d hate to say that you and the truth are total strangers,” Stapley -said, quickly. - -“Oh, let her go. I consider the source, as the man said when the -donkey kicked him, ‘The critter didn’t know any bet--.’ Now, what’s -the matter?” - -The boy by the window had suddenly made a sudden downward motion with -one hand and held a finger of the other to his lips, looking most -mysterious. He had previously chanced to lean far forward, a position -which he now maintained for a moment; then he flopped down against -the seat back, quickly taking a pencil and a scrap of paper from -his pocket and beginning to write. In another minute Richards was -scanning what had been written: - - “You know German. So do I--a little, but Dad made me take - Spanish this term. I just caught a word or two from those dubs - ahead that sounded funny. You cock your ear over the back of - the seat and listen some. If you let on you’re mad as blazes at - me and now and then give me a bawling out, I’ll play dumb and - then when you wait for me to reply maybe you can hear a thing - or two they’re saying. We’ve got to bury the hatchet now, for - we are both Americans, first.” - -The younger lad at once did as requested, glancing at the two men -in the seat ahead, who were in earnest conversation, one, evidently -under some excitement, talking quite loudly. He seemed not to think -his voice carried so far above the rumble of a railroad train, or -else they both considered as naught the chance that anyone might -understand the language they were speaking. That the two were -foreigners there could be no doubt; the full whiskered face of one, -and the bent, thin lips of the other denoted, beyond power of words, -the egotistical, would-be-dominating Prussian blood. It was an -argument over ways and means that caused the bearded fellow to become -so vehement. - -The lad, understanding conversational German fairly well because of -his persistent practice at school and the influence of a nurse he -had when small, caught at first but a few words from the whiskered -foreigner; then, when the smooth-faced man began speaking at length -in a voice that could not be plainly heard the boy quickly carried -out the suggestion of his companion. - -Donald Richards took real enjoyment in doing this, and to Clement -Stapley it was an ordeal to accept it without showing more than a -grimace of protest. The two lads had long been far from friendly. -They hailed from the same town, Lofton, perched well up in the -foothills of the Red Deer Mountains, and they had ever been rivals, -since early boyhood, in games, contests of skill, popularity among -their fellows. Clement was the only child of the great man of the -town, the senior Stapley being president of mills that made the place -a spot of some importance on the map. Donald was one of five sons -of the leading physician in the town and, having to paddle his own -canoe against a more active competition, he had naturally become more -self-reliant and shrewd than the half-spoiled son of the rich man. - -When the two entered Brighton they were not admitted to the same -classes, for Don had advanced beyond Clem in learning, even though -younger, but they engaged in contests of skill and strength, and both -become partial leaders of _cliques_ such as naturally form within -classes, and possessed the _esprit de corps_ that is always uppermost -among youths. Clem, tall and manly, with a dignity of manner and -the prestige of his father’s wealth and standing back of him, drew -a certain crowd of followers in the institution, while Don, active -in both brain and muscle far beyond his years and possessing a born -air of leadership, had admirers everywhere. Naturally, as with the -analytical minds of youths being trained to compare and classify, -the relative merits of the two boys were weighed and counted in such -a manner as to wave still harder the red flag of bitter competition -until never a kind word passed between them, but always _repartee_, -often with rancor, once or twice in such anger that they almost came -to blows. - -Now, in the Christmas holidays of 1917-18, the students of old -Brighton, one and all, were departing for their homes. Chancing to go -a little late, Don and Clem found themselves in the same train with -but one unoccupied seat and at once the old-time banter began, with a -question from Don relative to a subject uppermost in the minds of the -youth of the United States: Was Clem going to enlist, and if not, why -not? If the interruption occasioned by the two men in front of the -boys had not occurred, there might have been another serious quarrel. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -TRACED - - -Don’s face was a study as he suddenly left off berating his companion -and listened quite breathlessly to the rising inflections of the -bearded man making answer to his hatchet-faced companion. The boy was -hearing something interesting; that Clem knew, and he waited with -some impatience to find out what it might be. After awhile the two -men in front began to exchange words much too rapidly for Don to get -a clear idea what they were driving at. Presently one of them turned -suddenly and gave the lad a searching, suspicious glance; then with -another word in a low tone the two stopped talking. Don maintained -his position of leaning forward, his face at the back of the seat -ahead for a few minutes, at the same time unmercifully badgering -Clem until the men both turned to see what it was all about and to -put them at ease Don laughed and made a motion with his head toward -his companion, as much as to say he would welcome an audience. This -must have reassured the men a little, though the hatchet-faced fellow -turned quickly and fired a German sentence at the boy. Don was not to -be caught by such a trick; he looked blank and shook his head. - -“You’ll have to say that in United States, mister,” he laughed. The -German turned away, and the two began talking again in so low a tone -that the words were inaudible, especially as at that moment the -train started to glide over newly ballasted tracks and the rumble -was increased. So the two left their seat and walked back in the car -where they got their heads together. - -“Sounds like funny stuff,” Don said hurriedly. “They’re up to -something queer. ‘Whiskers’ said there’d be enough to blow things to -pieces; that’s all I made out. They seemed to mean some building, but -I couldn’t quite catch what.” - -“Great snakes! They’re a couple of dynamiters!” Clem declared. - -“Don’t know, but it looks like it. I have a hunch they’re going to -destroy something or other.” - -“Where?” - -“I couldn’t make out. Don’t think they said where. That was -understood.” - -“When?” - -“Couldn’t tell that, either.” - -“What else did you get?” - -“Not much; nothing. But that’s about enough; isn’t it?” - -“Well, maybe. You know we ought to follow ’em, and see where they get -off, and put somebody on to them. It’s a duty. Likely they’ll change -cars at Upgrove for the city.” - -“Well, even at that we could get back before very late,” Don said. - -“We don’t both have to go. One’s enough. We can draw for it can’t we?” - -“Sure. But we’ve got to hurry. Lofton’s next; about six minutes. -Here, let’s toss up. What’s yours?” - -“Heads. Hold on! The ginks are fixing to get off at Lofton, as sure -as you’re----” - -The sentence was not finished. The full-bearded German got up to -reach for a bundle in the rack above, and the other man lifted a big -satchel from the floor. The men got into the aisle and started for -the forward end. Not until they were out on the platform and the -train almost at a standstill did the boys slip back and into their -overcoats, grab their suit cases and make for the rear end, being -careful to drop off on the side away from the station platform and -then to dodge quickly around a freight car that stood on the siding, -peeping beneath it toward the glimmering lights, for now it had begun -to grow dark. It chanced that only these four male passengers and one -woman got off at Lofton and there was no one waiting for the train, -except the station master; therefore, it became an easy matter to -note the movements of the two men. - -“They’re going out along the track, in a hurry too,” Clem said. - -“Going to cross--yes, there they go,” was Don’s observation. - -“Out the Galaville road. Come on; let’s see where--” - -“I’m going to chuck this suit case in the station.” - -“Here, too. Danny Morgan’s got to wait for the up train.” - -“Turn up your collar and pull down your lid, Clem, so’s to show no -white.” - -“And get a move on, Don; those fellows are in a big hurry.” - -A mutual object quickly brought these lads to a friendly, even -familiar understanding, proved by the use of their first names and -their quick agreement in action. Both noticed it, but they were -either too proud or too much engrossed to refer to it openly. Ahead -of them lay an apparently necessary purpose and they followed it -with the quick determination that belongs to the well balanced, -bright-minded school boy. It could be said of old Brighton that -it put self-reliant energy and pep into its pupils; no youngsters -anywhere could be prouder of the zeal to do and the encouragement -therefor, which spoke volumes for the accomplishments of that student -body, and in athletics, as well as for the many graduates who had -attained high standing in various fields of endeavor. In nothing -was this better shown than by the lads who entered the war and won -distinction. - -It was no light task to follow those hurrying, distant figures on a -darkening winter night, along what soon became a winding, lonely, -tree or thicket-lined by-way. The town ended at the station and only -one house faced the Galaville road beyond for more than half a mile. - -The dim figures could barely be seen far ahead and not wishing to be -observed, the boys kept as near as possible to the edge of the road, -along a fence or an overhanging clay bank on one side. They soon -gained on the men; then, fearing discovery, they fell back. But even -at this they knew that presently they must be seen; it was natural -that these men should look behind them and when crossing a knoll the -lads could not avoid showing against the sky. Then the road began to -descend, and the pursued stopped and stood a moment. - -“Keep right on slowly,” Don’s quicker wits advised. “They’ll smell -a mouse if we stop, too. Come on; they won’t know we don’t live out -this way.” - -Again the men, possibly somewhat reassured and yet not wanting to be -overtaken, hurried on and were soon out of sight around a bend. - -“Wonder if they’ll sneak into the bushes to see who we are,” Clem -queried. - -“No; they’ll only hurry more so as to turn off at a road or path,” -Don argued and he proved to be right. From the bend the two figures -could barely be discerned. To hurry after them would excite -suspicion, but now fair chance come to the boys’ aid. Just beyond, -and evidently unknown to the German-speaking pair, a path led across -a meadow that short cut another sharp bend in the road and this -enabled Clem and Don to gain so much on the men that before the -latter had reached the farm house beyond, the lads were close behind -them, between a double line of willow trees and thus unseen. - -But here the adventure was to end for the time. The boys, -instinctively aware that the men believed they were beyond -observation, now were eager to see which road of a fork beyond would -be followed and they were not greatly surprised when the travelers -turned in at the gate of the farm house and knocked at the door. A -light appeared at the entrance, a large figure loomed in the doorway, -a few words were exchanged in voluble German; then the door closed. - -“They’re friends of Shultz, by jimminy!” Clem exploded. - -“They are, you bet! That big fat slob of a saloon keeper was in the -door,” Don added. - -“Let’s go home. We can look into this further, but later,” Clem -advised and the boys almost reluctantly retraced their steps. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BANG - - -Christmas festivities at Lofton, like those in nearly every live -town in the United States, were such as to engross the attention of -the youthful population, especially the rehearsing for Christmas Eve -carols. The plans for home enjoyments, the doing up of packages, -procuring and trimming of trees and many other happy duties kept both -boys about their widely separated homes very busy. - -Clem Stapley lived in the mansion on a hill overlooking the town and -the mills. Don Richards dwelt in a big house on the main street. In -the days following--the Sunday and Monday preceding Christmas--the -lads saw each other but once, and then only to exchange a few words. -These had been in effect that if the suspected strangers were up to -any mischief here they would probably defer it until after Christmas, -and now spend the time having a beer-fest with fat old Shultz. Clem -thought more probably that the men had gone away again, or would -soon go, but Don believed otherwise; he had been reading of German -propaganda and plots against munition factories and ships, and with -a mind keen for gathering facts and making deductions, he felt, -half instinctively, that there must be an evil purpose in these men -stopping in this town where the large factory was turning out war -materials for the Government. It was almost with a conscientious -protest that he turned now to the immediate business of Christmas -gaieties. - -And the jolliest day of the year came on with its usual zest and -pleasure, and went quickly by. Late in the afternoon Don and a -younger brother, to try new skates, went out to the pond not far from -the Galaville road and as they were returning, just at dusk, they -observed three men standing on a high knoll just above the road and -looking off toward the town, one pointing, with out-stretched arm, -from time to time. The figures could be clearly seen against the -sky: one, a short fellow, apparently with whiskers, one a slender, -tall chap and the other big, paunchy, heavy-set. It did not require -much imagination to identify them as Shultz and his two guests--the -Germans of the train. - -The boys were evidently not seen. Don commanded his brother to follow -him and kept on the far side of a row of cedar trees until they were -out of sight of the hill. He found himself much disturbed by the -circumstance, trivial as it seemed; and yet, was it trivial? It was -possible that these men were merely out for exercise, or a bit of -novelty; they may have been simply noting the interesting features of -the town, or even contemplating the purchase of farm land near that -of Shultz. - -That night Don went to bed with the subject still uppermost in his -mind to the extent that it was becoming rather tiresome because -barren of results; and beyond any chance of solution. More to relieve -his mind than anything else he managed to get Clement Stapley on the -telephone quite late and told him of seeing the men, half expecting -his partner in the mystery to characterize him as a boob for -considering such a thing of sufficient importance to bother him. To -his surprise Clem appeared tremendously interested and insisted on -their getting together the next morning. Don agreed, hung up and went -to bed. He usually slept like a log, the result of good health and -a clear conscience, he himself declared, and there could be little -doubt of this, but however tightly wrapped in the all-absorbing arms -of slumber, the dulling influence suddenly and entirely relaxed -an hour or so after midnight. Along with a large majority of the -townspeople, according to later evidence, he found himself sitting up -in bed and wondering why the house was trying to do a dance and the -windows to imitate a drum corps. Then came voices from within, some -in alarm, others in quieter comment and the words: - -“Great fury! Is the house coming down?” from Merrill, next to Don in -age. - -“What was that, Dad?” a younger scion questioned. - -“An explosion of some kind; two of them!” This from the doctor. - -“Where ’bouts?” - -“Yes, where do you think it was, Father?” - -“Over on the other side of town; perhaps the mills.” - -“Ooh! Can we go an’ see, Daddy?” This from the baby of the family. - -“No; in the morning. It’s only two o’clock now. Go to sleep.” - -“But you’re going, Father; they may need you,” Donald offered. - -“Yes, and I’ll take you with me.” - -It was the mills. One building with the office in part, had been -utterly wrecked, another had been partly destroyed and one end was on -fire. And while the volunteer department and helpers were valorously -extinguishing the flames another explosion occurred that hurt two men -and flung some others down, Don amongst them. The boy was uninjured, -though the jarring up made him see red. But with a shrewdness beyond -his years he kept silent as to what he suspected and his ears were -keen to catch the talk going on around him. It seemed to be the idea -of one and all that this was the work of German spies. - -Presently, from behind some splintered boxes, they found the -half-unconscious watchman and resuscitated him, getting him to talk. -He had obtained one good look at the miscreants as they ran away. - -Don kept an eye open for Clem and as that youth appeared leaping with -his father, from a big motor car, he was grabbed and pulled aside. - -“Don’t say a word about what we know,” Don whispered. “Here’s a -chance for us to get right up on top of everybody. It was those two, -Clem.” - -“But, look here, Don, Father ought to know--” - -“Sure! And he will, sooner and more satisfactorily than if he put -some of those bum detectives on the job; you know that. They’d kick -around for about a week, but you and I can get busy right now; -to-night. They won’t get here before--” - -“But Father can have those men arrested and then--” - -“Oh, hang it, yes, and give us the go-by! Let’s be the ones to spring -the surprise. Come on; I’m ready to tackle it, when I get a gun -somewhere.” - -The idea appealed to Clement Stapley, for he did not want to be -outdone in daring by his old-time rival. It would never do for Don -to say: “Clem fell down on the job; wasn’t equal to it; hadn’t the -backbone.” He turned to Don: - -“I’m with you! Hold on, I can fix the shooting-iron matter. Wait half -a minute.” Into the debris of the office wreck the lad climbed and -wriggled, and after a moment’s looking about, in the light from the -yard lamp-poles, which had been re-established by some quick-witted -employee, the boy located a shattered desk, pried open a drawer and -drew forth two long-barreled revolvers of the finest make. - -Don, waiting and watching, heard Mr. Stapley say to several men: - -“I have a notion that those fellows will come back. They’ll believe -we think they’ve left for distant parts and that will make them bold. -You see they’ve got reason: the stock mill wasn’t hurt. Riley found -two bombs that hadn’t gone off in there; the fuses had become damp, I -suppose. And that was probably the big game they were after. Probably -they’ll take another chance at it. Well, we’ll put detectives on the -job as soon as possible. Have any of you noticed anyone about; any -strangers whom you could have suspected?” - -There was a general negative to this; then one hand spoke up: - -“How about that fellow Shultz, out beyond the station? He’s a red-hot -German and before we went into the war he was shouting pro-Prussian -stuff till his throat was sore. He’s about the only Hun around here -except old man Havemeyer, and he’s a decent, good citizen and wants -to see the kaiser punched full of holes.” - -“Yes, Havemeyer is all right,” assented Mr. Stapley, “but we will -have to look into the doings of this Shultz.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -CAPTURED - - -The destruction from the explosions was not so damaging but that -complete repairs could be made in a few weeks and the work, crowded -into the other buildings, go on without serious interruption. Mr. -Stapley, organizing a crowd of workers on the spot, turned for one -moment to listen to his son. - -“Say, Dad, it would be a fine thing to land the dubs that did this; -wouldn’t it? I have an idea--” - -The president of the Stapley Mills laughed outright. “That you know -the miscreants? Oh, the confidence and the imagination of youth! -Well, go bring them in, my son; bring them right in here!” - -“Well, maybe it’s only a joke, but--but, Dad, if I did--if we did, -would you--?” - -“I’d give you about anything you’d ask for if you even got a clue to -the devils! What do you know--anything?” - -“Tell you later, Dad. Would you--er--let me--enlist?” - -“Yes, even that! Anything! But here now, don’t you go and start -anything rash. Better wait until the detectives and police get on the -job. I’m too busy now to--” - -“All right. See you later, Dad.” - -Slipping away in the darkness, the boys began talking in low tones, -and made for the Galaville road, laying plans as they went. Don -offered the principal suggestions and Clem, lacking definite ideas -of proceeding, was fair enough to comply. They approached the Shultz -farmhouse with keen caution, making a wide detour and coming from -back of the barn. A dog barked near the house and that was the only -sign of life. But there was a method of bestirring the inmates, and -the boys believed that the miscreants would show themselves to render -hasty aid to a fellow countryman in gratitude for the shelter and -care they had received from Shultz. - -Working like beavers the lads gathered a lot of loose cornstalks, -tall straws, and barnyard litter of a most inflammable nature, and -piled it all on the side of the barn opposite the house, and far -enough away to be beyond danger. At half a dozen places almost at -once they set fire to the pile and having selected positions of -ambush they rushed into hiding, Clem behind the barn bridge, Don -crouching in the shadow of the corn-crib. The signal of action was to -be the sudden move of either. - -The plan worked. No one could have turned in and slept at once after -the noise of the explosion in the town, much less these people who, -the lads felt assured, had been expecting it. If the farmhouse -occupants had been in fear of showing themselves they would ignore -that for the few minutes needed for saving the animals in a burning -barn. That they would, on looking out, believe the barn was on fire -there could be no question, as no view from the house could detect -the exact location of the flames. - -A door slammed; there was the sound of excited words, of commands, of -hurrying feet. Could it be possible that only Shultz and his family -would appear on the scene? Had the Germans of the train departed? -Or was it, after all, merely a coincidence that those men had come -here and had talked in the train in a way that led the boys to think -they were up to some such tricks, and that others had caused the -explosion? Might it not have been some workman who was a German -sympathizer? - -Such doubts filled the minds of the young adventurers as they waited, -hidden, and wondering. But they were not long to remain in doubt for -things began to happen. Fat Shultz was not the first to appear, for -three figures rounded the corner of the barn ahead of his puffing -form. - -The dog was fleetest of foot; that half-mongrel dachshund bade fair -to spoil the game for the boys, for he was far more interested in -the presence of strangers than in a bonfire, no matter how high -it blazed. Yaw-cub, or whatever the beast was called, began to -bark at the corn-crib, but the followers of the elongated hound -fortunately paid no attention to this. Close together came the next -in line--Fraülein Shultz and a man, both plainly seen as they came -within the zone of light from the fire. The woman turned the corner -and stopped as though she had bumped against a post, her hands going -to her bosom in relief and for want of breath. The man almost ran -into her; then he let out a German remark, doubtless an oath, and -wheeled about. Surprise number one had relieved, if disgusted, him; -number two, which confronted him before he had taken two retracing -steps, made him lift his arms as if trained in the art. - -“Hands up!” was Don’s order. - -“And be blamed quick about it!” supplemented Clem. - -“And you, too, Shultz!” Don addressed the on-coming and puffing old -saloon keeper. - -“Eh? Vat? Bah! I safe mein barn! I safe mein horses und coos und mein -piks!” - -“Hands up and stop! Your horses and cows and pigs are all safe. Put -your hands up, if you don’t want to get some lead in you!” - -Shultz stopped, but rather at the command or announcement of his more -active wife than because of an order from his captors. His bumptious -self-importance would not permit him to knuckle to anybody, much less -to mere American youths. - -“Huh! Vat? Chust poys, py gollies! Raus mit ’em! Clear oudt! I ring -der necks off bodt! Put down dose pistols! Eh? Vat? Bah!” - -It instantly became evident that something most radical, however -unpleasant, must be done to convince this egotistical German what -young America can do when started. The preparations for war, the -flower of our youth enlisting, the early determination to beat the -Huns had evidently made little impression on this tub of conceited -Prussianism. It was the certain duty of his youthful captors to -impress not only a lesson on Shultz, but to maintain their own -position in the _rôle_ they had chosen to assume. The necessity was -also very apparent of repelling a weighty and sudden charge of the -declared enemy, for Shultz, by reason of his calling, was given to -combatting foes of almost every sort, albeit this must have been a -somewhat new experience. - -It was Don who, as usual, saw first the need of action and improved -upon it. Your trained, competing athlete, boxer, wrestler, leader -of team contests must be as quick with his head as with his hands -and the event of weapons on a possibly tragic mission and against a -really dangerous opponent flabbergasted the boy not a bit. Words, -he saw, were entirely useless; delay might be fatal--to someone, at -least. - -The boy’s revolver barked and spit out its fiery protest over -Shultz’s head; the tongue of flame against the dark background of the -night was enough to command any minion of the Old Scratch, and Shultz -proved no exception to this. The other chap, whose whiskered face the -lads had recognized instantly, acted more wisely, hoping, no doubt, -for some moment to arrive where strategy or surprise might count. - -“Vat? Eh? Py shoose, you shoot me? Veil, no, you shoot me nod! I vas -holt mein hands up so, und shtop poinding dot peestol! Uh! It might -vent off!” - -“It will sure go off and through your fat gizzard if you don’t turn -round and head for the road and town! Both of you, now march!” - -Don issued this order, then he turned to Mrs. Shultz who had suddenly -lifted her voice in a loud lament, much resembling a screech. - -“Now, listen, please: Your man must be all right; all we want him for -is to tell about this other fellow. Don’t worry; he’ll be back right -soon. Say, Clem, you explain to her; I guess she’s going crazy.” - -This was pretty close to the facts, although long association with -the hard knocks of a troubled existence had saved her from going -crazy now. But, woman-like, she must fly to the defense of her -man, even though, German-like, she was his slave. She was making -a vehement protest of some kind, largely by rushing to Shultz and -trying to reach her arms around his ample waist; she may have meant -to carry him off bodily and protect or hide him, but she fell short -in estimating his avoirdupois. - -Clem gently pulled the woman back and again reassured her; by -insisting about twenty times that it was all right and that she need -not worry he managed at last to get her a little calmer and then Don -ordered the men forward. - -But now the bearded fellow had something to say and it was in the -best of English, without a trace of foreign accent. He did not offer -to lower his arms. - -“I suppose, young gentlemen, this is some kind of a holiday prank; is -it not? A schoolboy pleasantry, though rather a severe one, but being -once young myself I can sympathize with the exuberance of youth. When -you see fit to end this, permit us both and this poor woman to enter -the house. I am quite ill and we have all lost much sleep of late. Be -then so kind as to--.” - -“We can imagine that you have indeed lost much sleep and you will -probably lose more!” Don was sarcastic. “But we didn’t come here to -parley. If this is a schoolboy joke it’s sure enough a hefty one; all -you’ve got to do is to fall in with it and do as you’re told. The -next time this gun cracks it’s going to be right straight at one of -your carcasses, by cracky, and you’ve going to get hurt! So, hit the -road out yonder for town and hit it lively! Get moving, or I’m going -to pull this trigger the way she’s pointing. Now then, go on!” - -“But, my boy, you have no right to thus threaten and order us about. -You do not appear like bandits; surely you can mean us no harm and we -have done nothing--” - -“But we think you have,” put in Clem, which was not altogether -diplomatic, if it seemed best not to put this man on his guard. Don -saw the drift that matters would soon take and parleying was not in -order. - -“Say, Dutch, listen: You’re wrong; we are bandits and this is a real -hold-up; see? If you’re not the party we want you can hustle back -here again, quick.” - -Shultz put in his inflated oar: - -“Bah! You do not vant me. No! I vill not go mit you!” - -“Oh, yes you will, or get a lot of lead in you,” Don asserted. - -“We surely wish you to do just as we say,” Clem added. Perhaps it was -growing a little hard for him to keep up his courage, but not so with -Don; the more that youth was confronted with difficulties, the more -determined he became and he was now about as mad as a June hornet. - -“Go on out into the road and head for town and no more shenanigan! -In two seconds more I’m going to begin shooting and I’d rather kill -somebody right now than get a million dollars.” - -“Now, just a minute, young gentleman.” The bearded man’s voice was -most appealing. “If this is a hold-up and you want money, why then, I -can gladly--” The fellow’s hand went into his hip pocket and he edged -toward Don. - -“Back up! Say, by thunder I’m just going to kill you, anyhow!” was -Don’s reply and upon the instant he almost had to make good his word, -for the man leaped right at him, with a snarl resembling that of -an angry cat. But the boy was ready and even quicker; dropping the -muzzle of his weapon a little he fired and dodged aside at the same -time. The man stumbled and fell upon the frozen ground; he floundered -a little; then sat up. - -“You back up, too, Shultz, or you’ll get it! Now, then, Clem, hunt -a wheelbarrow and we’ll just cart this chap to town, anyway. You -and Shultz can take turns. Hurry, Clem; there must be one around -somewhere. Go into the house, Mrs. Shultz; we won’t hurt your husband -if he doesn’t get gay.” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -REWARDED - - -The procession that wound out of the gate, down the road, over the -railroad tracks, past the station, into and along the main street a -little way, then down the broad cross street to the mills was indeed -a queer one; naturally one to draw the attention of a crowd, if there -had been anyone on the street so early in the morning to see it. -Those who were up and about, who had not gone back to bed after the -explosion, had stayed at the mill to join in the well-paid-for work -of rehabilitation, or to stand around and discuss the crime. - -When the slow-moving caravan arrived, after a toilsome trip with many -stops for rest, Clem having been the motive power all the way for -the squeaking, one-wheeled vehicle, the crowd at the mill paused to -observe and consider this rather startling performance. Christmas -night was one long to be remembered in Lofton. - -“Hi! Here comes the circus, the elephant in the lead!” announced -Jimmy West, a wit among the mill hands, as he caught sight of the -outline of the approaching group. Shultz marched ahead; then came the -wheel-barrow and Clem; then Don, his revolver ever ready. - -“Ah, what--what have you here? What does this mean, my son?” Mr. -Stapley queried. - -“Fer goodness’ sake, hit’s Dutchy Shultz an’ another feller, thet -them there boys hez brung in!” remarked an ancient citizen. - -“Dis vas von outrache, py gollies! I vill nod--” - -“Shut up, Shultz, I told you, or you’ll get plugged yet!” Don -threatened. The crowd did not embarrass him. - -“We think this is your dynamiter, Dad,” Clem stated, calmly. He had -had time to compose himself. - -“Eh? What makes you think so?” - -“Got a lot of reasons, Dad; a lot of evidence against this fellow.” - -“So? But what’s the matter with him?” - -“Donald shot him. He isn’t much hurt, I guess. But we don’t know. We -just brought them along.” - -“Hey, Mr. Strang, here, evidently, is a job for you! And we’d better -have Doctor Richards here again.” - -The town constable clambered out from among the wreckage of the -office building where he had been searching for clues and approached. -Amid the buzz of remarks and questions he paused long enough to -consider and then to become somewhat nettled at what appeared like -high-handed proceedings beyond his authority. - -“What’s this? You kids make an arrest? Took a lot on yourselves, I’m -thinkin’. Eh? Shot this fellow? Hello! You Shultz? Huh! This looks -like pretty darned bold business to me. Put down that gun, young -fellow!” This to Don. - -“You go and sit down will you? Maybe you think I’ve had no use for -this.” Don was still seeing red, but with all of his wits working. -“Mr. Stapley, you get busy on this; you’re most interested. This -gink,” indicating the constable, “couldn’t catch a mudturtle that had -robbed a hen roost in the middle of the day. There’s just one thing -to do: bring the watchman here.” - -“Put up that gun, I tell you!” ordered Strang, starting toward Don. - -“If you want to fill an early grave you get gay with me now!” Don -said, backing off around the crowd. Mr Stapley interposed. - -“Put up your pistol, Donald. We’ll take care of this matter now.” - -“But, Mr. Stapley, Shultz will get away! He and Strang are old -cronies. Many a jag Strang got in Shultz’s place when he had his -saloon; everybody knows that.” This caused a general laugh. - -“Let him alone, Strang. Perhaps these boys have done us a big -service.” - -“Well, if you think maybe we’ve got the wrong men, just get the -watchman here,” Don reiterated. - -“Davis went home and to bed,” announced a bystander. - -“Well, we can wake him; we’ll wheel these fellows over there and let -him see this one,” Don insisted. - -Mr. Stapley issued several rapid orders; a big mill hand, grinning, -brought up the wheelbarrow and began trundling it and its human -freight down the street again. Two others, with a piece of stout -twine, noosed Shultz’s hands behind him and had him helpless in a -moment; then handed him over to Strang, who really would not have -dared to be false to his trust. Don, beneath a lamp and before -Strang, emptied the cartridges out of his revolver; then handed his -weapon to Clem, who also unloaded his gun, and the boys quickly -followed on to the watchman’s abode. - -The ceremony there was as dramatic as could have been wished by the -most excitement-loving onlooker. Davis was brought down to the door -and he took a look at the two Germans under a bright light. He paused -long enough to make his assertion emphatic, pointing his finger and -appearing so sure that no one could have doubted him. - -“I didn’t see Shultz an’ I would have knowed him, anyway; he ain’t no -stranger to nary one in this here town. But I did see that man! He’s -one o’ them that run from the office buildin’ acrosst the yard just -before the bomb went off. That feller an’ another one--a long, thin -cuss without any whiskers--they must ’a’ set their fuses too short -an’ was scared, because they skinned out awful quick. Then the thing -went off an’ the one near where I was a second later, an’ it fixed me -so’s I didn’t know nothin’.” - -“You think that this man--” began Mr. Stapley, indicating the -wheelbarrow’s passenger who had said no word, but only sat hugging -his leg and looking very pale. - -“Yes sir, Mr. Stapley, that there feller is one o’ the two men I -seen. I’m as sure of it as I am that the sun riz yest’day mornin’! -I’ll take a bunch of oaths on it ez big ez the mill prop’ty! Knowed -him soon’s I seen him.” - -“Thank you, Davis. Go back to bed and I hope you’re better--” - -A cheer, at first uncertain, then growing in volume and intent, -interrupted the mill president. - -“Hurrah for the kids!” it began; then; “That’s the stuff!” “Sure they -turned the trick!” “Them kids is some fellers!” and: “Whoop ’em up!” -Both boys were caught up on the shoulders of the crowd and passing -Strang someone shouted: - -“Say, Constable, you ain’t got a blamed thing t’ say, so shut up!” - -“Ben, you and Phil get this fellow down to the mill hospital and stay -with him,” ordered Mr. Stapley. “The doctor will be here any minute. -Mr. Strang, hold on to Shultz; he was giving these men asylum and we -all know his sentiments. Better lock him up and we’ll work the legal -proceedings tomorrow. As for the boys, I won’t stand for any action -to be taken against them, unless the district attorney insists, and -I don’t believe he will. They may have exceeded their rights, but you -see the result. Good-night, Strang. Come on, men; we’ll go back to -work. You boys had better go home and get some sleep; you both need -it. We’ll talk the whole matter over tomorrow.” - -But when the morrow came, a little late in the morning, the talk was -prefaced by a bit of news. A few hours before the bearded German had -eluded his jailors just long enough to swallow a dose of poison and -he had died in half a minute and almost without a tremor. Prussic -acid, Doctor Richards said, and added that the wound inflicted by -Don’s bullet was a mere flesh scratch in the leg and had only caused -a temporary paralysis, largely imaginary. In the darkness the boy had -aimed to hit the fellow just above the knee. - -They were all at the Stapley mansion, most comfortably seated. The -president of the mills and the doctor were old friends, knowing -nothing of the long feud between the lads here in the town and at -Brighton, and now pleased that the boys had acted together. - -“We want to know the whole story; just how it all happened and all -that you did; eh, Doc?” Mr. Stapley demanded. - -Between them the boys managed to make a complete narrative, though -the latter part of it--the taking of the two Germans and the -shooting--Clem told, after much cross-questioning. Mr Stapley then -commented: - -“It’s pretty easy to grasp the merits of this, Doc. My son’s part -has been anything but that which a proud father could be ashamed of -and I’m glad the boy has shown so much nerve and spunk. But it is -your son, Donald here, who has really carried the thing through. -That boy’s going to be a regular young Napoleon one of these days, -Doc, you may be sure! Better give his scrapping ability all the -development possible.” - -“Oh, now, Mr. Stapley, I didn’t do any more than Clem did. He was -right there on the job. Why, he wheeled the wheelbarrow and he--” - -“Oh, very good indeed! A rather hard task! But something of a -laborer’s job wasn’t it? You seem to have done--” - -“‘Comparisons are odious,’ Stapley. There’s glory enough in this to -go round,” suggested the doctor. - -“Sure, sure, but nevertheless we’ve got to discriminate when the -rewards are forthcoming. Our company is greatly indebted to these -boys and so is the country. That fellow might have gotten off and -have done a lot more damage, probably to us. Now we’ve got only one -rascal to hunt down. It is wonderful, I must say, very, for boys to -have carried this out as you did. Clem, you deserve high praise for -getting on to those fellows in the train. But now look here son, the -strategy of the actual capture and the nervy manner in which it was -carried out seems to have depended mostly upon Donald and I want you -to act with me in this matter. The company will reward this act with -five hundred dollars and, my boy, in this case I want it all to go -to Donald. You shall reap your reward otherwise; I’ll see to that in -various ways. Of course you’re willing?” - -“I’m not willing!” spoke up Don and his father shook his head. Clem -gazed straight before him with a solemn, hurt expression. - -“It must be as I wish,” Mr Stapley insisted. “We shall consent to no -other arrangement. Doc, I’ll send the check to you to bank for your -boy, and Donald, I want to thank you for your splendid action in this -affair.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -DISSENSION - - -The end of the holiday week approached and on the day after New -Year’s there would be again a general migration of eager youths, all -over the broad land, into the outstretched arms of alma mater. But -competing fiercely with all the institutions of learning, a mightier -need beckoned the physically able, for there was work to do to make -the “world safe for democracy.” - -Clement Stapley and Donald Richards heard the call and stopped to -consider it. They knew old Brighton was ready to welcome back her -knights of brain and brawn, but even more insistently they were -aware that far greater institutions controlled by the United States -Government were also eager to welcome the same brain and brawn. -The Red Cross beckoned them, the Emergency Aid and the Y. M. C. A. -wanted the help of strong and willing hands; bigger still loomed the -Government itself, with its demands for men, but with a more urgent -need. Surely Old Brighton could wait and so could their own desire -for learning; at such a time as this the country, all the world -indeed, blocked some of its wheels of progress to permit other wheels -to turn the faster, to roll along helpfully, determinedly, to reach -the hilltop of peace at the end of the fierce journey. - -Don sat down to the breakfast table on Monday morning with four -younger boys, his brothers, all hungry and noisy. The mother of the -Richards boys had long been dead; the aunt, their father’s maiden -sister, who presided over the household, had departed a few minutes -before upon some important errand, leaving the interior to the tender -mercies of the wild bunch who seemed bent on having an especially -merry time, for they believed the doctor had gone to attend an urgent -case. - -Don was the only one of the group who appeared in no mood to raise -a rumpus; he busily applied himself to satisfying his very healthy -appetite and only switched off at necessary intervals in the attempt -to enforce peace and to defend himself against the tussling twins, -who would rather scrap than eat. The other two, one older and -one younger, but almost the huskiest of the brothers, insisted on -having a hand in these athletic performances. And then there came an -unpleasant surprise. - -Jim and Jake, the twins, in an effort to compel the surrender of a -buttered buckwheat cake, toppled over on Merrill, the second son, -who in turn flung them against Ernest. That wily youngster was more -than equal to such occasions; he dodged out of his chair and when -the struggling twins tumbled across his seat he twisted the corner -of the tablecloth about the neck of one, quickly wrecking things, -as the wrestlers fell to the floor. Don made a wide grab at several -things at once, but finding his attempt futile he turned, tore the -tusslers apart and sent them sprawling to opposite corners; then he -gave Ernest a crack with open hand, which caused that youngster being -the baby of the family, to bawl loudly. - -Just at that instant Dr. Richards hurriedly entered the room, for he -had just been fixing his auto runabout and now came back for a bite -to eat. - -The sight that confronted the busy man was enough to exasperate a -saint. He saw Donald in the midst of the mêlée and jumped at a too -hasty conclusion. A man usually of few words, often over-lenient and -generally just, he now, let his temper run away with his judgment and -his tongue. Grabbing two dried buckwheat cakes that had, by merest -chance, remained on the edge of the table, he turned back toward the -door. - -“You are setting your younger brothers anything but a good example, -Donald! We have less of this sort of thing when you’re away. If -you carry on this way at Brighton I should think you’d soon be in -disgrace. You ought to be a little older and join the army; the -discipline there would do you good. A nice breakfast this is!” he -added as he began, moodily, to eat. - -Don was too proud and too loyal to the joint offenders to explain. -It seemed enough for him to know that he was not to blame, that the -scolding was not merited and his father would soon find this out. An -idea had quickly entered his head. - -“I can manage to get into the war, Father, if you’ll sign an -application paper.” - -“Well, I’ll see about it--haven’t time now.” - -“Yes, I think you have. Better sign before we wreck the house, or -set fire to it. Here’s the document. Write on the last line, at the -bottom.” - -Doctor Richards seized the paper that Don shoved at him, but hardly -glanced at it. “I suppose you feel mightily independent since you got -that five hundred dollars. Well, going will probably do you good.” -With that the man of many duties drew forth his fountain pen, placed -the paper against the door-jamb, and quickly wrote his name. “Let me -know later just what you intend doing; I will help you all I can. But -if you like school best, better go back, perhaps.” The doctor stepped -out of the room, the front door slammed, there was the chug of a -motor and the boys were again left to themselves. - -The twins and Ernest sneaked away; Merrill turned to Don, whom he -really loved and admired. - -“Say, that was rotten! And for me and those kids to let you take -that, too! You bet I’ll tell Dad all about it when he comes back.” - -“Well, all right, if you want to; but not now. Not one word before -I get off, which will be this afternoon probably. I really can’t -blame Father much; it was tough for him to miss a decent breakfast -and he has a lot to put up with from us kids--with all he does for -us! But he won’t be bothered with me for a while and if I get over -there maybe he will never again be bothered with me. Well, I’ll see -you later, Mel, and let you know. I’m off to see Clem Stapley now; -perhaps he will be going, too.” - -But on his way Don stopped at the Army and Red Cross recruiting -station, in the same busy office, being received with much gusto, -both because of his recent heroic conduct in landing the German agent -and of his frank engaging manner. He had much to say, found much to -learn and got what he was after. Then he climbed the hill toward the -Stapley mansion. Clem was at the garage, helping the chauffeur tinker -with a crippled motor. - -“Hello, old man!” shouted Don, but he noticed that the older lad -hardly turned his head. He seemed much interested in his task. “Well, -what’s the good word?” continued the visitor. “Anything new?” - -“Don’t know a thing,” answered Clem, without looking up. - -“Well, things are coming my way,” Don said. - -“Yes, I notice,” Clem agreed, with a sneer on his face, “and you’re -not dodging them very hard, either.” - -“I was speaking of Government duties,” Don offered, ill at ease. -He had been satisfied that the old ill feeling had been completely -patched up, between Clem and himself, by the heroic episode through -which they had just passed, for his own feeling was friendly. But -surely Clem’s manner was cool, even more curt than before. However, -in the last remark the older lad showed some interest. - -“How do you mean, ‘Government duties’?” he asked. - -“I’ve just joined the Red Cross ambulance service, Clem. Leave -tonight. Thought you’d like to know--” - -“I enlisted with the Marines two days ago,” Clem announced rather -coolly. - -“Good for you! Hurrah! When do you go? We might--” - -But Clem, who had turned back to work on the car said curtly: - -“When I get ready. In a few days, perhaps.” - -“No chance, then, for us to get away together?” - -“None in the least.” - -“Well, I’m glad you got in. Of course you had no trouble. Your father -gave his--” - -“Look here, Richards!” Clem turned toward the younger boy almost -savagely. “I don’t see that you need to concern yourself with what -I’ve done, or doing. As for Dad, you ought to be satisfied after what -you got out of the company.” - -“Oh! So that’s what’s the matter with you, eh? Sore about that; are -you? Well, you know I wanted to divide; I wanted to be fair to you. -It was not my--” - -“I didn’t see you breaking any bones in an effort to be fair.” - -“If you say I didn’t want to be fair, that I was entirely satisfied -in taking all that money, then, Stapley, you lie!” - -“Say, before I’ll take much of that from you I’ll punch your head!” - -“So? Well, the nose is right here when you want to punch it. Come -and punch it! But you won’t punch anything. You think you’re some -fighter. Come on and punch once; just once!” - -Clem was no coward and he possessed the cool judgment of a capable -boxer. Moreover, he was taller, with a longer reach than Don. But he -had to reckon with superior weight, probably greater strength and -what counts more than all else--an indomitable spirit. Long brooding -over what he considered an injustice on Don’s part in accepting all -the reward for arresting the Germans, and for permitting others to -give him more of the credit for personal bravery had made young -Stapley more of an enemy than he had ever been. - -How the fight would have ended was not to be known, however, for -though Clem would have struck Don, he was prevented by the chauffeur -who was by no means to be lightly reckoned with. - -“Gwan, now, Clement, me boy! An’ you, too, young feller! I’ll mop up -the floor here with both o’ you if you begin scratchin’ an’ bitin’! -What would Mr. Stapley, me boss, say to me if I let you chaw each -other up? Gwan, young feller!”--this to Don. “An’ you come here, -Clement, an’ I’ll show you the true insides o’ this critter, from -piston head to crank shaft.” - -Don took this for both good advice and a logically sound invitation -and turned on his heel. But he could not help feeling sorry that -again Clem Stapley and himself were “at outs”. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -GETTING IN - - -Camps and training schools, learning how and drilling. This was the -lot of Young America in the latter days of the year 1917 and in the -earlier months of the succeeding year, a year long to be remembered -and to cut a mighty figure in the history of the United States. - -Bloody are the annals of this year of 1918, severe the sacrifices -that led the nation into its tragic paths of glory, but so noble and -just has been the purpose behind our act of war and so humane our -conduct that the whole sane world has applauded. All honor to the -fighters first and all praise to the men and the women, young and -old, who aided and encouraged the fighters with abundant humanity at -home and on the field of strife. - -We think of war and see its tragedies mostly through the eyes of -the military, but to some of the unarmed participants have come the -bitterest experiences and the opportunities for the bravest deeds. - -Donald Richards, late student at old Brighton and now Red Cross -ambulance driver, too young to enlist as a soldier, but nevertheless -keen for action and to do his bit and his best, at once so interested -his superiors that after he had fully qualified they quickly placed -him where his craving for thrills and work worth while should be -amply satisfied. In February, after a month of training he sailed -across the big pond in a transport laden with troops and met no -mishaps on the way. - -Three weeks after landing in France the boy found himself in the -midst of military activities and the most urgent hospital work. He -was clad to his own satisfaction, mostly at his own expense, in -khaki. He had become a capable mechanic on automobiles, was well -practised in roughing it, in picking his way in strange country, -and above all in the fine art of running, with wounded passengers, -swiftly and smoothly over rough roads. - -First as an assistant driver, then with a car of his own and a -helper, he had been assigned to duty along the great highway leading -from Paris to Amiens. Like many others in the area of military -activity, this road had been well built, rock-ballasted and hammered -hard with normal travel, in the days before the world war, but -now, from the wheels of great munition trucks and motor lorries, -the wear and tear of marching feet and from little care after long -rains, it had been soaked into a sticky mass, with a continuation -of holes and ruts, puddles and upheavals. A cross-road led from the -Amiens highway straight east toward the battle front and into the -wide territory of France held by the enemy. The German front line -was not more than seven miles from the evacuation hospitals on this -cross-road. These centers of mercy were where the badly wounded were -sent for quick, emergency operations, which saved many lives. Between -these evacuation hospitals and the Red Cross base hospital in an old -château a few miles outside of Paris and also near the Amiens road -the comparatively few Red Cross cars and the score or more of Army -ambulances plied almost continuously when there was anything doing at -the front. And for the most part there was something doing. - -From the twenty-first of March, when the terrific drive of the Huns -carried them nearly to Amiens, and during which time they occupied -Montdidier, until the middle of June, there was pretty constant -shelling and scrapping throughout this area. The great German -offensive began in March, only a few days before Donald Richards -started to run his own ambulance, so that almost his first duties -were most urgent and strenuous. - -“Whatever the Doctor, Major Little, in command up there, tells you to -do, do it,” was the order the boy received from the chief at the base -hospital, “but your regular duty is to bring the wounded from the -evacuation hospitals, or from the dressing stations to us, when so -ordered. Of course, we don’t want to subject our men to the danger of -going up to the lines any more than is absolutely necessary, and we -surely do not want you to get hurt, my boy, but this war and the call -of duty must be heeded first. Either the surgeons at the dressing -stations or Major Little and his assistants at the cross-roads -hospitals will tell you where to take the wounded. Critical cases are -first operated on at the evacuation hospitals so as to save time, but -shell shock, slight wounds, men not very seriously gassed, and merely -sick men are brought here direct from the field. Hence it will be -best for you, if there are no wounded to be brought away from the -evacuation hospitals, to go to the dressing stations or into a battle -area, to get the wounded in your car anyway you can. For the most -part they will be brought to you by stretcher bearers; of course, -some will come themselves. I see you have on your steel helmet. Wear -it regularly. - -“You must prepare yourself for some horrible sights, my boy. Above -all things, no matter how much you may be scared, and you will be, -don’t lose your nerve. No one, especially at your age, can be blamed -for being somewhat flabbergasted under fire, while seeing men killed, -maimed, blown to bits by shells, and all that sort of thing, but you -must try to overcome this. And be sure to have your gas-mask always -handy. - -“Now then, have everything in tiptop shape according to our methods; -you had better take a hot bath, wear clean under-clothing and brush -your teeth. Get a good meal and be sure to take a lot of chocolate -with you give out where needed. You should also have extra blankets -in case you get hurt, or your car crippled and you have to sleep out. -The weather is moderating now and I think it will continue so, but -there will be cold rains. Now then, be off in an hour and good luck -to you!” - -From such a general order, Don saw clearly enough that he would be -his own boss a great deal of the time, and that much of his most -important work must be carried on according to his own judgment. -The boy of sixteen, who had never really engaged in anything more -strenuous than mere sport, except the arresting of the German -spy back home, was now brought face to face with the duties and -responsibilities that were fully man-size. - -Don prepared himself quickly for any undertaking that might be -before him. He made everything ready as the chief had suggested. He -insisted also that the same be done by his helper, Billy Mearns, a -city-bred young man who was just now getting familiar with handling -and repairing a motor car. - -Presently they started. The little truck, new, smooth-running and -responsive, delighted the boy. His first duties as helper had been -in a rattletrap machine, which ran only when it felt like it and in -which they carried convalescents from the base hospitals to a place -with terraced gardens and verandas two hundred miles farther south. - -Don’s new duties exhilarated him and as he turned his car northward -he could have said, with Macduff, when that warrior sought to meet -Macbeth, the master war-maker: “That way the noise is. Tyrant show -thy face!” for, boy-like, yet with a thorough understanding of the -situation, secretly desirous of taking some part--he did not know -what--in fighting, he had smuggled a sporting rifle into his car, and -he carried a long-barreled revolver in a holster on his hip. - -“You see,” he confided to Billy Mearns--they called each other by -their first names almost from the moment of meeting--“we don’t -know what we are up against, and I hope I may be hanged, drawn and -quartered, as the old pirates used to say, if I let any blamed Hun -sneak around me without trying to see if he is bullet-proof.” - -“Right-o!” agreed Mearns. “But, for goodness’ sake, don’t get too -anxious and take some of our Yanks for Heinies! If you do and I’m -along, me for wading the Atlantic right back home! They’d do worse -than draw and quarter us; mebbe they’d even pull out our hair or -tweak our noses.” - -“Pshaw! Anybody who couldn’t tell a Hun, day or night, ought to -have--” - -“His nose examined, eh? Oh, you sauerkraut and onions!” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -IN IT - - -Ploof! Ploof! Bang! P-ssst, wam! Zing, zing, zing! T-r-r-r-r-r--rip! -Ploooof! Something of this nature, if it can at all be conveyed by -words, came in waves, roars and spasms of sound to the ears of Don -and Billy, as their ambulance truck traversed part of the five or -six miles of cross-road between the evacuation hospitals near the -Amiens road, not twenty miles south of that shell-torn town, and the -front line of the Allied army where American troops, newly arrived -from training camps, were brigaded with the French soldiers; that -is, a number of regiments of one nation were included with those of -the other in the same sector, sometimes companies, even platoons, of -Americans and French fighting side by side against the savage attacks -of an enemy far superior in numbers. - -“We’ve just sent a dozen or more to your people down there--nearly -all light cases--but there’s been some sort of a scrap over toward -the southeast. You can’t find a road, for the enemy holds that, but -you can turn in across the fields to your right, or follow an old -farm road; one of our men did so yesterday. It is just beyond, where -some reserves are digging in by the edge of a ruined farm; both the -house and barn have been struck by shells or sky bombs. If you can go -any farther from there you’ll have to ask your way, but probably the -P. C. beyond won’t let you go on. There are two dressing stations to -the west of some woods on a low hill; that will be still farther to -your right as you follow the new trail. Go to it!” - -This was the all-too-brief order Don received from Major Little, -the hospital-chief when the lads reached the broad tents on the -cross-road early one morning. Without further words Don leaped into -his car and glided on along the narrow road for about two miles; then -he began dodging shell holes, one here that involved half of the -wheel tracks, another, farther on, which took in all of the road and -had been partly filled and partly bridged with timbers from an old -building near. Beyond this, small shell-holes had torn up the once -smooth surface here and there. After the ambulance had traversed -another mile, at the best speed possible over such a highway, it -overtook a string of ammunition trucks going into position, ready -for progress or retreat. Dodging around these and avoiding other -shell-holes was difficult for the half mile on to where the artillery -had debouched. Once, not two hundred feet ahead, a big shell came -over with a swish and snarl and landed in the field near the road, -sending up a cloud of sod, dirt and stones and sprinkling the -ambulance and its drivers with bits of gravel. One sizable stone -landed on the hood with a whang and bounced against the windshield -just hard enough to crack it, exactly in line with Billy Mearns’ face. - -“Pal, we seem to be under fire,” remarked Don, and Billy, with a -grunt of relief, replied: - -“Yes, and if that glass hadn’t been there I’d have bitten that stone -in half to show I didn’t care whether it came this way or not. But -say, if we’d been just where that shell landed we would have had to -sing Tosti’s ‘Good-bye.’ They’re rude things, aren’t they, the way -they mess up the landscape?” - -Don glanced at his smiling companion. A fellow who could take such -matters so calmly, and jest over them, was a lad after his own heart. - -The sound of fighting came to the boys now with increasing fury. -They were not experienced enough to tell whether it was a regular -battle, or merely a skirmish. Anyway, it was lively enough for an -introduction to green hands far from home. - -They came to where the reserve regiment was digging in. Some of them -camped in the open, with a few little canopy tents spread. A few -fires were burning. A few officers stood or squatted around talking -and laughing. Sentries were pacing up and down. A sentinel stood in -the road and faced about toward them, but when he saw the Red Cross -on the front and side of the car and had scanned the faces of the -drivers he asked no questions but let them pass. Don slowed up enough -to hear him say: - -“All right. Go find ’em, bo! There’s some down there.” - -“Going to give your friends, the Limburgers, a warm reception after -while?” Billy called back and the soldier nodded briskly, smiling and -waving his hand. - -Turning sharply and dashing along the old farm road between greening -fields, the little car gained a slight crest and, uncertain for the -moment which way to turn, Don stopped her. Billy leaned out and -looked around. - -“Over there are the woods the Major spoke about,” he said. - -“Sure is. We can cross this meadow, I guess.” - -“Ooh! Hold on a bit, and look up, Don!” - -Two airplanes were circling overhead. The boys could see a black -Maltese cross on the under side and near the end of each wing of -one plane; the other bore a broad tri-colored circle in similar -positions. The two soaring, roaring, vulture-like things were -approaching each other, suddenly little jets of white smoke burst -from each and long streaks of pale light, like miniature lightning, -shot from each flying-machine to the other. - -“A Hun plane and a Britisher! It’s a fight!” Don remarked excitedly. -“See, they’re the illuminated bullets to tell just where they’re -shooting, like squirting a hose. Watch ’em, Billy; watch ’em! Oh, by -cracky!” - -“Watch them? Do you think I’m taking a nap? Oooh! Look at that -gasoline swallow dive! And bring up, too!” The German plane had -done this to try to get around under the tail of its opponent before -the other could turn, but its calculation went amiss. The Englishman -instantly made a quick swerve around and then dived straight at his -enemy, sending a stream of bullets ahead, and as the boche had by -this time turned around and was coming back toward him, it looked -terribly like there would be a collision. - -But not so. The superior maneuvering of the Britisher was too much -for his antagonist--the Hun plane swerved to the left, went on -straight for a moment, then began to tilt a little sidewise and to -spin slowly. As it sank it pitched from side to side, following a -spiral course, thus imitating perfectly the fall of a dead leaf; so -perfectly, indeed, that as it neared the earth and was not checked -nor righted it became evident that the engine had stopped and that -the airman could not control the plane. Then, when not more than -fifty feet above the ground it suddenly tilted over forward and -crashed to the ground in the field, about an eighth of a mile beyond -the boys. - -Looking aloft, then, Don and Billy saw the victorious English plane -going straight away at high speed toward the enemy’s lines and -rising higher in air at every second. - -“Work cut out for us right ahead there,” Don remarked, as he settled -back in his seat and began to speed up his motor. “We didn’t think -that our first ‘_blessé_’ would be a Hun, did we?” - -“No. What’s a ‘_blessé_’?” - -“Why, I think that’s what the French call a wounded man. I hear them -using it that way.” - -“I know a little French, but very little; I hadn’t heard that -expression before. Many of these war-time French words bother me -muchly. Look out; another shell-hole! Say, this must be a regular -farm.” - -They saw the house standing in a clump of trees. The roadway led -straight past it; with increased speed the ambulance flew by and in a -little while came to the fallen airplane. - -The winged intruder, ‘winged’ also as a flying game bird is by the -accurate fire of a sportsman, lay twisted, beyond repair, its wings, -uprights and stays crushed and broken. Almost beneath the flattened -wheels on the other side, crumpled up on the ground, lay the -unconscious airman. He had either leaped at the last moment, landing -almost where the airplane had, or he had been jarred from his seat by -the impact. - -The boys were out of the car and beside him at once. Observing that -he still breathed, they gently turned him over, trying to find where -he was injured; then they saw a mass of clotted blood on his shoulder -and discovered the bullet hole. - -First Aid was in order. Don ran to the ambulance and returned with -a kit. Billy followed to unfasten a stretcher and a blanket. With -utmost care, yet moving swiftly, though both lads were admittedly -nervous over their first case, they got him on the stretcher, removed -his upper garments, bathed the wound, plugged it with antiseptic -gauze and then, covering him with the blanket, slid the stretcher -into the car. - -What next to do? There was room for two or three more; why return -with but one? And just beyond here lay the dressing stations, which -they could reach in less than two minutes. Don made up his mind -quickly and drove the car farther down the narrow farm road and over -another field--a pasture. Half way across and toward them, four -men were walking in single file. The boys had just made out that -these were stretcher-bearers when suddenly the men stopped, ducked -down and the foremost one raised his arm signaling for the car to -stop. The next instant they were hidden from view by a fountain -of earth between them and the ambulance and not over seventy-five -feet from the car. The earth shook with the tremendous concussion -of the explosion. It was one of the largest shells. The ambulance -was stopped as though it had butted into a stone wall; Don felt a -mass of glass fly against him and the car lifted partly up and swung -aside. When he regained his senses and could see about him through -the settling cloud of dust, he discovered that the car had been flung -crosswise, that the windshield was smashed, and that the top was bent -back, and very much askew. Billy, not having a grip on a steering -wheel, as Don had, and having partly risen, was now on his back on -the bottom of the car, behind the seat, his long legs sticking out -over the back. He regained his normal position only by turning a back -somersault and climbing forward. That the lads were not hurt was -almost a miracle. - -[Illustration: THE AMBULANCE WAS STOPPED AS THOUGH IT HAD BUTTED INTO -A STONE WALL.] - -But strangest of all was the fact that the tail doors had been -blown open, the stretcher lifted out on the ground as neatly as -though human hands had done it and looking back Don saw the German -airman, shocked into consciousness, sitting up and gazing at him. