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diff --git a/old/53320-0.txt b/old/53320-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e306509..0000000 --- a/old/53320-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7607 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Boys in the Army, by Clarence Young - -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 Motor Boys in the Army - or, Ned, Bob and Jerry as Volunteers - -Author: Clarence Young - -Release Date: October 19, 2016 [EBook #53320] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: THEY PERFECTED THEMSELVES IN THE USE OF THE RIFLE AND -THE BAYONET.] - - - - - THE MOTOR BOYS - IN THE ARMY - - OR - - Ned, Bob and Jerry as Volunteers - - - BY - - CLARENCE YOUNG - - AUTHOR OF “THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES,” “THE JACK - RANGER SERIES,” ETC. - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - - -BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Colored Jacket. - - -=THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES= - - THE MOTOR BOYS - THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND - THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO - THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS - THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC - THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC - THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS - THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES - THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING - THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER - THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA - THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER - THE MOTOR BOYS AT BOXWOOD HALL - THE MOTOR BOYS ON A RANCH - THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE FIRING LINE - THE MOTOR BOYS BOUND FOR HOME - - -=THE JACK RANGER SERIES= - - JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS - JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP - JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES - JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE - JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB - JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX - - - Copyright, 1918, by - Cupples & Leon Company - - - =The Motor Boys in the Army= - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I THE FIRE ALARM 1 - II THE RUNAWAY ENGINE 9 - III “JUST AS EASY!” 16 - IV CROOKED NOSE 24 - V THE ODD MAN 33 - VI FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS 42 - VII CHUNKY’S TROUBLE 51 - VIII A PRO-GERMAN MEETING 59 - IX A FIGHT IN THE DARK 68 - X THE PARTING 79 - XI OFF TO CAMP DIXTON 85 - XII PUG KENNEDY 91 - XIII IN THE CAMP 100 - XIV SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT 108 - XV IN UNIFORM 117 - XVI HOT WORDS 125 - XVII A MIDNIGHT MEETING 132 - XVIII A STAB IN THE BACK 141 - XIX A CAVE-IN 152 - XX A PRACTICE MARCH 159 - XXI CROOKED NOSE AGAIN 166 - XXII THE ACCUSATION 174 - XXIII THE MINSTREL SHOW 183 - XXIV A BLACK-FACE PURSUIT 190 - XXV “A PRISONER” 197 - XXVI A NIGHT ALARM 207 - XXVII THE HAND GRENADE 213 - XXVIII THE STORM 223 - XXIX IN THE OLD BARN 229 - XXX THE ROUND-UP 237 - - - - -NED, BOB AND JERRY IN THE ARMY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE FIRE ALARM - - -“You’re going, aren’t you, Ned?” - -“Surest thing you know!” - -“Will you be there, Bob?” - -“Of course, Jerry. It ought to be quite a meeting, I should say.” - -“You said something!” exclaimed Ned Slade, with an air of conviction. -“Things will whoop up in great shape. Why, there hasn’t been so much -excitement in Cresville since I can remember.” - -“Not since the old lumberyard burned,” added Jerry Hopkins, as he -walked down the street, one arm linked in that of Ned Slade on his -left, and the other hooked up with Bob Baker’s on his right. “It -doesn’t seem possible that we’ve been drawn into this, after all the -President did to keep us out; but it’s true.” - -“Of course it’s true!” exclaimed Ned. “The President goes before -Congress and asks for the whole strength of the nation to back him up, -and defy Germany. And he gets it, too!” - -“That’s what he does,” added Jerry. “It’s one of the strongest -declarations about the war I ever read; and we’ve had a chance to read -a few in the last two years. America against Germany! I never expected -it, but, now it’s come, we’ll have to get in it good and strong.” - -“And we’ve got to hustle, too!” added Bob Baker. - -“That’ll be something new for you, Chunky!” observed Jerry Hopkins, -with a chuckle. “You’re getting fatter than ever,” and he caught some -of his friend’s superfluous flesh between thumb and finger and made Bob -squirm. - -“Quit it!” the latter begged. “What do you think I’m made of, anyhow?” - -“I was just trying to find out,” answered Jerry, innocently. “’Tisn’t -as firm as it might be, but when we get back to Boxwood Hall, and you -have a little tennis or football to harden you up, I think you’ll feel -better.” - -“I’d feel better right now if you’d quit pinching me!” exclaimed the -tormented one. “Try it on Ned a bit.” - -“Oh, he doesn’t need waking up,” laughed Jerry. “But say, do we need -tickets for this meeting to-night?” - -“I don’t believe so,” remarked Bob, whose nickname of Chunky fitted -him well. “But let’s go down the street and read one of the notices. -There’s one in front of Porter’s drug store. And while we’re there we -can----” - -“Get chocolate sodas! I know you were going to say that!” broke in -Ned. “Say, I thought you were on a diet, Chunky. The idea of taking -chocolate! Don’t you know it’s fattening?” - -“Who said anything about chocolate sodas?” demanded the fat one. “I -didn’t mention it!” and he glared at Ned. But Jerry was between the two. - -“I know you didn’t, little one!” returned Ned sweetly. “But you were -going to, and I made it easy for you. However, I don’t believe one -chocolate will hurt you; and since you are going to buy----” - -“Who said I was?” demanded Bob. - -“Why, didn’t you?” asked Ned, with an assumption of innocence. “I’m -sure I heard Chunky invite us to have sodas. Didn’t you, Jerry?” - -“Sure!” was the ready answer. “Don’t try to back out, Bob. It’s too -late.” - -“Well, it’s of no use trying to buck up against a conspiracy like -this,” sighed the stout youth. “I guess I’ve got the price,” and he -rattled some change in his pocket. - -The trio of lads, nodding now and then to acquaintances they passed, -kept on down the street until they reached Porter’s drug store. In the -window was a placard announcing a patriotic meeting to be held in the -auditorium that evening, for the purpose, as it stated, of: - - “_Upholding President Wilson, and proving to him that Cresville - approves of his course in declaring a state of war with Germany - exists._” - -“No tickets needed,” read Jerry. “It’s a case of first come first -served, I guess.” - -They entered the drug store, and soon were being served, talking, the -while, of the coming patriotic meeting. - -“Colonel Wentworth is going to preside,” announced Ned. - -“Yes, and there’ll be enough rhetorical fireworks to stock a -battleship,” observed Jerry. - -“Well, the old soldier means all right,” added Bob, who seemed to be of -a kind and mellow disposition, now that he was having something to eat. -Eating, as may have been guessed, was one of Chunky’s strong points. -“There isn’t a more patriotic citizen than Colonel Wentworth,” went on -the stout youth, stirring his chocolate ice-cream soda to mix it well -before drinking. “He did his share in the Spanish war, and now he’s -anxious to volunteer again, I hear.” - -“He’s a little too old, isn’t he?” asked Ned. - -“Yes, but he’s in fine shape. Well, we’ll go to the meeting, anyhow, -and help whoop things up.” - -“That’s right!” chimed in Jerry Hopkins. “These are the days to show -your colors.” - -It will be evident to the reader that the period of the opening of this -story was in the spring, following the announcement of war between the -United States and Germany. - -Of the events leading up to that announcement nothing need be said -here, for they are too well known. But even though every one who had -closely followed the trend of thought and happenings, knew there was -nothing for an honor-loving and conscientious nation to do except take -the step advocated by President Wilson, still the actual declaration -that a state of war existed, when it was made, came as a shock. - -Then followed the reaction. A reaction which resulted in the holding -of many meetings, in the organization of many societies and in new -activities in many that were already organized. - -The New England town of Cresville, the home of Ned, Bob and Jerry, was -no exception to this rule. It was a progressive town, or small city -if you will, and numbered among its members citizens of worth and -patriotism. So it is not strange that a meeting should be called to -“back up” the President. - -The meeting had its inception with Colonel Wentworth, a Son of the -Revolution, an officer in the Spanish-American war, where he had -fought with the regulars both in Cuba and in the Philippines, and -an all-around true-hearted and red-blooded American. He felt that -Cresville should make her position known, and in order to stir her -blood, as well as add fuel to his own, he proposed the holding of a -patriotic mass meeting, at which a number of speakers should be heard. -A United States Senator had promised to come and tell something of the -events leading up to the formal declaration of war. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry, home from their college, Boxwood Hall, for the -Easter vacation, had read the notices of the meeting, and, having -followed with interest the course of events in America preceding the -entrance of the United States into the war and also having closely -observed the course of England, France, Russia and Italy against a -common enemy, had decided to attend the meeting. - -They had planned to take a motor trip to a distant city, to attend a -concert by the Boxwood Hall Glee Club and a dance afterward, at which -the boys expected to meet some young ladies in whom they were more -than ordinarily interested. But when Jerry had seen the notices posted -for the patriotic rally he had said to his chums: - -“Fellows, the dance racket is off! We’ve got to show ourselves at the -auditorium.” - -“That’s right,” Ned had answered. “Dad’s a great friend of the -colonel’s, and he’s going with mother. He told me I ought to show -myself there, and I guess we’ll have to.” - -So it was decided, and, a few hours after having been the guests of -Chunky at the soda fountain, Ned and Jerry, with their stout companion, -found themselves part of a throng at the door of the town auditorium, a -newly constructed meeting place. - -“Some push!” exclaimed Ned, as he felt himself being carried forward in -the crush, for the doors had just been opened. - -“It’s going to be a success all right,” added Jerry. “They’ll never get -’em all in!” - -The hall was, indeed, filled, and standing room was at the proverbial -premium when Colonel Wentworth, visibly proud of the success of his -undertaking, advanced to welcome the gathering and to introduce the -first speaker. - -There was the speaking usual at such a meeting, only this time it was -tinged with a deeper note of seriousness. America had not yet awakened -to the realization of what war really meant, and was going to mean. -And some of the speakers tried to bring this home to the people of -Cresville. - -The meeting was rather long, and even though they were as full of fire, -zeal, energy and patriotism as any person there, Ned, Bob and Jerry, -after two hours of speech-making, began to wish themselves out of the -place. They felt they had done their duty, and were longing for a -little change, when it came, most unexpectedly. - -They were sitting in the rear of the hall, close to the main entrance -doors, when Ned heard a sound that made him suddenly sit up. - -“Hear that?” he asked, in a whisper, of Jerry. - -“What?” - -“Fire alarm! It’s from the box down near dad’s store! I’m going to see -what it is!” - -He rose softly, so as not to disturb the speaker. The sound of the -alarm could be plainly heard. Bob and Jerry also arose and made their -way out, as did several others. An undercurrent of excitement seemed to -pervade the meeting. As the boys reached the door, there came from the -street a cry of fear. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE RUNAWAY ENGINE - - -“Did you hear that?” asked Jerry of his two chums, when they were in -the anteroom of the auditorium, and could speak without disturbing the -meeting. - -“Sounded as if some one was hurt,” added Ned. - -A number of men and boys had come out at the same time as had the three -friends, and one of them now hurried to the door and looked down the -street. There were a number of electric lights, and, as the trees were -bare of leaves, a good view could be had. - -“Look at that!” cried the man who had made the observation. “Look!” - -“What is it?” - -“The fire engine horses are running away!” was the excited answer. “The -driver’s been thrown off, and the horses are pulling the engine down -Hoyt street hill lickity-split! Say, there’ll be a smash-up all right!” - -It did seem so, as Ned, Bob and Jerry noted a moment later, when -they hurried out in front of the auditorium and gazed down the -thoroughfare. The engine could plainly be seen, smoke and sparks -pouring from it, for the automatic apparatus, that starts a blaze under -the boiler, had been set going by the engineer as the steamer pulled -out of its quarters. - -The engine was a new one for Cresville, being one of two purchased to -replace the old hand-drawn pumping affairs that had so long done duty -in the town. - -“Come on!” suddenly exclaimed Jerry Hopkins, and he led his two chums -over toward his auto, the trio having come to the meeting in the -powerful machine. - -“What are you going to do?” asked Ned. - -“Catch those horses!” replied Jerry as he hurried on. - -And in the momentary pause that ensued, while he and his friends were -getting in the car, to give pursuit to the runaway fire engine steeds, -I will take a brief moment to acquaint my new readers with the chief -characters of this story. - -Those of you who formed your friendship for the chums in the book -called “The Motor Boys,” know Ned, Bob and Jerry full well by this time. - -Jerry Hopkins was the son of a rich widow of Cresville, and was the -leader of the trio, the three boys having been chums, friends and -inseparable companions for many years. Bob Baker, otherwise known as -“Chunky,” was the son of Andrew Baker, a banker of the town, while Ned -Slade’s father kept the chief department store in Cresville. As already -stated, this town, or city, as its more enthusiastic admirers called -it, was in New England, not far from Boston. - -As may be guessed from the title of the first book, the lads were much -interested in machines propelled by gasoline motors. Their initial -venture was with motor cycles, after their bicycle days, and then they -secured an automobile, in which they went on many a tour, even down -into Mexico, as related in other volumes of the “Motor Boys Series.” - -They later acquired a motor boat and voyaged on the Atlantic and -Pacific, and several books are devoted to their activities in this -regard. As might be expected, the perfection of the aeroplane gave the -boys a chance for new activities, and they ventured above the clouds -more than once. - -From the heights to the depths was a natural descent, and a submarine -took the motor boys under the ocean where they had more than one -thrill. Then they went back to their motor car and boat again; and had -more exciting times on road and river. - -In “The Motor Boys at Boxwood Hall; or, Ned, Bob and Jerry as -Freshmen,” the seventeenth book of this series, you will find our -heroes in a new phase. Too long, their parents decided, had they been -living a free and careless life, with no systematic studying to fit -them for the struggle that lay before them. So they were sent to school -again, and Boxwood Hall was the place selected for them. - -Because a certain clique there had the idea that these lads regarded -themselves too seriously, there was a conspiracy formed against Ned, -Bob and Jerry at the school, and they entered under a handicap. How -they worked it off, and came in “first under the wire,” will be found -fully set down. Also may be read how the faithful trio, at the last -moment, turned what might have been an athletic defeat into victory, -and, incidentally, helped a fellow student to develop his character -along the right lines. - -Mr. Slade and Mr. Baker were financially interested in a certain -western cattle ranch, and when it was learned that serious thefts had -taken place there the motor boys were eager to go out and try to solve -the mystery. How they did is told in “The Motor Boys on a Ranch.” - -From then on matters at Boxwood Hall went more smoothly, and Ned, Bob -and Jerry were accorded the place to which they were entitled. - -They had now come home for the Easter vacation, to find their town -plunged in war excitement, in which the whole country shared. - -“Do you mean you’re going to chase after that engine in this car?” -asked Bob, as he managed to fling himself into the rear seat, while -Jerry and Ned took the front one and the former started the motor. - -“That’s just what I’m going to do,” Jerry answered. “If Jim Foster, the -driver, has been thrown off, there’s no one aboard to stop the fire -horses.” - -“Well, Jim was thrown off all right!” exclaimed Ned. “They’ve picked -him up, and are carrying him into Doctor Newton’s place.” - -“Hank Tedder, the engineer, is hanging on all right,” added Bob, as he -peered down the street and observed a man clinging to the rear of the -swaying engine. - -“Yes, but he can’t climb over and get into Foster’s seat and stop the -horses,” decided Jerry, as he turned on more speed and swung his big -touring car after the engine ahead of him. “This is the only way to -stop those frightened horses.” - -“Unless some one gets in front of ’em and brings ’em up,” added Ned. - -“Who’d take a risk like that?” asked Bob, from the rear seat. “In fact, -I don’t see how you are going to work it, Jerry.” - -“I don’t quite know myself; but I’m going to try. You know the way a -mounted policeman stops a runaway team is to ride up