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -REPRISALS - - -“Billy, you aren’t kilt entirely, eh? Well, then, hop out and crank -her; maybe that volcano didn’t stall her. We’ll turn round, if she -runs, and hunt for those stretcher chaps; guess we can find ’em. Say, -I’ll bet they’re sorry they saw us coming.” - -“No, for here they come again! It could not have reached them. Oooh, -but wasn’t it a daisy? For about one second I longed to be back in -the good, old United States. Hah! Wait till I spin her. There she -goes as fine as a hand organ!” - -Don backed and turned the car; then the lads went to the German. - -“Well, Fritz, feel better?” Don asked, speaking English. - -No answer; a blank stare. Billy comprehended and at once got some -fun out of the incident. It was a funereal affair that didn’t have a -humorous side for him. He held his spread hand, palm down, over his -head, moved it about like the flying of an airplane, pointed to it -and to the Hun with his other finger; then making the hand take a big -drop through the air and double up on the ground again pointed to the -airman. The latter understood at once and scowled at his combined -rescuers and captors; then flopped back on the stretcher. The boys -restored him to his place in the car and turned to meet the men -from the dressing-station. They all looked fagged out, tired beyond -endurance. As a matter of fact, they were to keep on many more hours -longer. Their conversation was brief, but to the point. - -“Red Cross? Get these men back as quickly as you can and return at -once. We are in an _abri_ there by the woods. Tell Major Little that -the lieutenant wants more ambulances right away. We have eleven -wounded; two ‘going West.’” - -“All right, I’ll put the juice to her, Sergeant?” Don saw the three -bent stripes on the man’s sleeve. The four shifted the wounded, one -of whom was unconscious, to the unfolded white stretchers of the car, -strapped them down, folded their own brown army stretchers and turned -back. - -“What does he mean by ‘going West’?” Billy whispered, as they got -under way. - -“Dying,” replied Don. “Guess it’s an Indian phrase--‘toward the -setting sun.’ Poor chaps!” - -“O my! I’m afraid one of these,” Billy pointed his thumb over his -shoulder, “won’t stay ‘East’ long. I hope he does, but you see, I -really ought to study medicine. I get hunches about that sort of -thing, you know.” - -They flew over the even ground, and moved slowly over the rough. -Again in the farm road they were swiftly passing the house when a cry -from one of their passengers arrested their attention. It was a cry -for water. - -Don pressed down his brake and turned to Billy. “That canteen--” he -began. - -“I think that a real cold drink,” suggested the young man, “would do -more good. Oughtn’t they to have a well here? Suppose I see.” - -“We’ll both go and get a pull, too; then bring some back. Come on!” -Don said. - -The quaint little half-stone domicile, in the very midst of this -shell-torn area, faced directly east; the rear was, therefore, away -and thus somewhat sheltered from the enemy’s lines. There had been a -French or American dressing station in the front room, but a German -77-m. shell had come along and demolished the wall and a portion of -the interior. The boys quickly passed under the newly leafing fruit -trees, where bird arrivals were singing, and reached the rear of the -house. Here, in the mellowing spring-time warmth, an old woman and an -old man were sitting; the one on the door step, the other, upon an -ancient stone seat, leaning his head on his cane. By the side of the -old woman’s knee a little child of about four years gazed up at the -visitors with wide-open, blue eyes. - -Don, knowing no French and forgetting that Billy knew a little, -resorted to pantomime. He made a cup of his hand and lifted it to -his lips; the old man pronounced the word water very distinctly and -pointed to a well-sweep among the shrubbery. While Don drew forth -a moss-covered bucket of water that looked sparkling, Billy was -recalling his school-day language and getting information. Yes, the -old couple were trusting in the mercy of a Higher Power; if it were -His will to take them, well and good, but they hoped it would be -quick and without suffering. Rather than leave their lifetime abode, -where they had always known comfort and happiness, they would risk -the present dangers, which they hardly seemed to realize. They would -dare almost anything rather than wander to strange regions. - -And here was little Marie, happy with her grandparents, though her -father had died in the war and her mother from grief and illness -soon after. Well, the good General Foch, now that he had been made -commander of all the armies, would soon chase the wicked boches away. -The French would fight on forever, and so would the good English. And -then the Americans were coming, they said. Were the young men English? - -American! “_Vive l’ Amerique!_” Ah, it was good to see them. And how -soon, oh, how soon would the great army arrive and rid France, dear, -suffering, half-destroyed France, from the wicked, hateful boches? -“_A bas les boches!_” - -Don had taken water to the wounded men, two of whom received it -eagerly; the other lay in a stupor. The passengers, the boy now saw, -were two Frenchman, besides the German airman. - -“Come on, Billy!” Don called, and shaking hands with the old people -and lifting the child for a kiss, hastened away. As he leaped into -the machine and Billy ran to the front end, grasping the crank, they -heard again, now not high overhead, the roar of a flying motor and -there came an airplane, marked with the black Maltese cross, sailing -across their road and very nearly over them. - -“I guess he can see our Red Cross sign,” Billy said, but Don, having -heard many stories, was taking no chances; he started and flew -swiftly down the road. Blam! Something exploded far behind them -and to one side of the road. Again, within a few seconds, another -detonation, much nearer, came to their ears. Billy was craning his -neck out of the side of the car. - -“He’s after us! Would you think it? I suspect he’ll get us, too, -unless we beat him out to the soldiers. They’ve got anti-aircraft -guns, haven’t they, Don?” - -“Sure, and he’s got to go some. Just watch us!” - -It was a race for a few seconds, though the airman must have been -wary, flying low as he did. He could not gain on the car, and soon, -with a long sweep, he was turning back, flying now even lower. Where -were the Allied airmen? Not one in sight! As Don neared the main -road again and reached the little hillock he slowed up, on hearing -the crack of light artillery in the fields. The anti-aircraft guns -had got busy and the Hun had reason to keep his distance. But if he -was foiled in his attempt to wreck an Allied Red Cross ambulance he -surely meant to find some prey for his perverted desire to destroy. -He had seen the place from where the ambulance had started as he -approached; certainly there must be a dressing station in the little -farm house. - -Billy, looking back then, saw it. The murderous Hun flew lower still -over the spot of peacefulness and beauty; if he had any sense of -pastoral loveliness, hate and the German desire for mastery had -drowned it all. Something falling straight down from the airplane -passed exactly over the little stone and frame dwelling and then a -great column of flame, of black and gray smoke, of stones and bits -of splintered wood leaped upward and sunk to earth again. A cloud of -smoke and dust drifted away in the wind. - -“Oh, Don! The house, the old people, the little girl!” said Billy -with a sob, and Don, clamping down his brakes, gazed at his -companion. It was the first time he had seen him with anything -different from a smile on his gentle face, even when danger was -literally heaped up in front of them. But now the young man’s soft -eyes had a horror in them and a gray pallor had taken the place of -the pink, almost girlish complexion. - -Don looked back and saw the holocaust wrought by the Hun. - -“That--that murderous devil!” he exclaimed. - -The wounded airman in the car turn his face toward Don and made a -remark in German, probably not expecting it to be understood. Don -replied in German: - -“One of your airmen has blown up the little farmhouse where we got -the drink! No doubt the good people are killed!” - -“But it is war and a good hit is to be praised. Besides, these -degenerate French--” - -Don turned on the fellow with the glare of an angry wildcat; in his -excitement his German mostly gave way to English. - -“What’s that? _You teufel! You_ say that! And when we are treating -you decently? Well, we shall just fix you, you--!” - -“Oooh, Don! Look, look!” - -The airman had once more turned about, evidently to fly back over -his work of destruction to feast his eyes on its completeness. Then -he met his Waterloo. The long swerves took him beyond and near the -woods, where a French 75, aimed by a cool-headed American gunner -barked upward just once. With a burst of flame the airplane pitched -to the earth. The brutal driver, who refused to respect an ambulance, -a supposed dressing station, or the modest home of non-combatants, -was probably strapped on his seat and unable to extricate himself -went down to the most horrible of deaths. - -“Ah, he got his, all righty!” Don shouted; then turning: “And here’s -another who’s going to get his! Billy, this Hun, this skunk here, is -praising the act of that devil! We’ll just dump him out and let him -lie here and suffer and bleed to death. Come on; give a hand!” - -“No, no, Don! You can’t mean that. It would not be humane.” - -“Humane? I’d be humane to a dog, a cat, a worm even, I hope, but not -to a thing like this. Come--!” - -“‘As they should do unto you’, Don. I know this is war and he’s a -Hun, but it’s all the more of an excuse that he is only partly -human; he doesn’t know any better and he has feelings, some. Let’s -go on, Don, please, now.” Don leaped to his seat with Billy and they -continued on their way. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ZEALOUS BILLY - - -Major Little ordered the German airman turned over to an army -ambulance where he would be disposed of as a wounded man and -prisoner. To Don the surgeon said, after hearing the boy’s message: - -“Yes, we have had the same over the wire, but could hardly get it. -Hurry back, then. I’ll send two others after you. Phoned for them -an hour ago. Look out for gas shells; they may be sending them over -soon. Listen for the warning gongs from our trenches and the gurgling -sound of the shells themselves--you’ll know it. Or you may see the -fumes drifting your way in certain lights; after the explosion, -sometimes, you can see them very plainly. You can generally smell the -fumes in the open before they come near enough to injure you--then on -with your masks! By the way,” the Major lowered his voice, “is that -helper of yours on the job?” - -“Yes, sir; you may be sure he is! As cool and not afraid as they make -’em.” Don was glad of this chance to praise Billy. His regard for -the youth was hardly less than a strong love for his pal. The doctor -seemed surprised. - -“I would hardly have thought that,” he admitted,--“a gentle kind of -a boy. But that kind often fools you. Even girls themselves--some of -our demurest nurses are the bravest under fire. Well, I’m glad you -like him. Now, you must make a quick get-away!” - -Bon and Billy boarded their little car again, and just as they were -turning around, two other ambulances dashed up. The first one was a -light army truck, manned by members of the regular corps of the army -service. The other bore the Red Cross and it looked like a higher -grade of car than that commonly in use by that organization. Don was -swinging into the road and just caught sight of the driver and helper -in this last car. But as he glanced at the side face of the former -a rush of partial recognition mixed with an undefined feeling of -hostility swept over him. Where had he seen that face before? There -were not many persons he remembered unpleasantly. He had been in one -or two student rows with ruffians, who had fared badly as a rule and -the boys at Old Brighton had it in for a disagreeable fellow who was -even opposed to their speaking above a whisper when they passed his -place in the town. The face he had just seen was not one of these. -Well, there was more big work cut out ahead and he would think over -this question later. Yet the matter kept returning to his mind in -spite of the battle sounds and sights, among which they soon came at -close quarters. - -“I can’t understand one thing:” Billy remarked, as they sped on. -“Why is the shooting so at random? Just look at the shells that have -landed all around us, in the fields, in the roads, almost everywhere, -doing no real damage, except to stir up the ground, hitting hardly -anyone. It looks like fool business to me.” - -“And when you think how much one of these shells costs and how -much must be paid for a hundred rounds of cartridges fired by a -machine-gun, no wonder they say that it costs a good many thousands -of dollars for every man that gets hit,” Don offered. - -“Well, if it costs so much I wish they’d save those that come -my way. I’d just as lief treat even the Huns more economically!” -declared Billy. - -Don had to laugh, though at the moment they were approaching again -the old farm house, now torn to pieces, where the Hun airman had -dropped his bomb but an hour before. Billy also noticed it and asked -Don to stop. - -“Couldn’t we go in and see, Don? It will be solemn enough, but we can -be sure they’re all--they’re not suffering.” - -The boys alighted and rounded the house once more, stepping over -broken bits of stone and mortar and twisted framing. Billy was ahead -and he took but one glance and turned about. - -“Beyond doubt. They had at least their wish not to suffer.” He -uttered the words like a funeral benediction, and followed Don back. -As they were about to emerge from the trellised gateway the other Red -Cross ambulance shot by, the occupants, no doubt, supposing those in -the boys’ car had stopped here for a drink. Again Don caught sight of -the driver of that car. Instantly it came to the boy who the fellow -must be. The recognition was quite complete--and startling. - -Don stood in the road, looking after the speeding car. Billy’s -thoughts were upon other matters. The ambulance ran on until almost -out of sight. Then suddenly, instead of turning across toward the -dressing station at the western edge of the woods, it veered to the -east across fields and ran down a slope to a clump of bushes and low -trees where it stopped. The boy wondered if there could a dressing -station at that spot. - -“Don, if you can go on just this once without me, I’d like to stay -and bury that poor old couple and the little girl. It seems horrible -to let them lie there, exposed, uncared for, as though they had no -friends. What do you say?” - -“All right, Billy you stay. I can make the trip alone. They’ll help -me with the _blessés_ at the station and at the hospital too. If -anything does happen to me--should I get hit--you couldn’t help much -until you got the hang of running over such roads. And say, Billy, -you can do something else: when you hear a car going back take a peep -and if it’s those fellows that just went by, observe them, will you? -If you see them coming, go out and stop them and ask who they are, -you can let on you’re making a report. I’m just curious. Tell you -why later. G’bye! I’ll stop for you on the next trip down.” - -Don dashed on, reached the dressing station without mishap, took on -two wounded _poilus_ and one Yank; they sped back. - -Billy quickly found a garden spade an went to work with all his might -so as to complete his gruesome task. The ground was soft beneath -a wide-spreading apple tree just showing signs of blossoming; a -sweet-voiced bird sang the while in the branches above, and this was -the only requiem the old couple and the little child should know, as, -wrapped carefully in sheets rescued from the destroyed house, they -filled the one grave. - -The tender-hearted youth’s eyes were wet while he labored for the -poor souls who deserved a better burial than this. When the grave -was filled he made a rude cross of boards and wrote on it a simple -inscription, a tribute from his own gentle heart. - -This was the best the boy could do. The little bird still sang its -cheery ditty overhead. He turned away with a sigh and said, half -aloud: - -“I wonder what Father would think of me now. He wouldn’t believe it -possible of his youngest boy he used to call ‘a silly, girl-like -thing.’ I couldn’t blame him then, but now--well, he’ll change his -mind about me if I go back--that is, _if_ I get back.” - -Then Billy heard a car approaching and slipped out front to take a -look, as Don had requested. It was the army ambulance returning. But -where was the other Red Cross ambulance? - -Well, Don would not be here again for perhaps half an hour yet. -There would be time to slip along the road and get a glimpse of the -other car. Then he might give his pal even more information than he -expected. - -The clump of bushes was not more than three hundred yards from the -farm road and if there was a dressing station there Billy would find -it out--the information might be of value. To keep out of sight of -Hun airmen, should they fly overhead, the youth followed close to -the line of low evergreen trees that skirted the road and when he -reached the end of these but stood still within their welcome shadow, -he gazed across at the clump. In all this section of land north of -the distant woods and between where the American regiment in reserve -on the cross-road was stationed, there were no troops. Evidently -it was not a spot where the Huns could break through because of the -strongly entrenched positions of the Allies facing them. There had -been some Hun raids and some Allied counter-attacks, platoons of -Americans fighting beside the French--hence the wounded. But the -Germans had not succeeded in pushing their line any farther than the -western outskirts of the small village of Cantigney, another half -mile east of this ground. Here had come to an end the German drive -around Montdidier, a part of the Amiens offensive during the early -spring, which is called the first great drive of 1918. The effort to -take Amiens, a few miles to the north, was to meet defeat about two -weeks later. And meanwhile the great armies intrenched themselves, -crouching like lions at bay. They almost ceaselessly growled with -their numerous artillery and every little while kept up the clawing -and biting through local raids and counter-attacks, adding constantly -to the wounded and the dead. - -It was strange, Billy thought, if there should be a dressing station -here. He had been told that the stream, the south fork of the Avre, -bent here to the west and that the German positions followed the -river at this point. Therefore, while the Allied reinforcement was -stronger against attack, the Huns had made themselves stronger also, -to match their opponents and the local fights were all the fiercer, -therefore making the wide expanse of low land sloping toward the -stream subject to continual bombardment from higher and overplaced -shot and shell. It was across this area that the ambulances were -forced to travel from the dressing stations in the shelter of the -hillside woods beyond. That was dangerous enough without the further -exposure of a dressing station, even in a well covered _abri_, or -dugout, to this zone of flying shells. - -But what could the men with this ambulance be about for such a length -of time, when they were probably sent to the other dressing station -to bring away the wounded? Surely they had met with some urgent call -here. Billy pondered. Might he not go over and aid them? - -He started on a swift trot and had covered more than half the -distance in less than half a minute when a thing occurred that made -him drop to a walk, watching, wondering. Out of a thicket a tiny puff -of white smoke rose in jets, as though measured by time; two close -together, then four, then two, then six, then one, then six again and -2-6-6-3-2-6-4-4-2-6-3 and so on for another half minute. By that time -Billy had stopped. Was it mere instinct that made him dodge back of a -wide bush and peer through its budding branches? - -Again the funny little jets of white smoke. Why were they doing -this--these Red Cross men? There was the ambulance itself, in plain -sight, by the edge of the thicket and, moreover, a Red Cross sign had -been raised on a pole above the low trees. - -Billy’s eyes rapidly scanned the surroundings. A line of trees on -the slope toward the south shut off the thicket from the view of the -woods and the low ground here could not well be seen by the reserves -back on the cross-road. It seemed a place that might be well chosen -for isolation, if desired. And high in air, far over the enemy’s -trenches, a Hun observation balloon could be plainly seen against the -white, cumulus clouds. - -Billy gazed at this object long and keenly. He could distinctly -discern the basket beneath it; he could detect a certain movement of -something white going up and down, up and down several times and then -a pause; then several times again. While this was going on the puffs -of white smoke from the thicket were not forthcoming. Then, when the -white thing at the balloon ceased to move, the puffs began again. - -What did all this mean? Could there be any connection between the -thicket and the balloon--the little puffs of white smoke and the -movements of that white thing by the basket in the sky? - -Well, he was going to find out, anyway. There seemed to be nothing -else he could do that would straighten out the mystery in his own -mind. And so he again trotted forward direct toward the thicket, -still watching the balloon. Suddenly he grasped the truth. There -were two upward sweeps of white in the sky and instantly the little -puffs ceased again. The two men, wheeling about, their heads above -the bushes, saw Billy and began to beckon him. Fearless, probably -without any misgivings regarding himself, he went on to join them. -One pointed to the balloon and said something about it and Billy -gazed at it again, entirely off his guard. Suddenly he ceased to -see anything; he only tossed his arms feebly in air and sunk to the -ground in a crumpled heap. In front of him the long, thin-faced, -narrow-eyed driver of the car seized again a queer looking instrument -and began quickly to shoot up more of the little smoke puffs. Back of -the fallen youth stood the helper, holding a heavy iron rod in his -hand. He made a quick, excited remark to the driver in German. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -“GONE WEST” - - -Once again along the farm road came Don’s ambulance. It reached the -old farm house and stopped. He called loudly for Billy Mearns. There -was no answer and Don rose in his seat to go and look for his pal, -and to witness the good work he had done here. Always alert, he -glanced about. He had not met the other Red Cross ambulance again. -Was it still in the low ground by the thicket? - -It was, and the men there were moving about. Don stood watching them -for a moment. He saw a slender figure, one that he surely recognized -as that of Billy Mearns, crossing the field toward the thicket. He -saw two men within the clump and when Billy reached the bushes and -passed among them Don saw one of the men lift his arm as if he were -pointing. - -Then, for an instant, Don’s heart seemed to stand still, for he saw -the other man who had been in the clump of bushes raise his arm, -holding some sort of weapon and strike the slender figure down. - -The army ambulance at this moment was also coming along the farm -house lane. The driver and helper had been watching the German -observation balloon and its strange movements. When they reached the -high knoll they, too, stopped to see if this might mean signaling to -the enemy. The American driver’s helper was a _poilu_ who had been -wounded at the first battle of the Marne in 1914 and long experience -in the ways of the Huns had taught him to be suspicious of everything -unusual. He knew that the means of communication between a captive -balloon and the divisional commander was by telephone and such -signaling as this must be to those that a wire could not reach. In -broken English he shouted excitedly: - -“Behold! Zat ess eet, in ze booshes zere, over ze field! Puff, puff, -puff; behold! We have heem, _m’sieu’_! An we capture heem now purty -queek; right off, eh?” - -The Yank was about to send the car forward again when his companion -stopped him with another exclamation which made it worth while -pausing a moment longer for a better view. - -“Ha, look! Zee balloon, eet seegnal ze enemy, _m’sieu’_! Ha, he come! -He come queek; he go fast! Ha! Somesing doing now!” The Frenchman -had caught this last expression from his American friend. “An eet -ees ze _Croix Rouge_ car, ze other wan. He but young boy. An’ he -fire; ha, he too has--what you say? catched on to ze seegnalers. But, -_m’sieu’_, will not they reseest heem?” - -The two were on their feet now, gazing with all eyes, excited. So -they remained for some time--the Yank with clenched fists, the -_poilu_ rubbing his hands together. Then, as if at a signal, they -both dropped into their seats and the ambulance rushed again along -the by-way. Halt an hour later, with but one wounded man and a Red -Cross driver, unhurt, sitting beside him, the army ambulance drew up -to the evacuation hospital tent. In answer to the curt query of the -Major, the driver excused himself for bringing in only one man. - -“You see, sir, we thought it was no more than fair, after what they -had both done--discovered those Heinies inside our lines signaling to -the boche balloon and it signaling back to them. This fellow inside -that got his must have landed on ’em first, afoot, and they did him -up. Then the young chap, he went ’em one better and I never seen a -prettier fight. We seen it from the little hill.” - -“Did the German spies get away?” asked the surgeon. - -“Only one did, and I think he’ll get stopped. They must have seen it -from the woods. He made a run fer his car and jumped into it; it’s -the speediest thing ever, I reckon. He was out of sight quicker’n a -scared cootie, going for the woods. But the kid he got the other one; -the one, he says, that hit the pink-cheeked lad.” - -“How did he get him?” - -“Shot him. Let him have it like Pete the Plugger would ’a’ done. -Yes, sir! The kid’s car run right along to about fifty yards of the -bushes where they was hid and the kid jumped out; right off they -began shootin’ at him and he pulls a gun out of his Red Cross car as -calm and as deliberate as if he was after prairie chicken and knowed -he was goin’ to get ’em, and commenced shootin’. They skinned for -their car and one of ’em gets in and gets her goin’, but the other -one he turns round to take another shot at the kid who was kneelin’ -down and lettin’ ’em have it proper and the feller keels over and the -one in the car he skids off. I reckon the kid he jest about filled -that there car full of lead, but the feller he got away, though if he -wasn’t hurt it’s a wonder!” - -“The lad is sure one scrapper, eh?” The surgeon was much tickled and -slapped his leg at the realistic narrative of the ambulancier. - -“He is, Major; all of that!” continued the soldier. “For a kid, or -for a veteran, for that matter, he is some boy with a gun! And he -showed pluck, too, when we got there. You see, we seen and heard them -Hun gas shells comin’ over--that there Hun balloon give the range, I -reckon--and we heard the gongs, too, but we reckoned the kid, bein’ -so excited over the fight, didn’t get on to it, so the only thing to -do was to get there right quick and you bet we did! Here was this -one dead Hun with the Red Cross on his sleeve--the feller that the -kid shot--and in the bushes was the kid bendin’ over the feller what -them Huns had knocked in the head, and the gas from two busted shells -a sneakin’ up on ’em lively. We had on our masks and we started to -grab him and get him away. He hadn’t saw us ner heard us come and he -turned round on me with a drawed pistol, so’s I thought it was all -off sure. But the kid knowed us and didn’t shoot. We yelled ‘gas’ at -him and what did he do? Run to his car off there and get his mask? -Never a bit of it! He jest sez to us: ‘help me with this feller to my -car,’ he sez. ‘I’ve got two masks there, his’n and mine’ he sez. So I -sez: ‘this way’s quicker; make tracks fer our car, young feller!’ and -I picked up the insensible feller and run with him to our car and the -kid follered, and we got away from the gas. The kid he begged us to -get here quick, or his pal might die and so that’s why we come back -with only one.” - -“Well, all right; excused, of course,” said the Major. - -“Now we’re off, back up there, Major, and we’ll try to make up fer--” - -“It isn’t lost time, or it wouldn’t be if we could save that lad’s -life. Well, anyway--but you’d better wait a moment and I’ll get the -kid, as you call him--Richards--to go back with you and get his car.” - -The chief entered the tent and wended his way quickly down the long -aisle, between the rows of brown cots, many of which held wounded -men, he stopped here and there for a word of encouragement, of -advice, or to answer a question. Reaching the farther end he stood -for a moment, looking down at a white-faced figure lying very inert -beneath the blanket and at another sitting, with his face in his -hands, beside the cot. A woman nurse, rather young, with wonderfully -gentle eyes, passed softly and whispered to the Major. - -“He feels it terribly; we don’t often see such grief, though he is -not of the loud weeping kind.” - -The Major nodded and, stooping forward, laid his hand on the shoulder -of the figure in the chair. - -“Come, Richards. No use sitting here; there is much to do; much. -Getting away on duty will make you feel better.” - -Don looked up with a face that was drawn with sorrow. - -“But, Doctor, suppose he comes to and asks for me? You are sure that -he can’t get well?” - -The doctor assented by a nod. “He cannot recover,” was his brief -remark, uttered more feelingly than usual with this man of long, -hard experience. Then he added with his usual attention to duty on -his mind: - -“He may become conscious later on. I’ll let you know. After you get -your car and bring in the next bunch you must run down to your base -and report. They must assign you another helper. I have sent your -description of the German signal man to headquarters and to the P. C. -at the front of the woods section--I think they’ll get him. And I’ll -send a note by you, telling what good work you did.” - -With the idea uppermost that it was his first duty to play the part -of a good soldier in the work he had enlisted to do, Don got up to -join the army ambulance. Two hours later, in his own car and at its -best speed, he was returning from the Red Cross base. The man beside -him began to think himself most unlucky to have been assigned to -duty with this dare-devil of a driver, who spoke hardly a word and -seemed not to care if they were presently piled in a heap and both -killed. Around, past and in between lorries, trucks, ambulances, big -guns being hauled to the front and marching men they dashed. When the -evacuation hospital was again reached the young driver left the car -with but a word to the new man, requesting him to wait, and was gone -a long half hour. - -“He has asked for you,” said the nurse to Don. “His mind seems to be -clear and he is not suffering, but the shock was too great. It has -caused some immediate heart trouble and with the loss of blood--the -Major can explain. Go right over and speak to the poor boy.” - -Don did so, almost in despair, but he was determined not to show it. -Billy must get well; if there was anything in his thinking so, then -he must be given every chance. And so Don met his pal with a smile. - -“Hello, Billy! Feeling better? Soon be all right, I--” - -“No, no! Don, the--nurse told me all about it, what you did and what -you did for me, too. Don--we--we have only known each other--how -long, Don?” - -“Why, three whole days, Billy. But we’ll know each other al---” - -“Listen, Don. I know. Don’t try to fool me. No use. West--I’m -going--West. Pretty soon, too. A message, to my father and mother -and brother, Don. Will you write it? I got the nurse to write this -to introduce you to them, and to bid them good-bye. Then I only -want you to write him a letter about me--a little. Can you tell -them, Don, that I was not a coward--that I was not very much afraid -that--I tried to do my duty? Don’t tell them a lie--but--but if you -could truthfully say something like that it will please them. Do you -understand?” - -Don could not trust his voice, but he nodded his head with very -evident determination and, unlike anything he had ever done before, -placed his hand over that of Billy’s and held it. It was not a -boylike act, but it seemed as though they were no longer boys, but -creatures of profound and heart-stirring sentiment. The soft, droning -voice of the dying youth ceased a little; then began again with -halting, sometimes difficult speech. - -“Father will be pleased, Don, and know he will do as I request. -But you are not to open and read the note the nurse wrote for me. -You told me, Don--it was the first day--that you would like to go -to college when you get through Prep, but that your father could -never afford it with so many other boys to raise and educate. But if -someone who cared a lot for you, compelled you to accept the money, -then you would, Don, wouldn’t you? Please, please, say yes, Don--if -we have been friends. That’s good--good. Tell me, Don--what school do -you go to--now--when--you go--at home?” - -“Brighton.” Don just managed to pronounce the word. - -“Don! Brighton! Oh--you didn’t tell me that before. Brighton--was my -school, too, Don. Class of--1915. And you--Don--too! Well the good -old school will have reason to be proud--of you!” - -“Of you--of you, Billy!” - -“Perhaps so, if--if I could have--lived--gone on doing things--tried -to be--Don, ask the nurse to come here--or the--Major. I guess--I -guess--” - -The boy’s face had suddenly grown whiter, if that were possible, and -a deathly pallor came over it. Don went quickly to do as Billy asked. -The nurse came to the bedside of the young man. She bent over him for -what seemed a long while--a minute or more. Then she turned to Don. - -“Going,” she said. “He called your name again. Perhaps he can hear -you.” The nurse made way. - -“Billy, dear Billy, I--I’m here,” Don said, his lips close to his -pal’s ear. A faint smile came over the patient’s face and then it -became rigid. With a light heart Billy Mearns “went West.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -TIM - - -Don Richards’ new helper on the Red Cross ambulance was an -under-sized, red-headed Irishman by the name of Tim Casey. He was -a month or two short of nineteen winters and, as he expressed it, -an undetermined number of summers, but judging by the bleached-out -color of his hair, which he assured Don was originally as black as a -nigger’s pocket, there must have been a long siege of sunny months. -County Kerry was his birthplace and his native village was noted for -its big men, his own father being almost a walking church steeple -and his numerous brothers all six-footers. Tim was the only short -one--“the runt in the litter,” he called himself. - -“But if yez are proper anxious to know an’ ye look loike ye couldn’t -survive the day out wid not knowin’ all o’ me fam’ly histhry, Oi’ll -tell yez this: Phw’at was left out o’ me body was put in me head, do -yez moind? for by the holy Saint Macherel, Oi’m the smartest o’ the -bunch. Me faither’s poorer than whin he was born, an’ me brithers -couldn’t foind pennies if they growed on the grass. But me? Faith, if -wan o’ these here boche zizzers don’t have me name wrote on it, thin -whin the war’s over Oi’m goin’ to America an’ make a million pounds, -loike me friend Mike McCarty did!” - -“Good for you! That’s nearly five million dollars. Hope you get it,” -said Don. - -“Thanks. Could yez lend me phw’at they call two francs, now, to git -us both some sweet, brown, mushy things, loike candy, but diff’runt? -It’s me own treat, now.” - -“Chocolate? Sure. Here you are. You can get them at the Y. M. C. A. -hut in an _abri_ back of the woods and near our dressing station,” -Don informed him, and a little later the two lads were enjoying -mouthfuls of very satisfying sweetness, as they waited for more -wounded to be brought out to them. And as they waited Don turned to a -sentry to ask some questions. The sentry was glad to impart: - -“The P. C. came over a little while ago and I heard him tell the -medical sergeant, here in the doorway, that they had a message from -the evacuation hospital about a Hun in a Red Cross ambulance getting -away around the woods here. The man I relieved said he saw the fellow -go past, and he went a whizzing, but he didn’t question him; nobody -does anything with the Red Cross on it. The P. C. said that they -hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the man, nor the ambulance, since and -they think he must have been heading for another sector. He can rip -off his red crosses there and let on he’s something else important. -They do those stunts. But if he’s caught, it’s good-night for him!” - -Don was keenly disappointed. He had sent some very well directed -bullets straight after the escaping car, but they must have hit the -sides at an angle and glanced off. However cold-blooded and murderous -it appeared thus to shoot down a man, even a declared and vicious -enemy, the boy had done this deed against one who had murdered his -dear pal, Billy Mearns. Moreover, Don had wanted to write to his -father and to Mr. Stapley, at home, that the escaped man who had -helped to blow up the mills had been discovered and accounted for. -Don felt sure that this fake Red Cross driver and spy was the same -man--the narrow-eyed, tall individual that he and Clem Stapley had -spotted and listened to on the train coming from Brighton, more than -three months ago. - -Now that the German spy had escaped again, he would surely turn -up somewhere else and do more harm. Like his bearded confederate -at Lofton, he could probably speak English and American English -perfectly, and no doubt he knew French also, for these spies were of -that sort--sharp-witted, brainy, learned scoundrels! - -“He will try, yes, no doubt, but it will amount to very little. What -can he do?” replied the sentinel to whom Don made his pessimistic -remark. - -“Are yez on to this?” said Tim Casey. “The Limburgers are a very -smart bunch, yis; in many ways, yiz; but, me b’y, they’re awful -stupid, do yez see? These here Huns are loike parrots. They’re windy -imitators, ye see, but bad ’cess to thim, they got no real sense. -They don’t know just phw’at they want. A parrot, me b’y, is always -hollerin’ fer a cracker, but did yez iver see it eat wan? Ye did not.” - -“By which you mean to say--” began Don. - -“Thot the dumb Dutch will do somethin’ crazy sooner er later an’ -hang hisself. They jist natchally go round with a rope ready. An -look phw’at they’re doin’ in this war. Preparin’ the thickest koind -of a rope an’ makin’ it good an’ tight around their fool necks be -desthroyin’ iv’rything they come acrost so that whin they have t’ pay -they can’t do it!” - -It might seem to one not familiar with the risks of battle that -the work of an army or Red Cross ambulance driver must have been -intolerably monotonous. But such an idea is very far from the truth. -No two journeys afield were alike and so varied was the work and so -soul-stirring the sights and sounds of two great armies facing each -other, with bared fangs, that the part of any kind of an actor in the -war become a terribly real experience. - -There was no monotony in this thing for Don Richards, nor doubtless, -for any other ambulance driver in France during the great war, and -our hero could affirm this, especially when a shell, making a direct -hit, carried away all the latter part of his ambulance and burst on -the ground beyond, not forty feet away. Tim and Don were dragged one -way by the impact, a hundredth of a second later tossed, in a heap in -the other direction clear of motor and front wheels, upon a friendly -bit of mud and left to wonder whether the world had come to an end -completely, or was only just beginning to. And yet the boys came -through without a scratch worth mentioning. - -Tim Casey worried Don not a little in always being slow with his gas -mask. The boy told his helper that it would serve him right some -time if he got a sore throat from the gas. But the Irishman laughed; -he was really not afraid of anything normal, and abnormal things he -treated with a sort of lenient bluff, cursing them soundly in his -soft Irish brogue and dodging them because it was the habit to do so. - -“The sthinkin’ stuff is as vile as the dirthy Huns thot sind it over, -an’ if Oi had the villain thot invinted it Oi’d maul the face off -him, I wud!” - -“But suppose he were a big fellow, like some of these Huns are?” Don -asked in jest, to tease his companion. - -“Big er little, it don’t matter,” replied Tim. “It ain’t the soize -of a mon thot counts; it’s the spirit of him,” which Don was glad -to admit. And he sized up the little Irishman as one having a large -spirit when it came to a scrap. - -And there was the movement of men, of guns big and little, -of airplanes; there were aerial battles, bombings, raids and -counter-attacks, which were seen but little by the ambulance drivers, -but the immediate results were realistic enough. Tim Casey found a -remark or two that fitted every occasion and he declared one fight -even bloodier than an Irish holiday. - -“Ah, me b’y, if the bloody gobs in this here scrap had only had -clubs--shillalahs--phw’at wud they done to each ither? If Oi was the -ginral of this outfit, b’gorry, Oi’d sthart out a raidin’ party of -all Irish from County Kerry, give ’em shillalahs an’ the war’d be -over the next day! The kaiser wud call it inhuman, of coorse, an’ -right he’d be, but we’d win jist the same.” - -“Now, what could clubs do against guns?” Don laughed. “They’d have -you all shot dead before you got near enough to soak them.” - -“An wud they? Thin, me b’y, how come they to use bayonets? Tell me -thot.” - -“Its a thing I can’t understand and I guess I never will; unless it’s -after the ammunition on both sides gives out that they use them. -Maybe if they’d do away with ammunition in wars shillalahs would be -handier than guns and worse than bayonets.” - -“Oi’ll write the C. and C. about thot same,” said Tim. - -But whatever frightful atrocities and science had done to make this -war a horror beyond the conception of those who could not witness it, -the most terrible of all was the Hun bombing of hospitals. There was, -as with many other things indulged in by the Germans, nothing gained -by these acts--nothing but deeper exasperation and determination on -the part of those who were forced to fight the Hun. He saw others -through his own shade of yellow and imagined that he could frighten -his foes and lessen their morale that way--but it produced exactly -the opposite effect. - -The cross-roads evacuation hospital tents back of the Montdidier -front suffered from German airmen, not many days after the great -German push for Amiens had been stopped. Plainly an act of hatred, -this bombing gained nothing for the Huns. They had lost thousands of -men in killed, wounded and prisoners and wanted the Allies to suffer -still more. - -Don and Tim had received but one wounded man from the dressing -station back of the woods on the hill. Looking for additional -wounded, who might be struggling in, they had run around the northern -edge of the woods and a half-mile farther on, near the front line -trenches, when a military policeman rode out from an old orchard and -stopped them. - -“Too much noise from that motor of yours and the Heinies are very -wide awake,” he said. “They’ll spot you and be pretty likely to get -you.” - -“We hadn’t seen any Hun fliers and we thought they might be generally -keeping quiet,” Don said. - -“They are quiet just now, but I reckon it’s just before a storm,” -said the M. P. “That’s the way it usually is. If they suddenly start -to put down a barrage before a drive or a raid you’ll be in for it. -You know a good many of the bullets fly high and pretty nearly half -of them ricochet. You fellows can’t get back of a tree as I and my -horse can. Better go back.” - -Tim, who was driving the car, having now become rather proficient at -it, had a word to say, as usual. - -“R-right you are, me b’y! We was jist calculatin’ if they sint some -whizzers over to ketch ’em in these here dish pans; do ye see?” And -Tim tapped his helmet. “We’re lookin’ fer sowineers, we are.” - -“Oh, yes, you’d stop ’em! If a 122-shell would be coming right for -that topknot of yours it would veer off and go on, hoping to draw -blood where none was already flowing.” - -“Faith, an’ how did yez iver git in the sarvice? Ye’re color blind; -me mither dyed me hair blue; can’t ye see it? to offset me too -cheerful disposition.” - -“If you told me it was green I might believe you. But on the top of -the green it’s all rufus, Mike, all rufus.” - -“Well, misther bobby, it’s all right fer yez. But it’s a fightin’ -color; ain’t it?” - -“I believe that! But come now, lads; you’d better beat it while your -skins are whole.” - -Tim began turning the car. “Sure an’ ye loike t’ give orders. An’ -Oi’ll be tellin’ yez this; if a shell comes your way an’ mixes wid -yer anatomy, er yez git overcome wid hard wor-r-rk sett in’ on thot -plug all day ye’ll be hopeful glad t’ see us comin’. So long!” - -Not many minutes later the boys reached the hospital and out came the -Major in his long, white blouse. When the _brancardiers_ had carried -the wounded man into the X-ray tent, the chief had a word to say to -the _ambulanciers_ gathered by the roadside. - -“Hold yourselves in readiness, boys; we have orders to evacuate at -once; get every man that we can let go out of here and be ready -to pull up stakes at a moment’s notice. That’ll be if the Germans -succeed in advancing. It is believed they are getting ready to make -another push. So, as soon as we list our cases fully as to condition -and treatment, in half an hour’s time, we shall ask you to go get -busy. You had better line up along the road. Those cases in the -first three cars you will report and they’ll go on through to the -convalescent bases, as ordered by the Red Cross commission assistant; -the others will go to the nearest Red Cross base. Now, then, stand -ready boys, and tune up your motors till we call on you for the -stretcher work. We haven’t enough _brancardiers_ to do it quickly.” -The Major re-entered the tent. - -Don turned to a fellow-driver and was making a remark when Tim pulled -his sleeve. - -“Do yez hear thot coffee grinder comin’?” - -From a distance there was the hum of a motor high in air. As it grew -louder, it was easily recognized as a double motor--the unmistakable -sound, never in tune, that giant twin propellers make. - -“Sounds like a bombing plane. Ours or the Huns’?” queried a driver, -gazing aloft. The bunch were all doing that now, as a matter of -habit. One chap was squinting through a field glass. - -“There she comes out of that cloud! Pretty high up. Say, it’s a -Heinie! What’s he up to? Guns can’t reach him at that elevation, but -_his_ bombs can reach the earth.” - -“Going to worry them reserves, I reckon. Where’s the Frog-eaters? -They’ll chase him home if they go up.” - -There seemed to be no French birdmen around and the German was -evidently taking advantage of this. He was coming on straight over -the hospital and lessening his height every second. In thirty seconds -he had come down to half the distance from the earth and began to -sweep about in a circle, or like a gigantic figure eight, much as a -great, bloodthirsty hawk does when scanning the earth below for its -prey. - -Suddenly, from beneath the airplane the watchers saw something long -and gray which seemed to poise a moment under the airplane, then drop -and gain momentum every fraction of a second, and fall like a plummet -straight for the hospital tent. The watchers, all experienced, knew -well what it was, but any cry of warning was lost in the explosion -that followed not a hundred feet beyond the tent. - -“The dirty spalpeen!” Don heard Tim shout. “Come down here wanst an’ -thin do it! Gin’ral,”--Tim insisted upon calling Don that--“he’ll -make surer the next time! Come, there’s wor-rk inside!” - -There was. Don caught a glimpse of two _ambulanciers_ diving under -their cars, of another running somewhere else, evidently for shelter. -The boy’s ears welcomed the sharp crack, crack of field pieces and -he knew the anti-aircraft were demonstrating their readiness. He got -one more glimpse of the Hun plane over the roof of the tent and saw -another gray thing descending. Then he was inside. - -When Don had looked in not two hours before he noted that at least -three-fourths of the cots were occupied, the convalescents walking -slowly about, or seated in little groups, talking; the nurses were -busily engaged. The sad sounds pervading the place were horribly -depressing to him. He could not long endure the labored breathing of -those who were passing over the Great Divide, the persistent coughing -of the severely gassed, the sight of shell-shocked men, who, without -a scratch, cowered and stared about like crazy people, the moaning of -those who suffered and the smell of anesthetics. - -But now all was changed. The scene was beyond description. Don was -awake to his duty and eager for it. There must be strong wills and -hands to aid and reassure these helpless fellows. The doctors and -nurses, frightened but heroic, could not do it all. - -With a sound like the rending of a thousand taut cords a hole was -torn in the tent roof, the interior was filled with streaks of flame -and smoke and flying objects, a choking odor filled the air with -stinging fumes and through it all came groans, screams and curses -in a hideous melody. Wounded men some with limbs in splints, some -half covered with bandages, leaped or tumbled out of their cots, and -sought imagined shelter anywhere. Some limped or crawled outside. -Some lay still and prayed aloud. Another bomb fell that was a second -clean miss of the main tent, though it struck the corner of the -medical supplies tent and scattered the Major’s personal effects -beyond recovery. Two other bombs came down in quick succession, one -in the road beyond, cutting a hind tire, lifting the top off of the -last ambulance in the line and knocking down two sentries. The fifth -bomb went wild and did no harm. Those who still had their eyes on the -murderous thing aloft saw it turn eastward and rise beyond the reach -of the guns. - -There was much work of a very serious nature during the next few -hours and then a night of running back and forth. The first streaks -of a murky dawn witnessed the evacuation hospital nearly empty and -ready for new cases. Two lads in a rain-soaked and mud-bespattered -ambulance, carrying a cheerful soldier whose only need was a week of -rest, stopped by the roadside on the way to Paris--and, with their -passenger’s consent, rolled up in blankets on floor and seat to sleep -the sleep of the just fagged. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -WASH - - -“My boy, I want to commend you, for your aid when they bombed us last -week. Haven’t had a chance to before. If all of the fellows had been -as cool and as helpful as you and that little, red-headed Irishman -we would have had less trouble straightening things out. I see he is -running his own car now. Who is your helper?” So spoke Major Little, -when he came out of the operating room to get a breath of fresh air, -and said to Don. - -“I guess I’ll get a colored chap, if I get any,” the boy replied. “A -lot of new cars have come over and they want men. I can get along -alone. Some of the fellows do.” - -“Better to have company. Helps the _morale_. Gives a chance of aid -if one fellow gets hit. Better all round. It is the policy of the -service; but we can’t always get what we want.” - -“Glad you didn’t have to move after all, Doctor.” - -“No, but the expectation now is that the move will come farther -north--against the British. Or it may be to the south. If so, some of -you fellows will have to be transferred to that sector and it will -give us a little rest here.” - -“I guess you won’t be sorry, sir. You have worked hard.” - -“Yes, pretty hard--right along. We of the Medical Department and of -the Red Cross got into it before our fighters did. But the time has -come now.” - -“I’d like to see some of our boys get busy in a big way. I wish I -could have joined the army.” - -“Your work is fully as important--and daring--and useful. And, -remember this, it is far more humane. You’ve no right to feel -dissatisfied.” - -“I’m not, Major--not a bit of it. You may count on me! Are there any -more _blessés_ to go down now?” - -The Americans had begun to take part in the fighting. They had begun -to do things in a small way, but this seemed to cause very little -stir in France, except among those who had knowledge of the sterling -character of the boys from the United States. The French commonly -knew nothing actually. They saw nothing to make them think they were -any more than a staunch-looking lot of fellows, many of whom needed -a lot of drilling in modern warfare before they could hope to turn -the tide of battle. There had been little evidence, so far, of this -aid materializing, and even the most optimistic _poilus_ had begun to -doubt and to question. They had become a trifle fed up on American -promises and they now wondered if the Yanks really meant to fight in -a large way, or had come over only to skirmish and to bolster up the -courage of the Allies by remaining in reserve. - -True, the Americans had done a little commendable fighting, aided -by the British and the French. Brigaded with the “Tommies” they had -taken some hard knocks above Amiens. Brigaded with the French they -had helped hold the Germans around Montdidier, but what could they do -on a large scale that would really count? Were they actually going to -be a factor in war? - -Well, these questions were to be answered shortly, but would the -result allay all doubt in the minds of all the anxious ones? The -Americans were arriving upon the field of battle in rapidly -increasing numbers. They had come across three thousand miles of -water in spite of the German submarines. Was it like those vigorous -inhabitants of the greatest country on earth, to hold back now in the -great contest? - -Spring had arrived. It was past the middle of April. The grass was -newly green. The fruit trees were coming into blossom and the foliage -was beginning to bud. The birds were singing everywhere, even amidst -the desolate scenes of battle. Except where the shells and shrapnel -of the opposing armies had torn the ground and battered the forests, -there was the peacefulness over all and beauty of the new life of the -season. Even now not far back from the fighting front of the Allies, -some daring tillers of the soil were making ready to plant their -crops. - -But alternating with the days of balmy stillness came the rains--days -and days when the whole face of nature was like a vast mop, soaked -to fullness, dripping and cold. And when it rained it did nothing -but rain. It had become almost an icy drizzle on the twentieth and -the soldiers in the trenches, those bivouacking in the open and the -homeless refugees who had fled before the German advance, were -correspondingly miserable. It was, as in the winter months, a time -for greatcoats, dry footwear, if such were possible, and the making -of fires wherever fuel was to be had. - -Don Richards was ready with every handy means to meet the intolerable -weather conditions, and his new helper, Washington White, the -blackest darky and one of the best natured that ever exposed a -wide row of ivories. Washington fairly hugged himself because luck -had thrown him in with a lad who had camped and roughed it through -wild country and knew nearly every trick of out-of-door life, from -vacation experiences with his Boy Scout troop, and from camping out -with the Brighton biology class. - -“Wha--wha--what we gwine tuh du now, Mist’ Donal’? Ain’t a-gwine tuh -stay yer; is we? In all dis slop o’ mud?” - -“Just that!” Don replied. “No more mud here than everywhere else. -I guess the whole world is one big puddle by the way things look, -except perhaps the Desert of Sahara or the American bad lands. This -is as good a spot to put up in for the night as anywhere that I know -of--in this part of the earth, anyhow.” - -“But wha’s de matter wif gwine on back tuh de hospital?” - -“No place there. You know they’ve asked us to give up our quarters -for a while to some new nurses just come over, and we’ve got to be -polite to the ladies. The orders have been all along that if we were -empty and night shut down on us on the road, to bunk anywhere and go -on in the morning, with that much time gained. Every minute counts -these days. Get the matches under the seat there, will you? And -there’s a bottle of coal-oil wrapped in a rag by the tool box. Reach -down that camp hatchet.” - -“But, lawsee, Mist’ Donal’, we’d be somewhar’s en’ a roof en’ have -lights en’ a wahm meal---” - -“Say, forget it! Haven’t we got the roof of the car? And haven’t -we got a light,” pointing to the one lighted lamp of the car, “and -as for a warm meal--oh, boy! I’ll make you think you’re at the -Waldorf-Astoria when I get to frying this good old American bacon and -these French eggs. You ought to be doing it, really, but the next -time’ll be your turn. Now then, chase around for some wood!” - -“B-r-r-r! Dis road’s awful dahk en’ de wood’ll be all wet’s a wet -hen, en’ say, Mist’ Donal’, wid all dem sojers kickin’ de bucket back -yondah en’ off dere in dem trenches en’ de amberlances chasin’ back -en’ fo’th wid deaders--say, lawsee, Ah’s plum scairt ’bout projectin’ -roun’ dis--” - -“Aw, go on, you superstitious simp! The wood won’t be wet inside if -it isn’t rotten. Don’t be a coward. Why, boy, you tell me you’re not -going to be afraid of bullets and shells and bombs and gas. Aren’t -they worse than people already dead? You make me tired. Go chase--!” - -“But shells is jes’ shells en’ bullets is jes’ bullets en’ all dat, -but dese yere deaders may be ghos’ses. Lawsee, man! Ef one o’ dem -t’ings ’d rise up en’ grab yo’--ooh!” - -“Say, you weren’t cut out for this kind of work, Wash. What are you -going to do when we’ve got to haul some dead people, or when some -poor chap dies on the way in? I’ve had three do that with me so far -and it may happen right along. See here, if you want to stay with me -you’ve got to be sensible and brave. There’s no such thing as ghosts -and the only thing about a dead person is that it’s awful to think -they’ve had to be killed. Are you going after--?” - -“Yes, suh; yes, suh! Ah’ll git de wood, ef dere is any. Ah reckon Ah -ain’t so much scairt as Ah let on! Ah reckon Ah ain’t.” - -“You’d better not be scared at anything if you want to stay with -this outfit. This is no coward’s job, Washington. And say, with that -name of yours, now, you oughtn’t to be afraid of the whole German -army, even if they were all dead. George Washington wasn’t afraid of -anything. Is your first name George?” - -“Ah reckon ’tis, but Ah doan’ know fo’ shuah. Mah mammy allus jes’ -call me Wash er Washington. No, suh, dat man Ah’s name fo’ wasn’t no -coward. Ah’ll git de wood, but Ah’ll take de hatchet.” - -But Wash had become more reconciled to a camp in a soggy field by the -time he had set his teeth into the bacon, several boxes of which, -with other good things, filled a grub box in the car. Then, warmed by -a fire that roared in spite of the drizzling rain and mist, and later -rolled in a thick army blanket on the bottom of the ambulance, the -darky’s snores soon gave evidence that ghosts were haunting him no -longer. - -The morning dawned with lifting mists and a breeze that was making -a counterdrive to chase away the enemy clouds in order to let the -peaceful sunlight through. Don, while lighting the fire, planning the -breakfast and prodding Wash to get up and cook it, felt much better -for the change. - -“Hump yourself, you lazy snorefest you, and just look at the battle -going on out here!” - -That had the effect of hastily arousing Wash. Not even the promise of -a crap game is dearer to one of his kind than a scrap of this sort. - -“Whar-whar’s de fight? Ah doan’ heah no shootin’!” - -“See those Hun clouds?” enthused Don. “Well, that west wind comes -straight from good old America and it’s making the boches hustle.” - -“Lawsee! Ah reckon you-all’s done got ’em! Wha-whar’s dat bacon en’ -dem aigs. Yo’ jes’ watch me git up one breakfas’ dat’ll fetch roun’ -yo’ senses! Golly! Heah dat?” - -They both heard. A rumbling noise coming rapidly nearer along the -road. Wash thought it might be the Germans, but Don assured him that -was impossible. The Americans were on the job now. There was further -evidence of this at hand, for out of the dispelling mists came a -yellow touring car closely followed by a gigantic khaki-colored -lorry, or camion. Right back of that another and another, and more, -and still more until the road was filled, farther than the eye could -see, with the steadily moving line. Each big vehicle was filled with -soldiers. - -Don had seen a crest on the leading touring car. He knew this bunch -of men, for it had been whispered from mouth to mouth at the Red -Cross base hospital that the marines were on their way from westward -training camps. - -“Our engineers up there with General Carney showed the Huns what kind -of stuff the Americans are made of,” one official had said. “Trust -the marines for driving that down the Germans throats--when they get -at it!” - -That was it: when they got at it. But when were they to get at it? -Was French official red tape in the way, or was it that the British -and French generals feared to trust the untried Americans too far? -Must a desperate need arise to make an actual test of the Americans? - -The boys stood by their car, waving their hats at the men in passing, -and many a wave of arms they got back. Many a good-natured jibe was -exchanged between the lorries and the ambulance. - -“Hurrah! Go to it, you blood drinkers!” shouted Don. - -“That’s the stuff, buddy! It’s sauerkraut in Berlin for us before -we’re done!” - -“We’re goin’ to give Fritzy fits!” roared another marine. - -“How do you like cruising on land?” asked Don of another carload. - -“Can’t see much difference between this country now and the good, old -ocean!” was the rejoinder. - -“One’s as wet as the other!” - -“An’ ye can’t drink either of ’em!” shouted a third. - -“Oh, look at the coon!” called a private in another camion. - -“Say, nig, lost, ain’t yu? I reckon yu ol’ mammy’s jes’ cryin’ huh -eyes out fo’ huh little Alabama coon!” - -“Huh! Ah reckon yu-all frum down Souf, too; eh, soljah man?” yelled -Wash. - -“I am that! Georgia! But everything goes just the same over here!” - -“Say, a darky! Wonder these Frog-eaters haven’t got him in a cage! -rarity over here!” The fourth camion contingent were impressed. - -“Well, I bet our Red Cross friend there has to eat his share of hog -fat and hoe cake!” - -This went on for a good three-quarters of an hour until the last -lorry had passed. Then the lads turned to a hasty breakfast. - -“They’re the marines, Wash; the Fifth and Sixth Regiments. You know -they have a slogan in the Navy: ‘a marine never retreats’.” - -“In de Navy. What dem sojahs doin’ in de Navy?” - -“They’re the soldiers attached to battle-ships. They fight on land -when needed, and I guess they’re going to be needed here!” - -“Did yu-all know enny of ’em pussonel, Mist’ Donal’? Ah seed yo’ -lookin’ lak yo’ was gwine ter call a feller in one o’ de las’ cars be -name, en’ he look at yo’ so’t o’ queeah, too.” - -“Yes, I happen to know one of them, Wash. You are some observer. He’s -a chap from my home town. His name’s Clement Stapley. He joined the -marines before I left home. But I hardly think he knew me, Wash.” - -“Yes, Ah t’ink he done knowed yo’, frum de look awn his face. But -mebbe he wa’n’t quite shuah. Why’n’t yu-all holler at him en’ pass -de time o’ day an’ yell how he is?” - -“Oh, well, you see, we were not such very good friends, and I was -afraid he might still feel sore at me. Maybe I’ll get a chance to see -him again. Well, come on; we’ve got to be going. There’s a lot of -work ahead.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -SHIFTED - - -The battle sector southeast of Amiens and around Mondidier became -quiet during the latter part of April and early May, and, true to -Major Little’s predictions, he and the force under him had not much -to do. There was still some local fighting. It would not be modern -warfare without. Each side sought almost constantly to harass the -other and to impress its enemy with its power and readiness. Still, -there were a few casualties, so that the dressing stations, and -operating room in the evacuation hospital were not idle, and a few -ambulances were making almost continuous trips up and down the -well-traveled highway. - -Not far back of the road from Paris to Amiens the newly-begun -American graveyard, with its regular cross-headboards, had grown -somewhat. Its mounds were often decorated with roses, field poppies -and wild flowers laid on them by the tenderhearted natives, mostly -children. It was such sights, together with those of the ruined -homes and shell-torn cities within reach of the German guns, that -made the beholder pause and wonder how it was that humankind could -permit war and its horrors. - -The so-called second German drive of 1918 had been launched along -the river Lys against Ypres and toward the Channel ports in early -April. But it had proved a failure. The firm stand of the British -wore out and finally stopped the Huns. Then, more and more furious -at these repeated checks, the German High Command, with Hindenburg -and Ludendorff at the head, shifted their offensive toward the south. -If the British lion could not be separated from his ally, the French -eagle, and slain at once then perhaps a supreme effort would gain the -road to Paris. The threatened destruction of that city would surely -bring victory to Germany and thus enable the kaiser to impose “peace -at any price” upon the Allies. - -Therefore, on the last day of April began the strengthening of the -German line from Noyon to Rheims and a consequent push around Noyon. -But the Huns made no progress and once more gnashed their teeth in -preparation for a desperate onslaught. It was planned that this -should break through at the long coveted points nearest their first -objective, the city of Paris. - -Just as the storm broke along the Oise and the Marne rivers, there -came a surprise to the British, French and Germans. To the Huns it -was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. - -The Americans, under French direction, backed by French artillery, -went over the top from hastily dug trenches, and made a -counter-attack at Cantigny, which threw the enemy back nearly a mile. -The Yanks, at the end of May, still held their positions, against the -Huns most violent attacks. - -Coming up the Paris-Amiens road on a bright morning--the first day -of June--Don and Wash, carrying additional supplies for the dressing -stations back of Cantigny, met a long line of yellow American -lorries--no new thing now, but fraught with deep significance. - -“The marines again, Wash--our marines--going south. I bet they’re -ordered into the fight. You heard what the assistant to our -commissioner said to Surgeon-Major Brown: ‘There’s likely to be -some hard work stopping the Heinies on the road out there east of -Paris’--the road” Don explained, the Major said “to a place they call -Rheims. The Huns have got as far as the river Marne, and that’s where -they were in 1914. But I’ll bet they don’t get much farther--not if -our boys are going into it!” - -“Is dey enny cullud sojahs in de fight?” asked Wash. - -“I guess not right at this place, but I think there are, somewhere -along the line. Someone told me so--a regiment or more of them.” - -“Well, den, what dey wants tuh do is jes’ give ’em some razzors ’en -say tu ’em: ‘Look-a-yer, yo’ niggahs, dese yer Germans ain’t no real -white folks--dat is real qual’ty--dey is jes’ po’ whites ’en no -’count ’en dey hates niggahs. Now den, go in ’en carve ’em up!’ Sho, -man, dey wouldn’t be no German army in ’bout fo’ minutes.” - -“Why, that’s right, Wash! Great idea! I’m going to see General -Pershing about that. Or, say, how would it do to tell those colored -soldiers that every Heinie’s a brother to a ’possum, or that a -great big flock of fat chickens is roosting low over in the German -trenches! Wouldn’t they drop down on those Huns and scare ’em to -death?” - -“Aw, gwan, you’s kiddin’ me, yo’ is! Say, ain’t we gwine tuh stop -somewhar’s ’en see dese marines go by an’ holler at ’em lak we -done--?” - -“No, indeed. We’ve got to go on and get back,” said Don. “Orders are -to report near LaFerté, to a French officer. The evacuation hospitals -down there are all French, I guess. And now all the army down there -is French, too, I expect, so we’ll bring in their wounded mostly. But -if our boys--” - -“Does dese yer Frenchers all yell an’ hollah when dey’s hurt bad?” -Wash asked. So far he had seen but two of them, both seriously -wounded, and they had done a good deal of groaning and calling for -water. But the question went unanswered, for just at the moment the -ambulance was compelled to veer off nearly into the ditch in order to -dodge a broken-down car and the ever passing lorries, the negro being -bounced almost off his seat. - -“Ah doan keer whar we goes tu from yere, jes’ so’s we git somewhar’s -whar de sun shines lak hit do now fo’ a little while. Ah suttenly -doan lak dis puddle bizness what we has mos’ de time sense Ah ben in -dis yere France. Hit sure am some wet country. Now dis day ain’ so -bad, so Ah’ll jes’ tap wood--” and he rapped himself on the head. - -The round trip completed, Don and Wash at the base hospital, -re-stocked their car for any emergency. They started out on a new -road, coming up with the tail end of the marines in their big -camions--passing them, one by one. The way led east, then south and -east again, passing first through the town of Senlis, then around the -little city of Meaux, then away on a splendid road toward Rheims. -Before reaching the objective beyond the town of LaFerté, the road -crossed the beautiful Marne, called a river, though Don regarded it -merely a big creek, as it would be called in America. - -Oh and ever on, rumbled the camions, the yellow lorries with the -marines, and Don expected again to catch sight of Clem Stapley. -However, it was not these fighting men that most interested him, for -on this Rheims road the boy saw for the first time what he would -probably never see again--refugees, fleeing from the German army. - -It was a sight never to be forgotten--one to wring pity out of -the most stony-hearted, to sober the most waggish, to sadden the -gentler-minded as hardly even death, or the suffering of the wounded -could do. Driven from their homes, fearing the wrath of the invader, -expecting only to return and find all their property destroyed, -except the little they could carry away, given over to pillage, or -the flames. They trudged along, embittered by injustice, powerless -to protest, stolid or weeping, but all of one mind. They sought only -a place of safety from the Huns. They were mostly afoot; many old -men, the younger and middle-aged women and the stronger boys and -girls were the beasts of burden, carrying or drawing great loads in -makeshift carts, or light wagons, the more fortunate having horse or -cow, or perhaps donkey or dog, harnessed to help. On these loads rode -the smaller children and the very aged. - -Even the soldiers, singing and laughing as they went on to battle, -some of them to death or lifelong suffering, and as gay as if nothing -but a picnic lay before them, ceased their music and raillery, when -they saw the first of these refugees. - -The French medical officer at the evacuation hospital near LaFerté -spoke enough English to make himself understood by the American -Red Cross ambulance drivers, half a dozen of whom had reported to -duty before Don arrived on the scene. These fellows greeted him -exuberantly and all stood in a row ready to receive orders. - -“One of ze dressed staisheon ess more veree far up ze road at zee -feets of one hill, _m’sieu’_. Eet is maybe one kilo from zee enemy -at ze Château-Thierry. Go where eet is and carry all ze wound’ you -can to bring heem _par-ici_. Then we operate and dispose, _m’sieurs_. -_Allons!_” - -The ambulances raced away in a string, Don leading. Then began again -the experiences of near approach to the battle line, hearing the -almost constant rattle of small arms and the hardly less continuous -roar of larger guns, seeing the shattered buildings and trees and -shell-holes in the most unexpected places. The military police were -on duty along the roads. Military messengers were hurrying back and -forth. _Brancardiers_ were crossing and re-crossing the fields, with -their stretchers empty or laden. Field artillery was moving forward -to position. Troops were going in to engage the enemy, or coming out -to rest and others waiting in reserve. Ammunition carriers lugged -forward their heavy loads. Food for the men in battle was being -prepared in hastily set-up kitchens. Sometimes a shell exploded and -punctuated the tremendous activity. - -“Now then, Wash, mind your eye. We’ve got to get in where, any -minute, we may run into a big bang and go up a mile high, or maybe -get buried alive or dead under about a ton of earth. Here’s where it -is you’ve been saying you’d like to get--right in among the fighters. -So be prepared for the worst!” - -“Ah ain’t ezakly ready fo’ no sech carryin’s on ez dis,” the darky -remarked, rolling his ivory eye-balls until Don thought the pupils -would go out of sight and stay there. “How--how long we gotta stay -yere an’ what’s de mattah wiv me jes’ droppin’ off ’bout dis place -’en waitin’ twill yu-all gits back from in yondah? Kaint see how Ah’s -gwine be much use nohow.” - -“You stay right on this car!” ordered Don. “What did you come for? -When you get hit, then it’s time to talk about quitting. From your -color I didn’t believe you had a single streak of yellow in you.” - -Wash stared hard at Don for a moment. A big, whizzing shell, with a -noise like that made by a nail when thrown through the air, passed -over, not very far away, and exploded with a horrible rending sound, -but the negro only shook himself and then grinned. Presently he -replied to his companion: - -“An’ Ah ain’t yaller, neither! No, sah! En’ yu-all ain’t gwine tuh -have no call tuh say Ah is yaller. No, sah! Ah’s gwine tuh stay on -dis job ontil de yearth jes’ fade away an’ kingdom come, Ah is. -Scairt? Is Ah? Yu jes’ watch me! An’ ef Ah’s gotta git hit, why Ah -jes’ gits hit an’ Ah reckon Ah kin stan’ it ez well ez a yuther o’ -them niggahs a-fightin’, or any white man, either! Yes, sah!” - -And that was all there was to it. Wash meant what he said. Not -another whimper did Don hear from him, no matter what their duties -were, nor how fast the shells flew. The darky was on the job to prove -that he was all one solid color, figuratively as well as literally, -even if his name was White. And it became certain that there was no -pallor in his liver to indicate his name. - -The boys’ first trip close to the battle lines near Château-Thierry -resulted in their return with three Frenchmen, one dying and beyond -possible help, and two others wounded. Don and Wash had reached the -crest of a hill on the road running southwest into LaFerté when they -came upon a Red Cross ambulance which had been disabled. Don pulled -up a moment to ask if he could briefly give aid, thinking to tow the -other car in, if necessary. It was not the custom for a car loaded -with _blessés_ to spend any time on the road, if it could be avoided. - -A weazen little man, with a foreign face, replied to the boy, in good -English: - -“Can you lend us a heavy wrench? We have only one and a light one. We -need two to take off a bolt.” - -Don produced the desired tool from his box and turned to hand it -to the little fellow. At the same instant the voice of someone on -the other side of the crippled car called quite loud and in French, -presumably a command to the little man. The latter made answer as if -in protest. Then he handed the wrench back to Don. - -“We can obtain another. We should not keep you. Thanks.” - -“No, use it,” Don insisted. “I must give my wounded some water and -see if they are comfortable. It will not take you long.” - -The little man ran quickly to his car and dived beneath it. Don, -influenced partly by curiosity and partly by instinct, walked past -the front end and on to the other side of the disabled car. A man -there, whose voice he had heard--glared at him for a moment, then -turned away, rounding the rear end of the car and keeping his back to -Don. This fellow was tall, thin, with a narrow face and contracted -eyes. He was dressed in khaki, with the white band and Red Cross on -his arm. - -The boy stood pondering but a moment. He knew where he had seen this -man before and under what circumstances. Evidently Don also was -recognized. Without a word the youth retraced his steps. He knew very -well from what exact spot he could draw his rifle and he knew also -that Wash knew how to handle a gun and that he would glory in doing -so where any kind of heroics were to be pulled off. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -ON THE WAY - - -“Wash, listen: You know how to use this. Magazine’s full. You’re to -use it--just when I tell you, or maybe before. There’s a chap around -that’s got to go along with us, Wash, and there’s a cord in the -tool-box to tie him with. Mind you don’t shoot me! Lie low till I -shout.” - -Don went back to the crippled car. - -“Well, does it work? Got it out?” he asked of the little man and -received a muffled reply from beneath the _chassis_. Don walked -around the mudguard past the rear end, and looked along the other -side. No one was in sight. Had the tall man slipped into the car? He -would find out. - -“Nice car you have here--don’t see many as fine in the service,” he -remarked to the man beneath. Again a muffled reply. One can hardly -give attention to needless questions and wrestle with a refractory -bolt. “How is she fitted inside?” Don queried, putting one hand on -the latch of the full-length doors and the other on the butt of his -revolver in its holster. But the doors were fastened on the inside. - -“Don’t open those doors! Don’t try to, for the love of God!” -yelled the small man, from the ground and instantly his wrinkled -face emerged, followed by his wiry little body. “We’re loaded with -explosives for mines and they’ll go off. Keep away from it!” Whether -this was true or not and whether the fellow really felt frightened -or was pretending, he certainly assumed it well. Don involuntarily -backed away from the car. - -“Oh, but that was a narrow escape! We’d all be sky-high if--” he -began again, but the boy quickly regained his nerve. - -“Well, tell me, how does it carry them; stand the jolt? And how are -you going to unload it? Looks to me as if you’re kidding. But I don’t -see any joke in it.” - -“Kidding? Indeed I’m not, man! But I can’t stop now--” - -“Oh, yes you will, too! My business is more important right now than -yours. I want to see inside and I’m going to. You come here and open -these doors for me!” - -“What? Trying to act smart, ain’t you?” The little man was about to -turn back to his work, but Don caught him by the shoulder, whirled -him around and he gazed into the muzzle of the boy’s revolver. - -“S-s-say, what you--?” - -“Open those doors! There’s a fellow in there that’s going back with -us. He’s in there and I want him! Come on, open that door and be -quick about it. Wash, bore a hole in this fellow if he makes a break!” - -“S-say, put down that pistol! I haven’t done anything to you. Listen -to reason: there ain’t anyone in there. The man who was here--some -fellow I don’t know went up the road. Guess he’s a Frenchman.” - -“I guess he is--_not_!” said Don. “I know him; saw him before in the -United States and up here near Montdidier. Come, open up or chase him -out!” - -“I tell you there’s explosives--” - -“Bosh! Think I’m green; don’t you? Before I have to tell you again to -open those doors I’m going to blow the lock off ’em. Now, get busy!” - -[Illustration: DON CAUGHT HIM BY THE SHOULDER AND WHIRLED HIM AROUND.] - -The weazen little man was most deliberate. Coming around to the rear -end of the ambulance, he reached up to the door latch. But this -action was a bluff--the boy felt sure of that. The lad didn’t feel -like carrying out his threat. To shoot through the doors might kill -someone and he didn’t want to kill. At most it was desirable to -inflict only a wound. Surely there must be a way to win out here and -Don had already learned to depend on the power of his shooting-iron. -He had every inch of his nerve with him at this moment. - -“Can’t open it, eh? Can’t? Well, I’ll show you how then.” He walked -quickly to the car and taking the revolver by the chamber in his left -hand--not a thing a wise gunman would do at any time, under stress of -threatening circumstances he caught the lower corner of one door that -was warped enough to gap at the bottom, and, with a wrench he tore -off the frail fastening. The doors flew open. - -The next instant Don was tumbling on the ground, struggling to rise. -He felt a determination to fight, and hold this man still uppermost -in his mind, in spite of a heavy blow over the head from within the -car. Where was his weapon? Why could he not instantly regain his -feet? Was that the noise of the crippled car getting away? Where was -Wash? Why did he not shoot? - -Then there was a period of unconsciousness until, a few minutes -later, he did get to his feet to stare into the frightened eyes of -Washington White. - -“Oh, by cracky, they hit me and--they’re gone! Wash, Wash, why didn’t -you shoot ’em? Why didn’t you--?” - -“Shoot nuthin’! Man, man, how come yo’ lef’ de barrel plum empty? Dey -wuz no ca’tridge in de barrel. Ah cocked her ’en pulled de trigger -’en cocked her again ’en pulled ’en she wouldn’t go off nohow ’en by -de time Ah projecated whar de troble was, dem fellahs wuz a flyin’ -down de road lak Ol’ Man Scratch wuz a huntin’ ’em. But ’tain’t so -much Ah keer ef dey is gone so’s yu ain’ daid.” - -“Well, I care!” Don was clearly regaining his senses. “But it was my -fault, Wash. I never thought to pump a cartridge into the barrel, -and what a fool I was to pull that door open and not be ready. That -villain was laying for me and, say, their car wasn’t crippled much, -either.” - -In the roadway, where the disabled car had stood, lay two -monkey-wrenches and a small bolt which probably had pivoted a brake -rod. At the rate of speed that car had started to gain, there would -probably be no use for brakes! - -“We’ve got to get back and report this fellow,” Don said, returning -his rifle to its case, and the revolver to its holster on his belt. -“We’ve got only about twenty minutes’ run yet, I think. Say, I feel -like ten fools to let those devils get away. Keep your eye open for -an M. P. on the road.” - -But not more than five minutes elapsed before the boys sighted a big -touring car, with half a dozen khaki-clad men in it, tearing along -toward them. Don stopped and signaled to the soldiers to do the same. -They dashed up with screeching brakes, and Don stared. In the front -seat, with the driver sat Clem Stapley. - -All ill feeling in Don’s mind was swept aside by the business at -hand. Its nature and the comradeship that natives of the same distant -country in a foreign land and in a common cause naturally abolish -personal ill feeling. So he shouted: - -“Hello, Clem! Say, fellows, there are two spies right ahead; they -just--” - -“In a Red Cross car?” asked a man on the rear seat; he was an M. P. -“We’re looking for them. Got word at the French evacuation hospital. -Two did you say?” - -“Yes, and they’re getting away at a lively rate. Clem, one of them is -the same German we saw in the train; the one that got away after they -blew up the mills, over home. I’ve seen him before, too, north of -here. He--” - -“Sure he’s a German?” asked the M. P. Clem had said no word and -seemed to wish to avoid acknowledging Don. The M. P. turned to Clem. - -“Say, Corp, if you know this spy we’d better be getting on. That’s -the orders. The P. C. told you to get these fellows.” - -Corporal Stapley turned slowly to reply. “Ask you informant here how -he came to discover these Germans.” - -“Ask him yourself,” retorted the M. P. - -“Look here, Clem, don’t be a fool--twice!” Don blurted, angrily. -“This is big business and allows for no petty child’s play.” - -“How did you get on to them?” Clem deigned to ask, then. And Don -briefly related the adventure with the two signalers back of the -Mondidier front and then told of the incident just past. - -“Couldn’t hold them,” remarked Clem. “Fool trick. I guess you’re -better when you’ve got another that’s some account backing you. Let -them get away! Fierce! Poor work!” - -“Hey, yo’ white fellah, hit ain’t so!” Wash put in, angrily. “Yu -ain’t in yo’ right min’, Ah reckon. Wha’d yu done ef yu’d ben thar?” - -Clem paid no attention, but asked another question. “Did they scare -you very much?” - -Don, though hurt at his townsman’s words, decided to let them pass; -he merely waved his hand up the road, but Wash was more than game. - -“Mah boss ain’t gittin’ scairt at nuthin’, yo’ white fellah! Ah bet -yu can’t scare him. Dis yer same German spy fit wif mah boss up yon -furder no’th an’ mah boss jes’ up en’ kilt dis German man’s pardner, -kilt him daid! Major Little of the evac. horspittle he done tol’ me -’bout hit. Dey ain’t no po’ white German what kin scare mah boss!” - -“Thank you, Wash. But this gentleman won’t believe--” - -“Well, you sassy nigger, how then did this spy get away?” - -“Come, come, Corporal! This looks silly to me. Let us be going on, or -that spy will get away from us.” - -“Good luck to you, Mister Policeman,” said Don, and started his car -again. - -Don and Wash put in the rest of the day overhauling the ambulance. -Early in the evening they were again on the road to Château-Thierry -and witnessing a sight most depressing. - -The French were in retreat--constantly falling back. The retirement -was orderly. There was no rout, no apparent hurrying and, from the -din of battle ahead, it was plain that every foot of advance that -the enemy made was bitterly contested. Yet the Huns were gaining, as -they had been for five days and for nearly thirty miles, encompassing -an area of six hundred square miles in this drive. Success seemed -to be written on their banners in this, the greatest effort of all. -Thus they forced a deep wedge into the Allied line, the farthermost -point of which had reached the town of Château-Thierry. And in the -succeeding days what more would they gain? - -Back, and farther back were swept the French, and the Huns were -elated. The blue-and-red clad troops who had fought them so savagely -were now no match for the vast numbers of chosen shock troops. Was -there no means by which the boches could be checked? - -“By cracky, Wash, it looks as if these French had pretty nearly -enough of it! I don’t believe they have, though. But if they keep on -coming this way we’ll have to look sharp, or we’ll run into a lot of -Huns.” - -“Ah doan, want tuh run into no sich!” declared Wash. “Dey eats -sauerkraut an’ dis yere what dey calls limberburg cheese--an’ oxcuse -_me_!” - -Beyond LaFerté the boys met platoons, companies, regiments, even -battalions, or at least remnants of them, and all along the line more -than a mile each side of Château-Thierry the falling back was certain -and regular. - -Then, suddenly, almost as though dropped from the sky, came the -Americans. From long distances in the rear and without stopping to -rest from their arduous journey, the Yanks eagerly faced the Huns, -and foremost among these cheerful, singing, jesting troops from -overseas were the marines, leaving their train of parked lorries not -far from LaFerté and coming up on foot. - -The German High Command had received intelligence of the French -handing the defense of this line nearest Paris over to the Yanks, -and the word had come to the invaders: “Go through these untrained -Americans like a knife through cheese!” It is said that this was -General Ludendorff’s pet phrase. - -The Americans took up their positions along the southern bank of the -Marne and beyond in the hills. Then night came on. The enemy was too -confident of a sweeping victory on the morrow to give serious thought -to night attacks. Beyond a few minor skirmishes and some artillery -firing, the hours of darkness passed uneventfully. - -That night Don and Wash slept in their car, not far from the -Château-Thierry road and within a short distance of some American -regulars placed in reserve. Seeing the boys’ fire, a few officers -came over to talk. They were much interested in Don, and amused at -Wash and his lingo. They also were free with certain information and -opinions. One first-lieutenant who had most to say remarked: - -“Well, we’ve got a job on our hands tomorrow, but we’ll do it! These -Frenchies are good fellows and good scrappers, but they have to -follow fixed methods of fighting. This is not the American way. I say -hang this trench business, pot shots, grenades, flares, sniping and -all that!” - -“Like to have a little of it kind of Indian fashion, eh?” suggested -Don. - -“That’s it, my boy! Go right after them--rifle, bayonet and pistol!” - -“I hear our commander told the generalissimo that we wanted to fight -this in our own way,” offered a young second-lieutenant. - -“That’s right. As soon as Foch said we might try, Pershing told him -we could stop the Heinies, but we didn’t want to follow the methods -commonly in use. We wanted to go at them American fashion. So, those -are the orders. And, believe me, we’ll stop them all right!” - -“Pretty sure of it?” queried Don. - -“Certain, my boy; certain! How do you feel about it, Rastus!” - -“Ah feels dis a-way ’bout hit:” answered Wash. “Whichaway a white man -wants tuh fight Ah sez let him fight an’ same way wif a niggah. Some -goes at it wif fis’ en’ some wif a razzor, but fo’ me lemme butt wif -mah haid. Ah kin put mah weight back o’ dis ol’ bean o’ mine en’ make -a dant in a grin’ stone wif it!” - -“Say, Rastus, go butt a Hun!” - -“Show me one, boss; show me one! A ain’t seed one yit what wants tuh -fight. Ah on’y heerd tell of ’em.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -YANKS - - -“Ask Corporal Stapley to report here, Sergeant.” A bluff Irishman, -late of the regular army and now attached to the marines for his -experience, saluted his Captain and turned to obey. A few minutes -later he returned with the non-com. - -“What luck, Stapley?” asked the Captain. - -“Couldn’t find them, sir,” was the reply. - -“That’s bad. Made every effort, I suppose.” - -“We did, indeed. Jennings, of the Police, was with us and we scoured -around thoroughly. A Red Cross ambulance is pretty easy to spot and -we landed half a dozen, but they were all O. K.” - -“Haven’t the least idea where those fellows could have gone?” - -“Not the least. Case of mysterious disappearance. We thought they -might have gone back to the base and we telephoned there to be on the -lookout for them, and you may wager they are. We called from LaFerté -again later, but they hadn’t seen them. Jennings ’phoned both the -Meaux and Paris police to be on the watch.” - -“Unfortunate. Well, you did all you could. Say, a little more -personally: I see, by the records, that you are a Brighton Academy -boy; is that right?” - -“I am; class of 1919, but I don’t know what year we’ll get through -now.” - -“Well, let us hope it is not deferred. Then college, eh?” - -“I guess so.” - -“Brighton is a fine school. It was my prep. school, too. I liked it -immensely. Good teachers, good courses, fine halls, splendid library, -superb athletic field.” - -“I’m awfully glad to know you went there, Captain. A good many of -our fellows are over here, or were in the service somewhere. There’s -Herb Whitcomb--he’s up in Flanders, or was--and Roy Flynn, invalided -home, I believe. Some of the fellows are with the flying force--two -of my class, Jimmy Hill and Dick Mann. Three of the older fellows, -two classes ahead of me, went into the navy. Ted Wainwright and Jack -Harris did, too, and are on a submarine. Old Brighton did its share!” - -“Yes, and I heard of another from the school; he’s a Red Cross -ambulance driver; forget his name now. Only a youngster, but doing -some great work. A yarn went around our camp about his landing on a -couple of German spies and killing one of them. They said the boy had -his own sporting rifle. Must be some plucky kid! Know him?” - -“Perhaps I do,” evaded Clem. - -“Well, what I wanted to say is this: We go into action in the -morning. The advance will be in formation by platoons. The units -will keep together at first, but what will happen later, how much we -shall become separated, no one can tell. I am going to keep an eye -on you. If anything happens I’ll do all in my power And I’m going -to ask you, as an old Brighton boy, to do the same for me. Somehow, -you know I feel as though it might be--that is, you see, there will -be hard fighting and a great number of casualties and we must all do -our best. We’ve got to make good and we shall. But some of us--I’m -afraid a good many of us--won’t come out of it--won’t live to see the -result. Here’s my card, Stapley--my home address. My wife would like -to know if--you understand.” - -“Yes, I understand, Captain. You may trust me.” - -“Thank you, Stapley. Hope you get along well at old Brighton when you -get back. Good luck! Taps will sound in about half an hour. Sorry you -didn’t find those spies. They may turn up yet.” - -The young corporal left the spot and went to where his own platoon -was bivouacked. The men, officers and all, slept scattered on the -ground, to avoid casualties from stray shells. Each man had a blanket -and poncho and though the temperature was low for June, the nights -being chilly, it ideal camping weather for men long hardened to it. -Some of the toughest fellows had no more than thrown a corner of -the blanket across their shoulders, sleeping in their clothes and -removing only their shoes. It was the order to do this, as marching -feet need an airing and, better, a dabble in cool water. A little -stream ran near by and one might safely wager, where it emptied into -the Marne, the water that night ran black with the soil of France. - -Morning dawned clear and breezy. Shortly after reveille, a messenger -arrived from the American headquarters and another from the French -Field Staff. Half an hour later the two regiments of marines, moving -like one man, were marching straight across country a little to the -northwest of Château-Thierry. It was the intention to drive the Huns -out of their threatening positions in the hills where they were -concentrating troops and artillery, mostly machine-gun units. A -brigade also of the Third Division U. S. Regulars, moved forward at -nearly the same time in support of the marines, if needed. - -No prettier sight could be imagined than those long lines of -soldiers, over two thousand in number, sweeping forward. They -had been called “the Matchless Marines” and by another equally -expressive, though homelier name, “the Leathernecks.” Picked men, -every one of them chosen with regard to his athletic and probable -fighting ability, they could but live up to the standards set for -them by their predecessors in the same force, adhering always to the -maxims that “the marines never retreat” and that “they hold what -they’ve got.” - -The peeping sun shone upon their brown uniforms and glistened on -their bayoneted guns, as they moved through waving grass and over -fields of yellowing grain. There was no sound of drum or fife. No -band played martial music--that is not the custom when a modern army -goes against the enemy--but here and there along those steady, triple -lines could be heard laughter, snatches of song, the voice of some -wag bantering his fellows. - -The orders to the commanding general of the division ran something -like this: Rout the enemy from the village of Bouresches. Break up -the machine-gun and artillery positions in Belleau Woods and if -possible capture Hill No. 165. Consolidate positions at these points -and south of the village of Torcy and hold them. - -It was evident that the commander-in-chief depended fully on “the -Leathernecks” and felt confident that they would do as ordered, -although they had before them a large undertaking. It was known that -the Germans had two divisions of picked troops at this point, with -still another division in reserve. - -There was double reason for this confidence. The Americans had -already been performing most creditably within the sector about -Château-Thierry. A few days before a strong detachment of American -regular troops had withstood an attack of the enemy at Veuilly Wood, -nine miles north of the Marne, and had driven them back. The day -following a detachment of machine gunners had held the approaches -to the bridges across the Marne, connecting the north and the south -towns of Château-Thierry itself and prevented the Huns from crossing, -while a battalion of Americans, supporting French artillery that was -pounding the Huns in the northern end of the town, captured and wiped -out more than their number of Germans who had managed to gain the -south bank by pontoons. On the same day the Third and Twenty-eighth -Divisions of U. S. regulars, commanded by a French officer, had -defeated the enemy in his attempt to make a crossing of the Marne at -Jaulgonne, a few miles east of Château-Thierry, and had driven him -back to his former positions. But all these battles, relatively small -actions in themselves, had been fought according to European methods, -and had been directed by French generals and aided by French infantry -and artillery. - -The action now about to take place was to be that of the Americans -alone, under American staff direction, and the boys were going into -it tickled with the idea of being allowed in their own way to get a -whack at the Huns. - -Corporal Stapley, as he trudged along with his squad, thought of a -good many things of a rather solemn nature, though not once did he -permit a hint of this to bother his fellows. The next in line was a -wag named Giddings, but Clem noted that the youth was very quiet now, -and that his face was pale. With a laugh Clem turned to the fellow: -“Say, Gid, it’s a fine day for this little picnic.” - -“Wonder when the strawberries and ice cream will be served,” Giddings -remarked and Clem knew that no matter how the young man really felt -he was game. The corporal glanced down the line; there were other -pale faces and set lips, but there were also smiles and laughter. One -man struck up a song, with words and music _ad libitum_: - - “Where do we go from here, boys, - Where do we go from here? - To punch the Hun - Like a son-of-a-gun. - It’ll be some fun - To make him run - And get his bun - And take his mon. - Oh, hi, yi, that’s where we’ll go from here!” - -Some joined in. Laughter broke out down the line. One chap began to -whistle the Sailor’s Hornpipe and another, in a deep bass voice, -tried to put impromptu words to it, after the manner of the popular -version concerning “de debbil,” but without much poetic success: - - “Did you ever see the Heinie - With his skin all black and spiny - A-diggin’ in the trenches - With his big toe nail?” - -And another laugh followed, but it was cut short by a shell which -tore through the air only a little above the heads of the men, and -exploded not a hundred feet behind the last line. It was immediately -followed by a second that landed about the same distance from the -front of the first line and ricocheted, turning and twisting, then -lying still--not ten steps ahead of the line. There was a little -squirming, and two fellows were obliged to step almost over the -menacing thing. Pulling down their steel helmets and lowering their -heads, they veered apart, while some arms went up in front of faces -and eyes. But the shell proved a “dud.” Had it exploded it would -doubtless have sent half a dozen boys to the graveyard and the -hospital. - -“One back and one front and the next one--” - -“A clean miss!” shouted Clem. - -The words were no more than said when his prediction came true. The -shell went high and wide. But that which immediately followed was -of a far more deadly character than shells. Shrapnel and whiz-bangs -could not cover the ground, but it seemed as though the rain of -machine-gun bullets that suddenly swept down from the thickets and -rocks of the great hillside which loomed ahead must reach every inch -of space. - -“Double quick! Charge!” came the order, echoed from mouth to mouth by -under-officers and still, like one man, that khaki-clad host went at -it on the run. Every man saw that the more quickly the work was done -the better chances he and his fellows had for surviving that leaden -hail. - -“Smash ’em! Tear ’em to pieces!” Clem found himself yelling again and -again and he heard similar shouts on all sides of him. - -“Give ’em ballyhoo!” howled young Giddings. - -And they did--if that expresses something like annihilation! Before -the Huns could do more than fire a round or two from a score of -well-placed machine-guns on the hillside the marines, like waves of -avenging devils, were upon them with a fury that those long-practised -death-dealers of the Fatherland had not before experienced and -totally unprepared for. They were used to seeing their accurate -shooting from such an array of fire-spitters stop their enemies and -drive them back but no such result was in evidence now. - -Many of the Huns broke and ran, some tried to hide, some threw up -their hands and shouted: “Kamerad! Kamerad!” A few stuck to their -guns until overpowered, and died fighting. Many, threatened with -the bayonet, surrendered at once. And the marines went yelling -on, overtaking the fleeing Germans, stabbing to death, shooting -or clubbing with rifles those who still resisted. Breaking up the -machine-gun nests, they rounded up the prisoners until the hillside -was entirely in American hands. Then the Yanks halted and sought -shelter from the German artillery which now began to throw shells -upon the eastern and northern side of the hill from enemy positions -beyond. On the southwestern slope, where they were out of danger from -this fire, the victorious regiments re-formed for further duty, -bringing in all scattered units and trying to count the cost. - -The taking of the hill had not been entirely one-sided, except in the -matter of a victory. The machine-gunners had been placed in position -to hold this strategic bit of ground and to make it hot for those who -attempted to take it from them, and they were past masters at that -sort of thing. The reception they gave the marines exacted a heavy -toll. - -Following fast upon the heels of the men from overseas came the -wonderfully efficient American Red Cross. Ambulances rushed across -the fields, many of carrying capacity only, a few fitted up for field -dressing stations. Doctors and nurses, braving the enemy shells, -attended the most urgent cases only, sending the majority back to the -newly established evacuation hospitals which had, within two days, -supplanted those of the overtaxed French, or to the bases that also -had moved nearer this fighting front. - -And so everywhere on the hillside up which the marines had so -gloriously charged, the _brancardiers_ moved with their stretchers, -rapidly bringing away the wounded, whether friend or foe. And the -officers who were still on duty went about among the men, detailing -squads here and there for burial duty and to help and comfort their -unfortunate companions. It was the work of a little more than two -hours. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -VICTORY - - -Clem Stapley stood leaning on his rifle gazing far away over the -green fields and woodlands of that beautiful, rolling country, -not unlike his own homeland. The boy’s thoughts were filled with -memories, the reaction from the strenuous experiences of the minutes -just past caused him to sway a little on his feet. His company’s -second-lieutenant, passing near, turned and look into the boy’s pale -face. - -“Hurt eh? Can you walk? Better get back--” - -“No, sir. No! Only a trifle. A scratch on the arm; spent bullet went -up my sleeve like one of those black ants. I shook it out.” - -“Let me see,” ordered the officer. Clem bared his arm and showed a -long white and blue welt from wrist to elbow. On the fleshy part the -skin had broken, and blood was trickling down. - -“Go get it bandaged.” - -“I can do it, if someone--” - -“Help him, Terry. Get his jacket and shirt off. Use a little iodine. -You’ll be all right.” - -“Are we going on, sir, soon?” Clem asked. - -“Very soon. To the village over the next rise, about three miles from -here. Bouresches they call it.” - -“I want to find my squad and tell them about poor Giddings. Have you -seen my Captain?” - -“Dead. At the bottom of the hill. Lieutenant Wells, too. I am in -command now. Was Giddings--?” - -“Yes. Went down while he was getting off a joke about a Hun who was -yelling for mercy. When we turned to let some others of a gun crew -have it--they had their gun trained on us--a brute fired at Giddings -at about five steps. But I got the skunk with the bayonet and then -Davidson and I went on and got two of the other gun-crew. The others -of both crews surrendered; Jones’ squad, coming up, took them in. -Then I got hit.” - -A bugle call echoed sweetly along the slope. A sergeant came running -up the hill, calling right and left to officers. He passed the -lieutenant and Clem. - -“Orders from the General. Form quick in place in the road due south -of the hill. Headquarters down there now. Enemy attack from the east. -We are to hold support positions.” - -Again and again the bugle call sounded from the road. There was -some lively running about and falling in. Then once more, in broken -formations, the marines descended and under rapid orders lined up, -partly along this old road, behind a low bank, and somewhat sheltered -by a row of trees. Some of the regulars came up and formed beyond, -in the same line. The rest were held in reserve farther back. At the -left some regiments of French infantry stretched the line, making -a front of about two miles. Fully half a mile to the east a French -division occupied the first line facing the enemy positions. - -Corporal Clem’s arm hurt considerably. A member of his squad had -treated and bandaged it with materials out of a first aid kit. But -the wound was becoming more and more painful, and his arm began to -stiffen. He could not understand why he should feel sick at the -stomach and hungry at the same time. The “Leathernecks” had not -eaten since breakfast, and it was now well on in the afternoon. - -Clem looked about him, for misery loves company. There were wide gaps -in the line, though that was anything but comforting. It was horribly -depressing to think that some of these cronies, jolly good fellows -all, would now be dumped under the sod, and that others were never -more to walk, nor to know the joy of health. Perhaps some would never -see nor hear again. Many less seriously injured would bear scars all -their lives. - -Martin there, formerly next in line to Giddings, and now next to -Clem, had his head elaborately done up in two-inch bandages. Replying -to a question he said, jovially: - -“When I get back to God’s country, I am going to take this old pan -of a hat, hang it up in the prettiest place in the best room in -the house and keep it covered with fresh flowers. Why? The darned -old thing saved my life. I wouldn’t ’a’ had any bean left if this -inverted wash basin thing hadn’t been covering it.” - -“Poor Giddings always had a pick at his helmet,” remarked Clem. “He -used to say that just a hat wasn’t much good and that what a man -wants in this war is a suit of armor made out of stove plates. In his -case he was about right.” - -“But wrong in mine,” said Martin. - -“Say, what’s doing, Sarge?” asked a private of the non-com in the -next squad, who now stood next to Clem in the line-up. - -“The Heinies are going to make a push here, I believe,” was the -answer. - -“When?” - -“Pretty soon. Guess we’ll hear the barrage laid down first. But maybe -they think they’re strong enough to rush us without that.” - -“Hope they do. It’s more lively. I don’t like them barrages. Make -me think o’ my old uncle across the pond. He’s one o’ those bear -hunters. Sez he’d a heap rather fight a bear than a hive o’ bees; you -can see the bear.” - -“Right-o! Here, too! You can stick a bayonet into a Hun, but you -can’t even dodge these here mowin’-machine bullets.” - -“Listen, fellows!” Clem held up his hand. - -A distant shot, another, several, a dozen, a thousand, crack, bang, -boom, as though all the Fourth of July celebrations that ever had -been and ever would be had been turned loose at once. - -“She’s on, boys! And there’ll be a lot of ricocheting bullets coming -this far--so look out for them!” So spoke the lieutenant, now -commander of Clem’s company, as he walked up and down the line. - -The sergeant next to Clem turned to the officer. - -“Do you think the Frogeaters can hold them, lieutenant?” - -“Doubt it. They say the Huns outnumber them three to one. And they -mean to drive right through to the Compiègne road. So it’s up to us -to stop them, I guess.” - -“We’ll try hard, lieutenant,” Clem offered. - -Within twenty minutes the roar of the barrage ceased as suddenly -as it began. Then came a lull, followed by the rattle of small -arms which, at the distance, sounded much like a lot of youngsters -cracking hickory nuts. Within half an hour after this the expected -happened. For the tired and greatly outnumbered French, fighting -savagely, had failed to stem the Hun tide and began to give way -before it. Some retreated a little too late and these were quickly -surrounded and taken prisoner, to suffer tortures in German detention -camps for many a long day. The wounded were hurried to the rear. As -the dressing stations to the extreme right of the support line became -congested those set up in sheltered positions directly behind the -hill were called on for duty. Then the many ambulances of the United -States army, French army and American Red Cross dashed through the -line of marines, and around the base of the hill. - -It was at once a solemn and a cheering sight. However horrible this -war of science and ingenuity had become, it reacted in greater -humanity than has ever been known. - -The sound of an automobile horn in front caused Clem to look up and -he was almost face to face with Don Richards. The younger lad was -about to look away, but he quickly chose to salute his townsman. The -corporal nodded stiffly as Don passed on. - -The sound of rifle fire interspersed with the cloth-ripping noise of -machine-guns and the detonation of heavier artillery, began to come -nearer. A company of French infantry, marching in perfect order, -but in quick time, appeared in the distance. It wheeled sharply and -passed to the south, around the extreme right of the Americans. -In a few minutes it was followed by other and larger contingents, -a regiment in part, with great gaps in its ranks, a battalion -of machine gunners, each squad with its wicked _mitrailleuse_, -ammunition handcarts, more infantry and still more until very soon -they had thinned out to scattered and broken units, often without -officers. Many of these came up and passed through the American lines. - -The expressions on the faces of these French soldiers told of varied -emotions. Some were morose, angry, or despairing. Others laughed -and jested. Some smiled and wore an air of undying confidence. Clem -had learned too little French so far to understand their rapid -utterances, but the lieutenant stood near him, talking with a French -subaltern who spoke excellent English and who began to question -the retreating soldiers. There was a nasal babble and then the -translation, with some remarks, to the lieutenant. Clem easily caught -much of it. - -“He says the enemy was too strong for them; that there must be half a -million men. But I think that an exaggeration.” - -“This fellow says that the enemy came at them, swarming like ants. It -is no use, he says, to try to check them now; they are irresistible.” - -“This man declares that they are many, but they are not overwhelming, -and that if the retreat had not been ordered we could have held the -enemy awhile.” - -“He says that it is no use to try to stop them--they come like a -tidal wave.” - -“This fellow hopes you Americans may stop them.” - -“He says if there had only been a few more of us we could have -stopped them.” - -“Here is one who insists that Paris is doomed, and all is lost. But, -you see, his companion was killed by his side.” - -The officers moved rapidly away and then, almost suddenly, there was -an end of the retreating French. The ambulances also had ceased in -their errands of mercy over the ground ahead. A strange hush fell -upon everything but the forces of nature. The breeze toyed with the -wheat. Birds sang blithely; across the fields a cow was lowing, a -poor creature, perhaps that a farmer who had suddenly vacated his -home before the oncoming Huns, had failed to drive along toward the -west. - -The lieutenant passed along the line again, speaking to his men. He -was a young man, tall, with fine square shoulders, a firm jaw and a -pleasant voice--every inch a soldier. He paused a moment and said to -Clem: - -“Your arm is better now? Well, try to think it is. You’ll need it. -I hope it won’t interfere with your sleep tonight.” Then to the -sergeant, in answer to a question: “Yes, they’re coming; re-forming -first. There are enough of them to make us sit up and take notice. -Three divisions to our one and a half. I don’t think any of us will -take a nap during the next hour or so. But, remember, we’ve got to -give them all there is in us! Keep cautioning your men to shoot low, -to keep their heads, see their hind-sights, and try to hit what -they aim at. It will be just like target practice, boys; only more -so. Every time you score means that’s one less chance of your being -scored on.” - -Anticipation often goes reality “one better,” to use a -betting phrase. The waiting for the expected battle was most -irksome--nerve-racking to some. It cannot be a joyful thing to -contemplate the killing of human beings, even though they are bent -on killing. Upon such occasions minutes drag by like hours. It is an -actual relief when the end of the suspense is at hand. - -Clem glanced at his wrist watch--it was 4:45. The enemy could be -seen now in the distance, advancing steadily. They were coming on in -mass formation straight across the waving wheat that the retreating -French had avoided trampling down. The Huns gloried in this -destruction. They were going to make this place a shambles with dying -and dead when they should occupy this region. They would turn it into -a desert of burned homes, felled trees, girdled orchards, ruined -villages and looted factories--as all the territory they had thus far -occupied had been desolated. - -“Cut loose, boys! The range is nearly flat. Don’t fire too high. Now, -then, every man for himself!” Thus ran the orders along the line and -the crack of the rifles this time meant more to the advancing Germans -than ever before. The French subaltern, sent to observe the behavior -of the Americans went into ecstasies after the manner of his race. -With eyes sticking out so far that there was danger of his butting -into something and knocking them off, he watched the “Leathernecks” -in long-range rifle action awhile; then he hurried back to his staff. -Shortly he was back again with some higher officers of the French -supporting line, and their enthusiasm was unbounded. The subaltern -translated liberally: - -“_Voila!_ Your men shoot! _Sacre!_ They are deliberate! They see -their sights! They hit the mark! The Huns stop--they waver! Ah, -they come on again! True they are brave men! And they obey their -officers--also brave men! But behold again! The front rank is down, -gone! What say you? Yes, wiped out! And still they come again? Ah -now, it is too much. They lose all if they remain. Behold, they -break! They retreat! They hide in the wheat! They creep away!” - -“Cut that wheat all to pieces, boys! Don’t let any of them get away!” -ordered the lieutenant, repeating a common order and it was just what -the marines were doing. - -Clem, with a hot gun, turned a moment to speak to the officer. “Are -our machine-gun crews at work?” he asked. - -“Yes, over there by that clump of trees. I never saw those lads do -better work. I think those Huns have about enough. We win!” - -“Any of our boys hurt?” asked the sergeant. - -“A machine-gun crew of the enemy concentrated on one part of our -right and did some damage,” said the officer. “Two of their shrapnel -burst among the doughboys to the south, I hear. Otherwise, I -believe--” - -“Nobody got hit here,” asserted the sergeant. - -“They didn’t think it worth while to lay down a second barrage and -their infantry hardly fired a shot,” laughed the officer. - -“Got badly fooled,” said the sergeant. “Why don’t we go after them -now?” - -“I suppose our commander thinks they’re whipped enough and there are -Hun batteries to the east of the hill that must be dislodged first. -Hello, another air scrap is going to be pulled off!” - -Five German planes were coming along, pretty low and in line, their -evident intention being to seek revenge by bombing the line of -“Leathernecks.” But four French battle-planes swept over to meet -them, one fellow swooping low to cheer the marines for their splendid -work. Two German fighting machines were high overhead in support of -the big bombing planes. - -The French and American light fieldpieces got busy and made it so hot -for the foremost plane that it turned and retreated, trying to come -back higher up. But by that time the French planes had driven the -others back, sending one down in flames behind the German lines. The -guns turned their attention to smashing a German battery going into -position beyond the wheat field and performed this duty admirably, -dismounting all of the three German guns and killing every man with -them. The Hun battle-planes, refusing to fight and retreating, had -given two of the French planes a chance to signal the range to Allied -batteries. - -The day was fast coming to a close. When the marines and their -supporters had broken ranks and bivouacked for the night Corporal -Stapley went to the commanding officer of his company and asked if he -might go over to the hill and visit the captain’s grave. - -“He was an old Brighton boy and that is my school,” Clem said, “and -he asked me if I would tell his wife, if anything happened to him. I -thought I should like to write her--all that she would care to know.” - -“Go ahead, Stapley; that’s a noble purpose. I’ll give you a note to -enclose, saying how much we appreciated him and how bravely he met -his fate. Take one of the men with you--some fellow that specially -liked the captain. Get back at dark.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -BUSHWHACKING - - -It was half a mile back to the southern side of the hill where the -bloody engagement of the morning had taken place and a like distance -to the little plot of ground in the corner of a field where some of -the American dead were buried. Clem and Private Martin easily found -the captain’s resting-place. - -Some sappers were still at work, and a slightly wounded staff-officer -of the marines had been detailed to keep record of the burials. One -fellow, his identification number and all papers about his person -missing, had not been recognized nor interred. On the way back Clem -glanced down at this unfortunate. - -“It’s poor Giddings!” he exclaimed. - -“What? Not that joker in your company?” protested the officer. - -Clem nodded; Martin confirmed this. The lads helped to lower their -comrade into his grave and stood with bowed heads during the brief -reading of the burial service. Then they went into the field near by -and made two wreaths of poppies and daisies to hang on the wooden -crosses over Giddings and the captain. - -The shadows were growing long; the two “Leathernecks” had quite a -distance to travel in the return to camp. For a little way their road -lay along the foot of the hill around which a well beaten track had -been made by motor cars and artillery. Now and then they were met by -ambulances plying between the dressing station west of the hill and -of the last battle-field where the marines and regulars had repulsed -the German advance. Some of the cars detoured part way up the -hillside by a farm lane, on the slopes to seek further for wounded -that might have been overlooked. - -The driver of a passing ambulance, returning from the dressing -station, offered to give the boys a lift and they accepted gladly. -They ran on for less than a fourth of a mile when something got out -of order with a spark plug which they stopped to replace, just beyond -the lane turning up the hill. - -“Be only a moment,” the driver said. “I’ll get you fellows right by -your camp in ten minutes.” - -“Plenty of time!” both said and, while Martin aided the driver a -little, Clem walked to an opening in the thicket and gazed up to -where, in the morning, he had seen such bloody work with rifle, -pistol and bayonet. - -Another ambulance came along the road. It seemed to Clem that he had -heard the motor start somewhere back under the hill, though there -could be nothing strange in that. There was an unusually large Red -Cross in its patch of white on the side of the long, low car, and -the machine glided along as though it possessed great motive force -but was held down in speed. Two men were in the seat. When the car -reached the lane it swung in and, without apparent slowing, ascended -the grade, stopping about half way up. A few yards beyond it was an -army ambulance, its driver walking away across the slope. - -Clem’s very brief glance at the driver of the Red Cross car had -caused him to start and wonder. He hardly knew why he gazed after -the car with an unpleasant feeling, and then, in order to watch its -movements, crossed the road and swung himself up on a branch of a low -tree. - -There were no other cars on the hill and apparently no other people, -but the army ambulance man. Clem was cogitating: - -“Now, can’t I think where? What had Don Richards said only yesterday? -Spies? But would they dare again to come here boldly and--” his -thoughts were cut short. - -A man got down from the long, low car and quickly went to the other -machine. He paused and looked about for a moment, then raised the -hood and seemed to be working rapidly. He put down the hood and -returned. Then the Red Cross car moved on rapidly up the hill to -the far end of the lane, where it turned across pasture ground and -veered about among the rocks and thickets, stopping presently on the -south-east slope. - -“Fire and flinders! It is--it is!” exclaimed Clem. “They wouldn’t -dare to go so far east and expose themselves to the guns unless the -Huns knew and approved of it.” - -The boy dropped to the ground and, taking pad and pencil from his -pocket, wrote the following: - - “I beg leave to report that I have this moment discovered the - Hun spies we were after yesterday. They have gone to the - eastern side of Hill 165, probably to signal the German lines, - as reported before. I also saw them disable an army ambulance. - Fearing to fail in their arrest, and confident that I can - accomplish this with the aid of the ambulance man on the hill, - I take the liberty of delaying my return to post. Will report - as soon as possible. - - CLEMENT STAPLEY, Corporal.” - -This sheet he folded, addressed, and handed to his companion, Martin. -The ambulance had a new spark plug and was ready to start. - -“Give this to the lieutenant as soon as you get in,” Clem said. “Now, -please don’t ask any questions. I’m on an expedition the captain -ordered yesterday and the lieutenant knows about it. You might tell -him I said so. And, by the way, got any extra cartridges for your -pistol? I might need them. I left mine in my kit. Will pay you back -when I get back.” - -“Maybe I could help you,” began Martin, but Clem backed off. - -“No; I can handle this. Nothing much. When I come in I think you’ll -see me bringing some Heinies along--pretty soon, too.” - -Clem alone, hurried up the hill by the lane. He had but one purpose. -His mind was singularly free from any thought of strategy as he -went straight to the seat of the trouble. He meant simply to arrest -these men and prove their guilt afterward. He reached the army -ambulance and saw the driver returning with a wounded man’s arm over -his shoulder. This soldier could walk, but he had been shot through -the shoulder and had lain unconscious for a time in a shell hole, -where he was overlooked. Clem recognized him as a member of his own -company. The man smiled and tried to salute. - -“Driver, I’ll help this man along. I think when you look at your -engine you’ll find something wrong with it. I saw it done--from the -road down yonder.” - -The driver raised his engine hood. “Well, I should say! Look at that; -will you? Every plug wire cut away and gone and the plugs smashed. Do -you know who did this?” - -“I think I can introduce you to the parties responsible. They’re -right up there on the hill now,” Clem replied; then turned to the -wounded soldier. “We want to get you in right away and--” - -“You let me rest here a bit, Corp. I won’t be any worse off and you -go and get those devils. I bet they’re Heinies, drat ’em! I’d like -to know some more of them are going the long road, even if I go the -same.” - -“You’re going to be all right, man.” - -“Not on your life, Corp. Never. A fellow always knows when he’s got -his for good and all!” - -“Don’t believe it,” said Clem. “We’ll take you to the dressing -station in that car of theirs shortly, unless another ambulance comes -up here. Then you’d better go with it. Now, then, Mr. Driver, you -look pretty husky. Feel like having a scrap?” - -“I could cut the heart out of the weasel that disabled my car! That -is if it was just ‘rough-house.’ I expect he’s got a gun with him.” - -“Likely enough--haven’t you?” asked Clem. - -“Why yes--in the car--army pistol. But I guess I’m not much at using -it. I’m better with a knife. It’s either the gun or me, but I can’t -hit a barn door up against it. I can shoot with a real gun, though. -I’ve hunted and shot deer.” - -“Well, then, bo, all you’ve got to do,” suggested the wounded man, -“is to chase back to that shell hole and get my rifle. She’s there; -I forgot to fetch her. And she’s a dandy old pill-slinger, too, -believe me.” - -Ten minutes later the two young fellows went up to the end of the -lane and turned sharply to the right, as Clem had seen the suspected -Red Cross car do. It was now growing dusk, though the boys could -easily make their way across the field. Clem had noticed a bunch of -trees taller than those around on the edge of the woods below the -summit of the hill, and that the top of one of these trees was partly -cut off and hanging: the work of a shell. It was beyond this spot -that the spies’ car had stopped. - -“We’re getting there,” whispered the driver. “The Heinies are liable -to send some whiz-bangs over here any time.” - -“I hardly think so while that fellow is here,” Clem said. “We’ll see -if I’m not right pretty soon. We’ll have to risk it, anyway.” - -“Go ahead; I’ve risked more than that more than once.” - -“What is your name?” - -“Duncan. I’m from Maine. What’s yours?” - -“Stapley. Marines. I’m from Pennsylvania. Go easy now; we’re getting -up near the place and they’ll likely be watching out for somebody. -Let’s wait until it’s a little darker, then sneak up. I have a hunch -those chaps are on this side signaling information to their friends -over east.” - -The darkness grew thicker and gave way to night. The watchers had -found shelter, both against possible German shells or discovery, -behind a boulder where they crouched for several minutes. No shells -came that way, though the booming of cannon not very far away to the -east and northeast showed that the Huns were awake and replying to -the constant cannonading of the French and Americans. All around the -boys it was as quiet as any night in early summer. Once, overhead, -they heard the call of a night bird and once the twitter of some -small feathered citizen disturbed in its slumbers in a thicket. There -was the squeak of a mouse or shrew beneath the turf almost at their -feet. In a whisper that could not have been heard twenty feet away -Clem told his companion what he suspected, from his recollection of -the doubtful ambulance driver’s face and from Don Richards’ brief -account of the signaling near Montdidier. After what Clem had seen -here and the injury to the army ambulance, there was enough to -satisfy Duncan that they had Hun spies to deal with. - -“I’m going to get up and take a look round,” he said. “Going to be -an old dead tree; it’s a trick we Indians pull off to fool moose. -You see I’ve got a little Indian blood in me. Fact. Proud of it.” -And with that Duncan crawled up on the boulder and slowly stood up, -his arms extended crookedly, one held higher than the other. Thus he -remained for several minutes. Then he came down, even more slowly. - -“Say, pard, you’ve got the dope. They’re up there all right, about -two hundred yards, and they’re signaling. There’s a light going up -and down, bull’s eye, turned away, but I could see the reflection on -a rock.” - -“Well, we’re here to stop that and get those fellows,” said Clem. -“Shall we rush them?” - -“No, no! We’d only give them a fine chance to bore us full of holes. -They don’t want to be surprised, you can bet. But we can stalk them, -as we do bear on high ground, and work the bird call so as to make -them think nobody’s around in our direction. Are you on?” - -“I am! Say, I guess you are Indian all right. You lead off--and I’ll -follow and do just as you do, as near as I can.” - -“Only be careful where you put your hands and knees. Don’t crack any -sticks nor roll any stones. Ready?” - -Clem wondered at first whether the method would prove successful. -It loomed up like a large undertaking, considering the distance. -Would it not be better to just march right up on the spies and trade -gun-fire with them, if need be? But the farther the boys progressed -the more Clem became convinced that this was the only means of -surprising the enemy. The nature of the ground was such that any one -walking boldly up could have been seen first by the spies, and held -up or shot. Fortunate, indeed, was it that this fellow Duncan was on -the hill. Truly a wonderful chap when it came to this sort of thing. - -Slowly they went, on hands and knees, for another fifty feet or -more, stopping every little while to listen, and Duncan made a soft -twittering sound exactly like the little bird in the thicket below. -Presently he rose cautiously to take a look and get the bearings, -after which he turned and put his lips to Clem’s ear. - -“Man on watch about a hundred feet from us, sitting on a rock. He -don’t look this way. I think I’d better edge off a little and work -around so as to come up on the other chap, and you work up nearer -this one, behind the thicket. When I yell he’ll turn and then you’ve -got him. Wait till I yell.” - -There is little doubt that this plan would work out well. The German -mind can not cope in matters of woodcraft and ambush with that of an -American backwoodsman. Duncan wormed himself away and Clem could not -detect a sound made in his progress. Hardly more than fifteen minutes -would be required for him to gain his object, but in less than five -minutes a whistle sounded up the hill. The watcher ran that way and -there was the buzz of a self-starter and the whir of a motor. Before -the bushwhackers had time to collect their senses the long car, with -its lights on, was running back across the field. - -Duncan joined Clem. “Rotten luck! But glad you didn’t shoot. And say, -they’ve got to go slow over and around those rocks. Can’t we head -’em off if we go down the hill straight toward the foot of the lane? -How’re your legs?” - -“I’m with you!” announced Clem, and together, with the easy, -long-stepping lope of the runner trained in the woods, the two set -off, leaping over the obstacles in their way, dodging around boulders -and thicket patches, and making good time in spite of the uneven -ground. - -But they had not covered a third of the distance and had several -hundred yards yet to go when they saw that the chase was hopeless. -The car had made far better time than they had believed possible and -when it reached the head of the lane it turned and shot like an arrow -down the hill. - -The boys stopped and gazed in bitter disappointment after the -retreating foemen. - -“I wish we had sailed into them up yonder,” Clem said. - -“Gettin’ shot ourselves would have been worse than this,” Duncan -argued. - -“Say, look, they’ve stopped! About where your car is!” Clem -exclaimed. “Maybe we can--” - -Duncan raised the army rifle as though to bring it into position for -firing. “If it wasn’t so blamed dark I could get ’em,” he declared. -“Anyway, I can make a try.” But Clem stopped him. - -“Hold on, man! You may hit the wounded man there!” - -“Blazes! Never thought of it. Can’t risk that. Couldn’t stop ’em, -anyhow; not in a million shots, with only their lights to shoot at.” - -“There they go on again. We’re licked this time,” Clem said, -mournfully. “Come on; let’s get back to the lane. I’ll help you make -that poor chap comfortable. Then I’ll go down and try to get another -ambulance. I’ve got to get back to camp pretty soon. Say, it’s going -to be tough to have to admit we couldn’t arrest those spies. It’s -what I stayed out for and sent word to the lieutenant that I could -do. He’ll be sore, and Martin will rub it into me for a month. Say, -those spies have put out their lights now.” - -Duncan mumbled something about their running on with lights out to -avoid being recognized. He hoped they’d run into a shell hole and -break their blamed necks. The young down-east woodsman was grievously -put out not to avenge himself on the men who damaged his ambulance. - -Not another word was exchanged between the two youths while they were -crossing the open ground to the lane. They reached and turned down -the well-worn road a little above the ambulance. - -“He’s asleep, I guess,” Clem said, glancing at the soldier lying on -the cot that Duncan had spread for him. The _ambulancier_ went over -and stooped down to look at or speak to the wounded man. Then he -straightened up with a jerk and stepped back. Though his nerves were -of steel after the many bitter experiences following battles, raids, -artillery fire and gas attacks, he must have had a sharp prod at -the sight that met him. It is one thing to see men killed, maimed, -blown to pieces in fair fighting, but quite another thing to find one -foully murdered outside of the area of fighting. - -“Killed!--stabbed! They’ve killed him! Those--those devils!” His -voice was thick with rage. - -Clem could only weakly repeat part of this--it was too horrible for -mere words. Instinctively they both turned to gaze down the lane -again toward where the spies had fled. And suddenly, from the bottom -of the hill, the two bright lights of an approaching ambulance glared -at them ominously. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BOURESCHES - - -Staplely and Duncan with their weapons ready, waited, crouching. -In their agitation they had not observed other ambulances coming -along the road at the foot of the hill and they did not doubt that -the spies, seeing no light and not suspecting the return of the -_ambulancier_ whose car they had broken and whose passenger they -had killed, might be returning perhaps to lie in wait for him. They -seemed to be having things all their own way of late so why should -they not try to accomplish more? - -The glaring lights came nearer. The throbbing motor had easily the -better of hills such as this. The seekers of a just revenge tried to -see who was on the driver’s seat behind the lights--a difficult thing -to do. A voice caused their weapons to lower. - -“Reckon dis de place t’ stop. One amberlance done quit gittin’ all -het up, heah. Yu kin turn her roun’ easy by backin’ into de fiel’ a -ways, lessen yu hits a groun’hawg hole er sumpin’.” - -“No groundhogs in this country, Wash. We might hit a rock, though. -Hello, you fellows! Are you stuck?” This last addressed to Duncan and -Stapley who had risen and come forward. - -If Clem felt any bitterness toward Don he did not think of it now; -there was too much else to occupy his mind. But Don, leaping to the -ground instantly, seemed not to know him. Duncan knew Don and at once -began to relate their experiences. - -“And you mean to say you fellows couldn’t stop them? Let them get -away up yonder and murder this poor helpless soldier on the way! And -only yesterday this fellow,” with a bend of his head he referred to -Clem, “rubbed it into me because--” - -“Well, that--that was dif--” began Clem. - -“Not a bit of it! But why parley? Duncan, you and I can get busy. -Those fellows are down there yet, in the road just west of the lane. -They’re doing something to their car. That’s twice I’ve run into them -fixing it, but I didn’t know them this time. Wash, confound you, were -you asleep? Why didn’t you tell me--?” - -“Sleep yuse’f! How’s I know--?” - -“Cut the comedy! Come on, if you’re sure that was the spies,” Clem -said. - -“Hold on! You’re not in this and they’ll be there awhile, you can -bet,” said Don. “You fellows slipped up in your attempt and this is -my job. There’s one way to get those chaps and that only, Duncan. -Listen to me--Wash, you get in back and lie low. We two will get in -on the front seat. We’ll dim the lights and then go along singing and -let on we’re half tipsy until we get right up to them. I’ll stop and -ask them for a drink and you turn the bull’s-eye on them and if it’s -the spies we’ll act quick; see?” - -“I’m going with you,” said Clem. - -“Not in my car,” Don retorted. But Clem walked to Don’s ambulance and -jumped in. - -“We can scrap afterwards, Richards; not now. Come on--three are -better than two.” - -“That’s so,” asserted Duncan. - -The plan was carried out as laid down. With all their science and -suspicions those Hun spies had no idea of any such thing being -pulled off. Though three half-drunk Yankees were an unusual sight, -especially in an ambulance, it was nothing to bother about. To humor -them and let them go on was a simple matter. - -“Oh, we won’t go home till evenin’!” sang Clem. - -“Till mornin’, you blamed fool! D-don’t ye know the words?” Don -shouted, tickled to give Clem a dig. “Aw, dry up an’ let me sing -it! Thish-a-way it goes: Oh, we won’t get home till mornin’, till -broad-s-say--.” - -With a grinding of brakes the ambulance came to a sudden stop, almost -even with the long, low car by the roadside. “S-say,” continued Don, -“any--you blokes got a drink? One good service man to another; eh, -friend? Just a little nip--you fellers are Red Cross, ain’t you? Eh? -Les’ see--. Hands up! Both of you, quick! One move and you’re dead -men! Out, fellows, and put a rope on them!” - -One of the spies, the weazen fellow, began to protest in excellent -English: - -“What do you mean by this? We haven’t done anything to--.” But Duncan -snatched up a clump of grass roots and shoved it into the fellow’s -mouth. The other man cowered back and tried at first to keep his -face away from the electric bull’s-eye Clem threw on them. Through -Duncan’s dexterity with strong twine taken from Don’s toolbox, both -men had their arms tied behind them in a jiffy so that they winced -with the pain. - -“Do you fellows think this is funny? Let us loose, at once! We have -no time for jokes!” demanded the taller one, gazing at Don’s revolver -in a manner that showed he knew it was no joke. - -“But you had time to play one of your kind of jokes on that poor -wounded soldier up on the hill,” Clem returned and the thin face of -the spy grew ghastly white. “We haven’t been up on the hill,” he -asserted--but another wad of grass-roots stopped his talk also. Don -took the bull’s-eye from Clem and threw it into the tall man’s face. - -“Well, Stapley, I guess you know him; don’t you?” - -“The fellow on the train, sure enough,” Clem said. - -“Wonderful!” said Don. “You do have a lucid flash now and then.” But -before Clem could reply Don began to enlighten the spy: - -“I guess you remember us back there in America. We got off at Lofton, -too. We got your cronies, Shultz and the whiskered chap, and I got -your pard up near Montdidier.” - -Of course the man could make no reply. Don continued: - -“Duncan, you can run my car, I guess. You take these nice chaps into -camp. In about half an hour they’ll face a firing squad.” - -But Duncan shook his head. “What’s in me has got to come out. I’m -an ambulance driver and working to save people--ours and theirs, -too--but that don’t say I don’t just love gettin’ square more’n -anything else on this green earth! I told the corporal here I have -a little Indian in me. I have a heap and it’s reached high mark -right now. It might get the corporal in trouble and it may get me in -trouble, but I reckon you’re out of it, Richards. No matter; what -I want is to be the firing squad that fixes these blood-smeared -polecats. But I don’t want to do it with a gun. You just leave it to -me. I’m goin’ to take ’em over here in this field an’ stick a knife -into--” - -“No, Duncan, you are not going to do anything of the kind!” Don -said in horror. “I won’t consent to this being anything irregular. -You may go along and see them shot, if you want to, but you can’t -knife them. Hold on there! Put that knife up, or I’m going to shoot -it out of your fingers. It would just about break my heart to hurt -you, old man, because I know you’re good stuff, but don’t try that -thing. Come, you’ve got more white blood in you than Indian and don’t -imitate these Huns.” - -Duncan stood looking earnestly at Don while he spoke. Then, without a -word, he put his long-bladed claspknife into his pocket. - -“You take my car, because it’s surer than this one, and get these -chaps where they’ll do no more harm. I’ll run their car and I’ll have -them send out for yours and fix it. I hope they’ll let you get into -the squad that does the shooting.” - -“I don’t like to deprive you of your own car,” Duncan said. It was -easy to see that the fellow was true-blue, even if an act of savagery -made his blood boil with desire for personal revenge. - -“Your errand is more important than mine,” Don continued. “Besides, -I’m glad, for Stapley and I would be sure to scrap on the way. I’d -have to rub it in about his letting these men get away on the hill. -And Stapley can’t take anything from me good-naturedly. He can -explain to you later what he thinks of me. I know already and I don’t -care a hoot. Come, Wash, climb out of there! We’ve got to see if we -can make this ramshackle ambulance travel. So long, Duncan.” - -The military court gave the spies short shrift. Duncan was one of the -firing squad that did quick executions. The army _ambulancier_ then -went his way. Before morning he was again driving his own ambulance -and Don Richards’ car had been turned over to him and the grinning -Wash. Work on Hill 165 had been finished. - -“The marines are going to try to take Bouresches and Belleau Wood -to-day, I hear,” Don said to Duncan, as they met on the road. - -“I wish I was in that bunch of real men,” Duncan replied and passed -on. That was the last Don ever saw of the brave fellow, for Duncan -was shifted north of the Oise River where another Hun drive seemed -imminent, as they were short of ambulances in that sector. - -Don’s orders were to run in close to the American fighting forces -without too grave risk, and if there was an advance, to keep pretty -near to it, as there would necessarily be many casualties. As the -Germans had learned already to recognize the Yanks as their most -formidable foes, they were sending some of their best troops to stop -them. - -The Red Cross was showing splendid efficiency now. From stretcher -bearers to dressing stations, from its own evacuation hospitals to -ideally equipped bases and convalescent camps, it was the model for -all things humane in warfare. Eager were its men and women in doing -their share of the arduous and dangerous work, and proud, indeed, -those who were identified in any way with its glorious efforts. - -“Drive the enemy from Bouresches and Belleau Wood!” was the order -from headquarters. Again, as one man, the marines went forward. The -Huns must be taught that their advance at the Château-Thierry front -was at an end. - -“Pound the enemy’s lines in Bouresches!” came the order to the -artillery as a forerunner of the charge of the marines, and the -artillery pounded. Across the grain and flowering fields marched the -soldiers, advancing in thin lines, one after the other, the marines -in the center and on either flank a battalion of doughboys, regulars -of the United States army. This was the good old training in American -fighting methods: Advance on a run and lie down, advance and lie -down, the front rank shooting all the while, and when these fellows, -who must bear the brunt of the strong defense that the enemy was -making, were thinned out reinforcements were rushed from the rear to -fill up the broken ranks. - -[Illustration: THEY WENT RIGHT TO WORK DISLODGING THE HUNS FROM THE -HOUSES.] - -In every conceivable point of shelter, from every thicket, bit -of woodland, hollow or knoll around the village there were enemy -machine-gun units, with here and there larger calibre quick-firing -fieldpieces, sending a perfect hail of lead and iron across the -fields at those ever-advancing boys in khaki. - -But it mattered little to the boys in khaki how fast and furious came -this death-dealing rain of bullets, for they kept right on into the -village, and they went right to work dislodging the Huns from the -houses, using rifle, hand-grenades, bayonets and pistols. The enemy -sought every means of protection; they fortified themselves behind -walls which the American artillery had left standing, or behind -piles of débris the shelling had made. They poked their rifles and -machine-guns out of windows, and cellar-entrances, and down from roof -tops. They made street barriers of parts of ruined buildings, and -thus contested every inch of ground until the Americans were upon -them and when they could no longer fight, they surrendered. Some ran -away while some went down fighting, for they had been told it was -better to die than to be taken prisoner by the cruel Americans. - -When the village of Bouresches was clean of Huns, their artillery -made it hot for the conquerors. So marines and the doughboys found it -their turn to seek shelter. They did this so well that after hours of -shelling they had hardly lost another man. - -Meanwhile, the troops not needed to defend the village from -counter-attacks of the enemy, rapidly re-formed and turned to make -the first assault on Belleau Wood, a hill crowned with a jungle of -trees and thickets. This stronghold of the enemy had for three days -proved impregnable. After the artillery had hammered it a while, -tearing to pieces half the trees on its southern edge, a reorganized -regiment of marines made a final charge, yelling like Indians, and -gained the crest. Then they swept through the forest, broke up the -enemy machine-gun nests and drove nearly double their number of Huns -out of the place. This was the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting, for -they had to use the bayonet almost exclusively. Even at this game the -Americans proved themselves superior to the enemy, not only man to -man, but when fighting in formation. Necessarily it was a scattering -fight, but it illustrated the personal valor and intelligence of the -Yanks. - -Thus, on June 11, 1918, the German strongholds at and near -Château-Thierry sector were captured, and their line pushed back -over three miles. Never again were the Huns to advance, but always -to retreat until the war ended. They had, as it were, run against a -stone wall from the top of which now floated the Stars and Stripes. - -Corporal Stapley had been among those to charge into and capture -Bouresches. He had, of course, been in the ranks with his platoon, -dashing forward, dropping on the ground, hearing the bullets sing -above and around him; then going on again, blinded to everything -but the mad desire to come up with those machine-gun nests and to -destroy the men and guns which were trying so hard to destroy him -and his comrades. And reach the positions of the gun nests they did. -But as some of Stapley’s squad charged a group of six Huns pivoting -a gun around and working frantically with the mechanism, Clem was -aware that only three other men were with him. He dimly remembered -seeing one or two of them fall, and fail to get up again. But there -was no time to think of this now. With bayonets leveled, his comrades -followed their fleet-footed corporal and were upon the boches before -they could shoot. “Kamerad!” called out one fellow, lifting high his -hands, and the others, throwing down their weapons, followed suit. -Another marine squad followed without an officer. Clem took command -of this also. - -“Two of you hold this bunch here! Kill them if they get gay! Come -on--the rest of you!” - -They ran on. The houses of the village were close at hand and in -among these they went. Two of the men had originally qualified as -grenade-throwers. Clem told them to blow up anything that looked like -a gun nest. The others were to use rifle, bayonet and pistol only. -It was necessary to shout these orders above the rattle of guns and -yells of the charging marines on every side. The words were hardly -out of Clem’s mouth before the long, jacketed barrel of a machine-gun -was poked out of a cellar entrance on the street not fifty feet ahead -of them and the fire began to streak from its muzzle toward a group -of marines coming down a cross street. One of Clem’s new men lighted -his grenade, dashed forward, bowled it over-hand with a skill that -would have done credit to an expert cricketer. A mass of dust, dirt -and mangled objects blew out of the cellar and that gun nest was no -more. The little squad rushed on. Opposite a square stone building -from a window of which came a burst of flame and a ripping sound. -Clem saw some steps to the right which might lead to this nest. He -shouted to his men and leaped forward. At the top step he glanced -about. Three of his squad lay on the ground. Two were following him. -The heavy door was fastened. Clem drew back the butt of his gun to -break the lock, but one of the others fired into it, and as they -threw their bodies against the door it burst open. - -Within a large room, like an inn parlor, two Huns were working the -machine-gun and a third met them with leveled rifle. Before Clem -could fire one of his men threw his weapon like a Zulu his spear -and the bayonet transfixed the Hun, who sank with a gasp. The other -marines were upon the two gunners before they had time even to shout -“Kamerad!” Freeing their bayonet points all three turned to leave the -building when a lone marine jumped in, shouting: - -“Gun nest on the roof!” - -“Get ’em!” shouted Clem, who was dimly aware that the man was Martin, -of his own squad. - -They found a stairway. Dashing up this and along a hall, they climbed -another flight where they saw a ladder leading to an open trap door. - -“I can fix ’em!” cried the remaining grenade man who had a rifle -also. He handed the weapon to Clem, ran up the ladder, lighted his -fuse and tossed it out on the roof. The explosion brought down -plaster within and filled the place with dust; Clem saw the body of a -man fall past the window. The grenade man was knocked off the ladder -by his own bomb, but he landed on his feet. The four men dashed down -to the street, and as they ran along, a Hun from behind a broken wall -hurled a grenade at them. Clem leaped to dodge it and two of his men -ducked and fell flat, but poor Martin, looking away, caught the full -force of the explosion at his feet. They saw him lifted up, twisted -about and fall in a broken heap, his clothing half torn from his -body. They knew their friend’s death had been instantaneous. Clem -was pushed back as by a great wind. The two other men were rolled -over and over. One of them looked up from where he lay and saw the -Hun grinning at them. He jumped up and leveled his gun, but the Hun -dodged back and they only had a glimpse of him lighting another -grenade. With all the speed at his command Clem made for the wall, -and with a leap cleared it. He came down on the fellow with both -feet, at the same time stabbing downward with his bayonet. He felt -the mass beneath his feet quiver and sink inert. Then Stapley started -to climb back over the wall and found himself pushed back by his -other two men who followed him over. Seven Germans coming along the -street, had seen the three marines and started toward them, firing. -The three Americans gave them such a warm reception that two of the -Huns dropped in their tracks and the other five turned and fled. - -“After ’em, boys!” shouted Clem, and the three chased along a narrow -street to the eastern edge of the town where the Germans turned a -corner and came face to face with a full platoon of Americans who -took them prisoner. - -The lieutenant in charge of this unit took great pleasure in the -sight of five Germans being pursued by three Americans. As the little -squad came up, he asked Clem to report action and casualties. - -“Orders now are to report southwest of the village. Battalion will -reform. Fall in with us.” - -Clem was glad of this. Though such fighting was intoxicating while it -lasted, it was sickening business after all. He had had enough of it. -He was glad he had done his duty--glad the town had been won and if -there were enough men left to hold the place, but a rest wouldn’t go -badly. Still, if there was to be more of such work, he was ready. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -FRIENDS - - -Ambulancier Donald Richards, with Washington White beside him, but -without his usual grin, drove his much battered car down the military -road and across the scarlet-flowered fields in the direction of the -battle sounds. From a rise of ground he could see advancing lines -of men, some distance apart, moving rapidly for a short space and -dropping on the ground; then arising and going forward to repeat -the movement--all this carried out with wonderful precision. At one -moment there were a thousand men thus spread out, moving swiftly. At -the next moment they were all prone on the ground, in perfect unison. - -Don understood this perfectly. He had witnessed the same tactics a -few days before in the charge on Bouresches and they had won. But the -attempt to win Belleau Wood had been frustrated for three days by the -terrible machine-fire which greeted the determined Americans. Would -it be possible to attain their object this time before they were all -killed? - -For he could see also, all over the field behind the charging -soldiers, many men who had fallen. In spots the ground was strewn -with bodies of the wounded and dead. As he gazed, horror-stricken yet -fascinated by the spectacle, he could discern the thinning out of the -charging lines, as they swept forward. - -“We’ve got to get right down there, Wash, and bring some of those -fellows out,” Don said. - -“Down whar? On de groun’ whar dem sojers is kilt? Say, Mist’ Donal’, -yu done that-a-way t’other day en’ yu-all knows how dis amberlance -looked when hit come out. En’ yu kin see now how she looked. En’ hit -wa’n’t no foolishness of ours dat we didn’t get sent to Kingdom Come. -En’ ’tain’t always dese yer po’ white Heinies is gwine miss us. Boun’ -tu git it some time.” - -“Oh, forget it, Wash! You always think we’re going to get hurt. You -see we haven’t been hurt yet and that’s as good as just starting out.” - -On the ambulance went, dodging shell-holes, running around natural -obstacles, rapidly nearing the ground across which the marines had -charged not five minutes before. The boys overtook a light, active -fellow, on foot and trotting, though now with lagging steps, and Don -knew him for a messenger. Don slowed down and asked the lad to hop -in for a lift. But this was only for a fourth of a mile, for they -then soon came well within the edge of the zone of flying bullets and -shells. Here they met the first _brancardiers_ with a wounded man, so -the ambulance came to a stop. Without a word the runner leaped out -and dashed on. Don and Wash were filled with admiration for these -nervy fellows, who seemed to have no thought of danger in carrying -messages to officers in the field. Right here another runner came to -Don. - -“Captain Baston says tell you there are five men, all badly wounded, -in a shell hole--over there, near those poplar trees--and they ought -to be got out. It won’t do to carry them far, he said. Got the nerve -to make it?” - -Did he have the nerve? He saw that this first case was not a bad one -and could stand a little jolting. He told the _brancardiers_ to load -on their man and hop in. Then he turned his car across in line with -the German fire. - -“I kin wait heah twill yuh come back. Yu ain’t got no special use fo’ -me,” Wash began, but this time only a look from Don ended the negro’s -protest. In three minutes he had reached the shell-hole by the trees. -Half a dozen direct or ricocheting machine-gun bullets had hit the -ambulance, but had done no more damage than to add to the holes and -dents already in its sturdy sides. - -It was the work of but a few minutes for the two _brancardiers_ with -their one stretcher, and Don and Wash with another, to get most of -the wounded fellows into the ambulance, while shells and smaller -calibre missiles flew and struck all round them. The last poor chap -was suffering with a wound in the leg. Entirely out of his mind he -fought against being moved, so Wash went back with the bearers to -hold the soldier on the stretcher. As they started back, Don, who had -been glancing at his carburetor, began to lower the hood over his -motor. - -The sound of an approaching shell; nothing can describe it; the long -swish of a carriage whip, the rush of water at high pressure from -the nozzle of a hose, the wind singing past a kite string--these -might barely suggest it. Hearing it once it is never forgotten. Don -looked when he noticed it; one must do that when it is near, though. -Trying to dodge a shell is as useless as ducking at lightning. -Then came the thud of the projectile and the almost simultaneous -explosion. The boy’s eyes, just above the hood, had been upon the -approaching stretcher. The next instant the group of four--the -_brancardiers_, Wash and the raving man--had ceased to exist amidst -a furious upheaval of flame and earth and stones. Innumerable flying -pieces struck the engine hood and Don’s helmet. The wounded men were -protected by the sides of the ambulance. - -Don walked slowly over and looked down at the hole made by the shell; -he glanced around at the torn and twisted bodies flung twenty feet -away. Something like a sob choked him as he recognized the black face -of his helper. Don had almost compelled him to come within this area -of awful danger, else the poor fellow would have been living now. -Flinging a suggestion of salt water from his eyes, the boy leaped to -his seat and addressed the wounded men behind him: - -“Where was the nearest dressing station set up?” - -“Back of that low hill to the left,” a weak voice directed, and the -car shot forward. - -“Get ’em in here! You bring in the biggest loads, so keep at it!” -said the field-surgeon. “Others of your crowd are getting them back -to the evacuation hospital all right. Go to it, boy!” - -And again Don went flying toward the fighting front, toward the level -fields filled with crimson flowers, waving grass or ripening grain, -stretched south and west from Belleau Wood. - -Up the slopes of the hill he could now see the indomitable marines, -still charging, overcoming all opposition, destroying the machine-gun -nests, bayoneting the gunners, and defeating every attempt of the -enemy to check their attack. On into the fields--to the very foot -of the hill--Don drove his car, looking to the right and left for -_blessés_. The bullets, as never before, sung around him, threshing -out the grass and grain, and tearing up the blood-red poppies. - -Here also the stretcher-bearers were more than busy. Two, with a -wounded man, came running to Don. Another wounded man crawled and -dragged himself toward the car, until the boy saw and helped him. The -soldier could speak only in halting accents. - -“There’s one--our corporal--down back--bush. Helped -me--water--canteen. Fainted, then--good fellow--get him.” - -Don, fishing in his pockets for his ammonia spirits and grabbing a -water bottle, ran to the spot designated, a hundred feet away. The -marine lay on his stomach, his face hidden in the crook of his left -arm. Evidently he had come to. The other arm lay limp on the grass. A -clot of blood stained the clothing on his left side. - -“_Ambulancier_ here. I’ll help you, or get a stretcher if you -can’t--” Don began, stooping to lift the fellow. The wounded man -twisted about, raised his head and once again Don Richards and -Clement Stapley gazed into each other’s eyes. But the look of -defiance was gone. - -“Clem, poor chap, are you hurt much? Where?” - -“Arm busted, Don. Side cut a little. Flesh wound, I think. If it’s -worse, tell mother and dad.” - -“I don’t believe it’s bad, Clem. Don’t you think it! We’ll see that -it isn’t. My car--” - -“I can walk to it, perhaps. Legs O. K. Use gun as crutch.” - -“No; I’ll help you; carry you, if need be. Get your good arm over my -shoulder.” - -“That’ll bring you on the side where the bullets--” - -“Well, what of that? I don’t--” - -“No, you don’t care, but I do, Don. If I get another it’s only -one--but you--” - -“Never mind! Come on. You know I always have my way. Your arm around -my neck.” - -With painful laboriousness the two began to walk across. They had -gone a dozen feet when Clem heard the sound of a bullet striking -flesh. He had heard it too often not to know it. But Don did not -hear it. He only sank to the ground. Clem struggled to maintain his -footing but fell beside him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -DISTINGUISHED - - -“Not killed, are you, Don?” - -No answer. - -“Done for! And just when we had become friends,” Clem murmured. But -upon the instant an arm that he had been unconsciously lying across -gave a twitch. Clem lifted himself and looked into the other boy’s -face. - -“Hey, Don! You’re not dead, are you?” - -Don Richards opened his eyes. “If I am, it’s right comfortable, -except something’s the matter with my shoulder. Was I hit? Oh yes; -sure, I know. I came over to help you; didn’t I? Then I got mine. -Head feels queer. Must have gone to sleep. Knocked out, eh?” - -“Something like that. But, glory, I’m glad you weren’t killed! I -thought you were.” - -“The Huns haven’t got a real bullet with my number on it. This was -only a fake one made of corn pith. Say, let’s make the ambulance and -get out of here.” - -It was now a still slower and sorrier procession than before, but -pluck and mutual helpfulness got the two boys over most of the way -until _brancardiers_ came to them. One of these latter could drive a -car, and he offered to run the ambulance to the dressing station. - -Two hours later the two boys, both swathed in bandages, lay on -adjoining cots, following operations. Two days later the big, roomy -Red Cross base, with its abundant light, comforts, attentive nurses -and absence of flies, received them. As they left the evacuation tent -for this delightful place, Major Little, still on duty, said to Don: - -“I always believed you’d get hit, my boy. You took too much risk. -Came pretty near ending you. Just missed the lung by about one inch. -But you’ll be all right and so will your friend, the corporal, here. -Well, I want to say your work has been admirable and I think they -will have something to say about that at the base. Good-bye and good -luck!” - -And at the base they did have something to say about it, but not -alone to Don. A month later some French and American officers -visited the hospital and they came direct to the easy chairs occupied -by Clem and Don on the wide veranda of the old château which had been -turned into a convalescent ward. - -The American general spoke first, taking the right hand of each lad. - -“Well, I suppose you two young scamps know what we do over here to -show our appreciation, eh?” - -Both boys were silent and much embarrassed. - -“Well, one American way, like that of the British, is to mention -names in dispatches. You fellows won’t object to that when you hear -what is going to be said of you. Corporal, there has been no braver -part taken than that by you in the charge on the Bois de Belleau. -And we have it that you did some fine work in Bouresches, and on -Hill 165. And you--Master Red Cross driver--we have heard some great -stories of you. But better than dispatches will be the Medals of -Honor for both of you. Here is another matter: We have received data -about the arrest of some spies. This, it seems, started back in -the States and ended here. Well, that was notably fine work--fine -work! But our friend here, _Monsieur le Général_ Marcier, also has -something to say.” - -Mister the General, twirling his pointed mustache with a beaming -smile, spoke what he had to say quite briefly and it was just as -well that he did so, between very bad English and very nasal French, -rapidly delivered, the boys could hardly get head or tail of it. They -did, however, both get the well-known words at the end of the speech. -These delightful syllables were _Croix de Guerre_. And then again the -American commander spoke: - -“It is by just such lads as you have proved yourselves to be that the -enemy was stopped and turned back at Château-Thierry. And by many -such as you this war will soon be won. You boys will be invalided -home and sent across shortly. Be as good citizens as you have been -brave men here. Good-bye and good luck!” - -The officers went their way, making welcome little speeches to -others. Don leaned over and slapped his friend gently on the back. - -“Medal of Honor! and the _Croix de Guerre_!” - - - - - * * * * * - * * * * * - - - - -A PENNANT-WINNER IN BOYS’ BOOKS! - - Hugh S. Fullerton’s Great Books - - The Jimmy Kirkland Series - of Baseball Stories - - By HUGH S. FULLERTON - - America’s Greatest Baseball Writer. Author of - “Touching Second,” Etc. - -[Illustration] - -Combining his literary skill with his unsurpassed knowledge of -baseball from every angle--especially from a boy’s angle--Mr. -Fullerton has written a new series of baseball stories for boys, -which will be seized with devouring interest by every youthful -admirer of the game. While the narrative is predominant in these -books, Mr. Fullerton has encompassed a large amount of practical -baseball instruction for boys; and, what is of greater value, he has -shown the importance of manliness, sportsmanship and clean living to -any boy who desires to excel in baseball or any other sport. These -books are bound to sell wherever they are seen by boys or parents. -Handsomely illustrated and bound. 12mo. Cloth. New and original cover -design. - -JIMMY KIRKLAND OF THE SHASTA BOYS’ TEAM - -JIMMY KIRKLAND OF THE CASCADE COLLEGE TEAM - -JIMMY KIRKLAND AND A PLOT FOR A PENNANT - -Sold Singly or in Boxed Sets - -Price per volume, 75 cents - - THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., _Publishers_ - WINSTON BUILDING PHILADELPHIA - - - - -The Big Series of Boys’ Books for 1918 - - - THE BRIGHTON BOYS SERIES - - By Lieutenant James R. 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WINSTON CO., _Publishers_ - WINSTON BUILDING PHILADELPHIA - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - The original text had large drop-capitals at the start of each - chapter, and omitted the initial quotation mark in an opening - sentence of a conversation. That missing quotation mark has been - inserted in this etext. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. For example, - shell hole, shell-hole; farm house, farmhouse; boylike, boy-like; - jailors; combatting; intrenched. - - Pg 53, ‘mightly independent’ replaced by ‘mightily independent’. - Pg 54, ‘will be going, to’ replaced by ‘will be going, too’. - Pg 56, ‘to he satisfied’ replaced by ‘to be satisfied’. - Pg 59, ‘amply satisified’ replaced by ‘amply satisfied’. - Pg 71, ‘not checked not’ replaced by ‘not checked nor’. - Pg 76, ‘handorgan’ replaced by ‘hand organ’. - Pg 82, ‘muderous Hun’ replaced by ‘murderous Hun’. - Pg 95, ‘cumulous clouds’ replaced by ‘cumulus clouds’. - Pg 96, ‘the while thing’ replaced by ‘the white thing’. - Pg 102, ‘fer a veteran’ replaced by ‘for a veteran’. - Pg 108, ‘and you--Don’ replaced by ‘And you--Don’. - Pg 114, ‘the work an so’ replaced by ‘the work and so’. - Pg 116, ‘They’s have you’ replaced by ‘They’d have you’. - Pg 123, ‘hideous meledy’ replaced by ‘hideous melody’. - Pg 125, ‘and said Don’ replaced by ‘and said to Don’. - Pg 135, ‘camion contigent’ replaced by ‘camion contingent’. - Pg 141, ‘real while folks’ replaced by ‘real white folks’. - Pg 151, ‘does it carry then’ replaced by ‘does it carry them’. - Pg 158, ‘the day everhauling’ replaced by ‘the day overhauling’. - Pg 159, ‘certain and reggular’ replaced by ‘certain and regular’. - Pg 166, ‘though homlier’ replaced by ‘though homelier’. - Pg 171, ‘similiar shouts’ replaced by ‘similar shouts’. - Pg 211, ‘short shift’ replaced by ‘short shrift’. - Pg 219, ‘jumped up an’ replaced by ‘jumped up and’. - Pg 232, ‘well-know words’ replaced by ‘well-known words’. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry, by -James R. 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- color: black; - font-size:90%; - padding:0.5em; - margin-top:5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; -} - -.transnote p {text-indent: 0em;} - - </style> - </head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry, by -James R. Driscoll - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry - -Author: James R. Driscoll - -Release Date: October 14, 2016 [EBook #53271] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIGHTON BOYS AT CHATEAU-THIERRY *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, John Campbell and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p><strong>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</strong></p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been -corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within -the text and consultation of external sources.</p> - -<p>More detail can be found at <a href="#TN">the end of the book.</a></p> -</div> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs135 wsp">THE BRIGHTON BOYS SERIES</p> - -<p class="pfs80">BY</p> - -<p class="pfs120">LIEUTENANT JAMES R. DRISCOLL</p> - - -<div class="blockquot pad5 fs80"> -<p> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">WITH THE FLYING CORPS</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">IN THE TRENCHES</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">WITH THE BATTLE FLEET</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">IN THE RADIO SERVICE</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">WITH THE SUBMARINE</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">WITH THE ENGINEERS AT CANTIGNY</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">AT CHATEAU-THIERRY</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">AT ST. MIHIEL</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">IN THE ARGONNE</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">IN TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT</span><br /> -<br /> -THE BRIGHTON BOYS<br /> -<span class="pad4">IN THE SUBMARINE TREASURE SHIP</span><br /> -</p></div> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a name="FP" id="FP"></a> -<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="475" alt="" /> -<br /><span class="smcap">It was a Race for a few Seconds</span> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap pg-brk" /> - -<div class="bold"> -<h1 class="bold">The BRIGHTON BOYS at<br /> -CHATEAU-THIERRY</h1> -<p class="p4 pfs80">BY</p> - -<p class="pfs120">LIEUTENANT JAMES R. DRISCOLL</p> - -<p class="p6" /> -<hr class="r15" /> -<p class="pfs90">ILLUSTRATED</p> -<hr class="r15" /> - -<p class="p6" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY<br /> -<span class="fs80">PHILADELPHIA</span> -</p></div> - - -<hr class="chap pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs90">Copyright, 1919, by<br /> -<span class="smcap">The John C. Winston Co.</span></p> - -<p class="p6" /> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="bold"><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> - -<div class="center smcap"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" width="90%" summary=""> -<tr class="fs70"><td class="tdr wd20">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdl wd70"></td><td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td class="tdl">Overheard</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">9</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td class="tdl">Traced</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">15</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td class="tdl">“Bang”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">22</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td class="tdl">Captured</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td class="tdl">Rewarded</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">40</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td class="tdl">Dissension</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">49</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td class="tdl">Getting In</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">58</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td class="tdl">In It</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">66</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td class="tdl">Reprisals</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">76</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td class="tdl">Zealous Billy</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">86</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td class="tdl">“Gone West”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">98</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td class="tdl">Tim</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">110</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td class="tdl">Wash</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">125</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td class="tdl">Shifted</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">138</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td class="tdl">On the Way</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">150</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XVI.</td><td class="tdl">Yanks</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">162</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XVII.</td><td class="tdl">Victory</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">175</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XVIII.</td><td class="tdl">Bushwhacking</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">189</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XIX.</td><td class="tdl">Bouresches</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">204</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XX.</td><td class="tdl">Friends</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">221</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr">XXI.</td><td class="tdl">Distinguished</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">229</a></td></tr> -</table></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span><br /> - <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="bold"><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></h2> - - -<div class="center smcap wsp"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" width="95%" summary=""> -<tr><td class="tdl">It was a Race for a Few Seconds</td><td class="tdr fvnormal"><a href="#FP"><em>Frontispiece</em></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"></td><td class="tdr fs70">PAGE</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Ambulance was Stopped as though it had Butted into a Stone Wall</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#F-74">74</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Don Caught Him by the Shoulder And Whirled Him Around</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#F-152">152</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">They Went Right to Work Dislodging the Huns from the Houses</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#F-213">213</a></td></tr> -</table></div> - - -<p class="p6" /> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span><br /> - <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p class="pfs150 bold pg-brk">The Brighton Boys at Château-Thierry</p> -<hr class="r15" /> - -<h2 class="no-brk"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER I</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Overheard</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">You’re just plain scared, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“You’re just plain wrong. Anyway, -people in glass shanties shouldn’t -throw rocks. I don’t see you trying to play -soldier.” The last speaker, a tall lad who -sat nearest the window in the rear seat of a -crowded railroad car seemed exasperated by -the uncomplimentary suggestion of the boy -beside him, a short, heavy-set, curly-headed -fellow, who looked even more youthful than -his sixteen years. His handsome face lighted -up with a smile when he spoke; evidently -there was but little enmity back of his teasing.</p> - -<p>“If I were a telegraph pole and had your -gray hairs, Stapley, you can bet your number -nines I’d be in camp. But they won’t take -kids.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> - -<p>“That’s right, Richards; they won’t, -unless a fellow’s dad signs his consent. My -dad won’t do it. So kindly apologize, will -you? My gray hairs deserve it; I’m a year -older than you are, you know. Go on; I’m -listening.”</p> - -<p>“Come off! Anybody can coax his governor -not to sign. Honest, now; don’t you like -the idea of getting a bullet—?”</p> - -<p>“Now cut that out. You think you’re -some kidder, but it takes an expert to kid -me. Of course I know you’re sore over the -lambasting we gave your team at basket ball. -All Brighton is laughing about it yet.”</p> - -<p>“Never get cross over accidents. Couldn’t -help it if Terry wasn’t fit. How about the -game before that and the score? Eh?” -Richards’ smile broadened.</p> - -<p>“Well, was I sore?” Stapley challenged.</p> - -<p>“Like a hen after a bath. You couldn’t -see anything but red. The same at the class -relay runs and—”</p> - -<p>“I’d hate to say that you and the truth -are total strangers,” Stapley said, quickly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, let her go. I consider the source, -as the man said when the donkey kicked -him, ‘The critter didn’t know any bet—.’ -Now, what’s the matter?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<p>The boy by the window had suddenly -made a sudden downward motion with one -hand and held a finger of the other to his -lips, looking most mysterious. He had previously -chanced to lean far forward, a position -which he now maintained for a moment; -then he flopped down against the seat back, -quickly taking a pencil and a scrap of paper -from his pocket and beginning to write. -In another minute Richards was scanning -what had been written:</p> - -<div class="blockquot fs90"> - -<p>“You know German. So do I—a little, but Dad -made me take Spanish this term. I just caught a -word or two from those dubs ahead that sounded -funny. You cock your ear over the back of the seat -and listen some. If you let on you’re mad as blazes -at me and now and then give me a bawling out, I’ll -play dumb and then when you wait for me to reply -maybe you can hear a thing or two they’re saying. -We’ve got to bury the hatchet now, for we are both -Americans, first.”</p></div> - -<p>The younger lad at once did as requested, -glancing at the two men in the seat ahead, -who were in earnest conversation, one, evidently -under some excitement, talking quite -loudly. He seemed not to think his voice -carried so far above the rumble of a railroad -train, or else they both considered as naught<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -the chance that anyone might understand -the language they were speaking. That the -two were foreigners there could be no doubt; -the full whiskered face of one, and the bent, -thin lips of the other denoted, beyond power -of words, the egotistical, would-be-dominating -Prussian blood. It was an argument -over ways and means that caused the bearded -fellow to become so vehement.</p> - -<p>The lad, understanding conversational German -fairly well because of his persistent -practice at school and the influence of a -nurse he had when small, caught at first -but a few words from the whiskered foreigner; -then, when the smooth-faced man began -speaking at length in a voice that could not -be plainly heard the boy quickly carried -out the suggestion of his companion.</p> - -<p>Donald Richards took real enjoyment in -doing this, and to Clement Stapley it was an -ordeal to accept it without showing more -than a grimace of protest. The two lads -had long been far from friendly. They -hailed from the same town, Lofton, perched -well up in the foothills of the Red Deer -Mountains, and they had ever been rivals, -since early boyhood, in games, contests of -skill, popularity among their fellows. Clement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -was the only child of the great man of the -town, the senior Stapley being president -of mills that made the place a spot of some -importance on the map. Donald was one of -five sons of the leading physician in the town -and, having to paddle his own canoe against -a more active competition, he had naturally -become more self-reliant and shrewd than -the half-spoiled son of the rich man.</p> - -<p>When the two entered Brighton they were -not admitted to the same classes, for Don -had advanced beyond Clem in learning, -even though younger, but they engaged in -contests of skill and strength, and both -become partial leaders of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">cliques</i> such as -naturally form within classes, and possessed -the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">esprit de corps</i> that is always uppermost -among youths. Clem, tall and manly, with -a dignity of manner and the prestige of his -father’s wealth and standing back of him, -drew a certain crowd of followers in the -institution, while Don, active in both brain -and muscle far beyond his years and possessing -a born air of leadership, had admirers -everywhere. Naturally, as with the analytical -minds of youths being trained to compare -and classify, the relative merits of the two -boys were weighed and counted in such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -manner as to wave still harder the red flag -of bitter competition until never a kind word -passed between them, but always <em>repartee</em>, -often with rancor, once or twice in such anger -that they almost came to blows.</p> - -<p>Now, in the Christmas holidays of 1917–18, -the students of old Brighton, one and all, -were departing for their homes. Chancing -to go a little late, Don and Clem found -themselves in the same train with but one -unoccupied seat and at once the old-time -banter began, with a question from Don -relative to a subject uppermost in the minds -of the youth of the United States: Was -Clem going to enlist, and if not, why not? -If the interruption occasioned by the two -men in front of the boys had not occurred, -there might have been another serious -quarrel.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER II</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Traced</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Don’s face was a study as he suddenly -left off berating his companion and -listened quite breathlessly to the -rising inflections of the bearded man making -answer to his hatchet-faced companion. The -boy was hearing something interesting; that -Clem knew, and he waited with some impatience -to find out what it might be. After -awhile the two men in front began to exchange -words much too rapidly for Don to get a -clear idea what they were driving at. Presently -one of them turned suddenly and gave -the lad a searching, suspicious glance; then -with another word in a low tone the two -stopped talking. Don maintained his position -of leaning forward, his face at the back -of the seat ahead for a few minutes, at the -same time unmercifully badgering Clem until -the men both turned to see what it was all -about and to put them at ease Don laughed -and made a motion with his head toward -his companion, as much as to say he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -welcome an audience. This must have reassured -the men a little, though the hatchet-faced -fellow turned quickly and fired a German -sentence at the boy. Don was not to -be caught by such a trick; he looked blank -and shook his head.</p> - -<p>“You’ll have to say that in United States, -mister,” he laughed. The German turned -away, and the two began talking again in -so low a tone that the words were inaudible, -especially as at that moment the train -started to glide over newly ballasted tracks -and the rumble was increased. So the two -left their seat and walked back in the car -where they got their heads together.</p> - -<p>“Sounds like funny stuff,” Don said -hurriedly. “They’re up to something queer. -‘Whiskers’ said there’d be enough to blow -things to pieces; that’s all I made out. -They seemed to mean some building, but I -couldn’t quite catch what.”</p> - -<p>“Great snakes! They’re a couple of dynamiters!” -Clem declared.</p> - -<p>“Don’t know, but it looks like it. I have a -hunch they’re going to destroy something -or other.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t make out. Don’t think they -said where. That was understood.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> - -<p>“When?”</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t tell that, either.”</p> - -<p>“What else did you get?”</p> - -<p>“Not much; nothing. But that’s about -enough; isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe. You know we ought to -follow ’em, and see where they get off, and -put somebody on to them. It’s a duty. -Likely they’ll change cars at Upgrove for -the city.”</p> - -<p>“Well, even at that we could get back -before very late,” Don said.</p> - -<p>“We don’t both have to go. One’s enough. -We can draw for it can’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Sure. But we’ve got to hurry. Lofton’s -next; about six minutes. Here, let’s toss -up. What’s yours?”</p> - -<p>“Heads. Hold on! The ginks are fixing -to get off at Lofton, as sure as you’re——”</p> - -<p>The sentence was not finished. The full-bearded -German got up to reach for a bundle -in the rack above, and the other man lifted -a big satchel from the floor. The men got -into the aisle and started for the forward -end. Not until they were out on the platform -and the train almost at a standstill -did the boys slip back and into their overcoats, -grab their suit cases and make for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -rear end, being careful to drop off on the -side away from the station platform and -then to dodge quickly around a freight car -that stood on the siding, peeping beneath -it toward the glimmering lights, for now it -had begun to grow dark. It chanced that -only these four male passengers and one -woman got off at Lofton and there was no -one waiting for the train, except the station -master; therefore, it became an easy matter -to note the movements of the two men.</p> - -<p>“They’re going out along the track, in a -hurry too,” Clem said.</p> - -<p>“Going to cross—yes, there they go,” -was Don’s observation.</p> - -<p>“Out the Galaville road. Come on; let’s -see where—”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to chuck this suit case in the -station.”</p> - -<p>“Here, too. Danny Morgan’s got to wait -for the up train.”</p> - -<p>“Turn up your collar and pull down your -lid, Clem, so’s to show no white.”</p> - -<p>“And get a move on, Don; those fellows -are in a big hurry.”</p> - -<p>A mutual object quickly brought these -lads to a friendly, even familiar understanding, -proved by the use of their first names<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -and their quick agreement in action. Both -noticed it, but they were either too proud -or too much engrossed to refer to it openly. -Ahead of them lay an apparently necessary -purpose and they followed it with the quick -determination that belongs to the well balanced, -bright-minded school boy. It could -be said of old Brighton that it put self-reliant -energy and pep into its pupils; no youngsters -anywhere could be prouder of the zeal to do -and the encouragement therefor, which spoke -volumes for the accomplishments of that -student body, and in athletics, as well as for -the many graduates who had attained high -standing in various fields of endeavor. In -nothing was this better shown than by the -lads who entered the war and won distinction.</p> - -<p>It was no light task to follow those hurrying, -distant figures on a darkening winter night, -along what soon became a winding, lonely, -tree or thicket-lined by-way. The town -ended at the station and only one house -faced the Galaville road beyond for more -than half a mile.</p> - -<p>The dim figures could barely be seen far -ahead and not wishing to be observed, the -boys kept as near as possible to the edge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -the road, along a fence or an overhanging -clay bank on one side. They soon gained on -the men; then, fearing discovery, they fell -back. But even at this they knew that -presently they must be seen; it was natural -that these men should look behind them -and when crossing a knoll the lads could -not avoid showing against the sky. Then -the road began to descend, and the pursued -stopped and stood a moment.</p> - -<p>“Keep right on slowly,” Don’s quicker wits -advised. “They’ll smell a mouse if we stop, -too. Come on; they won’t know we don’t -live out this way.”</p> - -<p>Again the men, possibly somewhat reassured -and yet not wanting to be overtaken, -hurried on and were soon out of sight around -a bend.</p> - -<p>“Wonder if they’ll sneak into the bushes to -see who we are,” Clem queried.</p> - -<p>“No; they’ll only hurry more so as to -turn off at a road or path,” Don argued and -he proved to be right. From the bend the -two figures could barely be discerned. To -hurry after them would excite suspicion, but -now fair chance come to the boys’ aid. Just -beyond, and evidently unknown to the -German-speaking pair, a path led across a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -meadow that short cut another sharp bend -in the road and this enabled Clem and Don -to gain so much on the men that before the -latter had reached the farm house beyond, -the lads were close behind them, between a -double line of willow trees and thus unseen.</p> - -<p>But here the adventure was to end for the -time. The boys, instinctively aware that the -men believed they were beyond observation, -now were eager to see which road of a fork -beyond would be followed and they were not -greatly surprised when the travelers turned -in at the gate of the farm house and knocked -at the door. A light appeared at the entrance, -a large figure loomed in the doorway, a few -words were exchanged in voluble German; -then the door closed.</p> - -<p>“They’re friends of Shultz, by jimminy!” -Clem exploded.</p> - -<p>“They are, you bet! That big fat slob of -a saloon keeper was in the door,” Don added.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go home. We can look into this -further, but later,” Clem advised and the -boys almost reluctantly retraced their steps.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER III</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Bang</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Christmas festivities at Lofton, like -those in nearly every live town in the -United States, were such as to engross -the attention of the youthful population, -especially the rehearsing for Christmas Eve -carols. The plans for home enjoyments, -the doing up of packages, procuring and -trimming of trees and many other happy -duties kept both boys about their widely -separated homes very busy.