alongside of -them, get his horse to going at the same speed as the bolters, and then -gradually bring them to a stop.” - -“And you’re going to try that?” asked Bob, incredulously. - -“Sure! Why not? It’s the only thing to do,” answered Jerry, calmly. “If -those horses keep on down the Hoyt street hill they’ll go smack into -the river! It’s a pity they didn’t get auto engines while they were at -it.” - -“That’s right!” agreed Ned. “Keep on, Jerry, old man!” - -“I will! Hold tight, though, fellows, when it comes to the last lap. -There may be an upset!” - -Indeed the boys were taking a desperate chance. The frightened horses, -hitched to the heavy engine, were pulling it along at top speed, and -the downward slope of the street added to their momentum. As yet -the grade was gradual, but, a little farther on, the slant was more -decided, leading down to the river. - -Hoyt street turned at the end, and went along the river bank, but at -the speed they were going it would be impossible for the horses to make -the turn, the boys thought. - -By this time a number of persons, some of whom had left the meeting, -were in the street, following after the runaway engine, and shouting -wildly. One or two persons in automobiles started after the speeding -horses, but Jerry’s car was well in the lead, though the horses had a -good start. - -The engineer of the steamer, realizing the danger should any -pedestrians or persons in vehicles get in the path of the wild horses, -pulling the tons of steel and fire behind them, kept the whistle going -spasmodically. - -The new engine house, as are all those in cities, was fitted with a -device to keep steam at ten pounds pressure constantly in the boiler. -When the engine pulled out this pressure was enough to operate the -whistle, and when the fire was started there was soon steam enough to -work the pump, in case it should prove to be needed. - -“Do you see anything of the fire?” asked Bob, as Jerry’s car speeded on. - -Ned looked up. The number of the alarm box indicated that it was in -the neighborhood of his father’s large department store. And he was -relieved when he saw no tell-tale glare in the sky. But the danger of -the runaway engine was still present. Could Jerry reach and stop the -team in time? - - - - -CHAPTER III - -“JUST AS EASY!” - - -Down the hill thundered the fire engine, the man on the back step -keeping the whistle going. Behind the steamer came the powerful -automobile containing Ned, Bob and Jerry, and after them came a crowd -of men and boys, while a car or two, not having the speed advantage of -the motor boys’ vehicle, trailed after. - -“If they make the turn into Water street, a block above the river, -they’ll be safe,” said Ned to his tall chum beside him in the seat. -“The hill isn’t so steep there. But if they keep on down past Water -street----” - -“It’s into the water for them!” grimly finished Jerry Hopkins. “We’ll -try to stop them before they get there.” - -He gave the auto a little more gasoline, and it leaped forward. At the -same moment Bob yelled: - -“There it is! See the blaze!” - -He pointed off to the left, and there a glare in the sky, which -increased in brightness as the boys looked, could be observed. - -“One of the tenements over in Frogtown!” exclaimed Ned, naming a poor -section of Cresville where lived a number of foreigners who worked in -the various factories. Of late a number of new industries had sprung -up in the place, and the foreigners, who made up a large share of -the workmen, were quartered in long rows of tenement houses, on the -outskirts of Cresville, the place being styled “Frogtown,” because -built on filled land, where once had been a frog-infested pond. - -“If those shacks get to going there’ll be some fire,” murmured Ned. -“And they’ll get a good start if the engine doesn’t soon reach the -place.” - -“Some one ought to send in another alarm, and bring out the other -engine,” added Bob. “This one won’t be much good if it goes to smash.” - -“We’ve no time to send in alarms now,” muttered Jerry. “Let some one -else do that. We’ve got to stop those horses if we can!” - -Ned and Bob clung to the sides of the car. This was in the lead now, -and nothing was between their automobile and the swaying, rumbling -engine. - -Suddenly Ned gave a cry and pointed to something. - -“What is it?” asked Jerry. “Another fire?” - -“Look at that old man! Right in the path of the engine! The horses’ll -be on him in a minute!” - -“That’s right!” chimed in Bob, from the rear seat. “Hi there! Get out -the way!” he yelled. “Don’t you see the engine?” - -Certainly the man at the side of the road, standing in the full glare -of an arc electric light, ought to have heard the rattle of the -runaway engine, even if he did not see it, though the place was well -illuminated, and there was then no other vehicle in sight, save the -automobile of the motor boys. There was something familiar about the -odd figure, but neither Ned, Bob nor Jerry had time just then to look -closely enough to make out who it was. - -“What’s he doing?” asked Jerry, as he skillfully guided his machine -and turned on a little more speed, for he was nearing the engine, and -wanted to be in a position to stop the runaway horses if he could. - -“He seems to be picking up something off the ground, under the light,” -went on Ned. “Get out the way! Get out the way!” he yelled. - -Then, for the first time, the little man at the side of the street -seemed aware of what was going on. - -“Look at him!” cried Jerry. - -“He’s right in the way of the horses!” added Ned. - -“And he’s going to try to stop ’em!” came from Bob. “Oh, boy! what’ll -happen to him?” - -And it was plain to the three chums that the little man was going to -make an effort to stop the runaways. At this point there was a slight -upward slant to the street, before it made the turn over the hill down -to the river. - -The horses had slackened their speed somewhat, but they were still -running at a smart pace, when the little man, first laying something -carefully down in the grass at a safe distance from the road, stepped -out, and began running alongside the runaways. - -“He knows something about the game,” murmured Ned. “Lots of folks that -try to stop a runaway horse get right in front. The only way to do is -to get alongside and grab the reins.” - -“That’s what he’s doing! That’s what he’s _done_!” cried Bob. - -And, indeed, the small man had. He ran alongside the off horse, until -he could reach up and grab the reins, and then he hung on and let his -weight tell. And it did, too, slight as it was. That, and the effect of -his voice (for the boys could hear him calling to the steeds to stop), -combined with the fact that the horses were tired and had a little hill -before them, gradually brought the runaways to a stop. The nigh horse -slipped and fell heavily, but the other retained its feet, and so did -the little man who had brought the animals to a stop. - -“Say, did you see him do it?” cried Jerry to his chums. - -“I should say yes!” chimed in Bob. - -“Just as easy!” murmured Ned, admiringly. “Just as easy!” - -“He certainly did know how to do it,” agreed Jerry, as he brought the -automobile to a stop near the throbbing engine, for now there was a -good head of steam up. The boys ran to where the little man still -stood. Ned was the first to reach him. The boy gave a cry. - -“Professor Snodgrass!” - -“What’s that?” asked Jerry, in surprise. - -“It’s our old friend, Professor Uriah Snodgrass!” - -“Great rattlesnakes, so it is!” shouted Bob. - -And it was, indeed, the professor, now a member of the faculty of -Boxwood Hall, and a companion, more than once, of the boys on their -trips. - -“Are you hurt, Professor?” asked Jerry, as he hurried to the side of -the little scientist, while the fireman of the steamer came forward to -relieve Mr. Snodgrass of the care of the standing horse. - -“Hurt? No. Why?” asked the surprised scientist. - -“Why because you stopped that runaway.” - -“Runaway? Was that a _runaway_?” asked Professor Snodgrass in great -surprise. - -“Of course it was!” cried Ned. “Didn’t you know it?” - -“A runaway? No, my dear boy, I did not. I heard some yelling, and I saw -the fire engine coming my way. But the reason I stopped it was because -a little while ago I saw, just beyond, in the road, a most curious bug -of a kind that only appears early in April in this locality. I was -eager to get it, and I was afraid, if the horses and engine trampled -the roadway, that I would lose the exceedingly rare specimen. That’s -why I stopped the animals. I had no idea that it was a runaway, but I’m -glad if I have been of any service. If you’ll excuse me, now, I’ll go -and look for that bug,” and, as though it was his custom every evening -after supper to stop a runaway fire engine in danger of plunging into -the river, Professor Snodgrass turned aside and began searching in the -dust for the bug he wanted. Off to one side, in the grass where he had -carefully placed it before stepping out to stop the horses, was the -collecting box the boys knew so well. - -“Isn’t he the limit?” cried Jerry. - -“Same old professor. Hasn’t changed a bit,” observed Bob. - -“Well, considering it was only about three weeks ago that we left him -at Boxwood Hall, there hasn’t been much time for change,” returned Ned, -with a laugh. “But say, fellows, what’s to be done?” he went on. “That -fire’s growing worse, and it looks as though one of these horses was -out of business.” - -“He is,” said Hank Tedder, the engineer. “His leg’s broke. He’ll never -pull another engine. And how I’m going to get this steamer to the -fire--first alarm it’s ever responded to--I don’t know.” - -The boys did not either--that is Ned and Bob did not. But Jerry did. He -was always resourceful. - -“Unhitch the horses!” he cried to Hank. “Push the engine back so it -clears, and we’ll tow it to the fire with our auto.” - -“Can you?” asked Ned. - -“Sure. We’ve got plenty of power, and it’s a level road from here on. -Downhill, if anything. You can ride on the seat, Hank, and put on the -brake when it’s needed. Come on, boys!” - -“All right. And it can’t be any too soon!” murmured Bob, as he looked -at the reddening sky. - -“They may send the other engine,” said Jake Todger, another fireman -who came up in some one’s automobile just then. He worked to free the -injured horse while the boys unharnessed the other one. Professor -Snodgrass seemed to have forgotten about everything but the bug he was -looking for in the dust of the road, under the electric light. - -With straps from the harness, and a strong towline carried on the auto, -the machine was soon hitched to the steamer, and then Jerry once more -took his position at the steering wheel. - -“Going to leave the professor here?” asked Bob, as Hank climbed to the -driver’s seat of the steamer, while Jake got on behind. - -“Guess we’ll have to,” replied Ned. “I didn’t know he was in town. He -must have just arrived, and probably he has come to pay one of us a -visit. He’ll look us up later--when he’s found that bug. Best to leave -him alone.” - -“That’s right,” agreed Jake. “Anything to get to the fire. This has -been an awful night!” - -“And it’s only just begun,” observed Jerry, as he thought of the -patriotic meeting he and the others had left to go to see where the -fire was. - -Off started the powerful automobile pulling the engine, while the red -blaze in the sky grew brighter. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -CROOKED NOSE - - -“Some fire, boys!” - -“Yes, we aren’t going to get there any too soon.” - -“I doubt if we can save any of the old shacks if they get going.” - -Thus spoke Ned, Bob and Jerry as they sat in the automobile, pulling -the fire engine along the road. It was not as easy as Jerry had thought -it would be, and he had to use the utmost power of his car, strong as -it was; for the steamer was heavy, and the roads were of dirt. But it -was the only solution of the difficulty, with one horse disabled, and -no others immediately available. - -“Can you make it, boys?” asked Hank, from his seat in front of the -throbbing engine. - -“We will make it, or bust a cylinder!” exclaimed Jerry, as he turned -off the road into a cross street that led to Frogtown, the scene of the -fire. - -On chugged the automobile, and behind it rumbled the fire engine. The -machine was not of the heaviest construction, or perhaps Jerry’s -car, powerful as the latter was, could not have pulled it. But, as it -happened, it was possible to move it along at good speed, and they were -soon at the head of the street on which stood the burning structure. - -“It’s one of the big tenements!” cried Ned. - -“Yes, and it’s gone beyond saving, I guess,” added Jerry. “The engine -didn’t get here in time.” - -This was evident to all. The tenement, a long, rambling structure of -wood, three stories high, was blazing at one end. Already about half of -it had been consumed and had fallen in red ruins. The wind was blowing -the flames toward the unburned portion, and it was only a question of -time when it would all go. - -“Here comes the other engine!” some one shouted, as Jerry drew the one -he was pulling up to a fire plug. - -“They’d better try to save the rest of the block, and let this shebang -go!” exclaimed Jake Todger, as he jumped down and began to attach the -big hose from the hydrant to the pump. - -Two hose carts were on hand, one belonging to the engine the boys had -pulled to the fire, and the members of the department began to attach -the line to the engine. - -“We’ll have a stream on in a jiffy!” exclaimed Jake. “But the second -engine’d better play on the other end of the block to keep that from -catchin’.” - -This seemed to be the idea of the chief of the fire department, for he -came rushing up, and gave orders that the tenement adjoining the one -that was ablaze, should be kept wet down. - -“You play on the fire itself, Jake!” the chief ordered. “What happened -to your engine, and where’s the driver?” - -“Pitched off and hurt, I guess. Bad, too. The horses ran away an’ one’s -got a busted leg. Jerry Hopkins and his chums pulled the engine here -with their auto.” - -“Good for them! Well, get busy.” - -Jerry ran his car out of the way, and then the engine he had brought to -the blaze began pumping. Soon two powerful streams were available, one -playing on the blaze itself, and the other forming a curtain of water -to prevent the fire from spreading. - -“Anybody hurt?” asked Jerry of the chief. - -“No, I guess not. We got most of the folks out before your engine got -here. I’m much obliged to you. I don’t know what we’d have done if we -hadn’t had both engines.” - -The fire was a fierce one, and many of the families had hurried out -with only a small portion of their possessions. But it was something -to have escaped with their lives, for the fire was caused by the -explosion of an oil stove a woman was using, and the flames spread -rapidly. The woman was badly burned, as was one of her children, and -they had been taken to the hospital. - -“Think they can save any of it?” asked Bob of Jerry, as they stood -watching, having put their automobile in a safe place. - -“Not any of the tenement that’s burning, I don’t. They’ll be lucky if -the rest of the block doesn’t go.” - -“That’s what I think,” added Ned. “Say, hadn’t we better go back to the -professor?” he asked. “Maybe he’ll think it funny of us to have gone -off and left him.” - -“You ought to know him better than that by this time!” exclaimed Jerry, -with a laugh. “He won’t think about anything but that bug he’s trying -to catch. The idea of stopping a runaway team of fire engine horses, -and not knowing it! Just stopped ’em because he thought they’d trample -on some insect! And then you think he’ll feel hurt if we don’t come -back after him! - -“Just let him alone. Sooner or later he’ll show up at one of our homes, -and then we can find out what he’s doing in this neighborhood now.” - -“Maybe he’s planning some expedition to South America, or some place -like that, and he wants us to go with him,” said Bob. “We have had -some corking times with him.” - -“Nothing like that doing now,” observed Ned. “We’ve got to stick on at -Boxwood Hall, I expect. Of course it’s a dandy place, and all that, but -I would like a trip off into the wilds. And if we could take Professor -Snodgrass along it would be dandy.” - -But events were to shape themselves differently for the motor boys. -Those of you who have read the previous books of the series need no -introduction to Professor Snodgrass. He was a scientist of learning and -attainments, and in the boys he had firm friends. They had taken him -with them on nearly all of their trips, by automobile, in the airships, -in the submarines, and when they journeyed in their motor boats. - -The professor had been connected with colleges and museums, for his -services as a collector and curator of insects and reptiles were much -in demand. He was an enthusiast of the first water, and would do even -more desperate and risky things to secure a rare bug than stopping a -runaway fire engine. - -Of late he had headed a department at Boxwood Hall, and the boys were -glad of this, for he proved as good a friend to them there as he had -afield on their various trips. - -They had left him at Boxwood, about three weeks before, quietly and -peacefully cataloging some of his insects, and now they beheld him in -the midst of considerable excitement. The professor seldom sent word -that he was coming. He just came. - -“Look!” suddenly cried Jerry, as he and his chums stood watching the -blaze. “What’s the idea over there?” and he pointed to where some -firemen were raising a ladder at the still unburned end of the blazing -tenement. - -“Looks like a rescue,” observed Ned. - -“That’s what it is,” said Bob. “They’re taking down an old woman!” - -“And some children!” added Jerry. - -This was what was going on. Two families, in the top story of the end -of the structure not yet directly on fire, had either been overlooked -in the other rescues, or they had hidden away in fear, and were not -seen. - -Now some one had either told of them, or the unfortunates had been -seen at the windows, and a call was given for a ladder. One was raised -against the wall, and two firemen went up. They succeeded in bringing -down the woman and the children, who had been trapped when the stairs -burned away. - -A cheer greeted the plucky efforts of the firemen, for the rescue was -not an easy one. Ned, Bob