</p> - -<p>Clem Stapley lived in the mansion on a -hill overlooking the town and the mills. -Don Richards dwelt in a big house on the -main street. In the days following—the -Sunday and Monday preceding Christmas—the -lads saw each other but once, and then -only to exchange a few words. These had -been in effect that if the suspected strangers -were up to any mischief here they would -probably defer it until after Christmas, and -now spend the time having a beer-fest with -fat old Shultz. Clem thought more probably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -that the men had gone away again, or would -soon go, but Don believed otherwise; he had -been reading of German propaganda and -plots against munition factories and ships, -and with a mind keen for gathering facts -and making deductions, he felt, half instinctively, -that there must be an evil purpose in -these men stopping in this town where the -large factory was turning out war materials -for the Government. It was almost with a -conscientious protest that he turned now to -the immediate business of Christmas gaieties.</p> - -<p>And the jolliest day of the year came on -with its usual zest and pleasure, and went -quickly by. Late in the afternoon Don and a -younger brother, to try new skates, went out -to the pond not far from the Galaville road -and as they were returning, just at dusk, -they observed three men standing on a high -knoll just above the road and looking off -toward the town, one pointing, with out-stretched -arm, from time to time. The -figures could be clearly seen against the -sky: one, a short fellow, apparently with -whiskers, one a slender, tall chap and the -other big, paunchy, heavy-set. It did not -require much imagination to identify them -as Shultz and his two guests—the Germans -of the train.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - -<p>The boys were evidently not seen. Don -commanded his brother to follow him and -kept on the far side of a row of cedar trees -until they were out of sight of the hill. He -found himself much disturbed by the circumstance, -trivial as it seemed; and yet, -was it trivial? It was possible that these men -were merely out for exercise, or a bit of -novelty; they may have been simply noting -the interesting features of the town, or even -contemplating the purchase of farm land -near that of Shultz.</p> - -<p>That night Don went to bed with the subject -still uppermost in his mind to the extent -that it was becoming rather tiresome because -barren of results; and beyond any chance -of solution. More to relieve his mind than -anything else he managed to get Clement -Stapley on the telephone quite late and told -him of seeing the men, half expecting his -partner in the mystery to characterize him -as a boob for considering such a thing of -sufficient importance to bother him. To his -surprise Clem appeared tremendously interested -and insisted on their getting together -the next morning. Don agreed, hung up -and went to bed. He usually slept like a log, -the result of good health and a clear con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>science, -he himself declared, and there could -be little doubt of this, but however tightly -wrapped in the all-absorbing arms of slumber, -the dulling influence suddenly and entirely -relaxed an hour or so after midnight. Along -with a large majority of the townspeople, -according to later evidence, he found himself -sitting up in bed and wondering why the -house was trying to do a dance and the -windows to imitate a drum corps. Then -came voices from within, some in alarm, -others in quieter comment and the words:</p> - -<p>“Great fury! Is the house coming down?” -from Merrill, next to Don in age.</p> - -<p>“What was that, Dad?” a younger scion -questioned.</p> - -<p>“An explosion of some kind; two of them!” -This from the doctor.</p> - -<p>“Where ’bouts?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, where do you think it was, Father?”</p> - -<p>“Over on the other side of town; perhaps -the mills.”</p> - -<p>“Ooh! Can we go an’ see, Daddy?” This -from the baby of the family.</p> - -<p>“No; in the morning. It’s only two -o’clock now. Go to sleep.”</p> - -<p>“But you’re going, Father; they may -need you,” Donald offered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, and I’ll take you with me.”</p> - -<p>It was the mills. One building with the -office in part, had been utterly wrecked, -another had been partly destroyed and one -end was on fire. And while the volunteer -department and helpers were valorously extinguishing -the flames another explosion occurred -that hurt two men and flung some others -down, Don amongst them. The boy was -uninjured, though the jarring up made him -see red. But with a shrewdness beyond -his years he kept silent as to what he suspected -and his ears were keen to catch the talk -going on around him. It seemed to be the -idea of one and all that this was the work of -German spies.</p> - -<p>Presently, from behind some splintered -boxes, they found the half-unconscious watchman -and resuscitated him, getting him to -talk. He had obtained one good look at the -miscreants as they ran away.</p> - -<p>Don kept an eye open for Clem and as that -youth appeared leaping with his father, -from a big motor car, he was grabbed and -pulled aside.</p> - -<p>“Don’t say a word about what we know,” -Don whispered. “Here’s a chance for us to -get right up on top of everybody. It was -those two, Clem.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But, look here, Don, Father ought to -know—”</p> - -<p>“Sure! And he will, sooner and more -satisfactorily than if he put some of those -bum detectives on the job; you know that. -They’d kick around for about a week, but -you and I can get busy right now; to-night. -They won’t get here before—”</p> - -<p>“But Father can have those men arrested -and then—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, hang it, yes, and give us the go-by! -Let’s be the ones to spring the surprise. Come -on; I’m ready to tackle it, when I get a -gun somewhere.”</p> - -<p>The idea appealed to Clement Stapley, -for he did not want to be outdone in daring -by his old-time rival. It would never do for -Don to say: “Clem fell down on the job; -wasn’t equal to it; hadn’t the backbone.” -He turned to Don:</p> - -<p>“I’m with you! Hold on, I can fix the -shooting-iron matter. Wait half a minute.” -Into the debris of the office wreck the lad -climbed and wriggled, and after a moment’s -looking about, in the light from the yard -lamp-poles, which had been re-established -by some quick-witted employee, the boy -located a shattered desk, pried open a drawer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -and drew forth two long-barreled revolvers -of the finest make.</p> - -<p>Don, waiting and watching, heard Mr. -Stapley say to several men:</p> - -<p>“I have a notion that those fellows will -come back. They’ll believe we think they’ve -left for distant parts and that will make them -bold. You see they’ve got reason: the stock -mill wasn’t hurt. Riley found two bombs -that hadn’t gone off in there; the fuses had -become damp, I suppose. And that was probably -the big game they were after. Probably -they’ll take another chance at it. Well, we’ll -put detectives on the job as soon as possible. -Have any of you noticed anyone about; any -strangers whom you could have suspected?”</p> - -<p>There was a general negative to this; -then one hand spoke up:</p> - -<p>“How about that fellow Shultz, out beyond -the station? He’s a red-hot German and -before we went into the war he was shouting -pro-Prussian stuff till his throat was sore. -He’s about the only Hun around here except -old man Havemeyer, and he’s a decent, -good citizen and wants to see the kaiser -punched full of holes.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Havemeyer is all right,” assented -Mr. Stapley, “but we will have to look into -the doings of this Shultz.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Captured</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">The destruction from the explosions -was not so damaging but that complete -repairs could be made in a few -weeks and the work, crowded into the other -buildings, go on without serious interruption. -Mr. Stapley, organizing a crowd of workers -on the spot, turned for one moment to listen -to his son.</p> - -<p>“Say, Dad, it would be a fine thing to -land the dubs that did this; wouldn’t it? -I have an idea—”</p> - -<p>The president of the Stapley Mills laughed -outright. “That you know the miscreants? -Oh, the confidence and the imagination of -youth! Well, go bring them in, my son; -bring them right in here!”</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe it’s only a joke, but—but, -Dad, if I did—if we did, would you—?”</p> - -<p>“I’d give you about anything you’d ask -for if you even got a clue to the devils! What -do you know—anything?”</p> - -<p>“Tell you later, Dad. Would you—er—let -me—enlist?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, even that! Anything! But here now, -don’t you go and start anything rash. Better -wait until the detectives and police get on -the job. I’m too busy now to—”</p> - -<p>“All right. See you later, Dad.”</p> - -<p>Slipping away in the darkness, the boys -began talking in low tones, and made for the -Galaville road, laying plans as they went. -Don offered the principal suggestions and -Clem, lacking definite ideas of proceeding, -was fair enough to comply. They approached -the Shultz farmhouse with keen caution, -making a wide detour and coming from back -of the barn. A dog barked near the house -and that was the only sign of life. But -there was a method of bestirring the inmates, -and the boys believed that the miscreants -would show themselves to render hasty aid -to a fellow countryman in gratitude for the -shelter and care they had received from Shultz.</p> - -<p>Working like beavers the lads gathered a -lot of loose cornstalks, tall straws, and -barnyard litter of a most inflammable nature, -and piled it all on the side of the barn opposite -the house, and far enough away to be beyond -danger. At half a dozen places almost at -once they set fire to the pile and having -selected positions of ambush they rushed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -into hiding, Clem behind the barn bridge, -Don crouching in the shadow of the corn-crib. -The signal of action was to be the sudden -move of either.</p> - -<p>The plan worked. No one could have -turned in and slept at once after the noise -of the explosion in the town, much less these -people who, the lads felt assured, had been -expecting it. If the farmhouse occupants -had been in fear of showing themselves -they would ignore that for the few minutes -needed for saving the animals in a burning -barn. That they would, on looking out, -believe the barn was on fire there could be -no question, as no view from the house -could detect the exact location of the flames.</p> - -<p>A door slammed; there was the sound of -excited words, of commands, of hurrying -feet. Could it be possible that only Shultz -and his family would appear on the scene? -Had the Germans of the train departed? -Or was it, after all, merely a coincidence -that those men had come here and had talked -in the train in a way that led the boys to -think they were up to some such tricks, -and that others had caused the explosion? -Might it not have been some workman who -was a German sympathizer?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>Such doubts filled the minds of the young -adventurers as they waited, hidden, and -wondering. But they were not long to remain -in doubt for things began to happen. Fat -Shultz was not the first to appear, for three -figures rounded the corner of the barn ahead -of his puffing form.</p> - -<p>The dog was fleetest of foot; that half-mongrel -dachshund bade fair to spoil the -game for the boys, for he was far more interested -in the presence of strangers than in a -bonfire, no matter how high it blazed. Yaw-cub, -or whatever the beast was called, began -to bark at the corn-crib, but the followers -of the elongated hound fortunately paid no -attention to this. Close together came the -next in line—Fraülein Shultz and a man, -both plainly seen as they came within the -zone of light from the fire. The woman -turned the corner and stopped as though -she had bumped against a post, her hands -going to her bosom in relief and for want -of breath. The man almost ran into her; -then he let out a German remark, doubtless -an oath, and wheeled about. Surprise number -one had relieved, if disgusted, him; -number two, which confronted him before -he had taken two retracing steps, made him -lift his arms as if trained in the art.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Hands up!” was Don’s order.</p> - -<p>“And be blamed quick about it!” supplemented -Clem.</p> - -<p>“And you, too, Shultz!” Don addressed -the on-coming and puffing old saloon keeper.</p> - -<p>“Eh? Vat? Bah! I safe mein barn! -I safe mein horses und coos und mein piks!”</p> - -<p>“Hands up and stop! Your horses and cows -and pigs are all safe. Put your hands up, -if you don’t want to get some lead in you!”</p> - -<p>Shultz stopped, but rather at the command -or announcement of his more active wife -than because of an order from his captors. -His bumptious self-importance would not -permit him to knuckle to anybody, much less -to mere American youths.</p> - -<p>“Huh! Vat? Chust poys, py gollies! -Raus mit ’em! Clear oudt! I ring der necks -off bodt! Put down dose pistols! Eh? Vat? -Bah!”</p> - -<p>It instantly became evident that something -most radical, however unpleasant, must be -done to convince this egotistical German -what young America can do when started. -The preparations for war, the flower of our -youth enlisting, the early determination to -beat the Huns had evidently made little -impression on this tub of conceited Prussian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>ism. -It was the certain duty of his youthful -captors to impress not only a lesson on -Shultz, but to maintain their own position -in the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">rôle</i> they had chosen to assume. The -necessity was also very apparent of repelling -a weighty and sudden charge of the declared -enemy, for Shultz, by reason of his calling, -was given to combatting foes of almost -every sort, albeit this must have been a -somewhat new experience.</p> - -<p>It was Don who, as usual, saw first the need -of action and improved upon it. Your trained, -competing athlete, boxer, wrestler, leader -of team contests must be as quick with -his head as with his hands and the event of -weapons on a possibly tragic mission and -against a really dangerous opponent flabbergasted -the boy not a bit. Words, he saw, -were entirely useless; delay might be fatal—to -someone, at least.</p> - -<p>The boy’s revolver barked and spit out -its fiery protest over Shultz’s head; the -tongue of flame against the dark background -of the night was enough to command any -minion of the Old Scratch, and Shultz proved -no exception to this. The other chap, whose -whiskered face the lads had recognized -instantly, acted more wisely, hoping, no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -doubt, for some moment to arrive where -strategy or surprise might count.</p> - -<p>“Vat? Eh? Py shoose, you shoot me? -Veil, no, you shoot me nod! I vas holt -mein hands up so, und shtop poinding dot -peestol! Uh! It might vent off!”</p> - -<p>“It will sure go off and through your fat -gizzard if you don’t turn round and head for -the road and town! Both of you, now march!”</p> - -<p>Don issued this order, then he turned to -Mrs. Shultz who had suddenly lifted her -voice in a loud lament, much resembling -a screech.</p> - -<p>“Now, listen, please: Your man must be -all right; all we want him for is to tell about -this other fellow. Don’t worry; he’ll be -back right soon. Say, Clem, you explain to -her; I guess she’s going crazy.”</p> - -<p>This was pretty close to the facts, although -long association with the hard knocks of a -troubled existence had saved her from going -crazy now. But, woman-like, she must fly -to the defense of her man, even though, -German-like, she was his slave. She was -making a vehement protest of some kind, -largely by rushing to Shultz and trying to -reach her arms around his ample waist; -she may have meant to carry him off bodily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -and protect or hide him, but she fell short -in estimating his avoirdupois.</p> - -<p>Clem gently pulled the woman back and -again reassured her; by insisting about twenty -times that it was all right and that she need -not worry he managed at last to get her a -little calmer and then Don ordered the men -forward.</p> - -<p>But now the bearded fellow had something -to say and it was in the best of English, -without a trace of foreign accent. He did -not offer to lower his arms.</p> - -<p>“I suppose, young gentlemen, this is some -kind of a holiday prank; is it not? A schoolboy -pleasantry, though rather a severe one, -but being once young myself I can sympathize -with the exuberance of youth. When -you see fit to end this, permit us both and -this poor woman to enter the house. I am -quite ill and we have all lost much sleep of -late. Be then so kind as to—.”</p> - -<p>“We can imagine that you have indeed -lost much sleep and you will probably lose -more!” Don was sarcastic. “But we didn’t -come here to parley. If this is a schoolboy -joke it’s sure enough a hefty one; all you’ve -got to do is to fall in with it and do as you’re -told. The next time this gun cracks it’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -going to be right straight at one of your -carcasses, by cracky, and you’ve going to -get hurt! So, hit the road out yonder for town -and hit it lively! Get moving, or I’m going -to pull this trigger the way she’s pointing. -Now then, go on!”</p> - -<p>“But, my boy, you have no right to thus -threaten and order us about. You do not -appear like bandits; surely you can mean -us no harm and we have done nothing—”</p> - -<p>“But we think you have,” put in Clem, -which was not altogether diplomatic, if it -seemed best not to put this man on his guard. -Don saw the drift that matters would soon -take and parleying was not in order.</p> - -<p>“Say, Dutch, listen: You’re wrong; we -are bandits and this is a real hold-up; see? -If you’re not the party we want you can -hustle back here again, quick.”</p> - -<p>Shultz put in his inflated oar:</p> - -<p>“Bah! You do not vant me. No! I vill -not go mit you!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes you will, or get a lot of lead in -you,” Don asserted.</p> - -<p>“We surely wish you to do just as we say,” -Clem added. Perhaps it was growing a little -hard for him to keep up his courage, but -not so with Don; the more that youth was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -confronted with difficulties, the more determined -he became and he was now about -as mad as a June hornet.</p> - -<p>“Go on out into the road and head for -town and no more shenanigan! In two -seconds more I’m going to begin shooting -and I’d rather kill somebody right now than -get a million dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Now, just a minute, young gentleman.” -The bearded man’s voice was most appealing. -“If this is a hold-up and you want money, -why then, I can gladly—” The fellow’s -hand went into his hip pocket and he edged -toward Don.</p> - -<p>“Back up! Say, by thunder I’m just -going to kill you, anyhow!” was Don’s -reply and upon the instant he almost had -to make good his word, for the man leaped -right at him, with a snarl resembling that -of an angry cat. But the boy was ready and -even quicker; dropping the muzzle of his -weapon a little he fired and dodged aside at -the same time. The man stumbled and fell -upon the frozen ground; he floundered a -little; then sat up.</p> - -<p>“You back up, too, Shultz, or you’ll get -it! Now, then, Clem, hunt a wheelbarrow -and we’ll just cart this chap to town, anyway.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -You and Shultz can take turns. Hurry, -Clem; there must be one around somewhere. -Go into the house, Mrs. Shultz; we won’t -hurt your husband if he doesn’t get gay.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER V</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Rewarded</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">The procession that wound out of the -gate, down the road, over the railroad -tracks, past the station, into -and along the main street a little way, then -down the broad cross street to the mills was -indeed a queer one; naturally one to draw the -attention of a crowd, if there had been anyone -on the street so early in the morning to see -it. Those who were up and about, who -had not gone back to bed after the explosion, -had stayed at the mill to join in the well-paid-for -work of rehabilitation, or to stand around -and discuss the crime.</p> - -<p>When the slow-moving caravan arrived, -after a toilsome trip with many stops for rest, -Clem having been the motive power all the -way for the squeaking, one-wheeled vehicle, -the crowd at the mill paused to observe and -consider this rather startling performance. -Christmas night was one long to be remembered -in Lofton.</p> - -<p>“Hi! Here comes the circus, the elephant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -in the lead!” announced Jimmy West, a -wit among the mill hands, as he caught -sight of the outline of the approaching group. -Shultz marched ahead; then came the wheel-barrow -and Clem; then Don, his revolver -ever ready.</p> - -<p>“Ah, what—what have you here? What -does this mean, my son?” Mr. Stapley -queried.</p> - -<p>“Fer goodness’ sake, hit’s Dutchy Shultz -an’ another feller, thet them there boys hez -brung in!” remarked an ancient citizen.</p> - -<p>“Dis vas von outrache, py gollies! I -vill nod—”</p> - -<p>“Shut up, Shultz, I told you, or you’ll -get plugged yet!” Don threatened. The -crowd did not embarrass him.</p> - -<p>“We think this is your dynamiter, Dad,” -Clem stated, calmly. He had had time to -compose himself.</p> - -<p>“Eh? What makes you think so?”</p> - -<p>“Got a lot of reasons, Dad; a lot of evidence -against this fellow.”</p> - -<p>“So? But what’s the matter with him?”</p> - -<p>“Donald shot him. He isn’t much hurt, -I guess. But we don’t know. We just brought -them along.”</p> - -<p>“Hey, Mr. Strang, here, evidently, is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -job for you! And we’d better have Doctor -Richards here again.”</p> - -<p>The town constable clambered out from -among the wreckage of the office building -where he had been searching for clues and -approached. Amid the buzz of remarks and -questions he paused long enough to consider -and then to become somewhat nettled at -what appeared like high-handed proceedings -beyond his authority.</p> - -<p>“What’s this? You kids make an arrest? -Took a lot on yourselves, I’m thinkin’. -Eh? Shot this fellow? Hello! You Shultz? -Huh! This looks like pretty darned bold -business to me. Put down that gun, young -fellow!” This to Don.</p> - -<p>“You go and sit down will you? Maybe -you think I’ve had no use for this.” Don was -still seeing red, but with all of his wits working. -“Mr. Stapley, you get busy on this; -you’re most interested. This gink,” indicating -the constable, “couldn’t catch a mudturtle -that had robbed a hen roost in the middle of -the day. There’s just one thing to do: bring -the watchman here.”</p> - -<p>“Put up that gun, I tell you!” ordered -Strang, starting toward Don.</p> - -<p>“If you want to fill an early grave you get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -gay with me now!” Don said, backing off -around the crowd. Mr Stapley interposed.</p> - -<p>“Put up your pistol, Donald. We’ll take -care of this matter now.”</p> - -<p>“But, Mr. Stapley, Shultz will get away! -He and Strang are old cronies. Many a jag -Strang got in Shultz’s place when he had -his saloon; everybody knows that.” This -caused a general laugh.</p> - -<p>“Let him alone, Strang. Perhaps these -boys have done us a big service.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if you think maybe we’ve got the -wrong men, just get the watchman here,” -Don reiterated.</p> - -<p>“Davis went home and to bed,” announced -a bystander.</p> - -<p>“Well, we can wake him; we’ll wheel -these fellows over there and let him see this -one,” Don insisted.</p> - -<p>Mr. Stapley issued several rapid orders; -a big mill hand, grinning, brought up the -wheelbarrow and began trundling it and its -human freight down the street again. Two -others, with a piece of stout twine, noosed -Shultz’s hands behind him and had him -helpless in a moment; then handed him -over to Strang, who really would not have -dared to be false to his trust. Don, beneath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -a lamp and before Strang, emptied the cartridges -out of his revolver; then handed -his weapon to Clem, who also unloaded his -gun, and the boys quickly followed on to the -watchman’s abode.</p> - -<p>The ceremony there was as dramatic as -could have been wished by the most excitement-loving -onlooker. Davis was brought -down to the door and he took a look at the -two Germans under a bright light. He -paused long enough to make his assertion -emphatic, pointing his finger and appearing -so sure that no one could have doubted him.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see Shultz an’ I would have -knowed him, anyway; he ain’t no stranger to -nary one in this here town. But I did see -that man! He’s one o’ them that run from -the office buildin’ acrosst the yard just -before the bomb went off. That feller an’ -another one—a long, thin cuss without any -whiskers—they must ’a’ set their fuses too -short an’ was scared, because they skinned -out awful quick. Then the thing went off -an’ the one near where I was a second later, -an’ it fixed me so’s I didn’t know nothin’.”</p> - -<p>“You think that this man—” began Mr. -Stapley, indicating the wheelbarrow’s passenger -who had said no word, but only sat -hugging his leg and looking very pale.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes sir, Mr. Stapley, that there feller -is one o’ the two men I seen. I’m as sure -of it as I am that the sun riz yest’day mornin’! -I’ll take a bunch of oaths on it ez big ez the -mill prop’ty! Knowed him soon’s I seen -him.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Davis. Go back to bed and -I hope you’re better—”</p> - -<p>A cheer, at first uncertain, then growing -in volume and intent, interrupted the mill -president.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah for the kids!” it began; then; -“That’s the stuff!” “Sure they turned the -trick!” “Them kids is some fellers!” and: -“Whoop ’em up!” Both boys were caught -up on the shoulders of the crowd and passing -Strang someone shouted:</p> - -<p>“Say, Constable, you ain’t got a blamed -thing t’ say, so shut up!”</p> - -<p>“Ben, you and Phil get this fellow down to -the mill hospital and stay with him,” ordered -Mr. Stapley. “The doctor will be here any -minute. Mr. Strang, hold on to Shultz; -he was giving these men asylum and we all -know his sentiments. Better lock him up -and we’ll work the legal proceedings tomorrow. -As for the boys, I won’t stand for any action -to be taken against them, unless the district<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -attorney insists, and I don’t believe he will. -They may have exceeded their rights, but -you see the result. Good-night, Strang. -Come on, men; we’ll go back to work. -You boys had better go home and get some -sleep; you both need it. We’ll talk the whole -matter over tomorrow.”</p> - -<p>But when the morrow came, a little late -in the morning, the talk was prefaced by a -bit of news. A few hours before the bearded -German had eluded his jailors just long -enough to swallow a dose of poison and he -had died in half a minute and almost without -a tremor. Prussic acid, Doctor Richards -said, and added that the wound inflicted by -Don’s bullet was a mere flesh scratch in the -leg and had only caused a temporary paralysis, -largely imaginary. In the darkness the -boy had aimed to hit the fellow just above -the knee.</p> - -<p>They were all at the Stapley mansion, -most comfortably seated. The president of -the mills and the doctor were old friends, -knowing nothing of the long feud between -the lads here in the town and at Brighton, -and now pleased that the boys had acted -together.</p> - -<p>“We want to know the whole story;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -just how it all happened and all that you did; -eh, Doc?” Mr. Stapley demanded.</p> - -<p>Between them the boys managed to make -a complete narrative, though the latter part -of it—the taking of the two Germans and the -shooting—Clem told, after much cross-questioning. -Mr Stapley then commented:</p> - -<p>“It’s pretty easy to grasp the merits of -this, Doc. My son’s part has been anything -but that which a proud father could be -ashamed of and I’m glad the boy has shown -so much nerve and spunk. But it is your -son, Donald here, who has really carried -the thing through. That boy’s going to be -a regular young Napoleon one of these days, -Doc, you may be sure! Better give his -scrapping ability all the development possible.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, now, Mr. Stapley, I didn’t do any -more than Clem did. He was right there on -the job. Why, he wheeled the wheelbarrow -and he—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, very good indeed! A rather hard -task! But something of a laborer’s job -wasn’t it? You seem to have done—”</p> - -<p>“‘Comparisons are odious,’ Stapley. -There’s glory enough in this to go round,” -suggested the doctor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Sure, sure, but nevertheless we’ve got -to discriminate when the rewards are forthcoming. -Our company is greatly indebted -to these boys and so is the country. That -fellow might have gotten off and have done a -lot more damage, probably to us. Now we’ve -got only one rascal to hunt down. It is -wonderful, I must say, very, for boys to have -carried this out as you did. Clem, you deserve -high praise for getting on to those fellows -in the train. But now look here son, the -strategy of the actual capture and the nervy -manner in which it was carried out seems -to have depended mostly upon Donald and -I want you to act with me in this matter. -The company will reward this act with five -hundred dollars and, my boy, in this case -I want it all to go to Donald. You shall -reap your reward otherwise; I’ll see to that -in various ways. Of course you’re willing?”</p> - -<p>“I’m not willing!” spoke up Don and his -father shook his head. Clem gazed straight -before him with a solemn, hurt expression.</p> - -<p>“It must be as I wish,” Mr Stapley insisted. -“We shall consent to no other arrangement. -Doc, I’ll send the check to you to bank -for your boy, and Donald, I want to thank -you for your splendid action in this affair.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Dissension</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">The end of the holiday week approached -and on the day after New Year’s -there would be again a general migration -of eager youths, all over the broad -land, into the outstretched arms of alma -mater. But competing fiercely with all the -institutions of learning, a mightier need -beckoned the physically able, for there was -work to do to make the “world safe for -democracy.”</p> - -<p>Clement Stapley and Donald Richards -heard the call and stopped to consider it. -They knew old Brighton was ready to welcome -back her knights of brain and brawn, but -even more insistently they were aware that -far greater institutions controlled by the -United States Government were also eager -to welcome the same brain and brawn. -The Red Cross beckoned them, the Emergency -Aid and the Y. M. C. A. wanted the -help of strong and willing hands; bigger -still loomed the Government itself, with its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -demands for men, but with a more urgent -need. Surely Old Brighton could wait and -so could their own desire for learning; at -such a time as this the country, all the world -indeed, blocked some of its wheels of progress -to permit other wheels to turn the faster, to -roll along helpfully, determinedly, to reach -the hilltop of peace at the end of the fierce -journey.</p> - -<p>Don sat down to the breakfast table on -Monday morning with four younger boys, -his brothers, all hungry and noisy. The -mother of the Richards boys had long been -dead; the aunt, their father’s maiden sister, -who presided over the household, had departed -a few minutes before upon some important -errand, leaving the interior to the tender -mercies of the wild bunch who seemed bent -on having an especially merry time, for they -believed the doctor had gone to attend an -urgent case.</p> - -<p>Don was the only one of the group who -appeared in no mood to raise a rumpus; -he busily applied himself to satisfying his -very healthy appetite and only switched off -at necessary intervals in the attempt to -enforce peace and to defend himself against -the tussling twins, who would rather scrap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -than eat. The other two, one older and one -younger, but almost the huskiest of the -brothers, insisted on having a hand in these -athletic performances. And then there came -an unpleasant surprise.</p> - -<p>Jim and Jake, the twins, in an effort to -compel the surrender of a buttered buckwheat -cake, toppled over on Merrill, the -second son, who in turn flung them against -Ernest. That wily youngster was more than -equal to such occasions; he dodged out of -his chair and when the struggling twins -tumbled across his seat he twisted the corner -of the tablecloth about the neck of one, -quickly wrecking things, as the wrestlers -fell to the floor. Don made a wide grab at -several things at once, but finding his attempt -futile he turned, tore the tusslers apart and -sent them sprawling to opposite corners; -then he gave Ernest a crack with open hand, -which caused that youngster being the baby -of the family, to bawl loudly.</p> - -<p>Just at that instant Dr. Richards hurriedly -entered the room, for he had just been fixing -his auto runabout and now came back for a -bite to eat.</p> - -<p>The sight that confronted the busy man -was enough to exasperate a saint. He saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -Donald in the midst of the mêlée and jumped -at a too hasty conclusion. A man usually -of few words, often over-lenient and generally -just, he now, let his temper run away with -his judgment and his tongue. Grabbing -two dried buckwheat cakes that had, by -merest chance, remained on the edge of the -table, he turned back toward the door.</p> - -<p>“You are setting your younger brothers -anything but a good example, Donald! We -have less of this sort of thing when you’re -away. If you carry on this way at Brighton -I should think you’d soon be in disgrace. -You ought to be a little older and join the -army; the discipline there would do you -good. A nice breakfast this is!” he added as -he began, moodily, to eat.</p> - -<p>Don was too proud and too loyal to the -joint offenders to explain. It seemed enough -for him to know that he was not to blame, -that the scolding was not merited and his -father would soon find this out. An idea had -quickly entered his head.</p> - -<p>“I can manage to get into the war, Father, -if you’ll sign an application paper.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll see about it—haven’t time now.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I think you have. Better sign before -we wreck the house, or set fire to it. Here’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -the document. Write on the last line, at -the bottom.”</p> - -<p>Doctor Richards seized the paper that -Don shoved at him, but hardly glanced at -it. “I suppose you feel <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘mightly independent’">mightily independent</ins> -since you got that five hundred dollars. -Well, going will probably do you good.” -With that the man of many duties drew -forth his fountain pen, placed the paper -against the door-jamb, and quickly wrote -his name. “Let me know later just what -you intend doing; I will help you all I can. -But if you like school best, better go back, -perhaps.” The doctor stepped out of the -room, the front door slammed, there was -the chug of a motor and the boys were again -left to themselves.</p> - -<p>The twins and Ernest sneaked away; -Merrill turned to Don, whom he really loved -and admired.</p> - -<p>“Say, that was rotten! And for me and -those kids to let you take that, too! You bet -I’ll tell Dad all about it when he comes -back.”</p> - -<p>“Well, all right, if you want to; but not -now. Not one word before I get off, which -will be this afternoon probably. I really -can’t blame Father much; it was tough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -for him to miss a decent breakfast and he has -a lot to put up with from us kids—with all -he does for us! But he won’t be bothered -with me for a while and if I get over there -maybe he will never again be bothered with -me. Well, I’ll see you later, Mel, and let -you know. I’m off to see Clem Stapley -now; perhaps he <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘will be going, to’">will be going, too</ins>.”</p> - -<p>But on his way Don stopped at the Army -and Red Cross recruiting station, in the same -busy office, being received with much gusto, -both because of his recent heroic conduct -in landing the German agent and of his frank -engaging manner. He had much to say, -found much to learn and got what he was -after. Then he climbed the hill toward the -Stapley mansion. Clem was at the garage, -helping the chauffeur tinker with a crippled -motor.</p> - -<p>“Hello, old man!” shouted Don, but he -noticed that the older lad hardly turned -his head. He seemed much interested in -his task. “Well, what’s the good word?” -continued the visitor. “Anything new?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t know a thing,” answered Clem, -without looking up.</p> - -<p>“Well, things are coming my way,” Don -said.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, I notice,” Clem agreed, with a sneer -on his face, “and you’re not dodging them -very hard, either.”</p> - -<p>“I was speaking of Government duties,” -Don offered, ill at ease. He had been satisfied -that the old ill feeling had been completely -patched up, between Clem and himself, by -the heroic episode through which they had -just passed, for his own feeling was friendly. -But surely Clem’s manner was cool, even -more curt than before. However, in the last -remark the older lad showed some interest.</p> - -<p>“How do you mean, ‘Government duties’?” -he asked.</p> - -<p>“I’ve just joined the Red Cross ambulance -service, Clem. Leave tonight. Thought you’d -like to know—”</p> - -<p>“I enlisted with the Marines two days -ago,” Clem announced rather coolly.</p> - -<p>“Good for you! Hurrah! When do you go? -We might—”</p> - -<p>But Clem, who had turned back to work -on the car said curtly:</p> - -<p>“When I get ready. In a few days, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“No chance, then, for us to get away -together?”</p> - -<p>“None in the least.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, I’m glad you got in. Of course -you had no trouble. Your father gave his—”</p> - -<p>“Look here, Richards!” Clem turned toward -the younger boy almost savagely. “I don’t -see that you need to concern yourself with -what I’ve done, or doing. As for Dad, you -ought <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘to he satisfied’">to be satisfied</ins> after what you got -out of the company.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! So that’s what’s the matter with -you, eh? Sore about that; are you? Well, -you know I wanted to divide; I wanted to -be fair to you. It was not my—”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see you breaking any bones -in an effort to be fair.”</p> - -<p>“If you say I didn’t want to be fair, that -I was entirely satisfied in taking all that -money, then, Stapley, you lie!”</p> - -<p>“Say, before I’ll take much of that from -you I’ll punch your head!”</p> - -<p>“So? Well, the nose is right here when -you want to punch it. Come and punch -it! But you won’t punch anything. You -think you’re some fighter. Come on and -punch once; just once!”</p> - -<p>Clem was no coward and he possessed the -cool judgment of a capable boxer. Moreover, -he was taller, with a longer reach -than Don. But he had to reckon with super<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>ior -weight, probably greater strength and what -counts more than all else—an indomitable -spirit. Long brooding over what he considered -an injustice on Don’s part in accepting all -the reward for arresting the Germans, and -for permitting others to give him more -of the credit for personal bravery had made -young Stapley more of an enemy than he -had ever been.</p> - -<p>How the fight would have ended was not -to be known, however, for though Clem -would have struck Don, he was prevented -by the chauffeur who was by no means to -be lightly reckoned with.</p> - -<p>“Gwan, now, Clement, me boy! An’ you, -too, young feller! I’ll mop up the floor -here with both o’ you if you begin scratchin’ -an’ bitin’! What would Mr. Stapley, me boss, -say to me if I let you chaw each other up? -Gwan, young feller!”—this to Don. “An’ -you come here, Clement, an’ I’ll show you -the true insides o’ this critter, from piston -head to crank shaft.”</p> - -<p>Don took this for both good advice and a -logically sound invitation and turned on his -heel. But he could not help feeling sorry -that again Clem Stapley and himself were -“at outs”.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Getting In</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Camps and training schools, learning -how and drilling. This was the lot -of Young America in the latter days -of the year 1917 and in the earlier months -of the succeeding year, a year long to be -remembered and to cut a mighty figure in -the history of the United States.</p> - -<p>Bloody are the annals of this year of 1918, -severe the sacrifices that led the nation into -its tragic paths of glory, but so noble and just -has been the purpose behind our act of war -and so humane our conduct that the whole -sane world has applauded. All honor to the -fighters first and all praise to the men and the -women, young and old, who aided and -encouraged the fighters with abundant humanity -at home and on the field of strife.</p> - -<p>We think of war and see its tragedies -mostly through the eyes of the military, -but to some of the unarmed participants -have come the bitterest experiences and the -opportunities for the bravest deeds.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - -<p>Donald Richards, late student at old -Brighton and now Red Cross ambulance -driver, too young to enlist as a soldier, -but nevertheless keen for action and to do -his bit and his best, at once so interested -his superiors that after he had fully qualified -they quickly placed him where his craving -for thrills and work worth while should be -<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘amply satisified’">amply satisfied</ins>. In February, after a month -of training he sailed across the big pond -in a transport laden with troops and met -no mishaps on the way.</p> - -<p>Three weeks after landing in France the -boy found himself in the midst of military -activities and the most urgent hospital work. -He was clad to his own satisfaction, mostly -at his own expense, in khaki. He had become -a capable mechanic on automobiles, was well -practised in roughing it, in picking his way -in strange country, and above all in the -fine art of running, with wounded passengers, -swiftly and smoothly over rough roads.</p> - -<p>First as an assistant driver, then with a -car of his own and a helper, he had been -assigned to duty along the great highway -leading from Paris to Amiens. Like many -others in the area of military activity, this -road had been well built, rock-ballasted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -and hammered hard with normal travel, -in the days before the world war, but now, -from the wheels of great munition trucks -and motor lorries, the wear and tear of marching -feet and from little care after long rains, -it had been soaked into a sticky mass, with -a continuation of holes and ruts, puddles -and upheavals. A cross-road led from the -Amiens highway straight east toward the -battle front and into the wide territory -of France held by the enemy. The German -front line was not more than seven miles -from the evacuation hospitals on this cross-road. -These centers of mercy were where -the badly wounded were sent for quick, -emergency operations, which saved many -lives. Between these evacuation hospitals -and the Red Cross base hospital in an old -château a few miles outside of Paris and also -near the Amiens road the comparatively -few Red Cross cars and the score or more -of Army ambulances plied almost continuously -when there was anything doing at -the front. And for the most part there was -something doing.</p> - -<p>From the twenty-first of March, when the -terrific drive of the Huns carried them nearly -to Amiens, and during which time they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -occupied Montdidier, until the middle of -June, there was pretty constant shelling -and scrapping throughout this area. The -great German offensive began in March, -only a few days before Donald Richards -started to run his own ambulance, so that -almost his first duties were most urgent -and strenuous.</p> - -<p>“Whatever the Doctor, Major Little, in -command up there, tells you to do, do it,” -was the order the boy received from the -chief at the base hospital, “but your regular -duty is to bring the wounded from the evacuation -hospitals, or from the dressing stations -to us, when so ordered. Of course, -we don’t want to subject our men to the -danger of going up to the lines any more -than is absolutely necessary, and we surely -do not want you to get hurt, my boy, but this -war and the call of duty must be heeded -first. Either the surgeons at the dressing -stations or Major Little and his assistants -at the cross-roads hospitals will tell you where -to take the wounded. Critical cases are -first operated on at the evacuation hospitals -so as to save time, but shell shock, slight -wounds, men not very seriously gassed, and -merely sick men are brought here direct<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -from the field. Hence it will be best for you, -if there are no wounded to be brought away -from the evacuation hospitals, to go to the -dressing stations or into a battle area, to -get the wounded in your car anyway you -can. For the most part they will be brought -to you by stretcher bearers; of course, some -will come themselves. I see you have on -your steel helmet. Wear it regularly.</p> - -<p>“You must prepare yourself for some -horrible sights, my boy. Above all things, -no matter how much you may be scared, -and you will be, don’t lose your nerve. No -one, especially at your age, can be blamed -for being somewhat flabbergasted under fire, -while seeing men killed, maimed, blown to -bits by shells, and all that sort of thing, -but you must try to overcome this. And -be sure to have your gas-mask always handy.</p> - -<p>“Now then, have everything in tiptop -shape according to our methods; you had -better take a hot bath, wear clean under-clothing -and brush your teeth. Get a good -meal and be sure to take a lot of chocolate -with you give out where needed. You -should also have extra blankets in case -you get hurt, or your car crippled and you -have to sleep out. The weather is moder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>ating -now and I think it will continue so, -but there will be cold rains. Now then, -be off in an hour and good luck to you!”</p> - -<p>From such a general order, Don saw clearly -enough that he would be his own boss a -great deal of the time, and that much of his -most important work must be carried on -according to his own judgment. The boy of -sixteen, who had never really engaged in -anything more strenuous than mere sport, -except the arresting of the German spy -back home, was now brought face to face -with the duties and responsibilities that -were fully man-size.</p> - -<p>Don prepared himself quickly for any -undertaking that might be before him. He -made everything ready as the chief had -suggested. He insisted also that the same -be done by his helper, Billy Mearns, a city-bred -young man who was just now getting -familiar with handling and repairing a motor -car.</p> - -<p>Presently they started. The little truck, new, -smooth-running and responsive, delighted the -boy. His first duties as helper had been in a -rattletrap machine, which ran only when it -felt like it and in which they carried convalescents -from the base hospitals to a place with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -terraced gardens and verandas two hundred -miles farther south.</p> - -<p>Don’s new duties exhilarated him and as -he turned his car northward he could have -said, with Macduff, when that warrior sought -to meet Macbeth, the master war-maker: -“That way the noise is. Tyrant show thy -face!” for, boy-like, yet with a thorough understanding -of the situation, secretly desirous -of taking some part—he did not know what—in -fighting, he had smuggled a sporting -rifle into his car, and he carried a long-barreled -revolver in a holster on his hip.</p> - -<p>“You see,” he confided to Billy Mearns—they -called each other by their first names -almost from the moment of meeting—“we -don’t know what we are up against, and I -hope I may be hanged, drawn and quartered, -as the old pirates used to say, if I let any -blamed Hun sneak around me without trying -to see if he is bullet-proof.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o!” agreed Mearns. “But, for -goodness’ sake, don’t get too anxious and -take some of our Yanks for Heinies! If -you do and I’m along, me for wading the -Atlantic right back home! They’d do worse -than draw and quarter us; mebbe -they’d even pull out our hair or tweak our -noses.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Pshaw! Anybody who couldn’t tell a -Hun, day or night, ought to have—”</p> - -<p>“His nose examined, eh? Oh, you sauerkraut -and onions!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">In it</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Ploof! Ploof! Bang! P-ssst, wam! -Zing, zing, zing! T-r-r-r-r-r—rip! Ploooof! -Something of this nature, if it -can at all be conveyed by words, came in -waves, roars and spasms of sound to the -ears of Don and Billy, as their ambulance -truck traversed part of the five or six miles -of cross-road between the evacuation hospitals -near the Amiens road, not twenty -miles south of that shell-torn town, and the -front line of the Allied army where American -troops, newly arrived from training camps, -were brigaded with the French soldiers; -that is, a number of regiments of one nation -were included with those of the other in the -same sector, sometimes companies, even platoons, -of Americans and French fighting -side by side against the savage attacks of an -enemy far superior in numbers.</p> - -<p>“We’ve just sent a dozen or more to your -people down there—nearly all light cases—but -there’s been some sort of a scrap over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -toward the southeast. You can’t find a -road, for the enemy holds that, but you can -turn in across the fields to your right, or -follow an old farm road; one of our men -did so yesterday. It is just beyond, where -some reserves are digging in by the edge -of a ruined farm; both the house and barn -have been struck by shells or sky bombs. If -you can go any farther from there you’ll -have to ask your way, but probably the -P. C. beyond won’t let you go on. There -are two dressing stations to the west of some -woods on a low hill; that will be still farther -to your right as you follow the new trail. -Go to it!”</p> - -<p>This was the all-too-brief order Don -received from Major Little, the hospital-chief -when the lads reached the broad tents -on the cross-road early one morning. Without -further words Don leaped into his car -and glided on along the narrow road for -about two miles; then he began dodging -shell holes, one here that involved half of -the wheel tracks, another, farther on, which -took in all of the road and had been partly -filled and partly bridged with timbers from -an old building near. Beyond this, small -shell-holes had torn up the once smooth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -surface here and there. After the ambulance -had traversed another mile, at the best speed -possible over such a highway, it overtook -a string of ammunition trucks going into -position, ready for progress or retreat. Dodging -around these and avoiding other shell-holes -was difficult for the half mile on to where -the artillery had debouched. Once, not two -hundred feet ahead, a big shell came over -with a swish and snarl and landed in the -field near the road, sending up a cloud of -sod, dirt and stones and sprinkling the -ambulance and its drivers with bits of gravel. -One sizable stone landed on the hood with -a whang and bounced against the windshield -just hard enough to crack it, exactly -in line with Billy Mearns’ face.</p> - -<p>“Pal, we seem to be under fire,” remarked -Don, and Billy, with a grunt of relief, replied:</p> - -<p>“Yes, and if that glass hadn’t been there -I’d have bitten that stone in half to show -I didn’t care whether it came this way or -not. But say, if we’d been just where that -shell landed we would have had to sing -Tosti’s ‘Good-bye.’ They’re rude things, -aren’t they, the way they mess up the landscape?”</p> - -<p>Don glanced at his smiling companion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -A fellow who could take such matters so -calmly, and jest over them, was a lad after -his own heart.</p> - -<p>The sound of fighting came to the boys -now with increasing fury. They were not -experienced enough to tell whether it was -a regular battle, or merely a skirmish. Anyway, -it was lively enough for an introduction -to green hands far from home.</p> - -<p>They came to where the reserve regiment -was digging in. Some of them camped in -the open, with a few little canopy tents -spread. A few fires were burning. A few -officers stood or squatted around talking -and laughing. Sentries were pacing up and -down. A sentinel stood in the road and -faced about toward them, but when he saw -the Red Cross on the front and side of the -car and had scanned the faces of the drivers -he asked no questions but let them pass. -Don slowed up enough to hear him say:</p> - -<p>“All right. Go find ’em, bo! There’s -some down there.”</p> - -<p>“Going to give your friends, the Limburgers, -a warm reception after while?” -Billy called back and the soldier nodded -briskly, smiling and waving his hand.</p> - -<p>Turning sharply and dashing along the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -old farm road between greening fields, the -little car gained a slight crest and, uncertain -for the moment which way to turn, Don -stopped her. Billy leaned out and looked -around.</p> - -<p>“Over there are the woods the Major -spoke about,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Sure is. We can cross this meadow, -I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Ooh! Hold on a bit, and look up, Don!”</p> - -<p>Two airplanes were circling overhead. The -boys could see a black Maltese cross on the -under side and near the end of each wing -of one plane; the other bore a broad tri-colored -circle in similar positions. The two -soaring, roaring, vulture-like things were -approaching each other, suddenly little jets -of white smoke burst from each and long -streaks of pale light, like miniature lightning, -shot from each flying-machine to the other.</p> - -<p>“A Hun plane and a Britisher! It’s a -fight!” Don remarked excitedly. “See, they’re -the illuminated bullets to tell just where -they’re shooting, like squirting a hose. Watch -’em, Billy; watch ’em! Oh, by cracky!”</p> - -<p>“Watch them? Do you think I’m taking -a nap? Oooh! Look at that gasoline swallow -dive! And bring up, too!” The German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -plane had done this to try to get around -under the tail of its opponent before the -other could turn, but its calculation went -amiss. The Englishman instantly made a -quick swerve around and then dived straight -at his enemy, sending a stream of bullets -ahead, and as the boche had by this time -turned around and was coming back toward -him, it looked terribly like there would be a -collision.</p> - -<p>But not so. The superior maneuvering -of the Britisher was too much for his -antagonist—the Hun plane swerved to the -left, went on straight for a moment, then -began to tilt a little sidewise and to spin -slowly. As it sank it pitched from side to -side, following a spiral course, thus imitating -perfectly the fall of a dead leaf; so perfectly, -indeed, that as it neared the earth and was -<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘not checked not’">not checked nor</ins> righted it became evident -that the engine had stopped and that the -airman could not control the plane. Then, -when not more than fifty feet above the -ground it suddenly tilted over forward and -crashed to the ground in the field, about -an eighth of a mile beyond the boys.</p> - -<p>Looking aloft, then, Don and Billy saw -the victorious English plane going straight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -away at high speed toward the enemy’s -lines and rising higher in air at every second.</p> - -<p>“Work cut out for us right ahead there,” -Don remarked, as he settled back in his -seat and began to speed up his motor. “We -didn’t think that our first ‘<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessé</i>’ would be -a Hun, did we?”</p> - -<p>“No. What’s a ‘<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessé</i>’?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I think that’s what the French -call a wounded man. I hear them using -it that way.”</p> - -<p>“I know a little French, but very little; -I hadn’t heard that expression before. Many -of these war-time French words bother me -muchly. Look out; another shell-hole! Say, -this must be a regular farm.”</p> - -<p>They saw the house standing in a clump -of trees. The roadway led straight past it; -with increased speed the ambulance flew by -and in a little while came to the fallen -airplane.</p> - -<p>The winged intruder, ‘winged’ also as a -flying game bird is by the accurate fire of a -sportsman, lay twisted, beyond repair, its -wings, uprights and stays crushed and broken. -Almost beneath the flattened wheels on the -other side, crumpled up on the ground, lay -the unconscious airman. He had either leaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -at the last moment, landing almost where -the airplane had, or he had been jarred from -his seat by the impact.</p> - -<p>The boys were out of the car and beside -him at once. Observing that he still breathed, -they gently turned him over, trying to -find where he was injured; then they saw -a mass of clotted blood on his shoulder -and discovered the bullet hole.</p> - -<p>First Aid was in order. Don ran to the -ambulance and returned with a kit. Billy -followed to unfasten a stretcher and a blanket. -With utmost care, yet moving swiftly, though -both lads were admittedly nervous over -their first case, they got him on the stretcher, -removed his upper garments, bathed the -wound, plugged it with antiseptic gauze -and then, covering him with the blanket, -slid the stretcher into the car.</p> - -<p>What next to do? There was room for -two or three more; why return with but -one? And just beyond here lay the dressing -stations, which they could reach in less than -two minutes. Don made up his mind quickly -and drove the car farther down the narrow -farm road and over another field—a pasture. -Half way across and toward them, four -men were walking in single file. The boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -had just made out that these were stretcher-bearers -when suddenly the men stopped, -ducked down and the foremost one raised -his arm signaling for the car to stop. The -next instant they were hidden from view -by a fountain of earth between them and the -ambulance and not over seventy-five feet -from the car. The earth shook with the -tremendous concussion of the explosion. It -was one of the largest shells. The ambulance -was stopped as though it had butted into -a stone wall; Don felt a mass of glass fly -against him and the car lifted partly up and -swung aside. When he regained his senses -and could see about him through the settling -cloud of dust, he discovered that the car -had been flung crosswise, that the windshield -was smashed, and that the top was -bent back, and very much askew. Billy, -not having a grip on a steering wheel, as -Don had, and having partly risen, was now -on his back on the bottom of the car, behind -the seat, his long legs sticking out over the -back. He regained his normal position only -by turning a back somersault and climbing -forward. That the lads were not hurt was -almost a miracle.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a name="F-74" id="F-74"></a> -<img src="images/p074.jpg" width="475" alt="" /> -<br /><span class="smcap">The Ambulance was Stopped as though it had Butted -into a Stone Wall.</span> -</div> - -<p>But strangest of all was the fact that the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>tail doors had been blown open, the stretcher -lifted out on the ground as neatly as though -human hands had done it and looking back -Don saw the German airman, shocked into -consciousness, sitting up and gazing at him.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Reprisals</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Billy, you aren’t kilt entirely, eh? -Well, then, hop out and crank her; -maybe that volcano didn’t stall her. -We’ll turn round, if she runs, and hunt -for those stretcher chaps; guess we can -find ’em. Say, I’ll bet they’re sorry they -saw us coming.”</p> - -<p>“No, for here they come again! It could -not have reached them. Oooh, but wasn’t -it a daisy? For about one second I longed -to be back in the good, old United States. -Hah! Wait till I spin her. There she goes -as fine as a <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘handorgan’">hand organ</ins>!”</p> - -<p>Don backed and turned the car; then the -lads went to the German.</p> - -<p>“Well, Fritz, feel better?” Don asked, -speaking English.</p> - -<p>No answer; a blank stare. Billy comprehended -and at once got some fun out of -the incident. It was a funereal affair that -didn’t have a humorous side for him. He -held his spread hand, palm down, over his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -head, moved it about like the flying of an -airplane, pointed to it and to the Hun with -his other finger; then making the hand -take a big drop through the air and double -up on the ground again pointed to the airman. -The latter understood at once and scowled -at his combined rescuers and captors; then -flopped back on the stretcher. The boys -restored him to his place in the car and turned -to meet the men from the dressing-station. -They all looked fagged out, tired beyond -endurance. As a matter of fact, they were to -keep on many more hours longer. Their -conversation was brief, but to the point.</p> - -<p>“Red Cross? Get these men back as quickly -as you can and return at once. We are in -an <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">abri</i> there by the woods. Tell Major -Little that the lieutenant wants more ambulances -right away. We have eleven wounded; -two ‘going West.’”</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll put the juice to her, Sergeant?” -Don saw the three bent stripes on -the man’s sleeve. The four shifted the -wounded, one of whom was unconscious, -to the unfolded white stretchers of the car, -strapped them down, folded their own brown -army stretchers and turned back.</p> - -<p>“What does he mean by ‘going West’?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -Billy whispered, as they got under way.</p> - -<p>“Dying,” replied Don. “Guess it’s an -Indian phrase—‘toward the setting sun.’ -Poor chaps!”</p> - -<p>“O my! I’m afraid one of these,” Billy -pointed his thumb over his shoulder, “won’t -stay ‘East’ long. I hope he does, but you -see, I really ought to study medicine. I -get hunches about that sort of thing, you -know.”</p> - -<p>They flew over the even ground, and -moved slowly over the rough. Again in the -farm road they were swiftly passing the -house when a cry from one of their passengers -arrested their attention. It was a cry for -water.</p> - -<p>Don pressed down his brake and turned -to Billy. “That canteen—” he began.</p> - -<p>“I think that a real cold drink,” suggested -the young man, “would do more good. -Oughtn’t they to have a well here? Suppose -I see.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll both go and get a pull, too; then -bring some back. Come on!” Don said.</p> - -<p>The quaint little half-stone domicile, in -the very midst of this shell-torn area, faced -directly east; the rear was, therefore, away -and thus somewhat sheltered from the enemy’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -lines. There had been a French or American -dressing station in the front room, but a -German 77-m. shell had come along and -demolished the wall and a portion of the -interior. The boys quickly passed under -the newly leafing fruit trees, where bird -arrivals were singing, and reached the rear -of the house. Here, in the mellowing spring-time -warmth, an old woman and an old man -were sitting; the one on the door step, -the other, upon an ancient stone seat, leaning -his head on his cane. By the side of the -old woman’s knee a little child of about -four years gazed up at the visitors with -wide-open, blue eyes.</p> - -<p>Don, knowing no French and forgetting -that Billy knew a little, resorted to pantomime. -He made a cup of his hand and lifted -it to his lips; the old man pronounced the -word water very distinctly and pointed to -a well-sweep among the shrubbery. While -Don drew forth a moss-covered bucket of -water that looked sparkling, Billy was recalling -his school-day language and getting -information. Yes, the old couple were trusting -in the mercy of a Higher Power; if -it were His will to take them, well and good, -but they hoped it would be quick and without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -suffering. Rather than leave their lifetime -abode, where they had always known comfort -and happiness, they would risk the -present dangers, which they hardly seemed -to realize. They would dare almost anything -rather than wander to strange regions.</p> - -<p>And here was little Marie, happy with -her grandparents, though her father had -died in the war and her mother from grief -and illness soon after. Well, the good General -Foch, now that he had been made commander -of all the armies, would soon chase the wicked -boches away. The French would fight on -forever, and so would the good English. -And then the Americans were coming, they -said. Were the young men English?</p> - -<p>American! “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Vive l’ Amerique!</i>” Ah, it -was good to see them. And how soon, oh, -how soon would the great army arrive and -rid France, dear, suffering, half-destroyed -France, from the wicked, hateful boches? -“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">A bas les boches!</i>”</p> - -<p>Don had taken water to the wounded -men, two of whom received it eagerly; -the other lay in a stupor. The passengers, -the boy now saw, were two Frenchman, -besides the German airman.</p> - -<p>“Come on, Billy!” Don called, and shaking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -hands with the old people and lifting the -child for a kiss, hastened away. As he leaped -into the machine and Billy ran to the front -end, grasping the crank, they heard again, -now not high overhead, the roar of a flying -motor and there came an airplane, marked -with the black Maltese cross, sailing across -their road and very nearly over them.</p> - -<p>“I guess he can see our Red Cross sign,” -Billy said, but Don, having heard many -stories, was taking no chances; he started -and flew swiftly down the road. Blam! -Something exploded far behind them and to -one side of the road. Again, within a few -seconds, another detonation, much nearer, -came to their ears. Billy was craning his -neck out of the side of the car.</p> - -<p>“He’s after us! Would you think it? -I suspect he’ll get us, too, unless we beat -him out to the soldiers. They’ve got anti-aircraft -guns, haven’t they, Don?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, and he’s got to go some. Just -watch us!”</p> - -<p>It was a race for a few seconds, though -the airman must have been wary, flying -low as he did. He could not gain on the car, -and soon, with a long sweep, he was turning -back, flying now even lower. Where were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -the Allied airmen? Not one in sight! As -Don neared the main road again and reached -the little hillock he slowed up, on hearing -the crack of light artillery in the fields. -The anti-aircraft guns had got busy and the -Hun had reason to keep his distance. But -if he was foiled in his attempt to wreck an -Allied Red Cross ambulance he surely meant -to find some prey for his perverted desire to -destroy. He had seen the place from where -the ambulance had started as he approached; -certainly there must be a dressing station -in the little farm house.</p> - -<p>Billy, looking back then, saw it. The -<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘muderous Hun’">murderous Hun</ins> flew lower still over the -spot of peacefulness and beauty; if he had -any sense of pastoral loveliness, hate and the -German desire for mastery had drowned it -all. Something falling straight down from the -airplane passed exactly over the little stone -and frame dwelling and then a great column -of flame, of black and gray smoke, of stones -and bits of splintered wood leaped upward -and sunk to earth again. A cloud of smoke -and dust drifted away in the wind.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Don! The house, the old people, -the little girl!” said Billy with a sob, and -Don, clamping down his brakes, gazed at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -his companion. It was the first time he had -seen him with anything different from a -smile on his gentle face, even when danger -was literally heaped up in front of them. -But now the young man’s soft eyes had a -horror in them and a gray pallor had taken -the place of the pink, almost girlish complexion.</p> - -<p>Don looked back and saw the holocaust -wrought by the Hun.</p> - -<p>“That—that murderous devil!” he -exclaimed.</p> - -<p>The wounded airman in the car turn -his face toward Don and made a remark -in German, probably not expecting it to -be understood. Don replied in German:</p> - -<p>“One of your airmen has blown up the -little farmhouse where we got the drink! -No doubt the good people are killed!”</p> - -<p>“But it is war and a good hit is to be -praised. Besides, these degenerate French—”</p> - -<p>Don turned on the fellow with the glare -of an angry wildcat; in his excitement his -German mostly gave way to English.</p> - -<p>“What’s that? <em>You teufel! You</em> say that! -And when we are treating you decently? -Well, we shall just fix you, you—!”</p> - -<p>“Oooh, Don! Look, look!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> - -<p>The airman had once more turned about, -evidently to fly back over his work of destruction -to feast his eyes on its completeness. -Then he met his Waterloo. The long swerves -took him beyond and near the woods, where -a French 75, aimed by a cool-headed American -gunner barked upward just once. With a -burst of flame the airplane pitched to the -earth. The brutal driver, who refused to -respect an ambulance, a supposed dressing -station, or the modest home of non-combatants, -was probably strapped on his seat -and unable to extricate himself went down -to the most horrible of deaths.</p> - -<p>“Ah, he got his, all righty!” Don shouted; -then turning: “And here’s another who’s -going to get his! Billy, this Hun, this skunk -here, is praising the act of that devil! We’ll -just dump him out and let him lie here and -suffer and bleed to death. Come on; give a -hand!”</p> - -<p>“No, no, Don! You can’t mean that. -It would not be humane.”</p> - -<p>“Humane? I’d be humane to a dog, a -cat, a worm even, I hope, but not to a thing -like this. Come—!”</p> - -<p>“‘As they should do unto you’, Don. -I know this is war and he’s a Hun, but it’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -all the more of an excuse that he is only -partly human; he doesn’t know any better -and he has feelings, some. Let’s go on, -Don, please, now.” Don leaped to his seat -with Billy and they continued on their way.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER X</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Zealous Billy</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Major Little ordered the German -airman turned over to an army -ambulance where he would be disposed -of as a wounded man and prisoner. -To Don the surgeon said, after hearing the -boy’s message:</p> - -<p>“Yes, we have had the same over the wire, -but could hardly get it. Hurry back, then. -I’ll send two others after you. Phoned for -them an hour ago. Look out for gas shells; -they may be sending them over soon. Listen -for the warning gongs from our trenches -and the gurgling sound of the shells themselves—you’ll -know it. Or you may see -the fumes drifting your way in certain lights; -after the explosion, sometimes, you can see -them very plainly. You can generally smell -the fumes in the open before they come -near enough to injure you—then on with -your masks! By the way,” the Major lowered -his voice, “is that helper of yours on the -job?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, sir; you may be sure he is! As cool -and not afraid as they make ’em.” Don -was glad of this chance to praise Billy. -His regard for the youth was hardly less than -a strong love for his pal. The doctor seemed -surprised.</p> - -<p>“I would hardly have thought that,” -he admitted,—“a gentle kind of a boy. But -that kind often fools you. Even girls themselves—some -of our demurest nurses are -the bravest under fire. Well, I’m glad you -like him. Now, you must make a quick -get-away!”</p> - -<p>Bon and Billy boarded their little car -again, and just as they were turning around, -two other ambulances dashed up. The first -one was a light army truck, manned by -members of the regular corps of the army -service. The other bore the Red Cross -and it looked like a higher grade of car than -that commonly in use by that organization. -Don was swinging into the road and just -caught sight of the driver and helper in this -last car. But as he glanced at the side face -of the former a rush of partial recognition -mixed with an undefined feeling of hostility -swept over him. Where had he seen that -face before? There were not many persons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -he remembered unpleasantly. He had been -in one or two student rows with ruffians, -who had fared badly as a rule and the boys -at Old Brighton had it in for a disagreeable -fellow who was even opposed to their speaking -above a whisper when they passed his place -in the town. The face he had just seen was -not one of these. Well, there was more big -work cut out ahead and he would think -over this question later. Yet the matter -kept returning to his mind in spite of the -battle sounds and sights, among which they -soon came at close quarters.</p> - -<p>“I can’t understand one thing:” Billy -remarked, as they sped on. “Why is the -shooting so at random? Just look at the shells -that have landed all around us, in the fields, -in the roads, almost everywhere, doing no -real damage, except to stir up the ground, -hitting hardly anyone. It looks like fool -business to me.”</p> - -<p>“And when you think how much one of -these shells costs and how much must be paid -for a hundred rounds of cartridges fired by -a machine-gun, no wonder they say that it -costs a good many thousands of dollars -for every man that gets hit,” Don offered.</p> - -<p>“Well, if it costs so much I wish they’d<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -save those that come my way. I’d just as -lief treat even the Huns more economically!” -declared Billy.</p> - -<p>Don had to laugh, though at the moment -they were approaching again the old farm -house, now torn to pieces, where the Hun -airman had dropped his bomb but an hour -before. Billy also noticed it and asked Don -to stop.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t we go in and see, Don? It will -be solemn enough, but we can be sure they’re -all—they’re not suffering.”</p> - -<p>The boys alighted and rounded the house -once more, stepping over broken bits of stone -and mortar and twisted framing. Billy was -ahead and he took but one glance and turned -about.</p> - -<p>“Beyond doubt. They had at least their -wish not to suffer.” He uttered the words -like a funeral benediction, and followed Don -back. As they were about to emerge from -the trellised gateway the other Red Cross -ambulance shot by, the occupants, no doubt, -supposing those in the boys’ car had stopped -here for a drink. Again Don caught sight -of the driver of that car. Instantly it came -to the boy who the fellow must be. The -recognition was quite complete—and startling.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> - -<p>Don stood in the road, looking after the -speeding car. Billy’s thoughts were upon -other matters. The ambulance ran on until -almost out of sight. Then suddenly, instead -of turning across toward the dressing station -at the western edge of the woods, it veered to -the east across fields and ran down a slope -to a clump of bushes and low trees where it -stopped. The boy wondered if there could -a dressing station at that spot.</p> - -<p>“Don, if you can go on just this once -without me, I’d like to stay and bury that -poor old couple and the little girl. It seems -horrible to let them lie there, exposed, uncared -for, as though they had no friends. What -do you say?”</p> - -<p>“All right, Billy you stay. I can make the -trip alone. They’ll help me with the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessés</i> -at the station and at the hospital too. If -anything does happen to me—should I get -hit—you couldn’t help much until you got -the hang of running over such roads. And -say, Billy, you can do something else: when -you hear a car going back take a peep and -if it’s those fellows that just went by, observe -them, will you? If you see them coming, -go out and stop them and ask who they -are, you can let on you’re making a report.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -I’m just curious. Tell you why later. G’bye! -I’ll stop for you on the next trip down.”</p> - -<p>Don dashed on, reached the dressing station -without mishap, took on two wounded -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">poilus</i> and one Yank; they sped back.</p> - -<p>Billy quickly found a garden spade an -went to work with all his might so as to -complete his gruesome task. The ground -was soft beneath a wide-spreading apple -tree just showing signs of blossoming; a -sweet-voiced bird sang the while in the -branches above, and this was the only requiem -the old couple and the little child should -know, as, wrapped carefully in sheets rescued -from the destroyed house, they filled the -one grave.</p> - -<p>The tender-hearted youth’s eyes were wet -while he labored for the poor souls who -deserved a better burial than this. When -the grave was filled he made a rude cross -of boards and wrote on it a simple inscription, -a tribute from his own gentle heart.</p> - -<p>This was the best the boy could do. The -little bird still sang its cheery ditty overhead. -He turned away with a sigh and said, half -aloud:</p> - -<p>“I wonder what Father would think of -me now. He wouldn’t believe it possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -of his youngest boy he used to call ‘a silly, -girl-like thing.’ I couldn’t blame him then, -but now—well, he’ll change his mind about -me if I go back—that is, <em>if</em> I get back.”</p> - -<p>Then Billy heard a car approaching and -slipped out front to take a look, as Don had -requested. It was the army ambulance -returning. But where was the other Red Cross -ambulance?</p> - -<p>Well, Don would not be here again for -perhaps half an hour yet. There would be -time to slip along the road and get a glimpse -of the other car. Then he might give his -pal even more information than he expected.</p> - -<p>The clump of bushes was not more than -three hundred yards from the farm road and -if there was a dressing station there Billy -would find it out—the information might -be of value. To keep out of sight of Hun -airmen, should they fly overhead, the youth -followed close to the line of low evergreen -trees that skirted the road and when he -reached the end of these but stood still within -their welcome shadow, he gazed across at -the clump. In all this section of land north -of the distant woods and between where -the American regiment in reserve on the -cross-road was stationed, there were no troops.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -Evidently it was not a spot where the Huns -could break through because of the strongly -entrenched positions of the Allies facing them. -There had been some Hun raids and some -Allied counter-attacks, platoons of Americans -fighting beside the French—hence the -wounded. But the Germans had not succeeded -in pushing their line any farther -than the western outskirts of the small -village of Cantigney, another half mile east -of this ground. Here had come to an end -the German drive around Montdidier, a -part of the Amiens offensive during the early -spring, which is called the first great drive -of 1918. The effort to take Amiens, a few -miles to the north, was to meet defeat about -two weeks later. And meanwhile the great -armies intrenched themselves, crouching like -lions at bay. They almost ceaselessly growled -with their numerous artillery and every -little while kept up the clawing and biting -through local raids and counter-attacks, adding -constantly to the wounded and the dead.</p> - -<p>It was strange, Billy thought, if there should -be a dressing station here. He had been -told that the stream, the south fork of the -Avre, bent here to the west and that the -German positions followed the river at this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -point. Therefore, while the Allied reinforcement -was stronger against attack, the Huns -had made themselves stronger also, to match -their opponents and the local fights were -all the fiercer, therefore making the wide -expanse of low land sloping toward the stream -subject to continual bombardment from higher -and overplaced shot and shell. It was across -this area that the ambulances were forced -to travel from the dressing stations in the -shelter of the hillside woods beyond. That -was dangerous enough without the further -exposure of a dressing station, even in a -well covered <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">abri</i>, or dugout, to this zone -of flying shells.</p> - -<p>But what could the men with this ambulance -be about for such a length of time, -when they were probably sent to the other -dressing station to bring away the wounded? -Surely they had met with some urgent -call here. Billy pondered. Might he not go -over and aid them?</p> - -<p>He started on a swift trot and had covered -more than half the distance in less than half -a minute when a thing occurred that made -him drop to a walk, watching, wondering. -Out of a thicket a tiny puff of white smoke -rose in jets, as though measured by time;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -two close together, then four, then two, -then six, then one, then six again and 2-6-6-3-2-6-4-4-2-6-3 -and so on for another half -minute. By that time Billy had stopped. -Was it mere instinct that made him dodge -back of a wide bush and peer through its -budding branches?</p> - -<p>Again the funny little jets of white smoke. -Why were they doing this—these Red Cross -men? There was the ambulance itself, in -plain sight, by the edge of the thicket and, -moreover, a Red Cross sign had been raised -on a pole above the low trees.</p> - -<p>Billy’s eyes rapidly scanned the surroundings. -A line of trees on the slope toward -the south shut off the thicket from the view -of the woods and the low ground here could -not well be seen by the reserves back on the -cross-road. It seemed a place that might -be well chosen for isolation, if desired. And -high in air, far over the enemy’s trenches, -a Hun observation balloon could be plainly -seen against the white, <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘cumulous clouds’">cumulus clouds</ins>.</p> - -<p>Billy gazed at this object long and keenly. -He could distinctly discern the basket beneath -it; he could detect a certain movement -of something white going up and down, -up and down several times and then a pause;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -then several times again. While this was -going on the puffs of white smoke from -the thicket were not forthcoming. Then, -when <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘the while thing’">the white thing</ins> at the balloon ceased -to move, the puffs began again.</p> - -<p>What did all this mean? Could there be -any connection between the thicket and the -balloon—the little puffs of white smoke -and the movements of that white thing by -the basket in the sky?</p> - -<p>Well, he was going to find out, anyway. -There seemed to be nothing else he could -do that would straighten out the mystery -in his own mind. And so he again trotted -forward direct toward the thicket, still watching -the balloon. Suddenly he grasped the -truth. There were two upward sweeps of -white in the sky and instantly the little -puffs ceased again. The two men, wheeling -about, their heads above the bushes, saw -Billy and began to beckon him. Fearless, -probably without any misgivings regarding -himself, he went on to join them. One pointed -to the balloon and said something about it -and Billy gazed at it again, entirely off his -guard. Suddenly he ceased to see anything; -he only tossed his arms feebly in air and sunk -to the ground in a crumpled heap. In front<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -of him the long, thin-faced, narrow-eyed -driver of the car seized again a queer looking -instrument and began quickly to shoot up -more of the little smoke puffs. Back of the -fallen youth stood the helper, holding a -heavy iron rod in his hand. He made a -quick, excited remark to the driver in German.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> - -“<span class="smcap">Gone West</span>”</h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Once again along the farm road came -Don’s ambulance. It reached the -old farm house and stopped. He -called loudly for Billy Mearns. There was -no answer and Don rose in his seat to go -and look for his pal, and to witness the -good work he had done here. Always alert, -he glanced about. He had not met the other -Red Cross ambulance again. Was it still -in the low ground by the thicket?</p> - -<p>It was, and the men there were moving -about. Don stood watching them for a -moment. He saw a slender figure, one that -he surely recognized as that of Billy Mearns, -crossing the field toward the thicket. He -saw two men within the clump and when -Billy reached the bushes and passed among -them Don saw one of the men lift his arm -as if he were pointing.</p> - -<p>Then, for an instant, Don’s heart seemed -to stand still, for he saw the other man who -had been in the clump of bushes raise his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -arm, holding some sort of weapon and strike -the slender figure down.</p> - -<p>The army ambulance at this moment -was also coming along the farm house lane. -The driver and helper had been watching -the German observation balloon and its -strange movements. When they reached -the high knoll they, too, stopped to see if -this might mean signaling to the enemy. -The American driver’s helper was a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">poilu</i> -who had been wounded at the first battle -of the Marne in 1914 and long experience -in the ways of the Huns had taught him to -be suspicious of everything unusual. He -knew that the means of communication -between a captive balloon and the divisional -commander was by telephone and such signaling -as this must be to those that a wire -could not reach. In broken English he -shouted excitedly:</p> - -<p>“Behold! Zat ess eet, in ze booshes zere, -over ze field! Puff, puff, puff; behold! -We have heem, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">m’sieu’</i>! An we capture -heem now purty queek; right off, eh?”</p> - -<p>The Yank was about to send the car -forward again when his companion stopped -him with another exclamation which made -it worth while pausing a moment longer -for a better view.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Ha, look! Zee balloon, eet seegnal ze -enemy, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">m’sieu’</i>! Ha, he come! He come -queek; he go fast! Ha! Somesing doing -now!” The Frenchman had caught this -last expression from his American friend. -“An eet ees ze <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Croix Rouge</i> car, ze other wan. -He but young boy. An’ he fire; ha, he too -has—what you say? catched on to ze seegnalers. -But, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">m’sieu’</i>, will not they reseest -heem?”</p> - -<p>The two were on their feet now, gazing -with all eyes, excited. So they remained -for some time—the Yank with clenched -fists, the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">poilu</i> rubbing his hands together. -Then, as if at a signal, they both dropped -into their seats and the ambulance rushed -again along the by-way. Halt an hour later, -with but one wounded man and a Red Cross -driver, unhurt, sitting beside him, the army -ambulance drew up to the evacuation hospital -tent. In answer to the curt query of -the Major, the driver excused himself for -bringing in only one man.</p> - -<p>“You see, sir, we thought it was no more -than fair, after what they had both done—discovered -those Heinies inside our lines -signaling to the boche balloon and it signaling -back to them. This fellow inside that got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -his must have landed on ’em first, afoot, -and they did him up. Then the young -chap, he went ’em one better and I never -seen a prettier fight. We seen it from the -little hill.”</p> - -<p>“Did the German spies get away?” asked -the surgeon.</p> - -<p>“Only one did, and I think he’ll get stopped. -They must have seen it from the woods. -He made a run fer his car and jumped into -it; it’s the speediest thing ever, I reckon. -He was out of sight quicker’n a scared cootie, -going for the woods. But the kid he got the -other one; the one, he says, that hit the -pink-cheeked lad.”</p> - -<p>“How did he get him?”</p> - -<p>“Shot him. Let him have it like Pete the -Plugger would ’a’ done. Yes, sir! The kid’s -car run right along to about fifty yards of -the bushes where they was hid and the kid -jumped out; right off they began shootin’ at -him and he pulls a gun out of his Red Cross -car as calm and as deliberate as if he was -after prairie chicken and knowed he was -goin’ to get ’em, and commenced shootin’. -They skinned for their car and one of ’em -gets in and gets her goin’, but the other -one he turns round to take another shot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -at the kid who was kneelin’ down and lettin’ -’em have it proper and the feller keels over -and the one in the car he skids off. I reckon -the kid he jest about filled that there car -full of lead, but the feller he got away, though -if he wasn’t hurt it’s a wonder!”</p> - -<p>“The lad is sure one scrapper, eh?” The -surgeon was much tickled and slapped his -leg at the realistic narrative of the ambulancier.</p> - -<p>“He is, Major; all of that!” continued -the soldier. “For a kid, or <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘fer a veteran’">for a veteran</ins>, -for that matter, he is some boy with a gun! -And he showed pluck, too, when we got there. -You see, we seen and heard them Hun gas -shells comin’ over—that there Hun balloon -give the range, I reckon—and we heard the -gongs, too, but we reckoned the kid, bein’ -so excited over the fight, didn’t get on to -it, so the only thing to do was to get there -right quick and you bet we did! Here was -this one dead Hun with the Red Cross on -his sleeve—the feller that the kid shot—and -in the bushes was the kid bendin’ over the -feller what them Huns had knocked in the -head, and the gas from two busted shells -a sneakin’ up on ’em lively. We had on our -masks and we started to grab him and get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -him away. He hadn’t saw us ner heard us -come and he turned round on me with a -drawed pistol, so’s I thought it was all off -sure. But the kid knowed us and didn’t -shoot. We yelled ‘gas’ at him and what -did he do? Run to his car off there and get -his mask? Never a bit of it! He jest sez -to us: ‘help me with this feller to my car,’ -he sez. ‘I’ve got two masks there, his’n and -mine’ he sez. So I sez: ‘this way’s quicker; -make tracks fer our car, young feller!’ and -I picked up the insensible feller and run -with him to our car and the kid follered, -and we got away from the gas. The kid he -begged us to get here quick, or his pal might -die and so that’s why we come back with only -one.”</p> - -<p>“Well, all right; excused, of course,” -said the Major.</p> - -<p>“Now we’re off, back up there, Major, -and we’ll try to make up fer—”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t lost time, or it wouldn’t be if -we could save that lad’s life. Well, anyway—but -you’d better wait a moment and -I’ll get the kid, as you call him—Richards—to -go back with you and get his car.”</p> - -<p>The chief entered the tent and wended -his way quickly down the long aisle, between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -the rows of brown cots, many of which held -wounded men, he stopped here and there -for a word of encouragement, of advice, -or to answer a question. Reaching the farther -end he stood for a moment, looking down at a -white-faced figure lying very inert beneath -the blanket and at another sitting, with his -face in his hands, beside the cot. A woman -nurse, rather young, with wonderfully gentle -eyes, passed softly and whispered to the -Major.</p> - -<p>“He feels it terribly; we don’t often see -such grief, though he is not of the loud -weeping kind.”</p> - -<p>The Major nodded and, stooping forward, -laid his hand on the shoulder of the figure -in the chair.</p> - -<p>“Come, Richards. No use sitting here; -there is much to do; much. Getting away -on duty will make you feel better.”</p> - -<p>Don looked up with a face that was drawn -with sorrow.</p> - -<p>“But, Doctor, suppose he comes to and -asks for me? You are sure that he can’t -get well?”</p> - -<p>The doctor assented by a nod. “He cannot -recover,” was his brief remark, uttered more -feelingly than usual with this man of long,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -hard experience. Then he added with his -usual attention to duty on his mind:</p> - -<p>“He may become conscious later on. I’ll -let you know. After you get your car and -bring in the next bunch you must run down -to your base and report. They must assign -you another helper. I have sent your description -of the German signal man to headquarters -and to the P. C. at the front of the woods -section—I think they’ll get him. And I’ll -send a note by you, telling what good work -you did.”</p> - -<p>With the idea uppermost that it was his -first duty to play the part of a good soldier -in the work he had enlisted to do, Don got -up to join the army ambulance. Two hours -later, in his own car and at its best speed, he -was returning from the Red Cross base. -The man beside him began to think himself -most unlucky to have been assigned to duty -with this dare-devil of a driver, who spoke -hardly a word and seemed not to care if -they were presently piled in a heap and both -killed. Around, past and in between lorries, -trucks, ambulances, big guns being hauled -to the front and marching men they dashed. -When the evacuation hospital was again -reached the young driver left the car with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -but a word to the new man, requesting him -to wait, and was gone a long half hour.</p> - -<p>“He has asked for you,” said the nurse to -Don. “His mind seems to be clear and he -is not suffering, but the shock was too great. -It has caused some immediate heart trouble -and with the loss of blood—the Major can -explain. Go right over and speak to the -poor boy.”</p> - -<p>Don did so, almost in despair, but he was -determined not to show it. Billy must get -well; if there was anything in his thinking -so, then he must be given every chance. -And so Don met his pal with a smile.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Billy! Feeling better? Soon be -all right, I—”</p> - -<p>“No, no! Don, the—nurse told me all -about it, what you did and what you did -for me, too. Don—we—we have only known -each other—how long, Don?”</p> - -<p>“Why, three whole days, Billy. But we’ll -know each other al—-”</p> - -<p>“Listen, Don. I know. Don’t try to fool -me. No use. West—I’m going—West. -Pretty soon, too. A message, to my father -and mother and brother, Don. Will you -write it? I got the nurse to write this to -introduce you to them, and to bid them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -good-bye. Then I only want you to write -him a letter about me—a little. Can you -tell them, Don, that I was not a coward—that -I was not very much afraid that—I -tried to do my duty? Don’t tell them a lie—but—but -if you could truthfully say something -like that it will please them. Do you -understand?”</p> - -<p>Don could not trust his voice, but he -nodded his head with very evident determination -and, unlike anything he had ever -done before, placed his hand over that of -Billy’s and held it. It was not a boylike -act, but it seemed as though they were no -longer boys, but creatures of profound and -heart-stirring sentiment. The soft, droning -voice of the dying youth ceased a little; -then began again with halting, sometimes -difficult speech.</p> - -<p>“Father will be pleased, Don, and know -he will do as I request. But you are not to -open and read the note the nurse wrote for -me. You told me, Don—it was the first -day—that you would like to go to college -when you get through Prep, but that your -father could never afford it with so many -other boys to raise and educate. But if -someone who cared a lot for you, compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -you to accept the money, then you would, -Don, wouldn’t you? Please, please, say -yes, Don—if we have been friends. That’s -good—good. Tell me, Don—what school -do you go to—now—when—you go—at -home?”</p> - -<p>“Brighton.” Don just managed to pronounce -the word.</p> - -<p>“Don! Brighton! Oh—you didn’t tell -me that before. Brighton—was my school, -too, Don. Class of—1915. <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘and you—Don’">And you—Don</ins>—too! -Well the good old school will have -reason to be proud—of you!”</p> - -<p>“Of you—of you, Billy!”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps so, if—if I could have—lived—gone -on doing things—tried to be—Don, -ask the nurse to come here—or the—Major. -I guess—I guess—”</p> - -<p>The boy’s face had suddenly grown whiter, -if that were possible, and a deathly pallor -came over it. Don went quickly to do as -Billy asked. The nurse came to the bedside -of the young man. She bent over him for -what seemed a long while—a minute or more. -Then she turned to Don.</p> - -<p>“Going,” she said. “He called your name -again. Perhaps he can hear you.” The nurse -made way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Billy, dear Billy, I—I’m here,” Don -said, his lips close to his pal’s ear. A faint -smile came over the patient’s face and then -it became rigid. With a light heart Billy -Mearns “went West.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Tim</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Don Richards’ new helper on the -Red Cross ambulance was an under-sized, -red-headed Irishman by the -name of Tim Casey. He was a month or -two short of nineteen winters and, as he -expressed it, an undetermined number of -summers, but judging by the bleached-out -color of his hair, which he assured Don was -originally as black as a nigger’s pocket, -there must have been a long siege of sunny -months. County Kerry was his birthplace -and his native village was noted for its big -men, his own father being almost a walking -church steeple and his numerous brothers -all six-footers. Tim was the only short one—“the -runt in the litter,” he called himself.</p> - -<p>“But if yez are proper anxious to know -an’ ye look loike ye couldn’t survive the day -out wid not knowin’ all o’ me fam’ly histhry, -Oi’ll tell yez this: Phw’at was left out o’ -me body was put in me head, do yez moind? -for by the holy Saint Macherel, Oi’m the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -smartest o’ the bunch. Me faither’s poorer -than whin he was born, an’ me brithers -couldn’t foind pennies if they growed on the -grass. But me? Faith, if wan o’ these here -boche zizzers don’t have me name wrote on -it, thin whin the war’s over Oi’m goin’ to -America an’ make a million pounds, loike -me friend Mike McCarty did!”</p> - -<p>“Good for you! That’s nearly five million -dollars. Hope you get it,” said Don.</p> - -<p>“Thanks. Could yez lend me phw’at they -call two francs, now, to git us both some -sweet, brown, mushy things, loike candy, -but diff’runt? It’s me own treat, now.”</p> - -<p>“Chocolate? Sure. Here you are. You -can get them at the Y. M. C. A. hut in an -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">abri</i> back of the woods and near our dressing -station,” Don informed him, and a little -later the two lads were enjoying mouthfuls -of very satisfying sweetness, as they waited -for more wounded to be brought out to them. -And as they waited Don turned to a sentry -to ask some questions. The sentry was -glad to impart:</p> - -<p>“The P. C. came over a little while ago -and I heard him tell the medical sergeant, -here in the doorway, that they had a message -from the evacuation hospital about a Hun in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -a Red Cross ambulance getting away around -the woods here. The man I relieved said he -saw the fellow go past, and he went a whizzing, -but he didn’t question him; nobody does -anything with the Red Cross on it. The -P. C. said that they hadn’t seen hide nor -hair of the man, nor the ambulance, since -and they think he must have been heading -for another sector. He can rip off his red -crosses there and let on he’s something else -important. They do those stunts. But if -he’s caught, it’s good-night for him!”</p> - -<p>Don was keenly disappointed. He had sent -some very well directed bullets straight after -the escaping car, but they must have hit -the sides at an angle and glanced off. However -cold-blooded and murderous it appeared -thus to shoot down a man, even a declared -and vicious enemy, the boy had done this -deed against one who had murdered his dear -pal, Billy Mearns. Moreover, Don had wanted -to write to his father and to Mr. Stapley, -at home, that the escaped man who had -helped to blow up the mills had been discovered -and accounted for. Don felt sure -that this fake Red Cross driver and spy -was the same man—the narrow-eyed, tall -individual that he and Clem Stapley had spot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>ted -and listened to on the train coming from -Brighton, more than three months ago.</p> - -<p>Now that the German spy had escaped -again, he would surely turn up somewhere -else and do more harm. Like his bearded -confederate at Lofton, he could probably -speak English and American English perfectly, -and no doubt he knew French also, -for these spies were of that sort—sharp-witted, -brainy, learned scoundrels!</p> - -<p>“He will try, yes, no doubt, but it will -amount to very little. What can he do?” -replied the sentinel to whom Don made -his pessimistic remark.</p> - -<p>“Are yez on to this?” said Tim Casey. -“The Limburgers are a very smart bunch, -yis; in many ways, yiz; but, me b’y, they’re -awful stupid, do yez see? These here Huns -are loike parrots. They’re windy imitators, -ye see, but bad ’cess to thim, they got no -real sense. They don’t know just phw’at -they want. A parrot, me b’y, is always -hollerin’ fer a cracker, but did yez iver see -it eat wan? Ye did not.”</p> - -<p>“By which you mean to say—” began Don.</p> - -<p>“Thot the dumb Dutch will do somethin’ -crazy sooner er later an’ hang hisself. They -jist natchally go round with a rope ready.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -An look phw’at they’re doin’ in this war. -Preparin’ the thickest koind of a rope an’ -makin’ it good an’ tight around their fool -necks be desthroyin’ iv’rything they come -acrost so that whin they have t’ pay they -can’t do it!”</p> - -<p>It might seem to one not familiar with the -risks of battle that the work of an army or -Red Cross ambulance driver must have been -intolerably monotonous. But such an idea is -very far from the truth. No two journeys -afield were alike and so varied was <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘the work an so’">the work -and so</ins> soul-stirring the sights and sounds of -two great armies facing each other, with -bared fangs, that the part of any kind of an -actor in the war become a terribly real -experience.</p> - -<p>There was no monotony in this thing for -Don Richards, nor doubtless, for any other -ambulance driver in France during the great -war, and our hero could affirm this, especially -when a shell, making a direct hit, carried -away all the latter part of his ambulance -and burst on the ground beyond, not forty -feet away. Tim and Don were dragged one -way by the impact, a hundredth of a second -later tossed, in a heap in the other direction -clear of motor and front wheels, upon a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -friendly bit of mud and left to wonder whether -the world had come to an end completely, -or was only just beginning to. And yet the -boys came through without a scratch worth -mentioning.</p> - -<p>Tim Casey worried Don not a little in -always being slow with his gas mask. The -boy told his helper that it would serve him -right some time if he got a sore throat from -the gas. But the Irishman laughed; he -was really not afraid of anything normal, -and abnormal things he treated with a sort -of lenient bluff, cursing them soundly in -his soft Irish brogue and dodging them because -it was the habit to do so.</p> - -<p>“The sthinkin’ stuff is as vile as the dirthy -Huns thot sind it over, an’ if Oi had the -villain thot invinted it Oi’d maul the face -off him, I wud!”</p> - -<p>“But suppose he were a big fellow, like -some of these Huns are?” Don asked in jest, -to tease his companion.</p> - -<p>“Big er little, it don’t matter,” replied -Tim. “It ain’t the soize of a mon thot counts; -it’s the spirit of him,” which Don was glad -to admit. And he sized up the little Irishman -as one having a large spirit when it came -to a scrap.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> - -<p>And there was the movement of men, -of guns big and little, of airplanes; there -were aerial battles, bombings, raids and -counter-attacks, which were seen but little -by the ambulance drivers, but the immediate -results were realistic enough. Tim Casey -found a remark or two that fitted every -occasion and he declared one fight even -bloodier than an Irish holiday.</p> - -<p>“Ah, me b’y, if the bloody gobs in this -here scrap had only had clubs—shillalahs—phw’at -wud they done to each ither? If -Oi was the ginral of this outfit, b’gorry, -Oi’d sthart out a raidin’ party of all Irish -from County Kerry, give ’em shillalahs an’ -the war’d be over the next day! The kaiser -wud call it inhuman, of coorse, an’ right -he’d be, but we’d win jist the same.”</p> - -<p>“Now, what could clubs do against guns?” -Don laughed. “They’d have you all shot -dead before you got near enough to soak -them.”</p> - -<p>“An wud they? Thin, me b’y, how come -they to use bayonets? Tell me thot.”</p> - -<p>“Its a thing I can’t understand and I -guess I never will; unless it’s after the -ammunition on both sides gives out that -they use them. Maybe if they’d do away with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -ammunition in wars shillalahs would be -handier than guns and worse than bayonets.”</p> - -<p>“Oi’ll write the C. and C. about thot -same,” said Tim.</p> - -<p>But whatever frightful atrocities and science -had done to make this war a horror beyond -the conception of those who could not witness -it, the most terrible of all was the Hun -bombing of hospitals. There was, as with -many other things indulged in by the Germans, -nothing gained by these acts—nothing -but deeper exasperation and determination -on the part of those who were forced to fight -the Hun. He saw others through his own -shade of yellow and imagined that he could -frighten his foes and lessen their morale -that way—but it produced exactly the opposite -effect.</p> - -<p>The cross-roads evacuation hospital tents -back of the Montdidier front suffered from -German airmen, not many days after the -great German push for Amiens had been -stopped. Plainly an act of hatred, this -bombing gained nothing for the Huns. They -had lost thousands of men in killed, wounded -and prisoners and wanted the Allies to suffer -still more.</p> - -<p>Don and Tim had received but one wounded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -man from the dressing station back of the -woods on the hill. Looking for additional -wounded, who might be struggling in, they -had run around the northern edge of the -woods and a half-mile farther on, near the -front line trenches, when a military policeman -rode out from an old orchard and stopped -them.</p> - -<p>“Too much noise from that motor of yours -and the Heinies are very wide awake,” -he said. “They’ll spot you and be pretty -likely to get you.”</p> - -<p>“We hadn’t seen any Hun fliers and we -thought they might be generally keeping -quiet,” Don said.</p> - -<p>“They are quiet just now, but I reckon -it’s just before a storm,” said the M. P. -“That’s the way it usually is. If they suddenly -start to put down a barrage before -a drive or a raid you’ll be in for it. You -know a good many of the bullets fly high -and pretty nearly half of them ricochet. -You fellows can’t get back of a tree as I -and my horse can. Better go back.”</p> - -<p>Tim, who was driving the car, having -now become rather proficient at it, had -a word to say, as usual.</p> - -<p>“R-right you are, me b’y! We was jist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -calculatin’ if they sint some whizzers over -to ketch ’em in these here dish pans; do ye -see?” And Tim tapped his helmet. “We’re -lookin’ fer sowineers, we are.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, you’d stop ’em! If a 122-shell -would be coming right for that topknot -of yours it would veer off and go on, hoping -to draw blood where none was already -flowing.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, an’ how did yez iver git in the sarvice? -Ye’re color blind; me mither dyed me -hair blue; can’t ye see it? to offset me too -cheerful disposition.”</p> - -<p>“If you told me it was green I might -believe you. But on the top of the green -it’s all rufus, Mike, all rufus.”</p> - -<p>“Well, misther bobby, it’s all right fer -yez. But it’s a fightin’ color; ain’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I believe that! But come now, lads; -you’d better beat it while your skins are -whole.”</p> - -<p>Tim began turning the car. “Sure an’ -ye loike t’ give orders. An’ Oi’ll be tellin’ -yez this; if a shell comes your way an’ mixes -wid yer anatomy, er yez git overcome wid -hard wor-r-rk sett in’ on thot plug all day -ye’ll be hopeful glad t’ see us comin’. So -long!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<p>Not many minutes later the boys reached -the hospital and out came the Major in his -long, white blouse. When the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> -had carried the wounded man into the X-ray -tent, the chief had a word to say to the -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ambulanciers</i> gathered by the roadside.</p> - -<p>“Hold yourselves in readiness, boys; we -have orders to evacuate at once; get every -man that we can let go out of here and be -ready to pull up stakes at a moment’s notice. -That’ll be if the Germans succeed in advancing. -It is believed they are getting ready -to make another push. So, as soon as we -list our cases fully as to condition and treatment, -in half an hour’s time, we shall ask -you to go get busy. You had better line up -along the road. Those cases in the first -three cars you will report and they’ll go on -through to the convalescent bases, as ordered -by the Red Cross commission assistant; -the others will go to the nearest Red Cross -base. Now, then, stand ready boys, and -tune up your motors till we call on you for -the stretcher work. We haven’t enough -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> to do it quickly.” The Major -re-entered the tent.</p> - -<p>Don turned to a fellow-driver and was -making a remark when Tim pulled his sleeve.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Do yez hear thot coffee grinder comin’?”</p> - -<p>From a distance there was the hum of a -motor high in air. As it grew louder, it was -easily recognized as a double motor—the -unmistakable sound, never in tune, that -giant twin propellers make.</p> - -<p>“Sounds like a bombing plane. Ours or -the Huns’?” queried a driver, gazing aloft. -The bunch were all doing that now, as a -matter of habit. One chap was squinting -through a field glass.</p> - -<p>“There she comes out of that cloud! -Pretty high up. Say, it’s a Heinie! What’s -he up to? Guns can’t reach him at that -elevation, but <em>his</em> bombs can reach the earth.”</p> - -<p>“Going to worry them reserves, I reckon. -Where’s the Frog-eaters? They’ll chase him -home if they go up.”</p> - -<p>There seemed to be no French birdmen -around and the German was evidently taking -advantage of this. He was coming on straight -over the hospital and lessening his height -every second. In thirty seconds he had -come down to half the distance from the -earth and began to sweep about in a circle, -or like a gigantic figure eight, much as a -great, bloodthirsty hawk does when scanning -the earth below for its prey.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> - -<p>Suddenly, from beneath the airplane the -watchers saw something long and gray which -seemed to poise a moment under the airplane, -then drop and gain momentum every fraction -of a second, and fall like a plummet straight -for the hospital tent. The watchers, all -experienced, knew well what it was, but -any cry of warning was lost in the explosion -that followed not a hundred feet beyond -the tent.</p> - -<p>“The dirty spalpeen!” Don heard Tim -shout. “Come down here wanst an’ thin -do it! Gin’ral,”—Tim insisted upon calling -Don that—“he’ll make surer the next time! -Come, there’s wor-rk inside!”</p> - -<p>There was. Don caught a glimpse of two -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ambulanciers</i> diving under their cars, of -another running somewhere else, evidently -for shelter. The boy’s ears welcomed the -sharp crack, crack of field pieces and he -knew the anti-aircraft were demonstrating -their readiness. He got one more glimpse -of the Hun plane over the roof of the tent -and saw another gray thing descending. -Then he was inside.</p> - -<p>When Don had looked in not two hours -before he noted that at least three-fourths -of the cots were occupied, the convalescents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -walking slowly about, or seated in little -groups, talking; the nurses were busily -engaged. The sad sounds pervading the -place were horribly depressing to him. He -could not long endure the labored breathing -of those who were passing over the Great -Divide, the persistent coughing of the severely -gassed, the sight of shell-shocked men, who, -without a scratch, cowered and stared about -like crazy people, the moaning of those who -suffered and the smell of anesthetics.</p> - -<p>But now all was changed. The scene -was beyond description. Don was awake -to his duty and eager for it. There must -be strong wills and hands to aid and reassure -these helpless fellows. The doctors and nurses, -frightened but heroic, could not do it all.</p> - -<p>With a sound like the rending of a thousand -taut cords a hole was torn in the tent roof, -the interior was filled with streaks of flame -and smoke and flying objects, a choking -odor filled the air with stinging fumes and -through it all came groans, screams and -curses in a <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘hideous meledy’">hideous melody</ins>. Wounded men -some with limbs in splints, some half covered -with bandages, leaped or tumbled out of -their cots, and sought imagined shelter anywhere. -Some limped or crawled outside.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -Some lay still and prayed aloud. Another -bomb fell that was a second clean miss of -the main tent, though it struck the corner -of the medical supplies tent and scattered -the Major’s personal effects beyond recovery. -Two other bombs came down in quick succession, -one in the road beyond, cutting a -hind tire, lifting the top off of the last ambulance -in the line and knocking down two -sentries. The fifth bomb went wild and did -no harm. Those who still had their eyes -on the murderous thing aloft saw it turn -eastward and rise beyond the reach of the -guns.</p> - -<p>There was much work of a very serious -nature during the next few hours and then -a night of running back and forth. The -first streaks of a murky dawn witnessed the -evacuation hospital nearly empty and ready -for new cases. Two lads in a rain-soaked -and mud-bespattered ambulance, carrying -a cheerful soldier whose only need was a -week of rest, stopped by the roadside on the -way to Paris—and, with their passenger’s -consent, rolled up in blankets on floor and -seat to sleep the sleep of the just fagged.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Wash</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">My boy, I want to commend you, -for your aid when they bombed -us last week. Haven’t had a chance -to before. If all of the fellows had been -as cool and as helpful as you and that little, -red-headed Irishman we would have had less -trouble straightening things out. I see he -is running his own car now. Who is your -helper?” So spoke Major Little, when he -came out of the operating room to get a -breath of fresh air, <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘and said Don’">and said to Don</ins>.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’ll get a colored chap, if I get -any,” the boy replied. “A lot of new cars -have come over and they want men. I can -get along alone. Some of the fellows do.”</p> - -<p>“Better to have company. Helps the <em>morale</em>. -Gives a chance of aid if one fellow gets hit. -Better all round. It is the policy of the -service; but we can’t always get what we -want.”</p> - -<p>“Glad you didn’t have to move after all, -Doctor.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No, but the expectation now is that the -move will come farther north—against the -British. Or it may be to the south. If so, -some of you fellows will have to be transferred -to that sector and it will give us -a little rest here.”</p> - -<p>“I guess you won’t be sorry, sir. You -have worked hard.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, pretty hard—right along. We of -the Medical Department and of the Red -Cross got into it before our fighters did. -But the time has come now.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see some of our boys get busy -in a big way. I wish I could have joined -the army.”</p> - -<p>“Your work is fully as important—and -daring—and useful. And, remember this, -it is far more humane. You’ve no right to -feel dissatisfied.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not, Major—not a bit of it. You may -count on me! Are there any more <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessés</i> -to go down now?”</p> - -<p>The Americans had begun to take part -in the fighting. They had begun to do things -in a small way, but this seemed to cause -very little stir in France, except among -those who had knowledge of the sterling -character of the boys from the United States.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -The French commonly knew nothing actually. -They saw nothing to make them think -they were any more than a staunch-looking -lot of fellows, many of whom needed a lot -of drilling in modern warfare before they -could hope to turn the tide of battle. There -had been little evidence, so far, of this aid -materializing, and even the most optimistic -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">poilus</i> had begun to doubt and to question. -They had become a trifle fed up on American -promises and they now wondered if the -Yanks really meant to fight in a large way, -or had come over only to skirmish and to -bolster up the courage of the Allies by remaining -in reserve.</p> - -<p>True, the Americans had done a little -commendable fighting, aided by the British -and the French. Brigaded with the “Tommies” -they had taken some hard knocks -above Amiens. Brigaded with the French -they had helped hold the Germans around -Montdidier, but what could they do on a -large scale that would really count? Were -they actually going to be a factor in war?</p> - -<p>Well, these questions were to be answered -shortly, but would the result allay all doubt -in the minds of all the anxious ones? The -Americans were arriving upon the field of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -battle in rapidly increasing numbers. They -had come across three thousand miles of -water in spite of the German submarines. -Was it like those vigorous inhabitants of -the greatest country on earth, to hold back -now in the great contest?</p> - -<p>Spring had arrived. It was past the middle -of April. The grass was newly green. The -fruit trees were coming into blossom and the -foliage was beginning to bud. The birds were -singing everywhere, even amidst the desolate -scenes of battle. Except where the shells -and shrapnel of the opposing armies had -torn the ground and battered the forests, -there was the peacefulness over all and -beauty of the new life of the season. Even -now not far back from the fighting front -of the Allies, some daring tillers of the soil -were making ready to plant their crops.</p> - -<p>But alternating with the days of balmy -stillness came the rains—days and days -when the whole face of nature was like a -vast mop, soaked to fullness, dripping and -cold. And when it rained it did nothing -but rain. It had become almost an icy drizzle -on the twentieth and the soldiers in the -trenches, those bivouacking in the open -and the homeless refugees who had fled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -before the German advance, were correspondingly -miserable. It was, as in the winter -months, a time for greatcoats, dry footwear, -if such were possible, and the making of -fires wherever fuel was to be had.</p> - -<p>Don Richards was ready with every handy -means to meet the intolerable weather conditions, -and his new helper, Washington -White, the blackest darky and one of the -best natured that ever exposed a wide row -of ivories. Washington fairly hugged himself -because luck had thrown him in with -a lad who had camped and roughed it through -wild country and knew nearly every trick -of out-of-door life, from vacation experiences -with his Boy Scout troop, and from camping -out with the Brighton biology class.</p> - -<p>“Wha—wha—what we gwine tuh du now, -Mist’ Donal’? Ain’t a-gwine tuh stay yer; is -we? In all dis slop o’ mud?”</p> - -<p>“Just that!” Don replied. “No more -mud here than everywhere else. I guess the -whole world is one big puddle by the way -things look, except perhaps the Desert of -Sahara or the American bad lands. This -is as good a spot to put up in for the night -as anywhere that I know of—in this part -of the earth, anyhow.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But wha’s de matter wif gwine on back -tuh de hospital?”</p> - -<p>“No place there. You know they’ve asked -us to give up our quarters for a while to some -new nurses just come over, and we’ve got -to be polite to the ladies. The orders have -been all along that if we were empty and -night shut down on us on the road, to bunk -anywhere and go on in the morning, with -that much time gained. Every minute counts -these days. Get the matches under the seat -there, will you? And there’s a bottle of -coal-oil wrapped in a rag by the tool box. -Reach down that camp hatchet.”</p> - -<p>“But, lawsee, Mist’ Donal’, we’d be somewhar’s -en’ a roof en’ have lights en’ a wahm -meal—-”</p> - -<p>“Say, forget it! Haven’t we got the roof -of the car? And haven’t we got a light,” -pointing to the one lighted lamp of the car, -“and as for a warm meal—oh, boy! I’ll -make you think you’re at the Waldorf-Astoria -when I get to frying this good old -American bacon and these French eggs. -You ought to be doing it, really, but the -next time’ll be your turn. Now then, chase -around for some wood!”</p> - -<p>“B-r-r-r! Dis road’s awful dahk en’ de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -wood’ll be all wet’s a wet hen, en’ say, Mist’ -Donal’, wid all dem sojers kickin’ de bucket -back yondah en’ off dere in dem trenches -en’ de amberlances chasin’ back en’ fo’th -wid deaders—say, lawsee, Ah’s plum scairt -’bout projectin’ roun’ dis—”</p> - -<p>“Aw, go on, you superstitious simp! -The wood won’t be wet inside if it isn’t -rotten. Don’t be a coward. Why, boy, -you tell me you’re not going to be afraid -of bullets and shells and bombs and gas. -Aren’t they worse than people already dead? -You make me tired. Go chase—!”</p> - -<p>“But shells is jes’ shells en’ bullets is jes’ -bullets en’ all dat, but dese yere deaders -may be ghos’ses. Lawsee, man! Ef one o’ -dem t’ings ’d rise up en’ grab yo’—ooh!”</p> - -<p>“Say, you weren’t cut out for this kind -of work, Wash. What are you going to do -when we’ve got to haul some dead people, -or when some poor chap dies on the way -in? I’ve had three do that with me so far -and it may happen right along. See here, -if you want to stay with me you’ve got to -be sensible and brave. There’s no such -thing as ghosts and the only thing about -a dead person is that it’s awful to think -they’ve had to be killed. Are you going -after—?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, suh; yes, suh! Ah’ll git de wood, -ef dere is any. Ah reckon Ah ain’t so much -scairt as Ah let on! Ah reckon Ah ain’t.”</p> - -<p>“You’d better not be scared at anything -if you want to stay with this outfit. This -is no coward’s job, Washington. And say, -with that name of yours, now, you oughtn’t -to be afraid of the whole German army, -even if they were all dead. George Washington -wasn’t afraid of anything. Is your -first name George?”</p> - -<p>“Ah reckon ’tis, but Ah doan’ know fo’ -shuah. Mah mammy allus jes’ call me Wash -er Washington. No, suh, dat man Ah’s -name fo’ wasn’t no coward. Ah’ll git de -wood, but Ah’ll take de hatchet.”</p> - -<p>But Wash had become more reconciled -to a camp in a soggy field by the time he had -set his teeth into the bacon, several boxes -of which, with other good things, filled a -grub box in the car. Then, warmed by a fire -that roared in spite of the drizzling rain -and mist, and later rolled in a thick army -blanket on the bottom of the ambulance, -the darky’s snores soon gave evidence that -ghosts were haunting him no longer.</p> - -<p>The morning dawned with lifting mists -and a breeze that was making a counter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>drive -to chase away the enemy clouds in -order to let the peaceful sunlight through. -Don, while lighting the fire, planning the -breakfast and prodding Wash to get up -and cook it, felt much better for the change.</p> - -<p>“Hump yourself, you lazy snorefest you, -and just look at the battle going on out here!”</p> - -<p>That had the effect of hastily arousing -Wash. Not even the promise of a crap game -is dearer to one of his kind than a scrap -of this sort.</p> - -<p>“Whar-whar’s de fight? Ah doan’ heah -no shootin’!”</p> - -<p>“See those Hun clouds?” enthused Don. -“Well, that west wind comes straight from -good old America and it’s making the boches -hustle.”</p> - -<p>“Lawsee! Ah reckon you-all’s done got -’em! Wha-whar’s dat bacon en’ dem aigs. -Yo’ jes’ watch me git up one breakfas’ dat’ll -fetch roun’ yo’ senses! Golly! Heah dat?”</p> - -<p>They both heard. A rumbling noise coming -rapidly nearer along the road. Wash thought -it might be the Germans, but Don assured -him that was impossible. The Americans -were on the job now. There was further -evidence of this at hand, for out of the dispelling -mists came a yellow touring car<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -closely followed by a gigantic khaki-colored -lorry, or camion. Right back of that another -and another, and more, and still more until -the road was filled, farther than the eye -could see, with the steadily moving line. -Each big vehicle was filled with soldiers.