and Jerry joined in the tribute. All around -was the crackle of flames, and thick clouds of smoke rolled here and -there, smarting eyes and choking throats. The throbbing and puffing -of the steamers mingled with the shouts and orders that flew back and -forth. - -Suddenly a cry arose at the far end of the burning tenement; the end -that could not longer be held back from the flames. - -The three chums ran to where the cry sounded, and observed, leaning out -of a second story window on the end of the house, an old man. Smoke -poured from the window back of him, and behind him could be seen the -ruddy flames, ever coming nearer. - -“Another one they’ve forgotten,” cried Ned. - -“Or else he hid away, or has been unconscious,” added Bob. - -“They’ve got to get him soon!” exclaimed Jerry. - -But the firemen, and there were none too many of them even with the -whole department out, were busy elsewhere. Some were attending the -nozzles, others were helping at the engines and some were still -carrying to places of safety the women and children brought down from -the front of the blazing structure. - -“We’ve got to get him down!” cried Jerry. - -“If we only had a ladder!” added Ned. - -“Here’s one!” shouted Bob, and he pointed to a short one that had been -thrown on the ground, evidently as of no use in reaching the women and -children who were taken from the floor higher up. - -“Will it reach?” asked Ned. - -“We’ve got to try,” Jerry yelled. “Bring it over!” - -With the aid of his chums, he raised it against the window. Just then -part of the house fell in, and the crowd surged back, thinking to get -out of danger, so the boys were left comparatively to themselves in -making this rescue. - -“Hold the ladder at the foot, Bob,” directed Jerry; “it isn’t any too -firm. Ned and I’ll go up and see if we can get him down.” - -The old man, half choked from smoke, was leaning from the window now, -shouting as well as he could with his feeble breath. - -“Don’t jump!” yelled Ned. “We’re coming after you!” - -Quickly he started up the ladder, followed by Jerry. The old man held -out his arms to them imploringly. - -Bob braced himself against the foot of the ladder to prevent it from -slipping, and for once in his life he was glad that he was fat and -heavy. He made a good anchor. - -“Keep still! We’re coming! We’re coming!” yelled Jerry. - -The aged man was excited and fearful, and small wonder. The smoke, -pouring from the window around him, was thicker now, and the flames -back of him were brighter. - -Up and up went Ned and Jerry. When they came closer they could hear the -old man shouting: - -“My money! My money! I must get my money and the jewelry!” - -They were at the window now, the ladder just reaching to it, with not a -foot to spare. - -“Never mind about your money and jewelry!” shouted Jerry. “You’ll be -lucky to get off with your life. Come on, we’ll help you down!” - -“No, I must get my money! I can not afford to lose it! I must go back -and get it, and get the jewelry! They took some but I saved the rest.” - -He turned as though to hobble back into the smoke filled and fire -encircled room. - -“You’ll be burned to death if you go!” shouted Jerry. - -“Oh, but I must get my money!” whined the aged man. “Crooked Nose came -for it, but I hid some of it away from him. I must get it. I don’t -want Crooked Nose to get it! Oh, wait until I get my money!” and he -disappeared from the casement. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE ODD MAN - - -“We’ve got to get him!” cried Jerry to Ned. - -“Sure thing! He’ll be burned to death in there in less than a minute! -What’s he mean about Crooked Nose?” - -“Hanged if I know! But don’t stop to ask questions. Go on up. I’ll be -right after you. We’ve got to get him. Stand firm, Bob!” Jerry yelled -to his chum at the foot of the ladder. - -“Right!” answered the stout one, making his voice heard above the -various noises of the fire. - -Up the ladder went Ned and Jerry, pausing a moment as they got to the -point where they could look into the room. The smoke had blown away for -the time being. - -“There he is!” cried Ned, pointing to a figure huddled on the floor. - -The two boys leaped into the room, taking big gulps of fresh air to -hold in their lungs as long as possible, for they saw that the wind was -blowing the smoke into the room again. - -They caught hold of the old man. He appeared to be a Frenchman, though -he spoke good English. The boys lifted him up, and this seemed to -restore his scattered senses. - -“Wait! Wait!” he murmured. “My money! I must get my money. And that -jewelry! Crooked Nose got some of it, but I hid the most. He shan’t -have it! I must save it. In the iron box! Get it for me! Don’t let -Crooked Nose have it!” - -“He’s raving!” said Ned. - -“Don’t talk! Save your breath!” mumbled Jerry, doing just what he -warned his chum against. “Catch hold and----” - -He did not finish, but nodded in the direction of the open window. The -room was lighted by the reflection of flames outside. Ned understood, -and, taking hold of the old man’s legs one of which seemed to be -crippled, while Jerry supported his head, they carried him to the -casement. - -Jerry got out first, while Ned held the old man, who kept muttering -something about “Crooked Nose,” and “money and jewelry.” The boys paid -little attention then, though the time was to come when the incident -would be brought back to them in a startling manner. - -Once again on the ladder, Jerry called: - -“Now work him out till he hangs over my shoulder like a sack of flour, -Ned. I can carry him down that way. He isn’t heavy. Hold him steady -until I give the word.” - -“All right,” answered his chum, and then the two proceeded to save the -old man. Ned shifted the burden until it rested on the window sill. The -Frenchman was either unconscious now, or incapable of motion, for he -was as limp and inert as Jerry could wish, and he was easier to handle -in that way. Getting him over his shoulder, as he might a sack of -flour, Jerry started down the ladder with his burden. - -Ned gave one last look around the room where the old man seemed to have -lived all alone. There was a bed in one corner, and a stove in the -other, with a few poor possessions. - -“I don’t see anything of Crooked Nose or a box of money, or jewelry -either,” murmured Ned. “I guess he was out of his head through fear. I -might take another look, but----” - -Just then there was a sound indicating that a large portion of the -structure had fallen in. This was followed by such a burst of flame and -smoke into the room that Ned was almost trapped. He made a dive for the -window and got out on the ladder. Down it he hurried, after Jerry and -his burden, and he was not a moment too soon, for an instant later the -flames burst from the window in a volume sufficient to have overwhelmed -any one who had been in the apartment. - -“Just in time,” murmured Ned, as he came to the ground, a few seconds -after Jerry reached it. - -Willing hands took the burden of the old man, and he was carried to a -place where volunteer nurses and a physician worked over him. - -By this time the tenement house was a mass of flames. The fire involved -the end where the old Frenchman had lived, and there was no hope of -saving it. The place was like a tinder-box, and soon after Jerry and -Ned had left it the roof at that end fell in. - -Quickly the fire burned itself out, and then came the problem of caring -for the unfortunates who had lost nearly everything, and who were -homeless. Kind friends and neighbors took in such as they could. - -“How’s our Frenchman?” asked Ned of Jerry, as they were about to go -to their automobile and depart for home, since the high point of the -excitement had passed. - -“I don’t know. We might take a look.” - -A policeman directed them to a near-by store, where several firemen -and spectators had been treated for cuts from glass or partial smoke -suffocation, and there the boys found the old Frenchman. He was a -cripple, with a stiff left leg, and had suffered much from shock. He -was in great distress of mind. - -“These are the boys who brought you down the ladder, who saved you,” -said a doctor, pointing to Ned and Jerry. - -The man murmured something in his own expressive language, and then, as -if realizing that the boys could not understand very well, though they -knew some French, he said, in English: - -“I can never thank you enough! You saved my life! But tell me, did you -see Crooked Nose or my iron box of money and jewelry?” - -“No,” answered Jerry gently. He thought the old man was still wandering -in his faculties. - -“Who is Crooked Nose?” asked Ned. - -“He is a villain!” exclaimed the Frenchman, whose name, some one said, -was Jules Cardon. “He is a villain who tried to rob me of all I had. He -got some of my money and some of the jewelry, but the rest I put in the -iron box and locked. Then I hid it. But the fire came and I could not -find it. Then I remember no more. But if you find Crooked Nose you will -catch a great scoundrel, and perhaps find my money and the precious -jewelry.” - -“Is Crooked Nose a man?” asked Jerry. - -“Yes. He came to see me this evening. He knew me in France--many years -ago. He demanded money. I would not give it to him, and he said he -would take it, or he would---- Well, he made threats. I hid most of the -money and the jewelry, but I forgot where I put it when the fire came. -Oh, was it burned?” - -“Well, if it was left in there I should say it was,” replied Jerry, as -he looked at the glowing ruins. “Nothing much left there.” - -“But maybe Crooked Nose took it,” suggested Mr. Cardon. “He is a -villain.” - -“What’s his name?” asked Bob. - -The crippled old Frenchman shook his head. - -“It would be of no use to tell you,” he said. “He changes his name too -often. Crooked Nose, I call him. He can’t change that!” - -The old man seemed much improved, bodily, but his mental anguish was -pitiable. Again and again he implored to be allowed to go back and look -for his money, but of course this could not be. What was left of the -ruins was a mass of blazing wood. - -Then, when he seemed to think that all was lost, the old man became -calmer, and told a more connected story. - -The old Frenchman was an engraver by trade and had worked for many -years in New York, doing fine engraving for some leading jewelers. Then -he had become crippled by an accident and had moved to Cresville for -his health. In Cresville he had managed to pick up considerable work -from the local jewelers, doing the engraving on rings, watches, and -silver and gold ware for them. - -“I have much jewelry to engrave!” he said, with a sorrowful shake -of his head. “I have a fine gold watch, and a silver tea set, and a -magnificent diamond brooch, and other things. Now--where are they?” and -he shrugged his shoulders despairingly. - -“Gee, that will be a big loss for somebody!” remarked Ned. - -Just before the fire broke out the old Frenchman had had a visitor. -This, as he explained, was a “queer stick of a man with a very crooked -nose.” - -“He got it in a fight in France many years ago,” said Mr. Cardon. “I -had not seen him in a long time. How he found me and my money and the -jewelry I do not know. But he threatened, and would have hurt me, had I -not given him some. But I hid the most of it, and then the fire came. -It came after Crooked Nose went out. Maybe he set the blaze. He was -wicked enough. Oh, my money is lost--and that jewelry I was trusted -with!” - -“It is if it was in there. But maybe that fellow you call Crooked Nose -got it,” suggested Jerry. “You can have a look in the ruins after they -cool.” - -There was nothing more the motor boys could do, and, learning that some -of the neighbors would care for the old Frenchman, they got ready to -go home. - -“Hadn’t we better go back and see what has become of Professor -Snodgrass?” asked Bob, as they reached their automobile. - -“Well, it might be a good plan,” agreed Jerry. - -“Some of the bugs he is after may have carried him off,” suggested Ned, -with a laugh. - -They started for the place where the runaway fire horses had been -caught by Mr. Snodgrass. - -“This has been what you might call a ‘large’ evening,” remarked Jerry, -as he guided the car. - -“Somewhat juicy,” added Ned. - -“Speaking of juicy reminds me of a broiled steak,” put in Bob. “What do -you say to a little supper? I’m hungry.” - -“For once I agree with your gastronomic suggestion,” replied Jerry. -“What say, Ned?” - -“I’m with you. Let’s include the professor if we can find him.” - -They reached the scene where they had last observed their friend, but -he was not in sight. The horse lay there, having been shot to end its -suffering, and then the boys went on into town. - -There they telephoned to their people that they were all right and -would be home later, at the same time mentioning the fact that -Professor Snodgrass was in town, and would probably call if he did not -get on some bug-hunting chase that kept him out all night. - -As the boys entered a restaurant they almost collided with, or, rather, -were fairly run into by, a man who seemed in great haste. He acted in -a peculiar manner, turning his face aside as if to escape observation, -and hurried on out. - -“Well, you’re a gentleman!” angrily murmured Jerry, who had received -the full impact of the odd character. - -“Didn’t even say: ‘Excuse me!’ did he?” asked Ned. - -“Nothing like it. He must be going to catch a train!” - -Bob, who was just behind his chums, turned quickly and looked after the -man. - -“Did you see him?” he asked. - -“Did I _see_ him. I _felt_ him!” declared Jerry, with a rueful laugh. - -“And did you notice?” went on Bob, in some excitement. - -“Notice what?” Ned inquired. - -“His crooked nose! It was all on one side of his face. Say, fellows, -maybe that’s the man who tried to rob the old Frenchman!” exclaimed Bob -in a tense whisper. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - - -Jerry and Ned looked at Bob quickly, and then darted glances after the -man who had so rudely pushed out of the door, almost upsetting Jerry on -his way. - -“Did he really have a crooked nose?” asked Ned. - -“He sure did! I had a good view of his side face, and his nose looked -as though he had been a football player most of his life, and had -fallen on his nose instead of on the pigskin.” - -Ned darted out to the sidewalk, and looked up and down the street. He -came back to report. - -“The man, Crooked Nose or not, isn’t in sight,” he said. “But if you -think it’s worth while postponing the meal----” - -“No, don’t!” hastily begged Bob. “Maybe after we caught up to him it -wouldn’t be the right man.” - -“I’m inclined to agree with you there,” said Jerry. “We have only this -Frenchman’s word for it, and there is probably more than one man with -a crooked nose in Cresville. We can’t go up to the first chap we meet -who’s decorated that way and accuse him of taking money and jewelry or -setting fire to a house. It won’t do.” - -“No,” assented Ned. “We might properly call him down for his manner of -colliding with us, but that isn’t criminal. I guess we’ll just have -to let him go, and second Bob’s motion to hold a grub-fest. I have an -appetite, even with all the smoke I swallowed.” - -“Same here,” said Jerry. “That Frenchman may have been dreaming. But he -tells a funny story, and Crooked Nose, as we’ll call him until we think -of a better name, did seem to want to get off without being recognized.” - -“He actually seemed afraid of us,” went on Ned. “He came out of here -like a shot as soon as he saw us. I’m sure there’s something wrong -about him, and there may be more in the Frenchman’s story than has yet -come out.” - -“We can go and see him to-morrow,” suggested Jerry. “But we’d better -look after Professor Snodgrass a little now. He may be at one of our -houses expecting us; that is, if he hasn’t found a new colony of bugs.” - -So the boys proceeded with their meal, talking meanwhile about the -events of the night. - -“I wonder how the patriotic meeting made out?” asked Ned. - -“We can pass there on our way home,” said Jerry. “I guess there will be -plenty of such from now on, since Uncle Sam has decided to take a fall -out of the Kaiser.” - -But as the boys, in their automobile, rode past the auditorium, it -was closed and dark, showing that the meeting was over. That it was a -success they heard from several persons to whom they spoke as they rode -through the streets of the small city on their way to Jerry’s house, -since it was decided to stop there first, to see if Professor Snodgrass -was visiting Mrs. Hopkins. - -And it was there they found him, talking to Jerry’s mother, who was -entertaining the little scientist, meanwhile wondering what was keeping -the boys. - -“Well, how does it feel to be a hero?” asked Ned, as he greeted the -professor. - -“A hero?” murmured Mr. Snodgrass, wonderingly. - -“Yes. Didn’t he tell you, Mother?” inquired Jerry. “He stopped the team -that was running away with the fire engine and----” - -“And you never mentioned it, Professor!” exclaimed Mrs. Hopkins. - -“Too modest!” murmured Jerry. - -“Really, I never gave it a thought,” said the visitor. “In fact, I -didn’t notice anything about the vehicle in question. I only saw some -horses coming down the road, and I didn’t want them to step on a -colony of bugs I wished to investigate. That is all there was to it. -But did the fire amount to anything, boys?” - -“Yes, it was some fire,” answered Bob. “And, what’s more, Jerry and Ned -did a bit of hero work themselves,” and he related the incident of the -rescue of the Frenchman. - -“Oh, it wasn’t anything!” declared Jerry, as he saw his mother looking -proudly at him. “Bob was in it, too. If he hadn’t been so fat he -couldn’t have kept the ladder from slipping.” - -“That’s right!” chimed in Ned. “I guess we can all congratulate -ourselves.” - -“How was the meeting?” asked Mrs. Hopkins. - -“We didn’t hear much of it,” answered Jerry. “Came out when it was less -than half over, to see about the fire, and we’ve been busy ever since. -But say, Professor, what do you think about this declaration of war -with Germany?” - -“I think it was the only thing the people of the United States could -do with honor and with a regard for their own rights and the cause of -humanity,” was the quick answer. “We’ll all have to get into the fight -sooner or later, and in one way or another. I think there are stirring -times ahead of us, boys.” - -The talk became