</p> - -<p>Don had seen a crest on the leading touring -car. He knew this bunch of men, for it -had been whispered from mouth to mouth -at the Red Cross base hospital that the -marines were on their way from westward -training camps.</p> - -<p>“Our engineers up there with General -Carney showed the Huns what kind of -stuff the Americans are made of,” one official -had said. “Trust the marines for driving -that down the Germans throats—when they -get at it!”</p> - -<p>That was it: when they got at it. But -when were they to get at it? Was French -official red tape in the way, or was it that -the British and French generals feared to -trust the untried Americans too far? Must -a desperate need arise to make an actual test -of the Americans?</p> - -<p>The boys stood by their car, waving their -hats at the men in passing, and many a -wave of arms they got back. Many a good-natured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -jibe was exchanged between the -lorries and the ambulance.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah! Go to it, you blood drinkers!” -shouted Don.</p> - -<p>“That’s the stuff, buddy! It’s sauerkraut -in Berlin for us before we’re done!”</p> - -<p>“We’re goin’ to give Fritzy fits!” roared -another marine.</p> - -<p>“How do you like cruising on land?” -asked Don of another carload.</p> - -<p>“Can’t see much difference between this -country now and the good, old ocean!” -was the rejoinder.</p> - -<p>“One’s as wet as the other!”</p> - -<p>“An’ ye can’t drink either of ’em!” shouted -a third.</p> - -<p>“Oh, look at the coon!” called a private -in another camion.</p> - -<p>“Say, nig, lost, ain’t yu? I reckon yu -ol’ mammy’s jes’ cryin’ huh eyes out fo’ -huh little Alabama coon!”</p> - -<p>“Huh! Ah reckon yu-all frum down Souf, -too; eh, soljah man?” yelled Wash.</p> - -<p>“I am that! Georgia! But everything -goes just the same over here!”</p> - -<p>“Say, a darky! Wonder these Frog-eaters -haven’t got him in a cage! rarity over here!” -The fourth <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘camion contigent’">camion contingent</ins> were impressed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, I bet our Red Cross friend there -has to eat his share of hog fat and hoe cake!”</p> - -<p>This went on for a good three-quarters -of an hour until the last lorry had passed. -Then the lads turned to a hasty breakfast.</p> - -<p>“They’re the marines, Wash; the Fifth -and Sixth Regiments. You know they have -a slogan in the Navy: ‘a marine never -retreats’.”</p> - -<p>“In de Navy. What dem sojahs doin’ -in de Navy?”</p> - -<p>“They’re the soldiers attached to battle-ships. -They fight on land when needed, -and I guess they’re going to be needed here!”</p> - -<p>“Did yu-all know enny of ’em pussonel, -Mist’ Donal’? Ah seed yo’ lookin’ lak yo’ -was gwine ter call a feller in one o’ de las’ -cars be name, en’ he look at yo’ so’t o’ queeah, -too.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I happen to know one of them, -Wash. You are some observer. He’s a chap -from my home town. His name’s Clement -Stapley. He joined the marines before I -left home. But I hardly think he knew me, -Wash.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Ah t’ink he done knowed yo’, -frum de look awn his face. But mebbe he -wa’n’t quite shuah. Why’n’t yu-all holler<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -at him en’ pass de time o’ day an’ yell how -he is?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, you see, we were not such -very good friends, and I was afraid he might -still feel sore at me. Maybe I’ll get a chance -to see him again. Well, come on; we’ve -got to be going. There’s a lot of work ahead.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Shifted</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">The battle sector southeast of Amiens -and around Mondidier became quiet -during the latter part of April and -early May, and, true to Major Little’s predictions, -he and the force under him had -not much to do. There was still some local -fighting. It would not be modern warfare -without. Each side sought almost constantly -to harass the other and to impress its enemy -with its power and readiness. Still, there -were a few casualties, so that the dressing -stations, and operating room in the evacuation -hospital were not idle, and a few ambulances -were making almost continuous trips up and -down the well-traveled highway.</p> - -<p>Not far back of the road from Paris to -Amiens the newly-begun American graveyard, -with its regular cross-headboards, had -grown somewhat. Its mounds were often -decorated with roses, field poppies and wild -flowers laid on them by the tenderhearted -natives, mostly children. It was such sights,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -together with those of the ruined homes -and shell-torn cities within reach of the -German guns, that made the beholder pause -and wonder how it was that humankind -could permit war and its horrors.</p> - -<p>The so-called second German drive of 1918 -had been launched along the river Lys -against Ypres and toward the Channel ports -in early April. But it had proved a failure. -The firm stand of the British wore out and -finally stopped the Huns. Then, more and -more furious at these repeated checks, the -German High Command, with Hindenburg -and Ludendorff at the head, shifted their -offensive toward the south. If the British -lion could not be separated from his ally, -the French eagle, and slain at once then -perhaps a supreme effort would gain the -road to Paris. The threatened destruction -of that city would surely bring victory to -Germany and thus enable the kaiser to -impose “peace at any price” upon the Allies.</p> - -<p>Therefore, on the last day of April began -the strengthening of the German line from -Noyon to Rheims and a consequent push -around Noyon. But the Huns made no -progress and once more gnashed their teeth -in preparation for a desperate onslaught.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -It was planned that this should break through -at the long coveted points nearest their -first objective, the city of Paris.</p> - -<p>Just as the storm broke along the Oise -and the Marne rivers, there came a surprise -to the British, French and Germans. To -the Huns it was like a thunderbolt out of a -clear sky.</p> - -<p>The Americans, under French direction, -backed by French artillery, went over the -top from hastily dug trenches, and made a -counter-attack at Cantigny, which threw the -enemy back nearly a mile. The Yanks, at -the end of May, still held their positions, -against the Huns most violent attacks.</p> - -<p>Coming up the Paris-Amiens road on a -bright morning—the first day of June—Don -and Wash, carrying additional supplies for -the dressing stations back of Cantigny, met -a long line of yellow American lorries—no -new thing now, but fraught with deep significance.</p> - -<p>“The marines again, Wash—our marines—going -south. I bet they’re ordered into the -fight. You heard what the assistant to our -commissioner said to Surgeon-Major Brown: -‘There’s likely to be some hard work stopping -the Heinies on the road out there east of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -Paris’—the road” Don explained, the Major -said “to a place they call Rheims. The -Huns have got as far as the river Marne, -and that’s where they were in 1914. But -I’ll bet they don’t get much farther—not if -our boys are going into it!”</p> - -<p>“Is dey enny cullud sojahs in de fight?” -asked Wash.</p> - -<p>“I guess not right at this place, but I -think there are, somewhere along the line. -Someone told me so—a regiment or more -of them.”</p> - -<p>“Well, den, what dey wants tuh do is -jes’ give ’em some razzors ’en say tu ’em: -‘Look-a-yer, yo’ niggahs, dese yer Germans -ain’t no <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘real while folks’">real white folks</ins>—dat is real qual’ty—dey -is jes’ po’ whites ’en no ’count ’en dey -hates niggahs. Now den, go in ’en carve -’em up!’ Sho, man, dey wouldn’t be no -German army in ’bout fo’ minutes.”</p> - -<p>“Why, that’s right, Wash! Great idea! -I’m going to see General Pershing about -that. Or, say, how would it do to tell those -colored soldiers that every Heinie’s a brother -to a ’possum, or that a great big flock of fat -chickens is roosting low over in the German -trenches! Wouldn’t they drop down on those -Huns and scare ’em to death?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Aw, gwan, you’s kiddin’ me, yo’ is! -Say, ain’t we gwine tuh stop somewhar’s -’en see dese marines go by an’ holler at -’em lak we done—?”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed. We’ve got to go on and get -back,” said Don. “Orders are to report -near LaFerté, to a French officer. The -evacuation hospitals down there are all -French, I guess. And now all the army -down there is French, too, I expect, so we’ll -bring in their wounded mostly. But if our -boys—”</p> - -<p>“Does dese yer Frenchers all yell an’ -hollah when dey’s hurt bad?” Wash asked. -So far he had seen but two of them, both -seriously wounded, and they had done a -good deal of groaning and calling for water. -But the question went unanswered, for just -at the moment the ambulance was compelled -to veer off nearly into the ditch in order -to dodge a broken-down car and the ever -passing lorries, the negro being bounced -almost off his seat.</p> - -<p>“Ah doan keer whar we goes tu from yere, -jes’ so’s we git somewhar’s whar de sun -shines lak hit do now fo’ a little while. Ah -suttenly doan lak dis puddle bizness what -we has mos’ de time sense Ah ben in dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -yere France. Hit sure am some wet country. -Now dis day ain’ so bad, so Ah’ll jes’ tap -wood—” and he rapped himself on the -head.</p> - -<p>The round trip completed, Don and Wash -at the base hospital, re-stocked their car -for any emergency. They started out on -a new road, coming up with the tail end -of the marines in their big camions—passing -them, one by one. The way led east, then -south and east again, passing first through -the town of Senlis, then around the little -city of Meaux, then away on a splendid -road toward Rheims. Before reaching the -objective beyond the town of LaFerté, the -road crossed the beautiful Marne, called a -river, though Don regarded it merely a -big creek, as it would be called in America.</p> - -<p>Oh and ever on, rumbled the camions, -the yellow lorries with the marines, and -Don expected again to catch sight of Clem -Stapley. However, it was not these fighting -men that most interested him, for on this -Rheims road the boy saw for the first time -what he would probably never see again—refugees, -fleeing from the German army.</p> - -<p>It was a sight never to be forgotten—one -to wring pity out of the most stony-hearted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -to sober the most waggish, to sadden the -gentler-minded as hardly even death, or -the suffering of the wounded could do. -Driven from their homes, fearing the wrath -of the invader, expecting only to return and -find all their property destroyed, except -the little they could carry away, given -over to pillage, or the flames. They trudged -along, embittered by injustice, powerless to -protest, stolid or weeping, but all of one -mind. They sought only a place of safety -from the Huns. They were mostly afoot; -many old men, the younger and middle-aged -women and the stronger boys and -girls were the beasts of burden, carrying -or drawing great loads in makeshift carts, -or light wagons, the more fortunate having -horse or cow, or perhaps donkey or dog, -harnessed to help. On these loads rode -the smaller children and the very aged.</p> - -<p>Even the soldiers, singing and laughing -as they went on to battle, some of them -to death or lifelong suffering, and as gay as -if nothing but a picnic lay before them, -ceased their music and raillery, when they -saw the first of these refugees.</p> - -<p>The French medical officer at the evacuation -hospital near LaFerté spoke enough English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -to make himself understood by the American -Red Cross ambulance drivers, half a dozen -of whom had reported to duty before Don -arrived on the scene. These fellows greeted -him exuberantly and all stood in a row ready -to receive orders.</p> - -<p>“One of ze dressed staisheon ess more -veree far up ze road at zee feets of one hill, -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">m’sieu’</i>. Eet is maybe one kilo from zee enemy -at ze Château-Thierry. Go where eet is -and carry all ze wound’ you can to bring -heem <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">par-ici</i>. Then we operate and dispose, -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">m’sieurs</i>. <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Allons!</i>”</p> - -<p>The ambulances raced away in a string, -Don leading. Then began again the experiences -of near approach to the battle line, -hearing the almost constant rattle of small -arms and the hardly less continuous roar -of larger guns, seeing the shattered buildings -and trees and shell-holes in the most unexpected -places. The military police were -on duty along the roads. Military messengers -were hurrying back and forth. <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Brancardiers</i> -were crossing and re-crossing the fields, with -their stretchers empty or laden. Field artillery -was moving forward to position. Troops -were going in to engage the enemy, or coming -out to rest and others waiting in reserve.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -Ammunition carriers lugged forward their -heavy loads. Food for the men in battle -was being prepared in hastily set-up kitchens. -Sometimes a shell exploded and punctuated -the tremendous activity.</p> - -<p>“Now then, Wash, mind your eye. We’ve -got to get in where, any minute, we may -run into a big bang and go up a mile high, -or maybe get buried alive or dead under -about a ton of earth. Here’s where it is -you’ve been saying you’d like to get—right -in among the fighters. So be prepared for -the worst!”</p> - -<p>“Ah ain’t ezakly ready fo’ no sech carryin’s -on ez dis,” the darky remarked, rolling -his ivory eye-balls until Don thought the -pupils would go out of sight and stay there. -“How—how long we gotta stay yere an’ -what’s de mattah wiv me jes’ droppin’ -off ’bout dis place ’en waitin’ twill yu-all -gits back from in yondah? Kaint see how -Ah’s gwine be much use nohow.”</p> - -<p>“You stay right on this car!” ordered -Don. “What did you come for? When -you get hit, then it’s time to talk about -quitting. From your color I didn’t believe -you had a single streak of yellow in you.”</p> - -<p>Wash stared hard at Don for a moment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -A big, whizzing shell, with a noise like that -made by a nail when thrown through the -air, passed over, not very far away, and -exploded with a horrible rending sound, -but the negro only shook himself and then -grinned. Presently he replied to his companion:</p> - -<p>“An’ Ah ain’t yaller, neither! No, sah! -En’ yu-all ain’t gwine tuh have no call -tuh say Ah is yaller. No, sah! Ah’s gwine -tuh stay on dis job ontil de yearth jes’ fade -away an’ kingdom come, Ah is. Scairt? -Is Ah? Yu jes’ watch me! An’ ef Ah’s gotta -git hit, why Ah jes’ gits hit an’ Ah reckon -Ah kin stan’ it ez well ez a yuther o’ them -niggahs a-fightin’, or any white man, either! -Yes, sah!”</p> - -<p>And that was all there was to it. Wash -meant what he said. Not another whimper -did Don hear from him, no matter what -their duties were, nor how fast the shells -flew. The darky was on the job to prove -that he was all one solid color, figuratively -as well as literally, even if his name was -White. And it became certain that there -was no pallor in his liver to indicate his -name.</p> - -<p>The boys’ first trip close to the battle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -lines near Château-Thierry resulted in their -return with three Frenchmen, one dying -and beyond possible help, and two others -wounded. Don and Wash had reached the -crest of a hill on the road running southwest -into LaFerté when they came upon a Red -Cross ambulance which had been disabled. -Don pulled up a moment to ask if he could -briefly give aid, thinking to tow the other -car in, if necessary. It was not the custom -for a car loaded with <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessés</i> to spend any -time on the road, if it could be avoided.</p> - -<p>A weazen little man, with a foreign face, -replied to the boy, in good English:</p> - -<p>“Can you lend us a heavy wrench? We -have only one and a light one. We need -two to take off a bolt.”</p> - -<p>Don produced the desired tool from his -box and turned to hand it to the little fellow. -At the same instant the voice of someone -on the other side of the crippled car called -quite loud and in French, presumably a -command to the little man. The latter -made answer as if in protest. Then he handed -the wrench back to Don.</p> - -<p>“We can obtain another. We should not -keep you. Thanks.”</p> - -<p>“No, use it,” Don insisted. “I must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -give my wounded some water and see if -they are comfortable. It will not take you -long.”</p> - -<p>The little man ran quickly to his car -and dived beneath it. Don, influenced partly -by curiosity and partly by instinct, walked -past the front end and on to the other side -of the disabled car. A man there, whose -voice he had heard—glared at him for a -moment, then turned away, rounding the -rear end of the car and keeping his back to -Don. This fellow was tall, thin, with a narrow -face and contracted eyes. He was dressed -in khaki, with the white band and Red Cross -on his arm.</p> - -<p>The boy stood pondering but a moment. -He knew where he had seen this man before -and under what circumstances. Evidently -Don also was recognized. Without a word -the youth retraced his steps. He knew -very well from what exact spot he could -draw his rifle and he knew also that Wash -knew how to handle a gun and that he would -glory in doing so where any kind of heroics -were to be pulled off.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">On the Way</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Wash, listen: You know how to -use this. Magazine’s full. You’re -to use it—just when I tell you, -or maybe before. There’s a chap around -that’s got to go along with us, Wash, and -there’s a cord in the tool-box to tie him -with. Mind you don’t shoot me! Lie low -till I shout.”</p> - -<p>Don went back to the crippled car.</p> - -<p>“Well, does it work? Got it out?” he asked -of the little man and received a muffled -reply from beneath the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">chassis</i>. Don walked -around the mudguard past the rear end, and -looked along the other side. No one was in -sight. Had the tall man slipped into the -car? He would find out.</p> - -<p>“Nice car you have here—don’t see many -as fine in the service,” he remarked to the -man beneath. Again a muffled reply. One -can hardly give attention to needless questions -and wrestle with a refractory bolt. “How -is she fitted inside?” Don queried, putting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -one hand on the latch of the full-length -doors and the other on the butt of his revolver -in its holster. But the doors were fastened -on the inside.</p> - -<p>“Don’t open those doors! Don’t try to, -for the love of God!” yelled the small man, -from the ground and instantly his wrinkled -face emerged, followed by his wiry little -body. “We’re loaded with explosives for -mines and they’ll go off. Keep away from -it!” Whether this was true or not and -whether the fellow really felt frightened or -was pretending, he certainly assumed it -well. Don involuntarily backed away from -the car.</p> - -<p>“Oh, but that was a narrow escape! We’d -all be sky-high if—” he began again, but the -boy quickly regained his nerve.</p> - -<p>“Well, tell me, how <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘does it carry then’">does it carry them</ins>; -stand the jolt? And how are you going to -unload it? Looks to me as if you’re kidding. -But I don’t see any joke in it.”</p> - -<p>“Kidding? Indeed I’m not, man! But I -can’t stop now—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes you will, too! My business is -more important right now than yours. I -want to see inside and I’m going to. You come -here and open these doors for me!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What? Trying to act smart, ain’t you?” -The little man was about to turn back to -his work, but Don caught him by the shoulder, -whirled him around and he gazed into the -muzzle of the boy’s revolver.</p> - -<p>“S-s-say, what you—?”</p> - -<p>“Open those doors! There’s a fellow in -there that’s going back with us. He’s in -there and I want him! Come on, open -that door and be quick about it. Wash, -bore a hole in this fellow if he makes a break!”</p> - -<p>“S-say, put down that pistol! I haven’t -done anything to you. Listen to reason: -there ain’t anyone in there. The man who -was here—some fellow I don’t know went -up the road. Guess he’s a Frenchman.”</p> - -<p>“I guess he is—<em>not</em>!” said Don. “I know -him; saw him before in the United States -and up here near Montdidier. Come, open -up or chase him out!”</p> - -<p>“I tell you there’s explosives—”</p> - -<p>“Bosh! Think I’m green; don’t you? -Before I have to tell you again to open -those doors I’m going to blow the lock off -’em. Now, get busy!”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a name="F-152" id="F-152"></a> -<img src="images/p152.jpg" width="475" alt="" /> -<br /><span class="smcap">Don Caught Him by the Shoulder and Whirled Him -Around</span>. -</div> - -<p>The weazen little man was most deliberate. -Coming around to the rear end of the ambulance, -he reached up to the door latch. But -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>this action was a bluff—the boy felt sure of -that. The lad didn’t feel like carrying out -his threat. To shoot through the doors -might kill someone and he didn’t want to -kill. At most it was desirable to inflict -only a wound. Surely there must be a way -to win out here and Don had already learned -to depend on the power of his shooting-iron. -He had every inch of his nerve with him -at this moment.</p> - -<p>“Can’t open it, eh? Can’t? Well, I’ll -show you how then.” He walked quickly -to the car and taking the revolver by the -chamber in his left hand—not a thing a -wise gunman would do at any time, under -stress of threatening circumstances he -caught the lower corner of one door that was -warped enough to gap at the bottom, and, -with a wrench he tore off the frail fastening. -The doors flew open.</p> - -<p>The next instant Don was tumbling on -the ground, struggling to rise. He felt a -determination to fight, and hold this man -still uppermost in his mind, in spite of a -heavy blow over the head from within the -car. Where was his weapon? Why could -he not instantly regain his feet? Was that -the noise of the crippled car getting away? -Where was Wash? Why did he not shoot?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then there was a period of unconsciousness -until, a few minutes later, he did get to his -feet to stare into the frightened eyes of -Washington White.</p> - -<p>“Oh, by cracky, they hit me and—they’re -gone! Wash, Wash, why didn’t you shoot -’em? Why didn’t you—?”</p> - -<p>“Shoot nuthin’! Man, man, how come yo’ -lef’ de barrel plum empty? Dey wuz no -ca’tridge in de barrel. Ah cocked her ’en -pulled de trigger ’en cocked her again ’en -pulled ’en she wouldn’t go off nohow ’en -by de time Ah projecated whar de troble was, -dem fellahs wuz a flyin’ down de road lak -Ol’ Man Scratch wuz a huntin’ ’em. But -’tain’t so much Ah keer ef dey is gone so’s -yu ain’ daid.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I care!” Don was clearly regaining -his senses. “But it was my fault, Wash. -I never thought to pump a cartridge into -the barrel, and what a fool I was to pull -that door open and not be ready. That -villain was laying for me and, say, their -car wasn’t crippled much, either.”</p> - -<p>In the roadway, where the disabled car -had stood, lay two monkey-wrenches and a -small bolt which probably had pivoted a -brake rod. At the rate of speed that car<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -had started to gain, there would probably -be no use for brakes!</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to get back and report this -fellow,” Don said, returning his rifle to its -case, and the revolver to its holster on his -belt. “We’ve got only about twenty minutes’ -run yet, I think. Say, I feel like ten fools to -let those devils get away. Keep your eye -open for an M. P. on the road.”</p> - -<p>But not more than five minutes elapsed -before the boys sighted a big touring car, -with half a dozen khaki-clad men in it, -tearing along toward them. Don stopped -and signaled to the soldiers to do the same. -They dashed up with screeching brakes, and -Don stared. In the front seat, with the driver -sat Clem Stapley.</p> - -<p>All ill feeling in Don’s mind was swept -aside by the business at hand. Its nature -and the comradeship that natives of the -same distant country in a foreign land and -in a common cause naturally abolish personal -ill feeling. So he shouted:</p> - -<p>“Hello, Clem! Say, fellows, there are two -spies right ahead; they just—”</p> - -<p>“In a Red Cross car?” asked a man on -the rear seat; he was an M. P. “We’re -looking for them. Got word at the French -evacuation hospital. Two did you say?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, and they’re getting away at a lively -rate. Clem, one of them is the same German -we saw in the train; the one that got away -after they blew up the mills, over home. -I’ve seen him before, too, north of here. -He—”</p> - -<p>“Sure he’s a German?” asked the M. P. -Clem had said no word and seemed to wish -to avoid acknowledging Don. The M. P. -turned to Clem.</p> - -<p>“Say, Corp, if you know this spy we’d -better be getting on. That’s the orders. -The P. C. told you to get these fellows.”</p> - -<p>Corporal Stapley turned slowly to reply. -“Ask you informant here how he came to -discover these Germans.”</p> - -<p>“Ask him yourself,” retorted the M. P.</p> - -<p>“Look here, Clem, don’t be a fool—twice!” -Don blurted, angrily. “This is big business -and allows for no petty child’s play.”</p> - -<p>“How did you get on to them?” Clem -deigned to ask, then. And Don briefly related -the adventure with the two signalers back -of the Mondidier front and then told of the -incident just past.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t hold them,” remarked Clem. -“Fool trick. I guess you’re better when -you’ve got another that’s some account<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -backing you. Let them get away! Fierce! -Poor work!”</p> - -<p>“Hey, yo’ white fellah, hit ain’t so!” -Wash put in, angrily. “Yu ain’t in yo’ -right min’, Ah reckon. Wha’d yu done ef -yu’d ben thar?”</p> - -<p>Clem paid no attention, but asked another -question. “Did they scare you very much?”</p> - -<p>Don, though hurt at his townsman’s words, -decided to let them pass; he merely waved -his hand up the road, but Wash was more -than game.</p> - -<p>“Mah boss ain’t gittin’ scairt at nuthin’, -yo’ white fellah! Ah bet yu can’t scare him. -Dis yer same German spy fit wif mah boss -up yon furder no’th an’ mah boss jes’ up en’ -kilt dis German man’s pardner, kilt him -daid! Major Little of the evac. horspittle -he done tol’ me ’bout hit. Dey ain’t no -po’ white German what kin scare mah boss!”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Wash. But this gentleman -won’t believe—”</p> - -<p>“Well, you sassy nigger, how then did -this spy get away?”</p> - -<p>“Come, come, Corporal! This looks silly -to me. Let us be going on, or that spy will -get away from us.”</p> - -<p>“Good luck to you, Mister Policeman,” -said Don, and started his car again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> - -<p>Don and Wash put in the rest of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘the day everhauling’">the day -overhauling</ins> the ambulance. Early in the -evening they were again on the road to -Château-Thierry and witnessing a sight most -depressing.</p> - -<p>The French were in retreat—constantly -falling back. The retirement was orderly. -There was no rout, no apparent hurrying -and, from the din of battle ahead, it was -plain that every foot of advance that the -enemy made was bitterly contested. Yet -the Huns were gaining, as they had been -for five days and for nearly thirty miles, -encompassing an area of six hundred square -miles in this drive. Success seemed to be -written on their banners in this, the greatest -effort of all. Thus they forced a deep wedge -into the Allied line, the farthermost point -of which had reached the town of Château-Thierry. -And in the succeeding days what -more would they gain?</p> - -<p>Back, and farther back were swept the -French, and the Huns were elated. The -blue-and-red clad troops who had fought -them so savagely were now no match for -the vast numbers of chosen shock troops. -Was there no means by which the boches -could be checked?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> - -<p>“By cracky, Wash, it looks as if these -French had pretty nearly enough of it! -I don’t believe they have, though. But if -they keep on coming this way we’ll have -to look sharp, or we’ll run into a lot of Huns.”</p> - -<p>“Ah doan, want tuh run into no sich!” -declared Wash. “Dey eats sauerkraut an’ -dis yere what dey calls limberburg cheese—an’ -oxcuse <em>me</em>!”</p> - -<p>Beyond LaFerté the boys met platoons, -companies, regiments, even battalions, or -at least remnants of them, and all along the -line more than a mile each side of Château-Thierry -the falling back was <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘certain and reggular’">certain and regular</ins>.</p> - -<p>Then, suddenly, almost as though dropped -from the sky, came the Americans. From -long distances in the rear and without stopping -to rest from their arduous journey, -the Yanks eagerly faced the Huns, and -foremost among these cheerful, singing, jesting -troops from overseas were the marines, -leaving their train of parked lorries not far -from LaFerté and coming up on foot.</p> - -<p>The German High Command had received -intelligence of the French handing the defense -of this line nearest Paris over to the Yanks, -and the word had come to the invaders:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -“Go through these untrained Americans like -a knife through cheese!” It is said that this -was General Ludendorff’s pet phrase.</p> - -<p>The Americans took up their positions -along the southern bank of the Marne and -beyond in the hills. Then night came on. -The enemy was too confident of a sweeping -victory on the morrow to give serious thought -to night attacks. Beyond a few minor skirmishes -and some artillery firing, the hours -of darkness passed uneventfully.</p> - -<p>That night Don and Wash slept in their -car, not far from the Château-Thierry road -and within a short distance of some American -regulars placed in reserve. Seeing the boys’ -fire, a few officers came over to talk. They -were much interested in Don, and amused -at Wash and his lingo. They also were free -with certain information and opinions. One -first-lieutenant who had most to say remarked:</p> - -<p>“Well, we’ve got a job on our hands -tomorrow, but we’ll do it! These Frenchies -are good fellows and good scrappers, but -they have to follow fixed methods of fighting. -This is not the American way. I say hang -this trench business, pot shots, grenades, -flares, sniping and all that!”</p> - -<p>“Like to have a little of it kind of Indian -fashion, eh?” suggested Don.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - -<p>“That’s it, my boy! Go right after them—rifle, -bayonet and pistol!”</p> - -<p>“I hear our commander told the generalissimo -that we wanted to fight this in our -own way,” offered a young second-lieutenant.</p> - -<p>“That’s right. As soon as Foch said we -might try, Pershing told him we could stop -the Heinies, but we didn’t want to follow -the methods commonly in use. We wanted -to go at them American fashion. So, those -are the orders. And, believe me, we’ll stop -them all right!”</p> - -<p>“Pretty sure of it?” queried Don.</p> - -<p>“Certain, my boy; certain! How do you -feel about it, Rastus!”</p> - -<p>“Ah feels dis a-way ’bout hit:” answered -Wash. “Whichaway a white man wants -tuh fight Ah sez let him fight an’ same way -wif a niggah. Some goes at it wif fis’ en’ -some wif a razzor, but fo’ me lemme butt -wif mah haid. Ah kin put mah weight back -o’ dis ol’ bean o’ mine en’ make a dant in a -grin’ stone wif it!”</p> - -<p>“Say, Rastus, go butt a Hun!”</p> - -<p>“Show me one, boss; show me one! A -ain’t seed one yit what wants tuh fight. -Ah on’y heerd tell of ’em.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Yanks</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Ask Corporal Stapley to report here, -Sergeant.” A bluff Irishman, late -of the regular army and now attached -to the marines for his experience, saluted -his Captain and turned to obey. A few -minutes later he returned with the non-com.</p> - -<p>“What luck, Stapley?” asked the Captain.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t find them, sir,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“That’s bad. Made every effort, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“We did, indeed. Jennings, of the Police, -was with us and we scoured around thoroughly. -A Red Cross ambulance is pretty -easy to spot and we landed half a dozen, -but they were all O. K.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t the least idea where those fellows -could have gone?”</p> - -<p>“Not the least. Case of mysterious disappearance. -We thought they might have -gone back to the base and we telephoned -there to be on the lookout for them, and you -may wager they are. We called from LaFerté<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -again later, but they hadn’t seen them. -Jennings ’phoned both the Meaux and Paris -police to be on the watch.”</p> - -<p>“Unfortunate. Well, you did all you could. -Say, a little more personally: I see, by -the records, that you are a Brighton Academy -boy; is that right?”</p> - -<p>“I am; class of 1919, but I don’t know -what year we’ll get through now.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let us hope it is not deferred. -Then college, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I guess so.”</p> - -<p>“Brighton is a fine school. It was my -prep. school, too. I liked it immensely. -Good teachers, good courses, fine halls, splendid -library, superb athletic field.”</p> - -<p>“I’m awfully glad to know you went there, -Captain. A good many of our fellows are -over here, or were in the service somewhere. -There’s Herb Whitcomb—he’s up in Flanders, -or was—and Roy Flynn, invalided home, -I believe. Some of the fellows are with the -flying force—two of my class, Jimmy Hill -and Dick Mann. Three of the older fellows, -two classes ahead of me, went into the navy. -Ted Wainwright and Jack Harris did, too, -and are on a submarine. Old Brighton did -its share!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, and I heard of another from the -school; he’s a Red Cross ambulance driver; -forget his name now. Only a youngster, -but doing some great work. A yarn went -around our camp about his landing on a -couple of German spies and killing one -of them. They said the boy had his own -sporting rifle. Must be some plucky kid! -Know him?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I do,” evaded Clem.</p> - -<p>“Well, what I wanted to say is this: -We go into action in the morning. The -advance will be in formation by platoons. -The units will keep together at first, but -what will happen later, how much we shall -become separated, no one can tell. I am going -to keep an eye on you. If anything happens -I’ll do all in my power And I’m going to -ask you, as an old Brighton boy, to do the -same for me. Somehow, you know I feel -as though it might be—that is, you see, -there will be hard fighting and a great number -of casualties and we must all do our best. -We’ve got to make good and we shall. But -some of us—I’m afraid a good many of -us—won’t come out of it—won’t live to see -the result. Here’s my card, Stapley—my -home address. My wife would like to know -if—you understand.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, I understand, Captain. You may -trust me.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Stapley. Hope you get along -well at old Brighton when you get back. -Good luck! Taps will sound in about half -an hour. Sorry you didn’t find those spies. -They may turn up yet.”</p> - -<p>The young corporal left the spot and went -to where his own platoon was bivouacked. -The men, officers and all, slept scattered -on the ground, to avoid casualties from -stray shells. Each man had a blanket and -poncho and though the temperature was low -for June, the nights being chilly, it -ideal camping weather for men long hardened -to it. Some of the toughest fellows had no -more than thrown a corner of the blanket -across their shoulders, sleeping in their clothes -and removing only their shoes. It was -the order to do this, as marching feet need an -airing and, better, a dabble in cool water. -A little stream ran near by and one might -safely wager, where it emptied into the -Marne, the water that night ran black with -the soil of France.</p> - -<p>Morning dawned clear and breezy. Shortly -after reveille, a messenger arrived from the -American headquarters and another from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -the French Field Staff. Half an hour later -the two regiments of marines, moving like -one man, were marching straight across -country a little to the northwest of Château-Thierry. -It was the intention to drive the -Huns out of their threatening positions in -the hills where they were concentrating troops -and artillery, mostly machine-gun units. A -brigade also of the Third Division U. S. -Regulars, moved forward at nearly the same -time in support of the marines, if needed.</p> - -<p>No prettier sight could be imagined than -those long lines of soldiers, over two thousand -in number, sweeping forward. They had been -called “the Matchless Marines” and by -another equally expressive, <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘though homlier’">though homelier</ins> -name, “the Leathernecks.” Picked men, -every one of them chosen with regard to -his athletic and probable fighting ability, -they could but live up to the standards set -for them by their predecessors in the same -force, adhering always to the maxims that -“the marines never retreat” and that “they -hold what they’ve got.”</p> - -<p>The peeping sun shone upon their brown -uniforms and glistened on their bayoneted -guns, as they moved through waving grass -and over fields of yellowing grain. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -was no sound of drum or fife. No band -played martial music—that is not the custom -when a modern army goes against the enemy—but -here and there along those steady, -triple lines could be heard laughter, snatches -of song, the voice of some wag bantering -his fellows.</p> - -<p>The orders to the commanding general -of the division ran something like this: -Rout the enemy from the village of Bouresches. -Break up the machine-gun and artillery -positions in Belleau Woods and if possible -capture Hill No. 165. Consolidate -positions at these points and south of the -village of Torcy and hold them.</p> - -<p>It was evident that the commander-in-chief -depended fully on “the Leathernecks” -and felt confident that they would do as -ordered, although they had before them -a large undertaking. It was known that the -Germans had two divisions of picked troops -at this point, with still another division in -reserve.</p> - -<p>There was double reason for this confidence. -The Americans had already been performing -most creditably within the sector about -Château-Thierry. A few days before a strong -detachment of American regular troops had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -withstood an attack of the enemy at Veuilly -Wood, nine miles north of the Marne, and -had driven them back. The day following -a detachment of machine gunners had held -the approaches to the bridges across the -Marne, connecting the north and the south -towns of Château-Thierry itself and prevented -the Huns from crossing, while a battalion -of Americans, supporting French artillery -that was pounding the Huns in the northern -end of the town, captured and wiped out -more than their number of Germans who had -managed to gain the south bank by pontoons. -On the same day the Third and Twenty-eighth -Divisions of U. S. regulars, commanded -by a French officer, had defeated the enemy -in his attempt to make a crossing of the -Marne at Jaulgonne, a few miles east of -Château-Thierry, and had driven him back -to his former positions. But all these battles, -relatively small actions in themselves, had -been fought according to European methods, -and had been directed by French generals -and aided by French infantry and artillery.</p> - -<p>The action now about to take place was -to be that of the Americans alone, under -American staff direction, and the boys were -going into it tickled with the idea of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -allowed in their own way to get a whack -at the Huns.</p> - -<p>Corporal Stapley, as he trudged along -with his squad, thought of a good many -things of a rather solemn nature, though -not once did he permit a hint of this to bother -his fellows. The next in line was a wag -named Giddings, but Clem noted that the -youth was very quiet now, and that his -face was pale. With a laugh Clem turned -to the fellow: “Say, Gid, it’s a fine day for -this little picnic.”</p> - -<p>“Wonder when the strawberries and ice -cream will be served,” Giddings remarked -and Clem knew that no matter how the -young man really felt he was game. The -corporal glanced down the line; there were -other pale faces and set lips, but there were -also smiles and laughter. One man struck -up a song, with words and music <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">ad libitum</i>:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> -<p class="verse">“Where do we go from here, boys,</p> -<p class="verse">Where do we go from here?</p> -<p class="verse">To punch the Hun</p> -<p class="verse">Like a son-of-a-gun.</p> -<p class="verse">It’ll be some fun</p> -<p class="verse">To make him run</p> -<p class="verse">And get his bun</p> -<p class="verse">And take his mon.</p> -<p class="verse">Oh, hi, yi, that’s where we’ll go from here!”</p> -</div></div> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> -<p>Some joined in. Laughter broke out down -the line. One chap began to whistle the -Sailor’s Hornpipe and another, in a deep -bass voice, tried to put impromptu words -to it, after the manner of the popular version -concerning “de debbil,” but without much -poetic success:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> -<p class="verse">“Did you ever see the Heinie</p> -<p class="verse">With his skin all black and spiny</p> -<p class="verse">A-diggin’ in the trenches</p> -<p class="verse">With his big toe nail?”</p> -</div></div> - -<p>And another laugh followed, but it was cut -short by a shell which tore through the air -only a little above the heads of the men, -and exploded not a hundred feet behind the -last line. It was immediately followed by -a second that landed about the same distance -from the front of the first line and ricocheted, -turning and twisting, then lying still—not -ten steps ahead of the line. There was a -little squirming, and two fellows were obliged -to step almost over the menacing thing. -Pulling down their steel helmets and lowering -their heads, they veered apart, while some -arms went up in front of faces and eyes. -But the shell proved a “dud.” Had it exploded -it would doubtless have sent half a dozen -boys to the graveyard and the hospital.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> - -<p>“One back and one front and the next -one—”</p> - -<p>“A clean miss!” shouted Clem.</p> - -<p>The words were no more than said when -his prediction came true. The shell went -high and wide. But that which immediately -followed was of a far more deadly character -than shells. Shrapnel and whiz-bangs could -not cover the ground, but it seemed as though -the rain of machine-gun bullets that suddenly -swept down from the thickets and rocks -of the great hillside which loomed ahead -must reach every inch of space.</p> - -<p>“Double quick! Charge!” came the order, -echoed from mouth to mouth by under-officers -and still, like one man, that khaki-clad -host went at it on the run. Every man -saw that the more quickly the work was done -the better chances he and his fellows had for -surviving that leaden hail.</p> - -<p>“Smash ’em! Tear ’em to pieces!” Clem -found himself yelling again and again and -he heard <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘similiar shouts’">similar shouts</ins> on all sides of him.</p> - -<p>“Give ’em ballyhoo!” howled young Giddings.</p> - -<p>And they did—if that expresses something -like annihilation! Before the Huns could -do more than fire a round or two from a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -score of well-placed machine-guns on the -hillside the marines, like waves of avenging -devils, were upon them with a fury that -those long-practised death-dealers of the -Fatherland had not before experienced and -totally unprepared for. They were used to -seeing their accurate shooting from such an -array of fire-spitters stop their enemies and -drive them back but no such result was in -evidence now.</p> - -<p>Many of the Huns broke and ran, some -tried to hide, some threw up their hands -and shouted: “Kamerad! Kamerad!” A -few stuck to their guns until overpowered, -and died fighting. Many, threatened with -the bayonet, surrendered at once. And the -marines went yelling on, overtaking the -fleeing Germans, stabbing to death, shooting -or clubbing with rifles those who still resisted. -Breaking up the machine-gun nests, they -rounded up the prisoners until the hillside -was entirely in American hands. Then the -Yanks halted and sought shelter from the -German artillery which now began to throw -shells upon the eastern and northern side -of the hill from enemy positions beyond. -On the southwestern slope, where they were -out of danger from this fire, the victorious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -regiments re-formed for further duty, bringing -in all scattered units and trying to count -the cost.</p> - -<p>The taking of the hill had not been entirely -one-sided, except in the matter of a victory. -The machine-gunners had been placed in -position to hold this strategic bit of ground -and to make it hot for those who attempted -to take it from them, and they were past -masters at that sort of thing. The reception -they gave the marines exacted a heavy toll.</p> - -<p>Following fast upon the heels of the men -from overseas came the wonderfully efficient -American Red Cross. Ambulances rushed -across the fields, many of carrying capacity -only, a few fitted up for field dressing stations. -Doctors and nurses, braving the enemy shells, -attended the most urgent cases only, sending -the majority back to the newly established -evacuation hospitals which had, within two -days, supplanted those of the overtaxed -French, or to the bases that also had moved -nearer this fighting front.</p> - -<p>And so everywhere on the hillside up which -the marines had so gloriously charged, the -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> moved with their stretchers, -rapidly bringing away the wounded, whether -friend or foe. And the officers who were still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -on duty went about among the men, detailing -squads here and there for burial duty and -to help and comfort their unfortunate companions. -It was the work of a little more -than two hours.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Victory</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Clem Stapley stood leaning on his -rifle gazing far away over the green -fields and woodlands of that beautiful, -rolling country, not unlike his own homeland. -The boy’s thoughts were filled with memories, -the reaction from the strenuous experiences -of the minutes just past caused him to sway -a little on his feet. His company’s second-lieutenant, -passing near, turned and look -into the boy’s pale face.</p> - -<p>“Hurt eh? Can you walk? Better get -back—”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. No! Only a trifle. A scratch -on the arm; spent bullet went up my sleeve -like one of those black ants. I shook it out.”</p> - -<p>“Let me see,” ordered the officer. Clem -bared his arm and showed a long white -and blue welt from wrist to elbow. On the -fleshy part the skin had broken, and blood -was trickling down.</p> - -<p>“Go get it bandaged.”</p> - -<p>“I can do it, if someone—”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Help him, Terry. Get his jacket and -shirt off. Use a little iodine. You’ll be -all right.”</p> - -<p>“Are we going on, sir, soon?” Clem asked.</p> - -<p>“Very soon. To the village over the next -rise, about three miles from here. Bouresches -they call it.”</p> - -<p>“I want to find my squad and tell them -about poor Giddings. Have you seen my -Captain?”</p> - -<p>“Dead. At the bottom of the hill. Lieutenant -Wells, too. I am in command now. -Was Giddings—?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Went down while he was getting -off a joke about a Hun who was yelling -for mercy. When we turned to let some -others of a gun crew have it—they had -their gun trained on us—a brute fired at -Giddings at about five steps. But I got -the skunk with the bayonet and then Davidson -and I went on and got two of the other -gun-crew. The others of both crews surrendered; -Jones’ squad, coming up, took -them in. Then I got hit.”</p> - -<p>A bugle call echoed sweetly along the -slope. A sergeant came running up the -hill, calling right and left to officers. He -passed the lieutenant and Clem.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Orders from the General. Form quick -in place in the road due south of the hill. -Headquarters down there now. Enemy attack -from the east. We are to hold support -positions.”</p> - -<p>Again and again the bugle call sounded -from the road. There was some lively running -about and falling in. Then once more, -in broken formations, the marines descended -and under rapid orders lined up, partly -along this old road, behind a low bank, -and somewhat sheltered by a row of trees. -Some of the regulars came up and formed -beyond, in the same line. The rest were -held in reserve farther back. At the left -some regiments of French infantry stretched -the line, making a front of about two miles. -Fully half a mile to the east a French division -occupied the first line facing the enemy -positions.</p> - -<p>Corporal Clem’s arm hurt considerably. -A member of his squad had treated and -bandaged it with materials out of a first aid -kit. But the wound was becoming more and -more painful, and his arm began to stiffen. -He could not understand why he should -feel sick at the stomach and hungry at the -same time. The “Leathernecks” had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -eaten since breakfast, and it was now well -on in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>Clem looked about him, for misery loves -company. There were wide gaps in the line, -though that was anything but comforting. -It was horribly depressing to think that -some of these cronies, jolly good fellows -all, would now be dumped under the sod, -and that others were never more to walk, -nor to know the joy of health. Perhaps -some would never see nor hear again. Many -less seriously injured would bear scars all -their lives.</p> - -<p>Martin there, formerly next in line to -Giddings, and now next to Clem, had his -head elaborately done up in two-inch bandages. -Replying to a question he said, -jovially:</p> - -<p>“When I get back to God’s country, -I am going to take this old pan of a hat, -hang it up in the prettiest place in the best -room in the house and keep it covered with -fresh flowers. Why? The darned old thing -saved my life. I wouldn’t ’a’ had any bean -left if this inverted wash basin thing hadn’t -been covering it.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Giddings always had a pick at his -helmet,” remarked Clem. “He used to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -that just a hat wasn’t much good and that -what a man wants in this war is a suit of -armor made out of stove plates. In his -case he was about right.”</p> - -<p>“But wrong in mine,” said Martin.</p> - -<p>“Say, what’s doing, Sarge?” asked a private -of the non-com in the next squad, who now -stood next to Clem in the line-up.</p> - -<p>“The Heinies are going to make a push -here, I believe,” was the answer.</p> - -<p>“When?”</p> - -<p>“Pretty soon. Guess we’ll hear the barrage -laid down first. But maybe they think they’re -strong enough to rush us without that.”</p> - -<p>“Hope they do. It’s more lively. I don’t -like them barrages. Make me think o’ my -old uncle across the pond. He’s one o’ those -bear hunters. Sez he’d a heap rather fight -a bear than a hive o’ bees; you can see the -bear.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o! Here, too! You can stick a -bayonet into a Hun, but you can’t even -dodge these here mowin’-machine bullets.”</p> - -<p>“Listen, fellows!” Clem held up his hand.</p> - -<p>A distant shot, another, several, a dozen, -a thousand, crack, bang, boom, as though -all the Fourth of July celebrations that ever -had been and ever would be had been turned -loose at once.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> - -<p>“She’s on, boys! And there’ll be a lot -of ricocheting bullets coming this far—so -look out for them!” So spoke the lieutenant, -now commander of Clem’s company, as he -walked up and down the line.</p> - -<p>The sergeant next to Clem turned to the -officer.</p> - -<p>“Do you think the Frogeaters can hold -them, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Doubt it. They say the Huns outnumber -them three to one. And they mean to drive -right through to the Compiègne road. So -it’s up to us to stop them, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll try hard, lieutenant,” Clem offered.</p> - -<p>Within twenty minutes the roar of the -barrage ceased as suddenly as it began. -Then came a lull, followed by the rattle -of small arms which, at the distance, sounded -much like a lot of youngsters cracking hickory -nuts. Within half an hour after this the -expected happened. For the tired and greatly -outnumbered French, fighting savagely, had -failed to stem the Hun tide and began to -give way before it. Some retreated a little -too late and these were quickly surrounded -and taken prisoner, to suffer tortures in -German detention camps for many a long -day. The wounded were hurried to the rear.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -As the dressing stations to the extreme -right of the support line became congested -those set up in sheltered positions directly -behind the hill were called on for duty. -Then the many ambulances of the United -States army, French army and American Red -Cross dashed through the line of marines, -and around the base of the hill.</p> - -<p>It was at once a solemn and a cheering -sight. However horrible this war of science -and ingenuity had become, it reacted in -greater humanity than has ever been known.</p> - -<p>The sound of an automobile horn in front -caused Clem to look up and he was almost -face to face with Don Richards. The younger -lad was about to look away, but he quickly -chose to salute his townsman. The corporal -nodded stiffly as Don passed on.</p> - -<p>The sound of rifle fire interspersed with -the cloth-ripping noise of machine-guns and -the detonation of heavier artillery, began -to come nearer. A company of French -infantry, marching in perfect order, but -in quick time, appeared in the distance. -It wheeled sharply and passed to the south, -around the extreme right of the Americans. -In a few minutes it was followed by other -and larger contingents, a regiment in part,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -with great gaps in its ranks, a battalion of -machine gunners, each squad with its wicked -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mitrailleuse</i>, ammunition handcarts, more -infantry and still more until very soon they -had thinned out to scattered and broken -units, often without officers. Many of these -came up and passed through the American -lines.</p> - -<p>The expressions on the faces of these French -soldiers told of varied emotions. Some were -morose, angry, or despairing. Others laughed -and jested. Some smiled and wore an air -of undying confidence. Clem had learned -too little French so far to understand their -rapid utterances, but the lieutenant stood -near him, talking with a French subaltern -who spoke excellent English and who began -to question the retreating soldiers. There -was a nasal babble and then the translation, -with some remarks, to the lieutenant. Clem -easily caught much of it.</p> - -<p>“He says the enemy was too strong for -them; that there must be half a million -men. But I think that an exaggeration.”</p> - -<p>“This fellow says that the enemy came -at them, swarming like ants. It is no use, -he says, to try to check them now; they -are irresistible.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - -<p>“This man declares that they are many, -but they are not overwhelming, and that if -the retreat had not been ordered we could -have held the enemy awhile.”</p> - -<p>“He says that it is no use to try to stop -them—they come like a tidal wave.”</p> - -<p>“This fellow hopes you Americans may -stop them.”</p> - -<p>“He says if there had only been a few more -of us we could have stopped them.”</p> - -<p>“Here is one who insists that Paris is -doomed, and all is lost. But, you see, his -companion was killed by his side.”</p> - -<p>The officers moved rapidly away and then, -almost suddenly, there was an end of the -retreating French. The ambulances also had -ceased in their errands of mercy over the -ground ahead. A strange hush fell upon -everything but the forces of nature. The -breeze toyed with the wheat. Birds sang -blithely; across the fields a cow was lowing, -a poor creature, perhaps that a farmer who -had suddenly vacated his home before the -oncoming Huns, had failed to drive along -toward the west.</p> - -<p>The lieutenant passed along the line again, -speaking to his men. He was a young man, -tall, with fine square shoulders, a firm jaw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -and a pleasant voice—every inch a soldier. -He paused a moment and said to Clem:</p> - -<p>“Your arm is better now? Well, try to -think it is. You’ll need it. I hope it won’t -interfere with your sleep tonight.” Then -to the sergeant, in answer to a question: -“Yes, they’re coming; re-forming first. There -are enough of them to make us sit up and -take notice. Three divisions to our one and -a half. I don’t think any of us will take a -nap during the next hour or so. But, remember, -we’ve got to give them all there is in -us! Keep cautioning your men to shoot low, -to keep their heads, see their hind-sights, -and try to hit what they aim at. It will -be just like target practice, boys; only more -so. Every time you score means that’s -one less chance of your being scored on.”</p> - -<p>Anticipation often goes reality “one better,” -to use a betting phrase. The waiting for the -expected battle was most irksome—nerve-racking -to some. It cannot be a joyful -thing to contemplate the killing of human -beings, even though they are bent on killing. -Upon such occasions minutes drag by like -hours. It is an actual relief when the end -of the suspense is at hand.</p> - -<p>Clem glanced at his wrist watch—it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -4:45. The enemy could be seen now in the -distance, advancing steadily. They were -coming on in mass formation straight across -the waving wheat that the retreating French -had avoided trampling down. The Huns -gloried in this destruction. They were going -to make this place a shambles with dying -and dead when they should occupy this -region. They would turn it into a desert of -burned homes, felled trees, girdled orchards, -ruined villages and looted factories—as all -the territory they had thus far occupied had -been desolated.</p> - -<p>“Cut loose, boys! The range is nearly -flat. Don’t fire too high. Now, then, every -man for himself!” Thus ran the orders -along the line and the crack of the rifles -this time meant more to the advancing -Germans than ever before. The French -subaltern, sent to observe the behavior of -the Americans went into ecstasies after the -manner of his race. With eyes sticking -out so far that there was danger of his butting -into something and knocking them off, he -watched the “Leathernecks” in long-range -rifle action awhile; then he hurried back -to his staff. Shortly he was back again with -some higher officers of the French supporting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -line, and their enthusiasm was unbounded. -The subaltern translated liberally:</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Voila!</i> Your men shoot! <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Sacre!</i> They are -deliberate! They see their sights! They -hit the mark! The Huns stop—they waver! -Ah, they come on again! True they are -brave men! And they obey their officers—also -brave men! But behold again! The front -rank is down, gone! What say you? Yes, -wiped out! And still they come again? -Ah now, it is too much. They lose all if -they remain. Behold, they break! They -retreat! They hide in the wheat! They -creep away!”</p> - -<p>“Cut that wheat all to pieces, boys! -Don’t let any of them get away!” ordered -the lieutenant, repeating a common order -and it was just what the marines were doing.</p> - -<p>Clem, with a hot gun, turned a moment -to speak to the officer. “Are our machine-gun -crews at work?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes, over there by that clump of trees. -I never saw those lads do better work. I -think those Huns have about enough. We -win!”</p> - -<p>“Any of our boys hurt?” asked the sergeant.</p> - -<p>“A machine-gun crew of the enemy concentrated -on one part of our right and did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -some damage,” said the officer. “Two of -their shrapnel burst among the doughboys -to the south, I hear. Otherwise, I believe—”</p> - -<p>“Nobody got hit here,” asserted the sergeant.</p> - -<p>“They didn’t think it worth while to lay -down a second barrage and their infantry -hardly fired a shot,” laughed the officer.</p> - -<p>“Got badly fooled,” said the sergeant. -“Why don’t we go after them now?”</p> - -<p>“I suppose our commander thinks they’re -whipped enough and there are Hun batteries -to the east of the hill that must be dislodged -first. Hello, another air scrap is going to -be pulled off!”</p> - -<p>Five German planes were coming along, -pretty low and in line, their evident intention -being to seek revenge by bombing the line -of “Leathernecks.” But four French battle-planes -swept over to meet them, one fellow -swooping low to cheer the marines for their -splendid work. Two German fighting -machines were high overhead in support -of the big bombing planes.</p> - -<p>The French and American light fieldpieces -got busy and made it so hot for the -foremost plane that it turned and retreated, -trying to come back higher up. But by that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -time the French planes had driven the others -back, sending one down in flames behind -the German lines. The guns turned their -attention to smashing a German battery -going into position beyond the wheat field -and performed this duty admirably, dismounting -all of the three German guns and -killing every man with them. The Hun -battle-planes, refusing to fight and retreating, -had given two of the French planes a chance -to signal the range to Allied batteries.</p> - -<p>The day was fast coming to a close. When -the marines and their supporters had broken -ranks and bivouacked for the night Corporal -Stapley went to the commanding officer -of his company and asked if he might go -over to the hill and visit the captain’s grave.</p> - -<p>“He was an old Brighton boy and that -is my school,” Clem said, “and he asked -me if I would tell his wife, if anything happened -to him. I thought I should like to -write her—all that she would care to know.”</p> - -<p>“Go ahead, Stapley; that’s a noble purpose. -I’ll give you a note to enclose, saying -how much we appreciated him and how -bravely he met his fate. Take one of the men -with you—some fellow that specially liked -the captain. Get back at dark.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Bushwhacking</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">It was half a mile back to the southern -side of the hill where the bloody engagement -of the morning had taken place -and a like distance to the little plot of ground -in the corner of a field where some of the -American dead were buried. Clem and Private -Martin easily found the captain’s resting-place.</p> - -<p>Some sappers were still at work, and a -slightly wounded staff-officer of the marines -had been detailed to keep record of the -burials. One fellow, his identification number -and all papers about his person missing, -had not been recognized nor interred. On -the way back Clem glanced down at this -unfortunate.</p> - -<p>“It’s poor Giddings!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“What? Not that joker in your company?” -protested the officer.</p> - -<p>Clem nodded; Martin confirmed this. The -lads helped to lower their comrade into his -grave and stood with bowed heads during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -the brief reading of the burial service. Then -they went into the field near by and made -two wreaths of poppies and daisies to hang -on the wooden crosses over Giddings and the -captain.</p> - -<p>The shadows were growing long; the two -“Leathernecks” had quite a distance to -travel in the return to camp. For a little -way their road lay along the foot of the hill -around which a well beaten track had been -made by motor cars and artillery. Now -and then they were met by ambulances plying -between the dressing station west of the hill -and of the last battle-field where the marines -and regulars had repulsed the German -advance. Some of the cars detoured part -way up the hillside by a farm lane, on the -slopes to seek further for wounded that -might have been overlooked.</p> - -<p>The driver of a passing ambulance, returning -from the dressing station, offered to give -the boys a lift and they accepted gladly. -They ran on for less than a fourth of a mile -when something got out of order with a -spark plug which they stopped to replace, -just beyond the lane turning up the hill.</p> - -<p>“Be only a moment,” the driver said. -“I’ll get you fellows right by your camp in -ten minutes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Plenty of time!” both said and, while -Martin aided the driver a little, Clem walked -to an opening in the thicket and gazed up -to where, in the morning, he had seen such -bloody work with rifle, pistol and bayonet.</p> - -<p>Another ambulance came along the road. -It seemed to Clem that he had heard the -motor start somewhere back under the hill, -though there could be nothing strange in -that. There was an unusually large Red -Cross in its patch of white on the side of -the long, low car, and the machine glided -along as though it possessed great motive -force but was held down in speed. Two -men were in the seat. When the car reached -the lane it swung in and, without apparent -slowing, ascended the grade, stopping about -half way up. A few yards beyond it was an -army ambulance, its driver walking away -across the slope.</p> - -<p>Clem’s very brief glance at the driver -of the Red Cross car had caused him to start -and wonder. He hardly knew why he gazed -after the car with an unpleasant feeling, -and then, in order to watch its movements, -crossed the road and swung himself up on a -branch of a low tree.</p> - -<p>There were no other cars on the hill and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -apparently no other people, but the army -ambulance man. Clem was cogitating:</p> - -<p>“Now, can’t I think where? What had -Don Richards said only yesterday? Spies? -But would they dare again to come here -boldly and—” his thoughts were cut short.</p> - -<p>A man got down from the long, low car -and quickly went to the other machine. -He paused and looked about for a moment, -then raised the hood and seemed to be working -rapidly. He put down the hood and -returned. Then the Red Cross car moved -on rapidly up the hill to the far end of the -lane, where it turned across pasture ground -and veered about among the rocks and -thickets, stopping presently on the south-east -slope.</p> - -<p>“Fire and flinders! It is—it is!” exclaimed -Clem. “They wouldn’t dare to go so far -east and expose themselves to the guns -unless the Huns knew and approved of it.”</p> - -<p>The boy dropped to the ground and, -taking pad and pencil from his pocket, -wrote the following:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“I beg leave to report that I have this -moment discovered the Hun spies we were -after yesterday. They have gone to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -eastern side of Hill 165, probably to signal -the German lines, as reported before. I -also saw them disable an army ambulance. -Fearing to fail in their arrest, and confident -that I can accomplish this with the aid of -the ambulance man on the hill, I take the -liberty of delaying my return to post. Will -report as soon as possible.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span class="smcap">Clement Stapley</span>, Corporal.”<br /> -</p></div> - -<p>This sheet he folded, addressed, and handed -to his companion, Martin. The ambulance -had a new spark plug and was ready to -start.</p> - -<p>“Give this to the lieutenant as soon as -you get in,” Clem said. “Now, please don’t -ask any questions. I’m on an expedition -the captain ordered yesterday and the lieutenant -knows about it. You might tell him -I said so. And, by the way, got any extra -cartridges for your pistol? I might need -them. I left mine in my kit. Will pay you -back when I get back.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe I could help you,” began Martin, -but Clem backed off.</p> - -<p>“No; I can handle this. Nothing much. -When I come in I think you’ll see me bringing -some Heinies along—pretty soon, too.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> - -<p>Clem alone, hurried up the hill by the lane. -He had but one purpose. His mind was -singularly free from any thought of strategy -as he went straight to the seat of the trouble. -He meant simply to arrest these men and -prove their guilt afterward. He reached the -army ambulance and saw the driver returning -with a wounded man’s arm over his shoulder. -This soldier could walk, but he had been shot -through the shoulder and had lain unconscious -for a time in a shell hole, where he -was overlooked. Clem recognized him as a -member of his own company. The man -smiled and tried to salute.</p> - -<p>“Driver, I’ll help this man along. I think -when you look at your engine you’ll find -something wrong with it. I saw it done—from -the road down yonder.”</p> - -<p>The driver raised his engine hood. “Well, -I should say! Look at that; will you? Every -plug wire cut away and gone and the plugs -smashed. Do you know who did this?”</p> - -<p>“I think I can introduce you to the parties -responsible. They’re right up there on the -hill now,” Clem replied; then turned to -the wounded soldier. “We want to get -you in right away and—”</p> - -<p>“You let me rest here a bit, Corp. I won’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -be any worse off and you go and get those -devils. I bet they’re Heinies, drat ’em! -I’d like to know some more of them are -going the long road, even if I go the same.”</p> - -<p>“You’re going to be all right, man.”</p> - -<p>“Not on your life, Corp. Never. A fellow -always knows when he’s got his for good -and all!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t believe it,” said Clem. “We’ll take -you to the dressing station in that car of -theirs shortly, unless another ambulance -comes up here. Then you’d better go with -it. Now, then, Mr. Driver, you look pretty -husky. Feel like having a scrap?”</p> - -<p>“I could cut the heart out of the weasel -that disabled my car! That is if it was -just ‘rough-house.’ I expect he’s got a gun -with him.”</p> - -<p>“Likely enough—haven’t you?” asked -Clem.</p> - -<p>“Why yes—in the car—army pistol. But -I guess I’m not much at using it. I’m better -with a knife. It’s either the gun or me, but -I can’t hit a barn door up against it. I can -shoot with a real gun, though. I’ve hunted -and shot deer.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, bo, all you’ve got to do,” -suggested the wounded man, “is to chase<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -back to that shell hole and get my rifle. -She’s there; I forgot to fetch her. And she’s -a dandy old pill-slinger, too, believe me.”</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later the two young fellows -went up to the end of the lane and turned -sharply to the right, as Clem had seen the -suspected Red Cross car do. It was now -growing dusk, though the boys could easily -make their way across the field. Clem had -noticed a bunch of trees taller than those -around on the edge of the woods below the -summit of the hill, and that the top of one -of these trees was partly cut off and hanging: -the work of a shell. It was beyond this -spot that the spies’ car had stopped.</p> - -<p>“We’re getting there,” whispered the driver. -“The Heinies are liable to send some whiz-bangs -over here any time.”</p> - -<p>“I hardly think so while that fellow is -here,” Clem said. “We’ll see if I’m not -right pretty soon. We’ll have to risk it, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Go ahead; I’ve risked more than that -more than once.”</p> - -<p>“What is your name?”</p> - -<p>“Duncan. I’m from Maine. What’s -yours?”</p> - -<p>“Stapley. Marines. I’m from Pennsyl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>vania. -Go easy now; we’re getting up near -the place and they’ll likely be watching -out for somebody. Let’s wait until it’s a -little darker, then sneak up. I have a hunch -those chaps are on this side signaling information -to their friends over east.”</p> - -<p>The darkness grew thicker and gave way -to night. The watchers had found shelter, -both against possible German shells or -discovery, behind a boulder where they -crouched for several minutes. No shells -came that way, though the booming of cannon -not very far away to the east and northeast -showed that the Huns were awake and -replying to the constant cannonading of -the French and Americans. All around the -boys it was as quiet as any night in early -summer. Once, overhead, they heard the -call of a night bird and once the twitter of -some small feathered citizen disturbed in -its slumbers in a thicket. There was the -squeak of a mouse or shrew beneath the turf -almost at their feet. In a whisper that -could not have been heard twenty feet away -Clem told his companion what he suspected, -from his recollection of the doubtful ambulance -driver’s face and from Don Richards’ -brief account of the signaling near Mont<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>didier. -After what Clem had seen here and -the injury to the army ambulance, there -was enough to satisfy Duncan that they -had Hun spies to deal with.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to get up and take a look -round,” he said. “Going to be an old dead -tree; it’s a trick we Indians pull off to fool -moose. You see I’ve got a little Indian -blood in me. Fact. Proud of it.” And with -that Duncan crawled up on the boulder and -slowly stood up, his arms extended crookedly, -one held higher than the other. Thus he -remained for several minutes. Then he came -down, even more slowly.</p> - -<p>“Say, pard, you’ve got the dope. They’re -up there all right, about two hundred yards, -and they’re signaling. There’s a light going -up and down, bull’s eye, turned away, -but I could see the reflection on a rock.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we’re here to stop that and get -those fellows,” said Clem. “Shall we rush -them?”</p> - -<p>“No, no! We’d only give them a fine -chance to bore us full of holes. They don’t -want to be surprised, you can bet. But we -can stalk them, as we do bear on high ground, -and work the bird call so as to make them -think nobody’s around in our direction. -Are you on?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I am! Say, I guess you are Indian all -right. You lead off—and I’ll follow and do -just as you do, as near as I can.”</p> - -<p>“Only be careful where you put your -hands and knees. Don’t crack any sticks -nor roll any stones. Ready?”</p> - -<p>Clem wondered at first whether the method -would prove successful. It loomed up like -a large undertaking, considering the distance. -Would it not be better to just march right -up on the spies and trade gun-fire with them, -if need be? But the farther the boys progressed -the more Clem became convinced -that this was the only means of surprising -the enemy. The nature of the ground was -such that any one walking boldly up could -have been seen first by the spies, and held -up or shot. Fortunate, indeed, was it that -this fellow Duncan was on the hill. Truly -a wonderful chap when it came to this sort -of thing.</p> - -<p>Slowly they went, on hands and knees, -for another fifty feet or more, stopping every -little while to listen, and Duncan made a -soft twittering sound exactly like the little -bird in the thicket below. Presently he -rose cautiously to take a look and get the -bearings, after which he turned and put -his lips to Clem’s ear.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Man on watch about a hundred feet -from us, sitting on a rock. He don’t look -this way. I think I’d better edge off a little -and work around so as to come up on the -other chap, and you work up nearer this -one, behind the thicket. When I yell he’ll -turn and then you’ve got him. Wait till I -yell.”</p> - -<p>There is little doubt that this plan would -work out well. The German mind can not -cope in matters of woodcraft and ambush -with that of an American backwoodsman. -Duncan wormed himself away and Clem -could not detect a sound made in his progress. -Hardly more than fifteen minutes would be -required for him to gain his object, but in -less than five minutes a whistle sounded -up the hill. The watcher ran that way and -there was the buzz of a self-starter and the -whir of a motor. Before the bushwhackers -had time to collect their senses the long -car, with its lights on, was running back -across the field.</p> - -<p>Duncan joined Clem. “Rotten luck! But -glad you didn’t shoot. And say, they’ve -got to go slow over and around those rocks. -Can’t we head ’em off if we go down the hill -straight toward the foot of the lane? How’re -your legs?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’m with you!” announced Clem, and -together, with the easy, long-stepping lope -of the runner trained in the woods, the two -set off, leaping over the obstacles in their -way, dodging around boulders and thicket -patches, and making good time in spite of -the uneven ground.</p> - -<p>But they had not covered a third of the -distance and had several hundred yards yet -to go when they saw that the chase was -hopeless. The car had made far better time -than they had believed possible and when it -reached the head of the lane it turned and -shot like an arrow down the hill.</p> - -<p>The boys stopped and gazed in bitter -disappointment after the retreating foemen.</p> - -<p>“I wish we had sailed into them up yonder,” -Clem said.</p> - -<p>“Gettin’ shot ourselves would have been -worse than this,” Duncan argued.</p> - -<p>“Say, look, they’ve stopped! About where -your car is!” Clem exclaimed. “Maybe -we can—”</p> - -<p>Duncan raised the army rifle as though -to bring it into position for firing. “If it -wasn’t so blamed dark I could get ’em,” -he declared. “Anyway, I can make a try.” -But Clem stopped him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Hold on, man! You may hit the wounded -man there!”</p> - -<p>“Blazes! Never thought of it. Can’t -risk that. Couldn’t stop ’em, anyhow; not -in a million shots, with only their lights -to shoot at.”</p> - -<p>“There they go on again. We’re licked this -time,” Clem said, mournfully. “Come on; -let’s get back to the lane. I’ll help you make -that poor chap comfortable. Then I’ll go -down and try to get another ambulance. -I’ve got to get back to camp pretty soon. -Say, it’s going to be tough to have to admit -we couldn’t arrest those spies. It’s what -I stayed out for and sent word to the lieutenant -that I could do. He’ll be sore, and -Martin will rub it into me for a month. -Say, those spies have put out their lights -now.”</p> - -<p>Duncan mumbled something about their -running on with lights out to avoid being -recognized. He hoped they’d run into a -shell hole and break their blamed necks. -The young down-east woodsman was grievously -put out not to avenge himself on the -men who damaged his ambulance.</p> - -<p>Not another word was exchanged between -the two youths while they were crossing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -open ground to the lane. They reached and -turned down the well-worn road a little above -the ambulance.</p> - -<p>“He’s asleep, I guess,” Clem said, glancing -at the soldier lying on the cot that Duncan -had spread for him. The <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ambulancier</i> went -over and stooped down to look at or speak -to the wounded man. Then he straightened -up with a jerk and stepped back. Though -his nerves were of steel after the many bitter -experiences following battles, raids, artillery -fire and gas attacks, he must have had a -sharp prod at the sight that met him. It -is one thing to see men killed, maimed, blown -to pieces in fair fighting, but quite another -thing to find one foully murdered outside -of the area of fighting.</p> - -<p>“Killed!—stabbed! They’ve killed him! -Those—those devils!” His voice was thick -with rage.</p> - -<p>Clem could only weakly repeat part of -this—it was too horrible for mere words. -Instinctively they both turned to gaze down -the lane again toward where the spies had -fled. And suddenly, from the bottom of the -hill, the two bright lights of an approaching -ambulance glared at them ominously.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Bouresches</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Staplely and Duncan with their weapons -ready, waited, crouching. In their -agitation they had not observed other -ambulances coming along the road at the -foot of the hill and they did not doubt that -the spies, seeing no light and not suspecting -the return of the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ambulancier</i> whose car -they had broken and whose passenger they -had killed, might be returning perhaps to -lie in wait for him. They seemed to be -having things all their own way of late so -why should they not try to accomplish more?</p> - -<p>The glaring lights came nearer. The throbbing -motor had easily the better of hills -such as this. The seekers of a just revenge -tried to see who was on the driver’s seat -behind the lights—a difficult thing to do. -A voice caused their weapons to lower.</p> - -<p>“Reckon dis de place t’ stop. One amberlance -done quit gittin’ all het up, heah. -Yu kin turn her roun’ easy by backin’ into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -de fiel’ a ways, lessen yu hits a groun’hawg -hole er sumpin’.”</p> - -<p>“No groundhogs in this country, Wash. -We might hit a rock, though. Hello, you -fellows! Are you stuck?” This last addressed -to Duncan and Stapley who had risen and -come forward.</p> - -<p>If Clem felt any bitterness toward Don he -did not think of it now; there was too much -else to occupy his mind. But Don, leaping -to the ground instantly, seemed not to know -him. Duncan knew Don and at once began -to relate their experiences.</p> - -<p>“And you mean to say you fellows couldn’t -stop them? Let them get away up yonder -and murder this poor helpless soldier on the -way! And only yesterday this fellow,” with -a bend of his head he referred to Clem, -“rubbed it into me because—”</p> - -<p>“Well, that—that was dif—” began Clem.</p> - -<p>“Not a bit of it! But why parley? Duncan, -you and I can get busy. Those fellows are -down there yet, in the road just west of the -lane. They’re doing something to their car. -That’s twice I’ve run into them fixing it, -but I didn’t know them this time. Wash, -confound you, were you asleep? Why didn’t -you tell me—?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Sleep yuse’f! How’s I know—?”</p> - -<p>“Cut the comedy! Come on, if you’re -sure that was the spies,” Clem said.</p> - -<p>“Hold on! You’re not in this and they’ll -be there awhile, you can bet,” said Don. -“You fellows slipped up in your attempt -and this is my job. There’s one way to get -those chaps and that only, Duncan. Listen -to me—Wash, you get in back and lie low. -We two will get in on the front seat. We’ll -dim the lights and then go along singing -and let on we’re half tipsy until we get -right up to them. I’ll stop and ask them for -a drink and you turn the bull’s-eye on them -and if it’s the spies we’ll act quick; see?”</p> - -<p>“I’m going with you,” said Clem.</p> - -<p>“Not in my car,” Don retorted. But Clem -walked to Don’s ambulance and jumped in.</p> - -<p>“We can scrap afterwards, Richards; not -now. Come on—three are better than two.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so,” asserted Duncan.</p> - -<p>The plan was carried out as laid down. -With all their science and suspicions those -Hun spies had no idea of any such thing -being pulled off. Though three half-drunk -Yankees were an unusual sight, especially -in an ambulance, it was nothing to bother -about. To humor them and let them go on -was a simple matter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh, we won’t go home till evenin’!” -sang Clem.</p> - -<p>“Till mornin’, you blamed fool! D-don’t -ye know the words?” Don shouted, tickled -to give Clem a dig. “Aw, dry up an’ let -me sing it! Thish-a-way it goes: Oh, we -won’t get home till mornin’, till broad-s-say—.”</p> - -<p>With a grinding of brakes the ambulance -came to a sudden stop, almost even with the -long, low car by the roadside. “S-say,” -continued Don, “any—you blokes got a drink? -One good service man to another; eh, friend? -Just a little nip—you fellers are Red Cross, -ain’t you? Eh? Les’ see—. Hands up! -Both of you, quick! One move and you’re -dead men! Out, fellows, and put a rope on -them!”</p> - -<p>One of the spies, the weazen fellow, began -to protest in excellent English:</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by this? We haven’t -done anything to—.” But Duncan snatched -up a clump of grass roots and shoved it into -the fellow’s mouth. The other man cowered -back and tried at first to keep his face away -from the electric bull’s-eye Clem threw on -them. Through Duncan’s dexterity with -strong twine taken from Don’s toolbox,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -both men had their arms tied behind them -in a jiffy so that they winced with the pain.</p> - -<p>“Do you fellows think this is funny? -Let us loose, at once! We have no time for -jokes!” demanded the taller one, gazing at -Don’s revolver in a manner that showed he -knew it was no joke.</p> - -<p>“But you had time to play one of your -kind of jokes on that poor wounded soldier -up on the hill,” Clem returned and the thin -face of the spy grew ghastly white. “We -haven’t been up on the hill,” he asserted—but -another wad of grass-roots stopped his -talk also. Don took the bull’s-eye from Clem -and threw it into the tall man’s face.</p> - -<p>“Well, Stapley, I guess you know him; -don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“The fellow on the train, sure enough,” -Clem said.</p> - -<p>“Wonderful!” said Don. “You do have a -lucid flash now and then.” But before Clem -could reply Don began to enlighten the spy:</p> - -<p>“I guess you remember us back there in -America. We got off at Lofton, too. We got -your cronies, Shultz and the whiskered chap, -and I got your pard up near Montdidier.”</p> - -<p>Of course the man could make no reply. -Don continued:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Duncan, you can run my car, I guess. -You take these nice chaps into camp. In -about half an hour they’ll face a firing squad.”</p> - -<p>But Duncan shook his head. “What’s -in me has got to come out. I’m an ambulance -driver and working to save people—ours -and theirs, too—but that don’t say I don’t -just love gettin’ square more’n anything -else on this green earth! I told the corporal -here I have a little Indian in me. I have a -heap and it’s reached high mark right now. -It might get the corporal in trouble and it -may get me in trouble, but I reckon you’re -out of it, Richards. No matter; what I -want is to be the firing squad that fixes these -blood-smeared polecats. But I don’t want -to do it with a gun. You just leave it to me. -I’m goin’ to take ’em over here in this field -an’ stick a knife into—”</p> - -<p>“No, Duncan, you are not going to do -anything of the kind!” Don said in horror. -“I won’t consent to this being anything -irregular. You may go along and see them -shot, if you want to, but you can’t knife them. -Hold on there! Put that knife up, or I’m -going to shoot it out of your fingers. It -would just about break my heart to hurt -you, old man, because I know you’re good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -stuff, but don’t try that thing. Come, you’ve -got more white blood in you than Indian -and don’t imitate these Huns.”</p> - -<p>Duncan stood looking earnestly at Don -while he spoke. Then, without a word, -he put his long-bladed claspknife into his -pocket.</p> - -<p>“You take my car, because it’s surer than -this one, and get these chaps where they’ll -do no more harm. I’ll run their car and I’ll -have them send out for yours and fix it. -I hope they’ll let you get into the squad -that does the shooting.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to deprive you of your own -car,” Duncan said. It was easy to see that -the fellow was true-blue, even if an act -of savagery made his blood boil with desire -for personal revenge.</p> - -<p>“Your errand is more important than -mine,” Don continued. “Besides, I’m glad, for -Stapley and I would be sure to scrap on the -way. I’d have to rub it in about his letting -these men get away on the hill. And Stapley -can’t take anything from me good-naturedly. -He can explain to you later what he thinks -of me. I know already and I don’t care a -hoot. Come, Wash, climb out of there! -We’ve got to see if we can make this ramshackle -ambulance travel. So long, Duncan.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> - -<p>The military court gave the spies <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘short shift’">short -shrift</ins>. Duncan was one of the firing squad -that did quick executions. The army <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ambulancier</i> -then went his way. Before morning -he was again driving his own ambulance -and Don Richards’ car had been turned over -to him and the grinning Wash. Work on -Hill 165 had been finished.</p> - -<p>“The marines are going to try to take -Bouresches and Belleau Wood to-day, I -hear,” Don said to Duncan, as they met on -the road.</p> - -<p>“I wish I was in that bunch of real men,” -Duncan replied and passed on. That was -the last Don ever saw of the brave fellow, -for Duncan was shifted north of the Oise -River where another Hun drive seemed imminent, -as they were short of ambulances -in that sector.</p> - -<p>Don’s orders were to run in close to the -American fighting forces without too grave -risk, and if there was an advance, to keep -pretty near to it, as there would necessarily -be many casualties. As the Germans had -learned already to recognize the Yanks as -their most formidable foes, they were sending -some of their best troops to stop them.</p> - -<p>The Red Cross was showing splendid effi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>ciency -now. From stretcher bearers to dressing -stations, from its own evacuation hospitals -to ideally equipped bases and convalescent -camps, it was the model for all things -humane in warfare. Eager were its men and -women in doing their share of the arduous -and dangerous work, and proud, indeed, -those who were identified in any way with -its glorious efforts.</p> - -<p>“Drive the enemy from Bouresches and -Belleau Wood!” was the order from headquarters. -Again, as one man, the marines -went forward. The Huns must be taught -that their advance at the Château-Thierry -front was at an end.</p> - -<p>“Pound the enemy’s lines in Bouresches!” -came the order to the artillery as a forerunner -of the charge of the marines, and the -artillery pounded. Across the grain and -flowering fields marched the soldiers, -advancing in thin lines, one after the other, -the marines in the center and on either flank a -battalion of doughboys, regulars of the United -States army. This was the good old training -in American fighting methods: Advance on a -run and lie down, advance and lie down, -the front rank shooting all the while, and -when these fellows, who must bear the brunt -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>of the strong defense that the enemy was -making, were thinned out reinforcements -were rushed from the rear to fill up the -broken ranks.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a name="F-213" id="F-213"></a> -<img src="images/p213.jpg" width="700" alt="" /> -<br /><span class="smcap">They Went Right to Work Dislodging -the Huns from the Houses.</span> -</div> - -<p>In every conceivable point of shelter, -from every thicket, bit of woodland, hollow -or knoll around the village there were enemy -machine-gun units, with here and there larger -calibre quick-firing fieldpieces, sending a perfect -hail of lead and iron across the fields -at those ever-advancing boys in khaki.</p> - -<p>But it mattered little to the boys in khaki -how fast and furious came this death-dealing -rain of bullets, for they kept right on into -the village, and they went right to work -dislodging the Huns from the houses, using -rifle, hand-grenades, bayonets and pistols. -The enemy sought every means of protection; -they fortified themselves behind walls which -the American artillery had left standing, -or behind piles of débris the shelling had made. -They poked their rifles and machine-guns -out of windows, and cellar-entrances, and -down from roof tops. They made street -barriers of parts of ruined buildings, and thus -contested every inch of ground until the -Americans were upon them and when they -could no longer fight, they surrendered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -Some ran away while some went down -fighting, for they had been told it was better -to die than to be taken prisoner by the cruel -Americans.</p> - -<p>When the village of Bouresches was clean -of Huns, their artillery made it hot for the -conquerors. So marines and the doughboys -found it their turn to seek shelter. They -did this so well that after hours of shelling -they had hardly lost another man.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the troops not needed to defend -the village from counter-attacks of the enemy, -rapidly re-formed and turned to make the -first assault on Belleau Wood, a hill crowned -with a jungle of trees and thickets. This -stronghold of the enemy had for three days -proved impregnable. After the artillery had -hammered it a while, tearing to pieces half -the trees on its southern edge, a reorganized -regiment of marines made a final charge, -yelling like Indians, and gained the crest. -Then they swept through the forest, broke -up the enemy machine-gun nests and drove -nearly double their number of Huns out -of the place. This was the bloodiest hand-to-hand -fighting, for they had to use the -bayonet almost exclusively. Even at this -game the Americans proved themselves super<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>ior -to the enemy, not only man to man, but -when fighting in formation. Necessarily it -was a scattering fight, but it illustrated -the personal valor and intelligence of the -Yanks.</p> - -<p>Thus, on June 11, 1918, the German -strongholds at and near Château-Thierry sector -were captured, and their line pushed -back over three miles. Never again were the -Huns to advance, but always to retreat -until the war ended. They had, as it were, -run against a stone wall from the top of -which now floated the Stars and Stripes.</p> - -<p>Corporal Stapley had been among those -to charge into and capture Bouresches. He -had, of course, been in the ranks with his -platoon, dashing forward, dropping on the -ground, hearing the bullets sing above and -around him; then going on again, blinded to -everything but the mad desire to come up -with those machine-gun nests and to destroy -the men and guns which were trying so hard -to destroy him and his comrades. And -reach the positions of the gun nests they -did. But as some of Stapley’s squad charged -a group of six Huns pivoting a gun around -and working frantically with the mechanism, -Clem was aware that only three other men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -were with him. He dimly remembered seeing -one or two of them fall, and fail to get -up again. But there was no time to think -of this now. With bayonets leveled, his -comrades followed their fleet-footed corporal -and were upon the boches before they could -shoot. “Kamerad!” called out one fellow, -lifting high his hands, and the others, throwing -down their weapons, followed suit. -Another marine squad followed without an -officer. Clem took command of this also.</p> - -<p>“Two of you hold this bunch here! Kill -them if they get gay! Come on—the rest -of you!”</p> - -<p>They ran on. The houses of the village -were close at hand and in among these they -went. Two of the men had originally qualified -as grenade-throwers. Clem told them to -blow up anything that looked like a gun -nest. The others were to use rifle, bayonet -and pistol only. It was necessary to shout -these orders above the rattle of guns and yells -of the charging marines on every side. The -words were hardly out of Clem’s mouth -before the long, jacketed barrel of a machine-gun -was poked out of a cellar entrance on -the street not fifty feet ahead of them and -the fire began to streak from its muzzle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -toward a group of marines coming down a -cross street. One of Clem’s new men lighted -his grenade, dashed forward, bowled it over-hand -with a skill that would have done -credit to an expert cricketer. A mass of dust, -dirt and mangled objects blew out of the cellar -and that gun nest was no more. The little -squad rushed on. Opposite a square stone -building from a window of which came a -burst of flame and a ripping sound. Clem -saw some steps to the right which might -lead to this nest. He shouted to his men -and leaped forward. At the top step he -glanced about. Three of his squad lay on -the ground. Two were following him. The -heavy door was fastened. Clem drew back -the butt of his gun to break the lock, but -one of the others fired into it, and as they -threw their bodies against the door it burst -open.</p> - -<p>Within a large room, like an inn parlor, -two Huns were working the machine-gun -and a third met them with leveled rifle. -Before Clem could fire one of his men threw -his weapon like a Zulu his spear and the -bayonet transfixed the Hun, who sank with -a gasp. The other marines were upon the -two gunners before they had time even to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -shout “Kamerad!” Freeing their bayonet -points all three turned to leave the building -when a lone marine jumped in, shouting:</p> - -<p>“Gun nest on the roof!”</p> - -<p>“Get ’em!” shouted Clem, who was dimly -aware that the man was Martin, of his -own squad.</p> - -<p>They found a stairway. Dashing up this -and along a hall, they climbed another -flight where they saw a ladder leading to -an open trap door.</p> - -<p>“I can fix ’em!” cried the remaining -grenade man who had a rifle also. He handed -the weapon to Clem, ran up the ladder, -lighted his fuse and tossed it out on the roof. -The explosion brought down plaster within -and filled the place with dust; Clem saw -the body of a man fall past the window. -The grenade man was knocked off the ladder -by his own bomb, but he landed on his feet. -The four men dashed down to the street, -and as they ran along, a Hun from behind -a broken wall hurled a grenade at them. -Clem leaped to dodge it and two of his men -ducked and fell flat, but poor Martin, looking -away, caught the full force of the explosion -at his feet. They saw him lifted up, twisted -about and fall in a broken heap, his clothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -half torn from his body. They knew their -friend’s death had been instantaneous. Clem -was pushed back as by a great wind. The two -other men were rolled over and over. One -of them looked up from where he lay and -saw the Hun grinning at them. He <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘jumped up an’">jumped -up and</ins> leveled his gun, but the Hun dodged -back and they only had a glimpse of him -lighting another grenade. With all the speed -at his command Clem made for the wall, -and with a leap cleared it. He came down -on the fellow with both feet, at the same -time stabbing downward with his bayonet. -He felt the mass beneath his feet quiver and -sink inert. Then Stapley started to climb -back over the wall and found himself pushed -back by his other two men who followed -him over. Seven Germans coming along the -street, had seen the three marines and started -toward them, firing. The three Americans -gave them such a warm reception that two -of the Huns dropped in their tracks and -the other five turned and fled.</p> - -<p>“After ’em, boys!” shouted Clem, and -the three chased along a narrow street to -the eastern edge of the town where the -Germans turned a corner and came face to -face with a full platoon of Americans who -took them prisoner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - -<p>The lieutenant in charge of this unit -took great pleasure in the sight of five Germans -being pursued by three Americans. -As the little squad came up, he asked Clem -to report action and casualties.</p> - -<p>“Orders now are to report southwest of -the village. Battalion will reform. Fall in -with us.”</p> - -<p>Clem was glad of this. Though such -fighting was intoxicating while it lasted, -it was sickening business after all. He had -had enough of it. He was glad he had done -his duty—glad the town had been won and -if there were enough men left to hold the place, -but a rest wouldn’t go badly. Still, if there -was to be more of such work, he was ready.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Friends</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Ambulancier Donald Richards, -with Washington White beside him, -but without his usual grin, drove -his much battered car down the military -road and across the scarlet-flowered fields -in the direction of the battle sounds. From a -rise of ground he could see advancing lines -of men, some distance apart, moving rapidly -for a short space and dropping on the ground; -then arising and going forward to repeat -the movement—all this carried out with -wonderful precision. At one moment there -were a thousand men thus spread out, moving -swiftly. At the next moment they were all -prone on the ground, in perfect unison.</p> - -<p>Don understood this perfectly. He had -witnessed the same tactics a few days before -in the charge on Bouresches and they had -won. But the attempt to win Belleau Wood -had been frustrated for three days by the -terrible machine-fire which greeted the determined -Americans. Would it be possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -to attain their object this time before they -were all killed?</p> - -<p>For he could see also, all over the field -behind the charging soldiers, many men -who had fallen. In spots the ground was -strewn with bodies of the wounded and -dead. As he gazed, horror-stricken yet fascinated -by the spectacle, he could discern -the thinning out of the charging lines, as -they swept forward.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to get right down there, Wash, -and bring some of those fellows out,” Don -said.</p> - -<p>“Down whar? On de groun’ whar dem -sojers is kilt? Say, Mist’ Donal’, yu done -that-a-way t’other day en’ yu-all knows -how dis amberlance looked when hit come -out. En’ yu kin see now how she looked. -En’ hit wa’n’t no foolishness of ours dat -we didn’t get sent to Kingdom Come. En’ -’tain’t always dese yer po’ white Heinies -is gwine miss us. Boun’ tu git it some time.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, forget it, Wash! You always think -we’re going to get hurt. You see we haven’t -been hurt yet and that’s as good as just -starting out.”</p> - -<p>On the ambulance went, dodging shell-holes, -running around natural obstacles, rap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>idly -nearing the ground across which the -marines had charged not five minutes before. -The boys overtook a light, active fellow, -on foot and trotting, though now with lagging -steps, and Don knew him for a messenger. -Don slowed down and asked the lad to hop -in for a lift. But this was only for a fourth -of a mile, for they then soon came well within -the edge of the zone of flying bullets and -shells. Here they met the first <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> -with a wounded man, so the ambulance -came to a stop. Without a word the runner -leaped out and dashed on. Don and Wash -were filled with admiration for these nervy -fellows, who seemed to have no thought of -danger in carrying messages to officers in -the field. Right here another runner came -to Don.</p> - -<p>“Captain Baston says tell you there are -five men, all badly wounded, in a shell hole—over -there, near those poplar trees—and -they ought to be got out. It won’t do to -carry them far, he said. Got the nerve to -make it?”</p> - -<p>Did he have the nerve? He saw that this -first case was not a bad one and could stand -a little jolting. He told the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> -to load on their man and hop in. Then he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -turned his car across in line with the German -fire.</p> - -<p>“I kin wait heah twill yuh come back. -Yu ain’t got no special use fo’ me,” Wash -began, but this time only a look from Don -ended the negro’s protest. In three minutes -he had reached the shell-hole by the trees. -Half a dozen direct or ricocheting machine-gun -bullets had hit the ambulance, but had -done no more damage than to add to the -holes and dents already in its sturdy sides.</p> - -<p>It was the work of but a few minutes for -the two <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> with their one stretcher, -and Don and Wash with another, to get -most of the wounded fellows into the ambulance, -while shells and smaller calibre missiles -flew and struck all round them. The last -poor chap was suffering with a wound in -the leg. Entirely out of his mind he fought -against being moved, so Wash went back -with the bearers to hold the soldier on the -stretcher. As they started back, Don, who -had been glancing at his carburetor, began -to lower the hood over his motor.</p> - -<p>The sound of an approaching shell; nothing -can describe it; the long swish of a carriage -whip, the rush of water at high pressure -from the nozzle of a hose, the wind singing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -past a kite string—these might barely suggest -it. Hearing it once it is never forgotten. -Don looked when he noticed it; one must -do that when it is near, though. Trying to -dodge a shell is as useless as ducking at -lightning. Then came the thud of the projectile -and the almost simultaneous explosion. -The boy’s eyes, just above the hood, had -been upon the approaching stretcher. The -next instant the group of four—the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i>, -Wash and the raving man—had -ceased to exist amidst a furious upheaval -of flame and earth and stones. Innumerable -flying pieces struck the engine hood -and Don’s helmet. The wounded men were -protected by the sides of the ambulance.</p> - -<p>Don walked slowly over and looked down -at the hole made by the shell; he glanced -around at the torn and twisted bodies flung -twenty feet away. Something like a sob -choked him as he recognized the black face -of his helper. Don had almost compelled him -to come within this area of awful danger, -else the poor fellow would have been living -now. Flinging a suggestion of salt water -from his eyes, the boy leaped to his seat -and addressed the wounded men behind -him:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Where was the nearest dressing station -set up?”</p> - -<p>“Back of that low hill to the left,” a weak -voice directed, and the car shot forward.</p> - -<p>“Get ’em in here! You bring in the biggest -loads, so keep at it!” said the field-surgeon. -“Others of your crowd are getting -them back to the evacuation hospital all -right. Go to it, boy!”</p> - -<p>And again Don went flying toward the -fighting front, toward the level fields filled -with crimson flowers, waving grass or ripening -grain, stretched south and west from Belleau -Wood.</p> - -<p>Up the slopes of the hill he could now see -the indomitable marines, still charging, overcoming -all opposition, destroying the machine-gun -nests, bayoneting the gunners, and defeating -every attempt of the enemy to check -their attack. On into the fields—to the very -foot of the hill—Don drove his car, looking -to the right and left for <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">blessés</i>. The bullets, -as never before, sung around him, threshing -out the grass and grain, and tearing up the -blood-red poppies.</p> - -<p>Here also the stretcher-bearers were more -than busy. Two, with a wounded man, -came running to Don. Another wounded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> -man crawled and dragged himself toward -the car, until the boy saw and helped him. -The soldier could speak only in halting -accents.</p> - -<p>“There’s one—our corporal—down back—bush. -Helped me—water—canteen. Fainted, -then—good fellow—get him.”</p> - -<p>Don, fishing in his pockets for his ammonia -spirits and grabbing a water bottle, ran -to the spot designated, a hundred feet away. -The marine lay on his stomach, his face -hidden in the crook of his left arm. Evidently -he had come to. The other arm lay -limp on the grass. A clot of blood stained -the clothing on his left side.</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Ambulancier</i> here. I’ll help you, or get -a stretcher if you can’t—” Don began, -stooping to lift the fellow. The wounded man -twisted about, raised his head and once -again Don Richards and Clement Stapley -gazed into each other’s eyes. But the look -of defiance was gone.</p> - -<p>“Clem, poor chap, are you hurt much? -Where?”</p> - -<p>“Arm busted, Don. Side cut a little. -Flesh wound, I think. If it’s worse, tell -mother and dad.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe it’s bad, Clem. Don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -you think it! We’ll see that it isn’t. My -car—”</p> - -<p>“I can walk to it, perhaps. Legs O. K. -Use gun as crutch.”</p> - -<p>“No; I’ll help you; carry you, if need be. -Get your good arm over my shoulder.”</p> - -<p>“That’ll bring you on the side where the -bullets—”</p> - -<p>“Well, what of that? I don’t—”</p> - -<p>“No, you don’t care, but I do, Don. -If I get another it’s only one—but you—”</p> - -<p>“Never mind! Come on. You know I -always have my way. Your arm around my -neck.”</p> - -<p>With painful laboriousness the two began -to walk across. They had gone a dozen feet -when Clem heard the sound of a bullet -striking flesh. He had heard it too often -not to know it. But Don did not hear it. -He only sank to the ground. Clem struggled -to maintain his footing but fell beside him.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><a href="#CONTENTS">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Distinguished</span></h2> - - -<p class="drop-capx">Not killed, are you, Don?”</p> - -<p class="noindent">No answer.</p> - -<p class="noindent">“Done for! And just when we had -become friends,” Clem murmured. But upon -the instant an arm that he had been unconsciously -lying across gave a twitch. Clem -lifted himself and looked into the other -boy’s face.</p> - -<p>“Hey, Don! You’re not dead, are you?”</p> - -<p>Don Richards opened his eyes. “If I -am, it’s right comfortable, except something’s -the matter with my shoulder. Was -I hit? Oh yes; sure, I know. I came over -to help you; didn’t I? Then I got mine. -Head feels queer. Must have gone to sleep. -Knocked out, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Something like that. But, glory, I’m -glad you weren’t killed! I thought you -were.”</p> - -<p>“The Huns haven’t got a real bullet -with my number on it. This was only a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> -fake one made of corn pith. Say, let’s make -the ambulance and get out of here.”</p> - -<p>It was now a still slower and sorrier procession -than before, but pluck and mutual -helpfulness got the two boys over most of -the way until <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">brancardiers</i> came to them. -One of these latter could drive a car, and -he offered to run the ambulance to the dressing -station.</p> - -<p>Two hours later the two boys, both swathed -in bandages, lay on adjoining cots, following -operations. Two days later the big, roomy -Red Cross base, with its abundant light, -comforts, attentive nurses and absence of -flies, received them. As they left the evacuation -tent for this delightful place, Major -Little, still on duty, said to Don:</p> - -<p>“I always believed you’d get hit, my -boy. You took too much risk. Came pretty -near ending you. Just missed the lung by -about one inch. But you’ll be all right and -so will your friend, the corporal, here. Well, I -want to say your work has been admirable -and I think they will have something to say -about that at the base. Good-bye and good -luck!”</p> - -<p>And at the base they did have something -to say about it, but not alone to Don. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -month later some French and American -officers visited the hospital and they came -direct to the easy chairs occupied by Clem -and Don on the wide veranda of the old -château which had been turned into a convalescent -ward.</p> - -<p>The American general spoke first, taking -the right hand of each lad.</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose you two young scamps -know what we do over here to show our -appreciation, eh?”</p> - -<p>Both boys were silent and much embarrassed.</p> - -<p>“Well, one American way, like that of -the British, is to mention names in dispatches. -You fellows won’t object to that when you -hear what is going to be said of you. Corporal, -there has been no braver part taken than that -by you in the charge on the Bois de Belleau. -And we have it that you did some fine work -in Bouresches, and on Hill 165. And you—Master -Red Cross driver—we have heard -some great stories of you. But better than -dispatches will be the Medals of Honor -for both of you. Here is another matter: -We have received data about the arrest of -some spies. This, it seems, started back in -the States and ended here. Well, that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -notably fine work—fine work! But our friend -here, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Monsieur le Général</i> Marcier, also has -something to say.”</p> - -<p>Mister the General, twirling his pointed -mustache with a beaming smile, spoke what -he had to say quite briefly and it was just -as well that he did so, between very bad -English and very nasal French, rapidly delivered, -the boys could hardly get head or tail -of it. They did, however, both get the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: ‘well-know words’">well-known -words</ins> at the end of the speech. These -delightful syllables were <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Croix de Guerre</i>. -And then again the American commander -spoke:</p> - -<p>“It is by just such lads as you have proved -yourselves to be that the enemy was stopped -and turned back at Château-Thierry. And -by many such as you this war will soon be -won. You boys will be invalided home -and sent across shortly. Be as good citizens -as you have been brave men here. Good-bye -and good luck!”</p> - -<p>The officers went their way, making welcome -little speeches to others. Don leaned -over and slapped his friend gently on the -back.</p> - -<p>“Medal of Honor! and the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Croix de -Guerre</i>!”</p> - - - - -<p class="p6" /> -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs200 font-tall">A PENNANT-WINNER IN BOYS’ BOOKS!</p> - -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs90">Hugh S. Fullerton’s Great Books</p> - -<p class="pfs180">The Jimmy Kirkland Series<br /> -of Baseball Stories</p> - -<p class="pfs90">By HUGH S. FULLERTON</p> - -<p class="pfs80">America’s Greatest Baseball Writer. Author of<br /> -“Touching Second,” Etc.</p> - -<div class="figleft"> -<img src="images/ad1.jpg" width="125" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="fs90">Combining his literary skill with his -unsurpassed knowledge of baseball from -every angle—especially from a boy’s -angle—Mr. Fullerton has written a new -series of baseball stories for boys, which -will be seized with devouring interest by -every youthful admirer of the game. -While the narrative is predominant in -these books, Mr. Fullerton has encompassed -a large amount of practical baseball -instruction for boys; and, what is of -greater value, he has shown the importance -of manliness, sportsmanship and clean living to any boy -who desires to excel in baseball or any other sport. These -books are bound to sell wherever they are seen by boys or -parents. Handsomely illustrated and bound. 12mo. Cloth. -New and original cover design.</p> - -<p class="clear noindent lht">JIMMY KIRKLAND OF THE SHASTA BOYS’ TEAM<br /> - -JIMMY KIRKLAND OF THE CASCADE COLLEGE TEAM<br /> - -JIMMY KIRKLAND AND A PLOT FOR A PENNANT</p> - -<p class="pfs90">Sold Singly or in Boxed Sets</p> - -<p class="pfs120">Price per volume, 75 cents</p> - -<p class="p1" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs180">The Big Series of Boys’<br /> -Books for 1918</p> - -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs200 font-tall">THE BRIGHTON BOYS SERIES</p> - -<p class="pfs120">By Lieutenant James R. 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WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs180">THE NORTH POLE SERIES</p> - -<p class="pfs120">By Prof. Edwin J. Houston</p> - -<div class="figleft"> -<img src="images/ad3.jpg" width="125" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="p2 fs90"> -<p>Dr. Houston has spent a lifetime -in teaching boys the principles -of physical and scientific -phenomena and knows how to -talk and write for them in a way -that is most attractive. In the -reading of these stories the most -accurate scientific information -will be absorbed.</p> - -<p class="p4 clear" /> -<p class="pfs150">HANDSOMELY BOUND</p> - -<p>The volumes, 12mo. in size, are bound in Extra -English Cloth and are attractively stamped in colors -and full gold titles. Sold separately or in sets, boxed.</p> -</div> - -<p>THE SEARCH FOR THE NORTH POLE</p> - -<p>THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE</p> - -<p>CAST AWAY AT THE NORTH POLE</p> - -<p class="p1 center">3 Titles</p> - -<p class="p1 center">Price per volume, $1.00</p> - -<p class="p2" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs150 font-tall">A STERLING SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</p> - -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs180">The “Bell Haven” Series</p> - -<p class="pfs120">By George Barton</p> - -<div class="figleft"> -<img src="images/ad4.jpg" width="125" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="p2 fs90"> -<p>The “Bell Haven” series is a group -of stories for boys depicting life in an -American preparatory school. They -are full of action from start to finish -and will stir the red blood of every -youth. The characters are life-like -and based upon observation and an -intimate knowledge of school-boy life. -These stories are bright and original, -replete with plot interest, and out of -the beaten path. A distinctive cover design for -each book adds to the attractiveness of the series. -12mo. Cloth.</p> -</div> - -<p class="p4 clear" /> -<p> I. THE BELL HAVEN NINE<br /> -<span class="pad4 fs90">A Story of the Baseball Team</span></p> - -<p> II. THE BELL HAVEN EIGHT<br /> -<span class="pad4 fs90">A Story of the School Crew</span></p> - -<p>III. THE BELL HAVEN FIVE<br /> -<span class="pad4 fs90">A Story of the School Basketball Team</span></p> - -<p>IV. THE BELL HAVEN ELEVEN<br /> -<span class="pad4 fs90">A Story of the School Football Eleven</span></p> - -<p class="center">Price per volume, 75 cents</p> - -<p class="p1" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs80"> -Critics uniformly agree that parents can safely place in the hands<br /> -of boys and girls any book written by Edward S. Ellis</p> - -<p class="pfs180">The “FLYING BOYS” Series</p> - -<p class="pfs80">By EDWARD S. ELLIS</p> - -<p class="pfs80">Author of the Renowned “Deerfoot” Books, and 100<br /> -other famous volumes for young people</p> - -<div class="fs80"> - -<p class="in2">During his trip abroad last summer, Mr. Ellis became -intensely interested in aeroplane and airship flying in -France, and this new series from his pen is the visible result -of what he would call a “vacation.” He has made -a study of the science and art of aeronautics, and these -books will give boys just the information they want about -this marvelous triumph of man.</p> - -<p class="in2">First Volume: THE FLYING BOYS IN THE SKY</p> - -<p class="in2">Second Volume: THE FLYING BOYS TO THE RESCUE</p> - -<p class="noindent">The stories are timely and full of interest and stirring -events. Handsomely illustrated and with appropriate -cover design.</p> - -<p>Price <span class="pad4">Per volume</span>, 75 cents. Postpaid</p> -</div> - - -<hr class="fulla" /> -<p class="fs80">This series will appeal to up-to-date American Girls. The subsequent -volumes will carry the Ranch Girls through numerous ups and downs -of fortune and adventures in America and Europe</p> - - -<p class="pfs80">THE “RANCH GIRLS” SERIES IS A<br /> -NEW LINE OF BOOKS FOR GIRLS</p> - -<p class="pfs100">——THE——<br /> - -<span class="pfs180">Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge</span></p> - -<p class="pfs80">By MARGARET VANDERCOOK</p> - -<p class="in2 fs80">This first volume of the new RANCH GIRLS SERIES, -will stir up the envy of all girl readers to a life of healthy -exercise and honest helpfulness. The Ranch Girls undertake -the management of a large ranch in a western state, -and after many difficulties make it pay and give them a -good living. They are jolly, healthy, attractive girls, who -have the best kind of a time, and the young readers will -enjoy the book as much as any of them. The first volume -of the Ranch Girls Series will be followed by other titles -carrying the Ranch Girls through numerous ups and downs -of fortune and adventures in America and Europe.</p> - -<p class="pfs80">Attractive cover design. Excellent paper. Illustrated. 12mo.<br /> -Cloth Price, Per volume, 75 cents. Postpaid</p> - -<p class="p1" /> -<hr class="r30a" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> - -<p class="pfs180"> -HURLBUT’S STORY OF<br /> -THE BIBLE <span class="fs80">⁂</span> -<span class="blkb fs60"> -<span class="blka">FROM GENESIS</span> -<span class="blka">TO REVELATION</span> -</span> -</p> - -<p class="pfs80">BY REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D.</p> - -<p class="p1" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> -<hr class="fulla" /> - -<p class="pfs120">A BOOK FOR OLD AND YOUNG</p> - -<p class="drop-capx fs80">Told in language that interests both Old and Young. -“Supersedes all other books of the kind.” Recommended -by all Denominations for its freshness and -accuracy; for its freedom from doctrinal discussion; for its -simplicity of language; for its numerous and appropriate -illustrations; as the best work on the subject. The greatest -aid to Parents, Teachers and all who wish the Bible -Story in a simplified form. 168 separate stories, each -complete in itself, yet forming a continuous narrative of -the Bible. 762 pages, nearly 300 half-tone illustrations, -8 in colors. Octavo.</p> - - -<p class="pfs120">THE FLEXIBLE MOROCCO STYLE</p> - -<p class="noindent fs80"><span class="bold">“HURLBUT’S STORY OF THE BIBLE”</span> can be obtained -in <span class="bold">FLEXIBLE MOROCCO BINDING</span> with red under gold -edges. This new binding will give the work a wider use, -for in this convenient form the objection to carrying the -ordinary bound book is entirely overcome. This convenient -style also contains <span class="bold">“HURLBUT’S BIBLE LESSONS -FOR BOYS AND GIRLS,”</span> a system of questions and -answers, based on the stories in the book, by which the -Old Testament story can be taught in a year, and the -New Testament story can be taught in a year. This edition -also contains 17 Maps printed in colors, covering the geography -of the Old Testament and of the New Testament.</p> - -<p class="fs80">These additional features are not included in the -Cloth bound book, but are only to be obtained in the new -Flexible Morocco style.</p> - -<p class="pfs80">Cloth, extra <span class="pad6">Price, $2.50</span></p> - -<p class="p1" /> -<hr class="r30a" /> - -<p class="pfs120">THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., <em>Publishers</em><br /> -<span class="fs70">WINSTON BUILDING <span class="pad8">PHILADELPHIA</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="fullx pg-brk" /> -<div class="transnote"> -<a name="TN" id="TN"></a> -<p><strong>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</strong></p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been -corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within -the text and consultation of external sources.</p> - -<p>The original text had large drop-capitals at the start of each -chapter, and omitted the initial quotation mark in an opening -sentence of a conversation. That missing quotation mark has <i>not</i> -been inserted in this etext.</p> - -<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, -and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. For example, -shell hole, shell-hole; farm house, farmhouse; boylike, boy-like; -jailors; combatting; intrenched.</p> - -<p> -<a href="#Page_53">Pg 53,</a> ‘mightly independent’ replaced by ‘mightily independent’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_54">Pg 54,</a> ‘will be going, to’ replaced by ‘will be going, too’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_56">Pg 56,</a> ‘to he satisfied’ replaced by ‘to be satisfied’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_59">Pg 59,</a> ‘amply satisified’ replaced by ‘amply satisfied’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_71">Pg 71,</a> ‘not checked not’ replaced by ‘not checked nor’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_76">Pg 76,</a> ‘handorgan’ replaced by ‘hand organ’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_82">Pg 82,</a> ‘muderous Hun’ replaced by ‘murderous Hun’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_95">Pg 95,</a> ‘cumulous clouds’ replaced by ‘cumulus clouds’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_96">Pg 96,</a> ‘the while thing’ replaced by ‘the white thing’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_102">Pg 102,</a> ‘fer a veteran’ replaced by ‘for a veteran’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_108">Pg 108,</a> ‘and you—Don’ replaced by ‘And you—Don’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_114">Pg 114,</a> ‘the work an so’ replaced by ‘the work and so’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_116">Pg 116,</a> ‘They’s have you’ replaced by ‘They’d have you’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_123">Pg 123,</a> ‘hideous meledy’ replaced by ‘hideous melody’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_125">Pg 125,</a> ‘and said Don’ replaced by ‘and said to Don’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_135">Pg 135,</a> ‘camion contigent’ replaced by ‘camion contingent’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_141">Pg 141,</a> ‘real while folks’ replaced by ‘real white folks’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_151">Pg 151,</a> ‘does it carry then’ replaced by ‘does it carry them’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_158">Pg 158,</a> ‘the day everhauling’ replaced by ‘the day overhauling’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_159">Pg 159,</a> ‘certain and reggular’ replaced by ‘certain and regular’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_166">Pg 166,</a> ‘though homlier’ replaced by ‘though homelier’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_171">Pg 171,</a> ‘similiar shouts’ replaced by ‘similar shouts’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_211">Pg 211,</a> ‘short shift’ replaced by ‘short shrift’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_219">Pg 219,</a> ‘jumped up an’ replaced by ‘jumped up and’.<br /> -<a href="#Page_232">Pg 232,</a> ‘well-know words’ replaced by ‘well-known words’.<br /> -</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brighton Boys at Chateau-Thierry, by -James R. 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