general, and Professor Snodgrass told of having heard -from a fellow scientist that a certain kind of insect was to be found -in the vicinity of Cresville, and so he had decided to come on a little -expedition in the few days that remained of the Easter vacation. - -“We’re glad to see you,” declared Jerry. “Are you counting on going -anywhere else after bugs?” - -“Not just at present,” answered the scientist. “I have found just what -I want right here, so it won’t be necessary to get out the airship or -the submarine this time.” - -“I wish we could,” sighed Ned. “It seems a shame that all our good -times have to be curtailed for a while, and that we have to go back to -Boxwood Hall.” - -“That’s the place for you boys, for some years yet,” said Mrs. Hopkins. -“You have had your share of fun, and you must now be content to do a -little serious work.” - -“That is right,” chimed in Professor Snodgrass. “But I have not given -up all hope of making other trips with you boys. I haven’t forgotten -the stirring times we have had. There may be more ahead of us, though -when the country actually gets into war every one will have to give up -some pleasures.” - -The boys related the incidents of the fire, incidentally speaking of -the Frenchman’s real or fancied loss of his money and the jewelry and -about the man with the crooked nose. - -“Oh, I think I know that crippled Frenchman!” cried Mrs. Hopkins -suddenly. “He does work for Mr. Martley, the jeweler. Oh, I wonder if -it can be true,” and she gave a gasp. - -“What is it, Mother?” demanded Jerry, who saw that something was wrong. - -“I sent that new diamond brooch I bought last month at Martley’s back -to be engraved. Perhaps Mr. Martley let that Frenchman have it.” - -“He mentioned a diamond brooch.” - -“If it is mine and it is gone!” Mrs. Hopkins clasped her hands. “It -cost eight hundred dollars!” - -“In that case Martley will have to pay for it,” added Jerry quickly. - -“Yes, Jerry. But it will make a lot of trouble,” sighed his mother. - -“Was that man’s nose bent to the left?” asked Professor Snodgrass, -looking up from a dried bug he was inspecting, for he carried specimens -in almost every pocket, and looked at them whenever he had a chance. - -“Yes, and it was quite a bend, too,” said Bob. “Why do you ask, Mr. -Snodgrass?” - -“Because I think I saw the same man shortly after you boys left me to -go to the fire, dragging the engine with your auto. I was in the middle -of the road, getting some of the insects into my specimen box, when I -was almost trodden on by a man who was hurrying past. I looked up to -remonstrate with him, and then I saw that he had a very crooked nose. -Before I had a chance to say all I wanted to about his manners, or, -rather, lack of them, he hurried on.” - -“It must have been the same chap,” declared Jerry. “His rudeness shows -that. He did the same thing to us. We must keep our eyes open, and, if -we see him around town, we’ll find out who he is.” - -Professor Snodgrass not only spent the night at Mrs. Hopkins’ house, -but his visit extended over several days. - -During that time some highly interesting facts came to light. - -It was learned that at the time of the fire the old crippled French -jeweler had had a great number of things in his possession to engrave, -entrusted to him by two of the local jewelers, Mr. Martley and Mr. -Jackson. - -Among the things given to him by Mr. Martley were the diamond brooch -belonging to Mrs. Hopkins and also a gold watch which was the property -of Mr. Baker, Bob’s father. Both of these valuable articles were now -missing--and even when the ruins of the fire were searched they were -not brought to light. - -Of course both Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Baker were much disturbed, and so -was Mr. Martley. The jeweler was in a bad way financially, and this -made matters worse than ever for him. His creditors came down on him -immediately and the next day he had to make an assignment. The other -jeweler was better fixed and settled up promptly for his losses. - -“It looks as if my father would be out his watch,” said Bob to his -chums. “And such a fine timepiece too! It cost a hundred and sixty -dollars!” - -“That isn’t as bad as my mother’s loss,” returned Jerry. “That diamond -brooch cost eight hundred dollars!” - -“Martley was a fool to trust the old Frenchman with the things.” - -“He knows that--now. Not but what I guess the old man was honest -enough. But it was a careless thing to do.” - -“Maybe Crooked Nose got the things.” - -“If he did, I hope we get Crooked Nose.” - -“So do I. I don’t think we’ll get much out of Martley. He’s too deeply -in debt, so I’ve heard.” - -Professor Snodgrass was still at the Hopkins home and the boys went -with him on one or two short trips, looking for bugs. But there was, on -their part, not much interest in the work. They were, as was every one -else in town, too much absorbed in the exciting events that followed -the entrance of the United States into the war against Germany. - -It was about a week after the fire, when Ned, Bob and Jerry were out -in their automobile, discussing what they would do at the coming term -of school, that they passed a newspaper office and stopped to read the -bulletin. - -“Look at that, fellows!” cried Jerry. - -“What is it?” asked Bob, whose view was obstructed by Ned. - -“It’s a call for volunteers to fight the Kaiser,” was the answer. -“There may be a draft, later, fellows, and the volunteers are the boys -who go first!” Jerry rose in his seat to read the bulletin over the -heads of the crowd. - -“The first call for volunteers,” he murmured. Then, with a suddenness -that was startling, he exclaimed: - -“Fellows, this hits us! I’m going to offer myself to Uncle Sam! Are you -with me?” - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHUNKY’S TROUBLE - - -Ned Slade clapped Jerry Hopkins on the back with such vigor that the -latter almost lost his balance. - -“What does that mean?” Jerry asked. - -“It means I’m with you!” was the answer. “We’ll all enlist and start -for the other side as soon as they’ll let us! I was just wishing for -some excuse to get out of going back to Boxwood Hall, and this’ll be it -all right!” - -“Do you think we can make it?” asked Bob. “I mean will our folks let us -cut school?” - -“Oh, I guess so,” answered Jerry easily, though, to tell the truth, he -had some doubts about it. - -“Let’s go somewhere and ask about enlisting,” suggested Ned. “We want -to get into this as soon as we can, and the sooner the better. There -must be some way of finding out the quickest way of getting into the -army.” - -“Let’s go and ask Colonel Wentworth,” suggested Jerry. “He’ll know, all -right.” - -“You said it!” agreed Ned. “Say, this is great! I wonder if----” - -He was interrupted by a cheer from the crowd in front of the bulletin -board. - -“Are they applauding our recent determination to enlist?” asked Jerry, -as the car started up the street toward the office of Colonel Wentworth. - -“No, it’s just a new item on the bulletin board, about the state -militia being mobilized.” - -“That means business,” said Jerry. “Oh, boy! but I hope we can get into -this game from the very start.” - -They drove to the office of Colonel Wentworth, who carried on a -real-estate business when he was not making patriotic addresses. They -found the old soldier holding forth to a circle of friends about what -the United States ought to do, and what it ought to avoid, in the -coming conflict. - -“Ah, good morning, boys!” he greeted Ned, Bob and Jerry. “Come in and -sit down. I’ll attend to you in just a moment. Now, as I was saying, -Mr. Benson----” - -“Oh, we didn’t come on business; that is, not real-estate business,” -said Jerry quickly. “And we don’t want to take up much of your time. We -just want to ask where’s the nearest place to go to enlist, and how do -you do it.” - -The eyes of Colonel Wentworth sparkled brightly. He clasped the hand of -Jerry Hopkins and exclaimed: - -“What did I tell you, gentlemen? Didn’t I say that the youth of this -land would rally to the colors as soon as the call went forth? Here is -proof of it! Boys, I’m proud of you! Cresville will be proud of you! -And generations to come will be proud of you!” - -The colonel seemed starting on one of his orations, but he caught -himself in season and said: - -“There is no time like the present. There is a recruiting station of -the regular army at Richfield,” naming the nearest large city. “I’ll -take you over there and see that you sign up. Are you old enough to -enlist without the consent of your parents? If you’re not we’ll first -stop and see them and----” - -“I guess we’d better stop and see them anyhow,” suggested Ned. “We’re -none of us twenty-one yet, and I guess it’d be better to get formal -permission.” - -“Yes, it would,” the colonel told them. “I have not the slightest doubt -in the world but what the consent will be given, but it makes it easier -if it is first obtained.” - -“We’ll go home then,” went on Ned, “and get the consents in writing. -What we wanted to know was the nearest place to volunteer, and you’ve -told us that.” - -“Glad to have done it!” exclaimed the enthusiastic colonel. “Don’t -hesitate to call on me if I can be of the slightest assistance to you. -Good-bye and good luck!” - -And, as they left his office, Ned, Bob and Jerry could hear the former -soldier telling his friends: - -“That’s the spirit of ’Seventy-six reincarnated! That’s what’s going to -beat the Kaiser!” - -“I hope we get a shot at him all right,” murmured Jerry, as they went -down to their automobile. “What do you think about your folks, Ned? -Will they let you go?” - -“Oh, I guess so. I heard dad saying the other night he wished he was -young enough to enlist, so he ought to be glad to have me take his -place.” - -“I fear my mother will make a fuss at first,” said Jerry, “but she’ll -give in finally, I think. The one trouble will be about school. She has -her heart set on having me graduate from Boxwood Hall.” - -“Oh, well, you can come back and finish the course,” said Ned. “How -does it strike you, Chunky? You won’t be sorry to cut the books, will -you?” - -“No, I guess not,” was the rather slow answer. “Oh, of course I’ll be -glad to get out of going back to Boxwood Hall. It’s nice there, and all -that, but I’d rather go to a soldier’s camp.” - -There was something in the way Bob spoke that made Ned remark to Jerry, -a little later: - -“I wonder what’s the matter with Chunky? He didn’t seem to enthuse very -much.” - -“No, he didn’t, that’s a fact,” admitted Jerry. “Maybe he has a little -indigestion.” - -“I should think he would have, the way he eats. But I don’t believe -it’s indigestion this time. Something’s wrong with Bob, and I’d like to -know what it is.” - -But Ned was so occupied with his own affairs, wondering whether or not -his parents would consent to his enlisting, that he did not give the -matter of his stout chum much consideration just then. - -As might have been expected, there was a momentary opposition on the -part of Mrs. Hopkins as regarded Jerry, and on the part of Mr. and Mrs. -Slade and Mr. and Mrs. Baker as to their sons. And it was not from any -lack of patriotism. It was merely that they felt the boys were a little -too young to be of real service to their country. - -“If you were a little older, I’d at once say go,” said Mrs. Hopkins to -Jerry. “I want you to serve your country. But I think you can best do -it, now, by getting a good education, and enlisting later.” - -“It may be too late then, Mother,” said Jerry. “There is talk of a -draft, and while those who go under the forced call will be just as -good soldiers as the volunteers, I’d like to volunteer.” - -“But what about school? I don’t want to see you lose all the advantage -your studies will give you.” - -“I can take them up later.” - -Both Jerry and his mother, as did other boys and other parents, seemed -to ignore the chance that there would be many who would not come back. -But it is always that way, and it is a good thing it is. - -“What are Bob’s parents, and Ned’s, going to do?” asked Mrs. Hopkins. - -“I’ll find out,” answered Jerry. - -In the end there was a family council, and the matter was gone over in -detail. The boys were so much in earnest, as the war fervor swept over -the country, that Mr. Slade said: - -“Well, I don’t see, as patriotic citizens, that we can do any less than -let our boys do their share. They are strong and healthy. There will be -no trouble about passing the physical tests, I imagine.” - -“The only trouble is about school,” said Mr. Baker. “The spring term is -about to begin, and I understand there are some important studies to be -taken up in anticipation of the final examinations.” - -“There are,” said Ned. “But we aren’t the only ones who will be out of -school. Lots of the boys are volunteering. And some have already gone -to France to drive ambulances or fly aeroplanes. Fully a score of the -fellows we know, and some we aren’t intimate with, won’t come back to -Boxwood Hall.” - -“Are you sure about this?” asked his father. - -“I had it from Professor Snodgrass,” was the answer, for by the time -of this family council the scientist had returned to Boxwood Hall. -“And, what’s more, a lot of the members of the faculty are going to -volunteer, also. Boxwood Hall won’t be the same place it was before the -war.” - -“Well, in that case,” said Mr. Baker, “probably some rules will be made -about those who drop out on account of volunteering. They may be given -certain credits, and allowed to make up the lost time by degrees. I -don’t see, Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Slade, but what the boys have won their -point.” - -“Then are we to consent to their enlisting?” asked Jerry’s mother, -and she was not ashamed of the tears in her eyes nor the catch in her -voice, for Jerry was an only son and his mother was a widow. When Jerry -went there would be only his sister Susie left. - -“I shall consent to Ned’s going,” said Mr. Slade. - -“And Bob has my permission,” added Mr. Baker. “He’s getting too stout, -anyhow. It may do him good.” - -“You may go, Jerry,” said Mrs. Hopkins. - -“Fine, Mother! I knew you’d say I might! And now, boys, let’s go and -see Colonel Wentworth and find out what the next step is.” - -They hurried to their automobile and were soon speeding toward the -office of the former soldier. He received them with delight, and gave -them a letter of introduction to the recruiting officer at Richfield. - -“Let’s go right over and sign up!” proposed Ned eagerly. - -“Might as well,” added Ned. “How about it, Chunky?” - -“Well, I s’pose if we’re going to enlist we’ve got to sign, or do -something, but I was thinking we might wait a few days and----” - -“Wait?” cried Jerry. - -“What for?” demanded Ned. - -Bob did not answer at once, but on his face there was a troubled look. -His chums wondered what it meant. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A PRO-GERMAN MEETING - - -“Look here, Chunky!” exclaimed Jerry, after a quick glance at Ned, “I -may as well say what’s on my mind, and get it out of my system. Both -Ned and I have been wondering about you, lately.” - -“Wondering about me?” - -“Yes, about the way you’re acting on this enlistment business. You want -to volunteer and join the army, don’t you?” - -“Why, yes, sure I do.” - -“Well, you don’t act very happy over it,” put in Ned. “You were -enthusiastic at the start, and then you simmered out. Are you getting -cold feet? You’re not----” - -“I’m not _afraid_, if that’s what you mean!” blurted out Bob. - -“No, I wasn’t going to say that,” put in Ned, quickly. “No one who -knows you, as Jerry and I know you, would ever accuse you of that. -You’ve gone through too many tight and dangerous places with us to have -us say that you’re afraid. And yet something has happened, hasn’t it?” - -“Well, yes, I s’pose you could call it that,” assented Bob slowly. - -“Are you going to renege in the matter of volunteering?” asked Jerry. - -“No.” - -“But you aren’t as keen on it as you were at first!” declared Ned. -“What’s the matter, Bob? Are you in trouble, Chunky, old man?” and he -put his arm affectionately over his chum’s shoulder. - -“Yes, fellows, I am in trouble,” said Bob, and he spoke desperately. “I -almost wish I hadn’t agreed to enlist! That I’d waited for the draft, -and then----” - -“What are you saying?” cried Jerry in amazement. - -“Well, I mean that then I’d have a good excuse to go to war, and -I couldn’t help myself,” and Bob floundered a good deal in his -explanation. - -“Why do you need an excuse?” asked Jerry. - -“Oh, well, I suppose I may as well tell you.” - -“Wait a minute!” broke in Ned. “Bob, this is getting a bit personal, I -know, but the end justifies the means, I think. Have you been to see -Miss Schaeffer lately?” - -Bob looked up quickly. - -“Last night,” he answered. “You ought to know. You left me there in the -car.” - -“So I did. But I have a reason for asking. Doesn’t her father own some -stock in a Boston German paper?” - -“I believe he does,” said Bob. - -“And the paper has been one of the strongest advocates against the -United States taking any part in this war, as I happen to know,” -went on Ned. “It came out flatly, and justified the sinking of the -_Lusitania_ on the ground that it was carrying munitions to England. -The same paper has taunted Uncle Sam, since the declaration of war, -with siding with our old enemy, Great Britain. Am I right, Chunky?” - -“I suppose it’s true. But Helena hasn’t anything to do with the paper.” - -“No, but she can’t help siding with her father, and he helps to dictate -the policy of that slanderous German sheet! Bob, tell me the truth; -isn’t the Schaeffer family pro-German?” - -“Well, I suppose they are. It’s natural----” - -“It isn’t natural!” burst out Jerry. “If any so-called German-Americans -want to side with the Kaiser let them go back to Germany where they -belong. Uncle Sam hasn’t any use for ’em! Bob, I didn’t think this of -you!” - -“Oh, don’t be too severe on Chunky!” interposed Ned. “He hasn’t done -anything yet. I know just what the situation is, I think. Bob, you have -come to the parting of the ways. You’ve either got to go with us or -stay home. What are you going to do? I can see, of late, that you have -been rather cold toward this enlistment proposition. Now that won’t do. -If you want to wait for the draft, well and good. That’s your business, -of course. But we’d hate to see you do it.” - -“I should say so!” agreed Jerry. “I never dreamed of this. What does it -all mean?” - -“It’s his girl--Helena Schaeffer,” said Ned. “Isn’t it true, Bob, that -she has spoken to you against volunteering?” - -“Yes, she has, and that’s what makes me worry. I was going to keep -still about it, and try to work everything out myself. But I don’t -believe I can. You know-- Oh, well, I’m awfully fond of Helena, and I -think she likes me, a little. This is among friends, of course.” - -“Of course,” murmured Jerry and Ned. - -“And she’s as good as said that if I enlist to fight against Germany, -when her father is so fond of the old Kaiser, and what he represents, -that she’ll--well--she and I will have to part company, that’s all!” -and Bob blurted out the words. - -“What are you going to do?” and Ned asked the question relentlessly. -This was no time for half-way measures, he felt. - -Bob did not answer for a moment. They were talking in the street in -front of Colonel Wentworth’s office. And then, at what seemed a most -opportune moment, a phonograph in a near-by store began playing one of -the popular songs of the day; a song with the lilt of marching steps -and an appeal for every one to do his duty and fight for Uncle Sam. - -Bob straightened up. His eyes grew brighter and he squared his -shoulders in a way his chums well know. - -“Boys!” he exclaimed, “I’ve been a fool to hold back one minute on this -thing. If you’ll wait a little while, I’ll come back and give you my -answer. And you don’t have to guess what it is, either.” - -He started off down the street. - -“Where are you going?” demanded Jerry. - -“I’m going to have a talk with Helena,” Bob answered. - -“Wait and we’ll take you to her corner in the auto. Might as well ride -as walk,” called Ned. “We’ll wait for you at my house.” - -Jerry and Ned did not say much to Chunky during the ride. They thought -it best to let him work out the problem in his own way. And it was -better done without suggestion from them. - -“See you later,” said Ned, as his stout chum left the car and started -down the street toward the Schaeffer home. - -“What do you think he’ll do?” asked Jerry, as Ned turned the car in -the direction of his own home. - -“The right thing,” answered Ned. “Chunky is all right. It’s just that -he’s a little fascinated by Helena, who, to do her justice, is a mighty -pretty girl. It’s too bad she has pro-German tendencies. And yet it -isn’t so much her as it is her father who influences her. She is a nice -girl, and mighty sensible, too, except on this one point. I know, for -I’ve been there with Chunky. That’s why I happened to know how the bug -had bitten him. - -“Even before we got into this war against Germany Mr. Schaeffer was -ranting about the unneutrality of this country, and declaring that we -were favoring England and France and discriminating against the Kaiser. -I wish we’d done more of it! We wouldn’t have it so hard as we’re going -to have it from now on.” - -“But about Chunky. Do you think he’ll tell his friend that he is going -to enlist and let her make the best of it?” asked Jerry. - -“Or the worst--yes. I think Bob will do just that. He was wobbling the -least bit, but I think he’s on his feet now. We’ll wait for him to come -back.” - -Meanwhile Bob Baker was having his own troubles. He had made the -acquaintance of Miss Schaeffer some time before, when it seemed there -would be never a question as to what nationality a person claimed. But -the war had made a difference. - -As Ned had stated, Mr. Schaeffer was one of the owners of a rabid -German paper, published in Boston, and the editorial policy was against -anything French or English, and against the United States helping the -Allies in any way. - -When the United States formally entered the war the sheet did not dare -come out and openly espouse the cause of Germany, but in underhand ways -and by sly insinuations it sought to deprecate the cause of the Allies -and tried to say, only too plainly, that the United States had no -business entering the war, and that the youth of the land would do well -to keep out of it. In other words it discouraged enlisting. - -Just what took place between Chunky and Helena, Bob never disclosed in -detail. Ned and Jerry felt it would be indelicate to do that, and they -never asked much about the matter. - -Poor Bob put in a bad quarter of an hour, and when he left the -Schaeffer home his step was not as buoyant as when he entered. But -there was a look of determination on his face, and he seemed relieved, -as though he had got rid of a weight. - -“Well?” asked Jerry, as Bob joined his two chums a little later. “How -about you?” - -“I’m ready to go and sign up whenever you are,” was the quiet answer. - -“Good!” exclaimed Ned, clapping Chunky on the back with such right good -will that the stout lad almost lost his balance. - -“I told you how it would be,” whispered Ned to Jerry, and the latter -nodded comprehendingly. - -“Have any trouble?” asked Ned. “I mean did she break with you?” - -“Oh, not exactly,” answered Bob. “But things are not as pleasant as -they were. It’s her father, though, not Helena.” - -“That’s what we thought,” said Jerry. “Well, I’m glad it’s over. Now -we’ll be three together once more. Too bad it had to happen, Chunky, -but it’s better to come out and know where you stand.” - -“That’s right,” agreed the stout lad. “I’m going to do my duty. -Friendship doesn’t count in this war. It’s duty.” - -“You said something!” commented Ned. “And now to take the step that -will put us in the fight formally for Uncle Sam and against the Kaiser. -We’ll go and volunteer!” - -“That’s what I’ve been wanting to do right along,” declared Chunky; -“but I didn’t want to break with Helena if I could help it. She says -she doesn’t see why I have to enlist, why I can’t wait for the draft, -and all that. She says maybe there won’t be any draft if there’s enough -opposition to it. But I’m going to volunteer.” - -So the three boys started for Richfield, where the nearest enlistment -station was located. - -As they drove down the street their attention was attracted by a large -notice posted on the door of the auditorium. - -“Another patriotic meeting?” asked Jerry. - -“Wait until I get out and see what it is,” suggested Ned. - -He sprang from the car and ran up the steps. When he came back there -was a queer look on his face. - -“What is it?” asked Bob. - -“A rotten pro-German meeting!” was the righteously angry answer. “It’s -a meeting at which Mr. Schaeffer is going to preside, and it is called -for the purpose of protesting against any person being sent to fight -outside of the boundaries of the United States!” - -“Do you know, fellows, they oughtn’t to allow ’em to hold that -meeting!” exploded Bob, who, now that he had made his decision, was as -enthusiastic as his chums. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -A FIGHT IN THE DARK - - -Jerry and Bob got out of the automobile to go up to read the notice for -themselves. As Ned had informed them, a meeting was called, on whose -behalf was not stated, to protest against the reported action of the -military authorities in sending recruits to do battle on foreign soil. - -“We will defend our own country to the last ditch,” was one of the -statements made, “but we will not send our youth of the land abroad to -fight for foreign kings!” - -“Bah, that makes me sick!” declared Jerry. “What do they want to do? -Wait until the foreign Kaiser comes over here to kill our women and -children before they’re willing to fight?” - -“Looks so,” admitted Ned. - -“Well, it won’t look so long!” announced Jerry. “I agree with you, Bob, -that this meeting ought not to be held. It’s encouraging sedition. The -military authorities ought to know about it.” - -“Let’s tell Colonel Wentworth!” suggested Ned. - -“Yes, we’ll tell him and also let the recruiting officer in Richfield -know about it,” agreed Jerry. “The military authorities may want to -have a representative present to listen to the talk. If some of these -pro-Germans get too rambunctious they may get sat on.” - -“And I’d like to do some of the sitting!” added Ned. - -“I’ll help,” offered Chunky. - -“And that will be some aid,” laughed Jerry, as he looked at his stout -friend. - -“Yes, that’s what we’ll do--tell the colonel and the recruiting -officer,” went on Jerry. “I’ve read about some of these meetings being -held in other places. They are started, financed and encouraged by -German agents here, the same agents that sent out the warning against -sailing on the _Lusitania_! The wretches! Boys, this meeting ought not -to be held!” And there were peculiar looks that passed back and forth -among the three chums. - -“Do you remember,” asked Ned, reminiscently, as they motored onward, -“that the seniors were going to hold a meeting at Boxwood Hall, once, -and that we broke it up?” - -“I should say I do remember!” exclaimed Jerry. - -“Well--” Ned spoke suggestively. - -“Oh,” said Jerry. - -Bob’s eyes showed interest. - -“Something doing?” he queried. - -“Better hang around a bit and watch,” advised his tall chum. - -“You get my meaning, I see,” said Ned, with a laugh. - -The recruiting officer at Richfield was both interested and delighted at -the call of the boys. He was delighted at getting such fine-appearing -recruits, for the motor boys were above the average in physique, though -it could not be denied that Bob was a bit fat. - -“But a few setting up exercises will take that off you in jig time,” -said the recruiting officer. - -His interest, too, was keen on getting the information the boys had to -give about the pro-German meeting. - -“So they are starting already, are they?” demanded Lieutenant Riker. -“Well, we’ll have to expect that. However, they must not go too -far--these pacifists and these lovers of the Kaiser. Uncle Sam is -pretty easy; too easy, I say, but he has a long arm. I’m much obliged -to you boys for the information. I’ll have one or two regular men -there, just to listen and to report to the Department of Justice. And -as for you----” - -“Oh, we’ll be there!” exclaimed Jerry. “We wouldn’t miss it. We are -going to tell Colonel Wentworth about it, and he may have something to -suggest.” - -“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” commented Lieutenant Riker with a -smile. “Well, I’ll leave that part to you. Now about this enlistment. -It’s fine of you to be among the first to come in. There’ll be plenty -more too, when they find out a draft is coming. - -“Not that it is to the discredit of any one to be in the selective -service, as it is going to be called,” he went on. “No higher honor can -come to a man. But the advantage of enlisting is that you can pick your -own branch of service, and that will be of value. Have you boys any -idea where you’d like to be?” - -“I’d like aeroplane work,” said Jerry. “We’ve had experience in that.” - -“I was thinking of submarines,” put in Ned. - -“Why not the artillery?” asked Bob. “You know we had a little to do -with explosives when we went out west to our mine.” - -“I see you boys know a little something about all three branches of -the service,” commented the lieutenant. “Well, perhaps it will be -best for you to volunteer for the infantry at first, and, later, make -application to be transferred. You can do this as long as you have -volunteered.” - -“That’s what we’ll do,” said Jerry. So, having formally enlisted, with -the consent of their parents, the boys were told that word would be -sent to them in a few days where to report for preliminary examinations -and training. - -“And now we’ll get back and see about that meeting!” exclaimed Jerry. - -“I shall be interested in the outcome,” said the recruiting officer. - -“I hope you won’t be _disappointed_,” remarked Jerry, with a smile. - -Colonel Wentworth was at once interested and indignant. - -“The idea!” he exclaimed. “What! allowing a pro-German meeting in -Cresville? And especially when some of her sons are going to be in the -new army! It’s infamous!” - -“What had we better do?” asked Ned. - -“We’d better do something to teach these scoundrels a lesson!” declared -the colonel, who was a good deal of a “fire-eater,” though no finer -patriotic gentleman lived. “I’ll speak to some of my friends, and we’ll -be at the meeting.” - -“We expect to do the same,” said Bob. “We have some friends, too. We’ll -all be there.” - -“Of course,” went on the colonel, “every man is entitled to his own -opinion, to a certain extent. But I don’t believe that when we are at -war a set of men who, for their own advancement came over here to make -money, can, when war is declared against the country they used to live -in, side with that country and against the land that has given them -everything they have, and has made them everything they are. There -should be no more German-Americans! We should all be Americans. And -any meeting or gathering that tends to foster this divided spirit, -any gathering of misguided individuals which has for an object the -weakening of our righteous war-like spirit, should be broken up.” - -“And we’ll attend to the breaking-up!” exclaimed Jerry. “Come on, boys! -We’ve got lots to do!” - -And for the rest of that day Ned, Bob and Jerry were very busy. - -There was a large gathering at the meeting held under the auspices of -the “Friends of Liberty,” as they called themselves. Just who the prime -movers were was not certain, but some men, whose names proclaimed their -former nationality, whatever it might be now, were actively engaged in -making the arrangements. Among them was Mr. Schaeffer, who was seen -hurrying to and fro from the front entrance to the rooms back of the -stage, where the speakers were sequestered. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry, with some of their chums, were among the early -arrivals at the hall. Bob took a survey over the audience and bowed to -some one. - -“Some one else we can get to help when the row starts?” asked Jerry. - -“It’s Helena,” answered Bob, and he seemed a trifle uneasy. “Say, boys, -what are we going to do about the women and girls?” he asked. “We -don’t want any of them roughly treated.” - -“There won’t be any rough treatment,” said Jerry. “All those who wish, -will be given a chance to leave the hall peaceably first. - -“And then the whole thing may fizzle out. It all depends on the line of -talk the speakers hand out. Lieutenant Riker said we’re not to stand -for anything seditious, or that would tend to discourage recruiting. It -may be that these Kaiserites will only generalize and not particularize -enough to give us cause for action. We’ve got to wait. But don’t worry -about Helena. She’ll be all right, whatever happens.” - -Bob seemed easier after this, but it was noticed that his gaze strayed -often toward that section of the hall where Miss Schaeffer sat. - -Meanwhile her father and two or three other members of the committee -hurried to and fro. If Mr. Schaeffer saw the boys, he did not speak to -them. - -The meeting opened peaceably enough with a statement by Mr. Schaeffer -to the effect that war was a terrible thing, and something to be -avoided by all peace-loving people, which was the kind making up the -population of the United States. If other nations wanted to engage in -battle, let them, was his argument. But let them keep away from those -who did not want to fight. Of course, he suggested, there were certain -rights which must be upheld, and on these other speakers would dwell. -He introduced Adolph Pfeiffer as the principal orator of the evening. - -There were a few murmurs as Mr. Schaeffer sat down, but nothing -serious. He had not come out strongly enough to warrant any open -challenge, though his weak and lack-of-back-bone policy made some of -the audience sneer. Ned, Bob and Jerry looked over toward several -regular soldiers seated not far from them. They had been sent by -Colonel Riker, but they gave no sign that there was any need for action -yet. - -Mr. Pfeiffer was a lawyer, and his name indicated his leanings. He -began by counseling patience and prudence, and dwelt on the legal -aspects of war, what belligerents had a right to do, and what was -against international law. Then he spoke of the entrance of the -United States into the war, and he did not challenge the right of the -government to make such a declaration. - -“But I do say,” he went on, after a short pause, “that the United -States has no right to send our boys across the water to fight with the -French and the English against Germany. The United States has no right -to do that!” - -“Why not?” some one in the audience demanded. - -“Because it is a violation of constitutional rights. We may defend our -land from an invasion, but Germany is not going to invade us. It is not -right to send our soldiers to fight her.” - -“That’s right!” cried Mr. Schaeffer. “This war is not a good war. We -should not go abroad to fight Germany. Our country is doing wrong and -we should not uphold her when she----” - -“Treason! Treason!” came the cries from all over the hall. - -[Illustration: “TREASON! TREASON!” CAME THE CRIES FROM ALL OVER THE -HALL.] - -“I guess it’s time to start something!” exclaimed Ned, starting to his -feet. On one side of the hall he saw the soldiers rising. On the other -Colonel Wentworth was shaking his fist at the men on the platform, and -shouting something that could not be heard. - -“There’ll be a riot in a minute!” cried Bob, as he started toward that -part of the hall where Helena Schaeffer had been sitting. - -“There’s going to be a fight, I guess,” said Jerry calmly. And then he -yelled: “Let the women and children get out! This is no place for them!” - -There were some frightened screams and squeals, and a rush on the part -of a number of women to reach the exits. Ushers helped them, and a -quick glance showed Bob that Helena had gone with them. - -Meanwhile the men on the platform, the German-American speakers, were -holding a hasty consultation. Colonel Wentworth was advancing up -the aisle, calling for three cheers for the stars and stripes, and the -singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” - -“Quiet! Quiet!” roared Mr. Schaeffer, his Teutonic accent coming back -to him. “Sit down. You have no right to interrupt this peaceable -meeting, Colonel Wentworth!” - -“That’s the trouble with it! It’s too peaceful--too traitorous!” cried -the former soldier. “I call on all good Americans to put an end to this -seditious talk!” he shouted. - -“We’re with you to the finish!” exclaimed Jerry. - -“Put ’em out!” some one called. - -“Don’t stand for any seditious talk!” advised some one beside the -colonel. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry kept together. They saw half a dozen soldiers, -regulars from the recruiting station, walking toward the platform. - -Just then some one threw a chair over the heads of the crowd toward the -platform. It broke some of the electric lights with pops like those of -a distant revolver. - -“It’s a shame to stop our speakers!” declared a man next to Jerry, and -his voice was unmistakably German. - -“Oh, is it? Say, what kind of an American are you?” asked Ned. - -“Chust as goot vot you are!” came the quick answer. “I show you dot you -can’t----!” - -He aimed a blow at Ned, who, to guard himself quickly raised his arm, -and, in so doing, accidentally struck the German in the face. The -latter let out a roar, and at once began to fling his arms around like -flails. - -“Grab him!” cried Jerry to Bob, who was beside Ned. - -In another instant fights started in several parts of the hall, and -there were shouts and yells, some calling for order and others yelling -just from excitement. - -“There’s going to be a fight!” joyously cried Jerry. “Stick together, -boys!” - -An instant later the lights went out, and the fight, spreading to all -parts of the auditorium, became general in the darkness. There was the -sound of blows, the crashing of chairs, and the shouts of the enraged -ones. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE PARTING - - -None of the motor boys had a very clear idea, during the mêlée or -afterward, of what went on. Jerry said some one hit him several times, -and he hit back. This much was certain because one of his hands was so -bruised that he had to have it bandaged. - -Ned declared he knocked one man down, a man who spoke with a very -pronounced German accent, until Ned rather spoiled the accent by -contriving to have his fist collide with the mouth of the person who -was muttering something about “_Der Tag_.” - -“His _day_ came right then and there,” explained Ned afterward. “Only -it was good night for his.” - -As for Bob, he declared that, in the dark, he was struck on all sides -at once. - -In the dark no one could tell whom he was hitting. The fight kept up, -the din growing greater until it was deafening, until a cry for order, -led by several men in concert, came. These men were the soldiers. - -Some one managed to light a solitary gas jet in a corner of the hall, -and by the gleam the swaying, struggling mass could be observed. -Fortunately the women and girls had gotten out, or they might have been -hurt. As it was, they stood outside and screamed, probably because of -fear for their men relatives inside. Then some one switched on all the -lights, and with that the fight stopped. - -There were a few bloody noses, and some eyes that, in the process of -time, would turn black, blue and other hues, there were torn collars -and garments, while a number of chairs were overturned. - -But when Ned, Bob and Jerry looked toward the stage it was deserted. -The chairs that had been filled with honorary vice-chairmen, were -empty. Mr. Pfeiffer was absent. So was Mr. Schaeffer. In fact, of all -the German-Americans who had undertaken to conduct the meeting not one -was in sight. They had sneaked off in the confusion and the darkness. -The meeting was most effectively broken up. - -“Well, things came off as we expected,” remarked Jerry, tying his -handkerchief around his injured hand. - -“But not in just the way we had counted on,” said Ned. - -This was true, for the boys had planned that one of them should call -for three cheers for the flag, and demand that the band play the -national anthem. - -It was expected that this would be objected to by those in charge of -the meeting, and then there would be a good chance to denounce those -responsible, and an opportunity for breaking up the gathering. This -had been Colonel Wentworth’s plan, but events had shaped themselves -differently. The putting out of the lights had not been planned by the -motor boys. - -With the withdrawal of the leading pro-Germans, their sympathizers in -the audience soon went out, leaving the place well filled with loyal -citizens. Colonel Wentworth, seeing a chance to make a speech, at once -took charge of matters, and organized a patriotic meeting then and -there. This was turning the tables on the pro-Germans with a vengeance. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry remained for a while, and then, as Jerry’s hand was -getting painful, the motor boys left and went to a near-by drug store. - -As might be expected, the breaking up of the pro-German meeting created -a stir in the town. On all sides, save among those who might, because -of their nationality, be expected to differ, there were heard words of -commendation. And when Ned, Bob and Jerry called on Lieutenant Riker, -to get some final instructions about their enlistment, the soldier -grinned broadly as he asked: - -“Any more meetings of the ‘Friends of Liberty’ scheduled for your town?” - -“Not just at present,” laughed Jerry. - -There was some talk, on the part of those who had called the meeting, -of proceeding against those who had broken it up. Mr. Pfeiffer, the -lawyer, was loudest in this talk. - -But he did nothing, and his talk finally ceased with conspicuous -abruptness, probably, as Jerry remarked, on the advice of more prudent -friends. At the same time there was a noticeable cessation in the -activities of the pro-Germans. - -“But I don’t suppose you’ll dare go to call on Helena now,” said Ned to -Bob one day. - -“No,” was the somewhat disconsolate answer. “I don’t believe it would -be just the thing.” - -“Especially if Mr. Schaeffer were at home,” observed Jerry. - -The breaking up of the meeting had one good effect. Though a stickler -for strict justice might condemn the method used, there followed, -nevertheless, a stimulation to recruiting. When it became known that -Ned, Bob and Jerry had enlisted and expected soon to be sent to the -nearest training station, there was a wave of patriotism in Cresville, -and many mothers and fathers were in despair on account of very young -boys who wanted to join the colors. - -It required no little tact to get such off the notion, but to the -credit of the home-folk be it said that in no case, where a boy was -physically fit, and of the proper age, did he have to hold back because -of the objection of parents. - -Those were stirring days, and events moved swiftly. Once the motor boys -had made up their minds that it was the right thing to enlist, they -were eager to be off to the training camp. - -Lieutenant Riker told them they would probably be sent to a cantonment -in one of the Southern states, which shall be called Camp Dixton, for a -period of training. - -“How long will that last?” asked Ned. “When can we go to France and do -some real fighting?” - -“You’ll go as soon as you are fit,” answered the experienced soldier. -“It would be a mistake to send you abroad now. You would do more harm -than good--I mean raw troops in the aggregate. You must be trained, and -taught how to take care of yourselves. Why, even the period of training -in how to meet gas attacks alone will take some time. Don’t be in too -much of a hurry. Learn the business of war and fighting first, and then -you’ll be able to deal the Boche so much harder blows.” - -This was good advice, and the boys, in their calmer moments, -appreciated it; but it was hard to be inactive. At last the day came -when they were to part from their parents and friends in Cresville. -They did not need to take much with them, for they would be fitted out -in camp. - -Up to this time nothing more had been heard concerning the gold watch -and the diamond brooch lost in the fire, nor had anything more been -learned of the French engraver’s money or of the mysterious Crooked -Nose. - -“It’s good-bye to our motor boat and auto and aeroplane for a while,” -said Ned, with a sigh, as the boys made their way to the station, -having parted with their parents at home. - -“Yes, but what we know about running them may come in handy later,” -remarked Jerry. - -On their way to the station they met other boy friends who had also -enlisted, and as they reached the depot they saw a crowd there to give -them a send-off. - -“And look who’s here to kiss little Bob good-bye!” exclaimed Ned. - -“Who is it?” asked Chunky. - -“Miss Helena Schaeffer,” was the answer. “Oh, Bob! Oh, boy! Go to it!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -OFF TO CAMP DIXTON - - -Bob Baker did not flinch in what might be called the “face of the -enemy.” - -True, Helena was not exactly an enemy, though her father had helped -to organize the pro-German meeting. But Helena was a girl who, in a -measure, thought for herself. She did not altogether agree with the -opinions held by her father and his Fatherland friends, though she had -heard many stories of the achievements of the Kaiser and his chosen -ones. Also she had heard, not from her father, other stories that -reflected anything but glory on German arms. - -And so, when Helena knew that the motor boys were about to take the -train that, eventually, would land them at Camp Dixton, she decided to -go to say good-bye to Bob Baker. - -Naturally, she did not tell her father of her intention, and, -naturally, Mr. Schaeffer was as far as possible from the station from -which the recruits departed. He did not care to see such activities on -the part of loyal Cresvillians in favor of Uncle Sam. - -It was a violation of the constitutional rights of the young men to be -placed in a position where they might have to fight on foreign soil, -Mr. Schaeffer claimed. Mr. Pfeiffer had said so and he ought to know. - -“Well, Helena, I am glad to see you,” remarked Bob, when he found -himself near the blue-eyed girl. - -“Are you?” she inquired, and her voice was not very warm. - -“Of course I am!” he insisted. “It’s no end good of you to come down to -see me off.” - -“Well, I thought I’d come,” she said, a bit shyly. “I--I’m sorry we had -that little difference of opinion. But you know--you know, I’ve always -liked you, Bob.” - -“I hope so, Helena.” - -“But you know war is a terrible thing!” - -“Are you sorry to see me go?” - -“Of course I am! I’m afraid you won’t come back.” And for the first -time she showed a little emotion. - -“Oh, I’ll come back all right!” declared Bob, as he took her hand. - -“Let go!” she exclaimed. “Some one will see us!” - -“I don’t care!” declared the stout one. “I like you a lot, Helena, and -I’m sorry your father----” - -“Please don’t speak of him!” she begged quickly. “I must do as my -father says, and, though I like you, I--I--that is, he says--well, he -doesn’t believe in this war!” - -“I’m afraid he’ll have to come to believe in it,” said Bob. “We all -will. It’s a war that’s got to be fought to a finish. I’m sorry for the -peace-loving Germans, if there are any, who don’t hold with the Kaiser, -but I’m against all who do! We’re in this war to win, Helena!” - -The girl did not answer. She seemed struggling with some emotion. The -distant whistle of a train was heard, and the recruits, some of whom -formed the centers of rather tearful groups, prepared to gather up -their luggage. - -“Well, I guess it’s good-bye, Helena,” said Bob, while Ned and Jerry -were bidding farewell to some boy and girl friends, among them Mollie -Horton and Alice Vines. - -“Yes, good-bye,” Helena murmured. “I’m sorry you’re going, but I -suppose you know your own business best. Perhaps you will not be gone -for as long as you think.” - -“Oh, I guess it will be for a long time,” said Bob. “This war isn’t -going to be over in a hurry. But we’ve all got to do our duty.” - -“Well, it’s too bad we can’t all have the same duty,” sighed Helena. -“However, I suppose that can never be. Good-bye, Bob. Write to me when -you get a chance!” and before Bob knew what was happening she had -given him a rather sisterly kiss on his forehead and disappeared in the -crowd. - -“Here! Wait a minute!” called Bob, starting after her. But the train -came in just then and there was so much confusion, and such a scramble -to get baggage together and find places in the cars, that Bob did not -get another glimpse of Helena. - -A United States regular, Sergeant Mandell, was in charge of the -recruits, having been detailed by Lieutenant Riker to conduct them -safely to Camp Dixton. - -“All aboard, boys!” he called. “All aboard!” - -“All aboard she is!” echoed Jerry. - -“We’re off for the camp!” said Ned. - -Bob said nothing, but as soon as he got in his seat he raised the -window and looked out. Helena was not in sight, and, with a sigh, the -stout lad turned away. - -A special car had been reserved for the boys from Cresville and -vicinity, who were going away in a body, and the lads now filled the -coach with gay songs and jests. To most of them it was a holiday, a -picnic, but there were some who felt the gravity of the situation, and -who felt that doing their duty in the matter of enlisting was not as -easy as it seemed. - -The three motor boys kept together, and soon had stowed away their -possessions and made themselves comfortable. - -“Well, this is the first time we ever left Cresville under such -circumstances,” observed Ned, as the train pulled out of the station -amid cheers from those left behind, and a stirring air played by the -band. - -“Yes, we’ve gone out on many a trip, but none was just like this,” -agreed Jerry. “I wish the professor could be with us, at least part of -the way. He’d be interested in this bunch.” - -“More likely he’d be crawling around on the floor of the car looking -for a new kind of fly,” said Bob, with a chuckle. - -Professor Snodgrass had gone back to Boston after his flying visit to -Cresville. But he had promised to go to see them in camp, for it was -evident that, on account of the war, he would not be kept very busy at -Boxwood Hall. - -Soon the prospective soldiers in the special car were having the best -of times. They had gotten over the first wrench of parting, and were -having fun. They sang and joked, and Ned, Bob and Jerry entered into -the jollity of the occasion. - -“Do we go right into camp?” asked one lad from Cresville. - -“No, I believe we first have to stop at Yorktown and go through a -detailed examination,” answered Jerry, who had been making inquiries. -“So far all we’ve gone through has been preliminary; and though we have -enlisted, there is still a lot of red tape to go through. They’ll sift -us out at Yorktown.” - -“You mean separate the sheep from the goats!” laughed Ned. - -“Something like that, yes,” Jerry admitted. - -So they traveled on. At each stop there was a rush to get papers, if -any were available, so the recruits might know the latest news in -regard to the war. There were flaming headlines, but not much real -news, as events were, as yet, hardly shaped. But everything went to -show that Uncle Sam had at last decided to get into the war on a -wholesale scale. - -“When’s the next stop?” asked Bob, as the conductor came through on one -of his trips. - -“Oh, in about half an hour. But that isn’t Yorktown.” - -“No, I know it isn’t.” - -“Chunky wants to know if there’s a lunch counter there,” put in Ned, -grinning. - -“Oh, yes, sort of one;” and the conductor smiled. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -PUG KENNEDY - - -“Say, look here!” blustered Bob, when the conductor had passed on. -“Just because I ask about the next station doesn’t mean that I want to -eat _all_ the while.” - -“You aren’t eating _all_ the while,” said Ned. “This is only the second -in a while since we started.” - -“Well, I’m hungry!” declared the stout lad. “Maybe you are, too, only -you’re too proud to admit it.” - -“I’m not!” declared Jerry. “Chunky, I second your motion, and I wish my -jaws were in motion right now. I’ll be with you when the crullers nest -again!” he chanted. - -“Who said pie?” demanded a voice at the end of the car. - -“That bunch up in the middle,” answered another, indicating the motor -boys. - -“Is there any chance for a feed?” came a veritable howl from some -hungry lad. “Tell me, oh, tell me, I implore!” - -“Next stop,” answered Jerry. “That is,” and he turned to the sergeant -in charge, “unless you have some rations concealed somewhere about your -person,” and he laughed. - -“Not a ration,” was the answer. “I suppose there ought to have been -some arrangement made for feeding you boys on the way, but there is -such a rush that it has been overlooked. However, if you are short of -change----” - -“Oh, we’ve got the _money_! All we want is _time_ to eat!” came the cry. - -“I’ll see to that, then,” said Sergeant Mandell. “If necessary I’ll -have the conductor hold the train for a minute or two, until you can -raid the lunch counter. But mind! everything must be paid for, as I am -responsible.” - -Ned, Bob, and Jerry, by common consent, were detailed into a foraging -party on behalf of some of their comrades and a common fund was made up -with which to purchase what food could be found. Then the boys eagerly -waited for the train to arrive at the station where there was a lunch -counter. - -And such a rush as there was when the place was announced! The three -motor boys, as treasurers, were accompanied to the counter by a mob of -the boys who for themselves or for companions had orders for everything -in sight. - -“I want apple pie!” - -“Cherry for mine!” - -“Give me peach!” - -“What’s the matter with the ‘peachy’ girl behind the counter?” asked -some one, and there were many glances of warm but respectful admiration -cast at the young girl behind the piles of food on the marble shelf. - -“Sandwiches--all you got!” demanded Jerry. - -“And some crullers, if you haven’t enough pie!” added Bob. “I want a -_lot_ of crullers. You can put ’em in your pocket!” he confided to Ned. - -“Put ’em in your pocket? Man, dear! I’m going to put _mine_ in my -_stomach_!” - -“Yes, I know. So’m I--most of ’em,” went on Chunky. “But you can stow -away some in your pockets to eat when you get hungry again. They don’t -get as mushy as pie.” - -“You’re the limit!” Ned told his chum. “You haven’t had a feed yet, and -you’re thinking of the next one. But go to it! I never felt so hungry -in my life.” So Bob went to it, to the extent of stuffing his pockets -with crullers, and carrying away as much else as he could in his hands. - -The girl at the lunch counter would have been swamped, but Jerry -organized a sort of helping corps, and dealt out the food to his fellow -recruits, making payment in due course, until the counter looked as -fields do after a visit from the locusts. - -Back to the car, only just in time, rushed the boys, bearing things -to eat to those of their comrades who had remained in their seats, for -some were detailed to remain as a sort of guard over the luggage. - -“Ah! This is something like!” exclaimed Bob, as he sat in his seat when -the train had again started, holding a sandwich in each hand, while his -pockets bulged suspiciously. - -“You seem pretty well provided for,” remarked Ned to his stout chum, as -the three motor boys sat together again. - -“Well, I don’t aim to starve if I can help it,” retorted Bob, as he -munched away. - -“You must weigh five or six pounds more,” added Jerry, with a glance at -Bob’s pockets. “That’s dangerous business, old man!” - -“What?” asked Bob, pausing half-way to a bite of his sandwich. - -“Putting on weight like that. You must remember that you’re not more -than just tall enough to break in under the military requirements, and -if you are too heavy for your height--out you go.” - -“You can’t take away my appetite!” exclaimed Bob, but he did not see -Ned wink at Jerry and motion with his head toward the bulging pockets -of the stout lad. - -For a time there was a merry scene in the car, where the prospective -soldiers were riding. Hungry appetites were being appeased, and this -caused a line of small talk, which had rather died away after the -first part of the journey. - -Many of the lads were friends, and a number knew the motor boys, having -lived in Cresville. Others were from surrounding towns, and some of -them Ned, Bob, and Jerry knew, or had heard about. Others were total -strangers, and one or two seemed quite alone. These had come from small -villages, where not more than one or two had volunteered. One such lad, -who gave his name as Harry Blake, the motor boys made friends with, and -shared their food with him, as he had not seen fit, for some reason or -other, to get off and provide himself. - -“Have you any particular branch of the service in view?” asked Jerry of -Harry, as he saw Ned and Bob jointly looking at a paper. - -“I did hope to get in the aviation corps, but they tell me it’s pretty -hard.” - -“Hard to get in?” - -“Well, yes, and hard to learn the rudiments of the game.” - -“Oh, no, that isn’t exactly so,” Jerry answered. “Of course I don’t -know much about military aeroplanes, but my friends and I have been -operating airships for some time. It’s comparatively easy, once you get -over the natural fear. Though of course becoming an expert is another -matter. I think you could soon learn. You look as though you were -cool-headed.” - -“No, I don’t get excited easily, but I don’t know beans about an -airship. I’ve read a little; but the more I read the more I get -confused. I’d like to understand the principle.” - -“Perhaps I can help you,” Jerry said. “I’ve got a book here on -aeroplanes, and my friends and I have helped build some. I can give you -a little book-knowledge for a starter.” - -“I wish you would,” pleaded Harry, and then he and Jerry plunged into a -subject that interested them both. - -Meanwhile the train rushed on, carrying the recruits nearer to the -training camp, or rather, to the city where they would be given a more -careful examination and separated into units, to be divided among the -various cantonments where Uncle Sam was getting his new armies ready to -face the Kaiser’s veterans. - -Jerry had just finished telling Harry something about the way in which -the double rudders controlled an airship--one guiding it up or down, -and the other to left or right, when there came a howl from Bob--a -veritable wail of anguish. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Ned, who had moved out of the seat beside -his stout chum, and was sitting back of him. “Did you bite your -tongue?” - -“Bite my tongue? Come on! You know better than that. Hand ’em over!” -and Bob, extending his fist, shook it under Ned’s nose. - -“Hand what over? What do you mean? If you mean these magazines, I’ve -just started ’em. Besides, they’re mine!” - -“No, I don’t mean the magazines, and you know it!” declared Bob. - -“Well, I’m sure I don’t know what you do mean. What’s the row, anyhow?” - -“My crullers!” exclaimed Bob. “You snitched ’em out of my pocket when -you were sitting in the same seat with me. Come on; a joke’s a joke, -and I don’t mind if you keep one for yourself, and another for Jerry. -But hand over the rest!” - -“The rest of what?” asked Ned, innocently enough. - -“Oh, quit! You know! My crullers. I bought ’em to eat when I got -hungry, and now they’re gone,” and in proof Bob stood up and turned -both coat pockets inside out. - -“Yes, I see they’re empty,” observed Ned coolly. “But I haven’t got -’em!” - -“You have so!” - -“Indeed I haven’t. Search me!” and Ned, with an air of injured -innocence, stood up and extended his arms at either side, an invitation -for Bob to feel in his pockets. It was an invitation which the -stout youth did not ignore, and he felt about Ned’s clothes with -thoroughness, and convinced himself that the crullers were, as Ned had -declared, not on his person. - -“Well, you know where they are!” declared Bob. - -“No, I don’t!” - -“Jerry does, then!” - -“What’s that?” asked the tall lad, looking up from his book on -aeroplanes, which he and his new acquaintance were going over. - -Bob explained, and Jerry’s denial was such that the stout lad felt -inclined to accept it as final. Especially as he remembered that Jerry -had not been near him since the purchase of the food at the lunch -counter. - -“Well, somebody’s got my crullers and I’m going to get ’em back!” -exclaimed Bob. “I paid for ’em and I want ’em. A joke’s a joke, but -this is too much! Shell out, fellows!” and he looked around at those -nearest him. - -The truth of the matter was that Ned had slyly slipped the bags of -crullers out of the two side pockets of Bob’s coat, and had passed -them, surreptitiously to two fellow conspirators. And then, as is usual -in such cases, the crullers had gone from hand to hand until, reaching -the far end of the car, they had been quickly eaten. - -But Bob did not give up. Satisfied that Ned did not have the pastry on -his person, Bob set about a search for it. He walked down the aisle, -looking in various seats, and poking his fingers in the pockets of -those he knew, until he came to the end of the car. - -In one of the seats sat a heavily-built youth, whose face was not of a -prepossessing type. He had a sort of bulldog air about him, as though -“spoiling for a fight,” and he had had little to say to the other -recruits. - -Bob, looking at the coat of this lad, as the garment was spread out -over the unoccupied half of a seat, made a grab for something in one of -the pockets, at the same time crying: - -“Here they are! I knew you’d snitched ’em!” and he pulled out a bag, -and drew therefrom a cruller. - -The lad in the seat turned quickly from looking out the window, and, -without a moment’s hesitation, sent his fist into Bob’s face. - -“Maybe that’ll teach you to let Pug Kennedy’s things alone!” he -growled. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -IN THE CAMP - - -Bob, surprised as much by the suddenness of the other’s action as -by the violence of the blow, staggered back, his hands going to his -bruised face. There was a moment of silence, and then Jerry, who had -seen the whole occurrence, cried out in ringing tones: - -“Here, fellow, don’t you hit him again!” - -“Who says so?” demanded “Pug” Kennedy, as he called himself. “If you’re -looking for trouble come down and get yours!” and he stepped out into -the aisle and struck a characteristic pugilistic attitude. - -“I’m not looking for trouble,” said Jerry calmly; “but I like fair -play, and I’m going to see that my friend gets it.” - -“Oh, you’re going to butt in, are you?” sneered the other. - -“No, I’m not in the habit of doing that,” said Jerry. “But what did you -strike Bob for?” - -“None of your business.” - -“Oh, yes, it is our business, too,” said Ned, walking up beside Jerry. -Bob’s nose had begun to bleed and he was holding his handkerchief to -it. He seemed dazed, and acted as though he did not know how to account -for what had occurred. - -“What happened, Bob?” asked Jerry, as Ned walked up to the -heavily-built lad. - -“Why, I was looking for my bag of crullers, and I saw them in his -pocket and----” - -“You did not!” burst out Pug Kennedy. “That’s my own grub that I bought -in the station, and if you want to fight for it----” - -“What are you always talking about fighting for?” asked Ned suddenly, -as he put out his hand and swung the bully around sharply. “I guess you -aren’t the only one who can do that.” - -“Keep your hands off me!” roared Pug Kennedy. “If you’re looking for -trouble----” - -“I generally find what I’m looking for,” said Ned softly, and he did -not give back an inch as Kennedy took a quick step forward. - -Then, with a quickness that showed he understood considerable about the -pugilistic ring, Kennedy made a sudden shift, and his fist shot out -toward Ned. But the latter was just as quick, and, dodging the blow, he -put out his hand in a stiff arm movement and pushed Kennedy back into -his seat. The bully fell heavily. He tried to get up. - -“No you don’t! Just sit there awhile!” cried Ned, and he plumped -himself down on the struggling one, holding him in place. - -Seeing how matters were going, the others who had crowded up drew back -as well as they could in the aisle of the swaying car, to give room to -the struggling ones. If there was to be a fight it was no more than -right that it should be a fair one. - -“Let me up!” spluttered Pug Kennedy. - -“Not until I get ready,” answered Ned coolly. - -He could afford to be cool. For he had dodged what Pug had thought was -going to be a “knockout blow” in such a clever way that the bully was -disconcerted, and now Kennedy was held down in such a position that he -could not use his strength to advantage. - -But he was strong, Ned had to admit that. Only because of the fact that -he had the larger boy at a disadvantage, sitting on him, so to speak, -and holding him down by bracing his legs against the opposite seat, was -Ned able to keep himself where he was, for Pug struggled hard. - -“Just stay there until you cool off a bit,” advised Ned, “and until you -learn not to hit out so with your fists. If you want to fight, we’ll -find some one your size and weight in our crowd to take you on. How -about it, Jerry?” - -“I’ll agree if he will,” was the answer, and the tall lad grinned -cheerfully. - -“Who said I wanted to fight?” growled Pug Kennedy, as he saw several -unfriendly looks cast in his direction, and noted the athletic build of -Jerry Hopkins. - -“Well, you sort of acted that way,” commented Ned, who did not intend -to give the bully the slightest advantage. “What did you want to hit -Bob for?” and he nodded at his chum, who had finally succeeded in -stopping his nose hemorrhage. - -“What’d he want to go and shove his hands into my pocket for, without -asking me if he could?” demanded Pug, and it must be admitted that -he really had right on his side. Bob had acted hastily, and perhaps -indiscreetly, considering that he did not know the lad who had had the -encounter with him. - -“I was only looking for my crullers,” Bob explained. “Some one took ’em -for a joke, and when I saw the bag in your pocket I thought you had -’em.” - -“Well, why didn’t you say so?” growled Pug, who, in truth, looked -something like the animal from which had come the nickname. - -“You didn’t give me a chance,” said Bob. “If you wanted to fight why -didn’t you say so?” - -“Well, you mind your own business, and let me alone!” growled the -belligerent one. “And you’d better let me up if you know what’s good -for you!” he added fiercely to Ned. - -“Oh, I guess I know my business,” was the calm rejoinder. “At the same -time I’m willing to let you up provided you promise to keep your hands -off my friend. If you want to fight, as I said, that can be arranged.” - -“I won’t promise anything!” growled Pug. - -“Then you’ll sit there until you do,” observed Ned. There is no telling -how long this deadlock might have kept up, but at this point Sergeant -Mandell, who had been in the smoking car, came back to see how his -recruits were getting on. He took in the scene at a glance. - -“Let him up, Slade,” he ordered Ned. “And you, Kennedy, keep quiet. -Remember you’re soldiers now, and you must obey your superiors. For the -time being I am your officer, though I want to be your friend, too. Now -what’s the row?” - -It was explained in various ways, but all agreed that Kennedy had -struck first, and with little provocation, for Bob’s action, though -thoughtless, poking his hands into the pockets of another lad, had been -innocent enough. - -“You had no right to hit him for that,” declared the sergeant. “But -I am not saying that Baker did exactly right, either. Though it was -natural for him to want his crullers.” - -With mutterings and growls, Pug Kennedy shook himself after Ned let him -up, and slunk into his seat, away from the others. Ned, Bob, and Jerry -went back to their places, and quiet was once more restored. - -“Bob, old man, I’m sorry,” said Ned. “It was my fault. I did take your -crullers, but I haven’t ’em now. I passed ’em down the line as a joke. -I’ll see if I can get ’em back.” - -“Let ’em go, I don’t want ’em,” growled Bob. - -It was perhaps a good thing he did not want them, since the crullers -had been eaten. When Ned learned that he offered to buy some more at -the next lunch counter. - -But there was no time for this, as Sergeant Mandell said they would -soon reach Yorktown, where they would be quartered until they could be -more carefully examined and a decision arrived at as to where to send -them for preliminary training. - -As the motor boys, with their old and new friends, were gathering up -their luggage, preparatory to getting off the train when it should stop -in Yorktown, a lad slipped up to Ned. - -“You want to look out for that fellow,” he said in a low voice. - -“What fellow?” - -“That Pug Kennedy. The one you sat on.” - -“Why?” - -“Oh, he’s a scrapper and always looking for a fight. He comes from the -same town I do, and he’s licked every boy in it, some bigger than he -is, too.” - -“Thanks for telling me,” said Ned. “I’m not afraid of him. But, just -the same, it’s as well to be on the watch. He seems like a bully.” - -“He is. He doesn’t mind fighting a fellow smaller than himself. I don’t -like him, but I’ve got to hand it to him--he is some scrapper! I hope -the army takes some of the mean wrinkles out of him.” - -“The army is just the place to get it done,” observed Ned. “Thanks for -telling me. See you again some time.” - -He looked over to note what Kennedy was doing, but the latter had left -the car. Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with their fellow recruits, were formed -into a squad, and, amid the friendly looks of a crowd that gathered at -the station, they marched to the barracks, which were not far away. - -“So Pug Kennedy is a scrapper, is he?” observed Jerry, when Ned told -him the result of the talk with the other boy. “Well, it’s as well to -know that first as last. I hope he isn’t sent to our camp. But, if he -is, we’ll have to make the best of it.” - -It was noted that “Pug” answered to the title of Michael, and it was -assumed that “Pug” had been the characterization given him because of -his fancied resemblance to a dog of that breed--a resemblance more -real, in certain ways, than fancied. - -In the following days the recruits were measured, weighed, tested in -various ways, and finally were all sworn in as privates in the United -States army that was eventually to fight, in France or elsewhere, the -troops of the Central Powers. - -To Bob’s distress he was held up by one doctor, as being overweight, -and was close to being rejected. But his chums took him in hand, and -for a day starved him on a most reduced diet, and made him take so much -exercise that Bob lost about five pounds, and passed. - -“But it was a close call,” said Jerry, when all was safe. “Don’t go to -stuffing yourself with pie or crullers until after you’re in the camp. -Then they won’t put you out, I dare say.” - -“I’ll be careful,” promised Bob, now quite anxious. - -And, three days later, the motor boys, with a number of their friends -from Cresville, and with others whom they did not know, including the -unpleasant Pug Kennedy, were sent to Camp Dixton, there to be given a -thorough training for their new life in the army. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT - - -Out of the gray, chilly, and silent dawn came the sharp notes of a -bugle. The sound echoed among the mist-enshrouded hills, the notes -vibrating in and out among the trees, and then seemed to die away in -the distance. - -But if any one of the several thousand prospective soldiers, sleeping -the sleep of the more or less just in the tents of Camp Dixton, thought -it was but a dream, those notes of the bugle, he was sadly, if not -rudely, awakened when the sound came with greater insistence, as if -calling over and over again: - -“Get up! Get up! You must get up!” - -“I say, Ned!” lazily called Bob from his bed amid the blankets on the -ground under a khaki tent, “what day is it?” - -“What difference does that make?” asked Ned. “What time is it?” - -“You ought to know without asking, when you hear that _horn_,” grunted -Jerry. - -“Horn? Bugle you mean,” came a voice from the other corner of the -tent, if a conical tent, the shape used in the army, can be said to -have “corners.” - -“Have it your own way,” assented Jerry. “I’m anxious to know what Bob -meant by asking what day it was.” - -“If it’s only Sunday we’ll get a chance to rest,” explained the stout -Chunky, peering out from under his blankets. For he and the others had -wrapped up well, as the night had been chilly. - -“Chance to rest!” exclaimed Ned. “Say, we haven’t _done_ anything yet.” - -“Done anything!” challenged Bob. “Don’t you call that drill we went -through yesterday anything?” - -“Just a little setting up exercise, and some marching to get you to -know your hay foot from your straw foot,” commented the tall lad. “If -you’re going to kick about that the second day in camp what will happen -in about a week?” - -“Oh, I’m not kicking,” hastily said Bob. “In fact, I’m too lame and -sore to kick. And my arm feels like a boil.” - -“Anti-typhus germs,” explained Ned. “You’ll be a whole lot worse before -you’re better. We have to have two more injections, I understand.” - -The rousing notes of the bugle, “rousing” in a double sense, again -sounded, and, not without considerable grumbling and growling, in -which even Jerry, by the look on his face at least, seemed to join, -the boys got up and prepared for another day in camp--their second. - -The young volunteers, with a lot of other recruits, had reached the -camp ground the day before, but there was so much confusion, so many -new arrivals, and such a general air of orderly disorder about the -place, that the impressions Ned, Bob, and Jerry received were mixed. - -Camp Dixton was situated in one of the Southern states, and was laid -out on a big plain at the foot of some hills, which, as they rose -farther to the west, became sizable mountains. The plain which had, -until within a short time of the laying out of the cantonments, been -several large farms, consisted of level ground, with a few places where -there were low rounded hills and patches of wood. It was an ideal -location for a camp, giving opportunity for drills and sham battles -over as great a diversity of terrain as might be found in Flanders or -France. - -As to the camp itself, it was typical of many that have since sprung -up all over the United States to care for the large army, or armies, -that are constantly being raised. And the building of Camp Dixton, like -the making of all the others, had been little short of marvelous. On -what had been, a few months before, a series of farms, there was now a -military city. - -The place was laid out like a model city. The barracks for the soldiers -were, of course, made of rough wood, and few of them were painted, -but there was time enough for that. A great level, center space had -been set aside as a parade ground, and in the midst of this was the -division headquarters. North and south of the parade ground were the -long rows of “streets” lined with the wooden buildings, some of which -were sleeping quarters, some cook houses and others places where the -officers lived. - -There were long rows of warehouses, into which ran railroad sidings; -there were an ice house, an ice plant, a big laundry, a theater, and -many other buildings and establishments such as one would find in a -city. - -As for the military units themselves, there were infantry, cavalry, -machine gun companies, artillery companies, a motor corp and even a -small contingent of aeroplanes. - -On their arrival the day before, Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with the other -recruits, had been met at the railroad station by a number of officers, -who looked very spick and span in their olive-drab uniforms, with their -brown leather leggings polished until one could almost see his face in -them. - -In columns of four abreast, carrying their handbags and suitcases, the -new soldiers were marched up to camp, a most unmilitary looking lot, -as the boys themselves admitted. - -A few at a time, the lads were ushered into booths, where officers took -their names, records, and other details, then they were given something -to eat. - -“For all the world like a sort of picnic in a new mining town,” as Ned -wrote home. - -Then had come a preliminary drill, and some setting-up exercises. The -boys were so tired out from this, and from their journey, that no one -thought of anything but bed when it was over. - -“And now we’ve got to do it all over again,” murmured Bob, as he began -to dress. “This is somewhat different from what we were used to at -home. Home was never like this!” - -“Quit your kicking!” exclaimed Jerry. “Aren’t you glad you’re in this, -and are going to help lick the Huns?” - -“Sure I am!” declared the stout lad. - -“Then keep still about it!” - -“Say, I’ve got a right to kick if I want to, as long as I get up when -the bugle calls,” declared Bob. “It’s the constitutional right of a -free-born American citizen to kick, and I’m doing it!” - -“Showing you how much like the mule an otherwise perfectly good fellow -can become,” murmured Ned, and then he had to duck to get out of the -way of a shoe that Bob tossed at him. - -“Come on, fellows! Hustle!” called a non-commissioned officer, -thrusting his head in the doorway of the tent where the boys were -dressing. “Roll call soon!” - -“We’ll be there,” announced Ned. “I hope we get shifted to one of the -barracks to-day,” he went on. “It’s a bit damp in this tent.” - -“Yes, a wooden shack will be better,” agreed Jerry. - -Most of the new arrivals were in the wooden buildings, but in the hurry -and confusion of the day before, some had to be assigned temporarily -to tents. New barracks were in the course of construction, however, -to accommodate the constantly growing number of volunteers. Later the -great camps would be filled with the men of the draft. - -When Ned had finished his hasty dressing, he strolled over to look at -the posted notice in the tent, which gave a list of the day’s duties -and the hours for drills. The bulletin was headed “Service Roll Calls.” - -The first thing in the order of the day is reveille, but this is -preceded by what is known as “First call.” This is sounded at 5:45 in -the morning, rather an early hour, as almost any one but a milkman will -concede. But one gets used to it, as Bob said later. - -“First call” is a series of stirring notes on the bugle which has for -its purpose the awakening of the buglers themselves, to get them out -of their snug beds to give the reveille proper. March and reveille -come ten minutes later, the buglers marching up and down the streets -in front of the tents and barracks, and “blowing their heads off,” -to quote Jerry Hopkins. This is calculated to awaken each and every -rookie, but if it fails the various squad leaders see to it that no one -is missed. - -“Assembly,” is the call which comes at six o’clock, and then woe betide -the recruit who is not dressed and in line, standing at attention. As -can be seen, there is but five minutes allowed for dressing; that is, -if a man does not awaken until the reveille sounds. If he opens his -eyes at first call, and gets up then, he has fifteen minutes to primp, -though this is generally saved for dress parade. Roll call follows the -assembly. - -On this morning, when it had been ascertained that all were “present -or accounted for,” Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with their new comrades, were -dismissed to wash for breakfast. With soap and towels there was a -general rush for the wash room, and then followed a healthful splashing. - -“It isn’t like our bathroom at home,” said Bob, as he polished his -face, “but I suppose the results are the same.” - -“Sure,” agreed Ned. “They have showers here, and that’s more than they -have in some camps, yet, I hear.” - -“We’ll need a shower after drill,” declared Jerry. “It’s going to be -hot and dry to-day.” - -Breakfast was the next call, only it was not called that. It was down -on the schedule as “mess,” and so every meal was designated though, of -course, in their own minds, each recruit thought of the first meal as -breakfast, the second as dinner, and the third as supper. But to the -army cook each meal was a “mess.” - -But before breakfast the boys had to make up their beds. They had been -given a lesson in that the previous day. Soon after their arrival the -recruits were divided into squads, and under the guidance of a squad -leader they were taken to a big pile of straw and told to fill the -heavy, white cotton bags that were to serve in the place of mattresses. -There was a hole in the middle of the bag, and through this the straw -was poked, and the whole made as smooth as possible on the bunks. - -After their first night, Ned, Bob, and Jerry were transferred to -a wooden barracks. When they carried the straw mattresses to this -building, they found that each squad room contained about fifty bunks -arranged around the walls, with two rows down the middle. On each -bunk, besides the mattress, or “bedsack,” as it is officially called, -were a pillow and three blankets. These must be neatly arranged after -the night’s sleep. Beds in a military camp are not made up until just -before they are used, but during the day the blankets must be neatly -folded, laid on the bunks and the pillow placed on top of the blankets. - -There were no clothes closets, and the only place Ned, Bob and Jerry -had to put their things was on a shelf back of each lad’s bunk, and -on some nails, driven into the wall near by. On these were all the -possessions they were allowed, and, as can be imagined, they were not -many--or would not be, once the boys were in uniform. - -As yet, none of the new recruits wore a uniform. All were dressed just -as they had come from their homes, and there was the usual variety seen -at any baseball game. - -“Mess call!” sang out Jerry, as he and his chums heard the notes of the -bugles again. This time the call seemed to the boys to be more cheerful. - -“I hope they have something good for breakfast,” murmured Bob, and this -time his chums did not laugh at him. They were as hungry as he was. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -IN UNIFORM - - -“Um! Oh! Smell that!” cried Bob, as he hurried out in answer to the -first mess call of the day. “Bacon, or I’m a sinner!” - -Breakfast call was sounded at 6:15 and half an hour was allowed for it. - -As soon as the mess call had sounded each man, acting under the -directions of his squad leader, got his mess kit, consisting of plate, -cup, knife, fork and spoon. Later the boys needed no instructions in -producing these implements of “warfare.” - -The signal being given, they marched to the kitchen where there was -dished out to each one what was to be the first meal of the day. This -proved to be steamed rice and milk, bacon, scrambled eggs, fried -potatoes, buttered toast, bread and coffee. - -With this as a starter the boys marched into the mess hall and sat down -at long tables to eat. - -“How goes it, Chunky?” asked Ned, as he noticed his stout chum -beginning to eat. - -“Tell you better when I’ve had my second or third helping,” was the -somewhat mumbled reply. - -“Talk it out, Chunky,” advised Jerry. “Don’t scramble your reply; leave -that to the eggs you’re sailing into.” - -“Huh, I’ll sail clear through these, and then some.” - -“Can you have as much as you like?” asked a rather timid lad next to -Ned. - -“All you want, son, and more,” answered the squad leader, who was -walking about, and who had overheard the question. - -As each one finished he took his mess kit down to the end of the hall, -where there was a kettle of scalding water, and washed his cutlery and -dishes. There are no official dishwashers in the army, save those who -serve in the officer’s mess. - -“Well, do you feel better?” asked Ned, as he and Jerry filed out with -Bob. - -“Lots,” was the answer. “What call’s that?” he inquired, as another -bugle note blared out. - -“Sick call and fatigue,” answered Jerry, who was learning the army -orders and regulations. - -This call came at 6:45 and gave opportunity for such as were physically -disabled in any way to escape drill for the day. If a man is not -feeling physically fit in the morning he so reports to his first -sergeant, who places the name on a list. Then, when the proper call -comes, and all who are in need of medical attention are collected, an -officer marches them to an infirmary. - -Of course, this applies only to those slightly “under the weather.” In -case of a very ill recruit the doctor goes to him, instead of having -him go to the medical man. If a man is taken ill, or feels the need of -medical attention at any time other than the official sick call, an -officer is detailed to take him to the doctor, or the doctor comes to -him, at any hour it may be necessary. - -Fortunately there were very few who responded to sick call the first -morning in Camp Dixton. When it was over, at 6:50 o’clock, came the -first call for the day’s drill. Five minutes later came the assembly, -which meant that every man, not excused, must be in line. Then the -drill began. It was to last an hour. - -There were six drills during the day (or were at Camp Dixton), besides -guard-mount in the late afternoon. Between the drills came dinner, of -course. But the new soldiers were impressed with the drills. There were -so many of them, and when there was no drill there was a school of -instruction. - -Drills, or the assembly calls for them, came at the following -hours: 8:15, 9:30, 10:45, 1:00, and 2:15. At 3:30 came a school of -instruction, which lasted an hour. There was guard-mount, too, which -is another sort of drill, at 5:00. This lasted half an hour, and -mess call for supper sounded shortly after 5:30, followed by retreat, -meaning that the main part of the day was over. - -From supper time till the call to quarters, which sounded at 9 P.M., -the recruit was allowed to do about as he pleased, though sometimes -there was instruction in the evening. The call to quarters was the -signal for all lights to be out in the squad room, though it was not -necessary for all the soldiers to be there at that hour. They were, -however, expected to be there at ten o’clock when taps were sounded, -this being a bugle call for all lights to be out, and every one in bed, -except the officers and sentries. - -“Well, I don’t see where we’re going to have an awful lot of time to -scrabble around and have fun,” said Bob, in a half-growling tone, as -he looked over the printed list of the camp schedule. “We have from -four-thirty to five-forty-five with nothing to do, if we’re not in the -guard-mount stunt, and then we have time after supper. But that isn’t -much.” - -“Say, what do you think you’re on--a vacation?” asked Jerry. - -“Well, no, not exactly,” answered Bob slowly. - -“Not exactly! I should say not! Most emphatically--not! You’re here, -and so we all are, to do our duty and beat the Germans, and if it takes -all day I’m willing!” went on Jerry. - -As has been mentioned there are many kinds of drills in the army, but -the new recruits, such as Ned, Bob, and Jerry, found, according to -their squad leader, that the physical drill was the most important -one for them at first. Later on would come rifle drill, drill in -the trenches, bayonet practice, machine gun drill, rushes with hand -grenades and so on. There seemed to the boys to be no end to it. - -The boys of course, began at the very bottom to learn about army work, -and one of the first things they were told was in regard to different -formations, or units. The squad is the smallest unit of the infantry, -to which branch of the service the three chums were attached. A squad -consists of eight men, seven privates and a leader, who is, generally, -a corporal. This squad is the foundation of the army, and the members -of it generally stay together, sleeping, eating and fighting in unison -with other squads. - -After the squad comes the platoon, which is made up of from two to six -squads, and the men are in charge of a lieutenant with a couple of -non-commissioned officers to help him. Four platoons make a company, -and this is in charge of a captain, with two lieutenants to aid him. - -The battalion of four companies comes next and a major commands a -battalion, while three battalions usually make up a regiment, which is -commanded by a colonel, with a number of staff officers to advise and -aid him. It takes two regiments of infantry to make a brigade, which -is in charge of a brigadier general. Next comes a division, which is -the largest group in the army, and is made up in various ways, from -infantry and artillery and machine gun battalions. - -“I wonder what’s up?” said Ned, as he walked with his chums to the -designated place. None of them was in uniform, as yet. That would come -later. - -“What do you mean--up?” asked Jerry. - -“I mean it looks as though we were going to listen to a speech,” went -on Ned. - -And this was just what was going to happen. The captain of the company -to which they were temporarily assigned, had gathered the recruits -about him. - -“I want to tell you a few things before we begin the physical drill,” -he said, “so you will appreciate the importance of it. If I did not, -you might think that some of it was of little use. But I want to say -that it all has a value that has been tried and proved. - -“You know the army that is to help whip Germany is just like a big -machine. You are all parts in that machine, and every part, no matter -how small, must work in perfect unison with every other part, or there -will be failure. To begin with, you must be physically fit to stand -much hard work, and this drill is to get you in good condition. - -“Some of the motions you are made to go through may seem foolish to -you, but they are all for some good purpose. You have muscles which, -ordinarily, you seldom use. It is to bring out these muscles, and make -them fit for service, that certain motions and practice are necessary. -You’ll be surprised on finding what a little exercise will do for -certain weak and flabby muscles that you have. They will be waked up -and made to do their duty.” - -And the boys found, before the day was over, that their captain spoke -the truth, and with a knowledge that could not be questioned. - -“Oh, look who’s here,” said Bob to Ned in a low voice, as they had a -little respite from twisting and turning and stooping and rising. - -“Who?” asked Ned. - -“That Pug Kennedy we had the row with in the train. They’re going to -put him in our squad, I’m afraid.” - -“That’s bad,” said Jerry. “But still it won’t do to kick. This is only -temporary, and he may be changed, or we may. Don’t give up the ship -now.” - -Pug Kennedy was, indeed, put in the squad with the three Cresville -friends, and his unpleasant face grinned at them as the drill went on. - -Pug Kennedy lived up to his reputation. He was a “scrapper,” and he -did little but growl at every new order. He did not see any reason for -this, nor sense in that, and only the fact that he did his growling in -a low voice saved him from being disciplined. The officers did not hear -him. - -It was three or four days after the arrival of Ned, Bob, and Jerry at -Camp Dixton that Bob came hurrying up to his chums with a pleased look -on his face. - -“What is it, Chunky?” asked Ned. “Have you managed to squeeze another -mess call into the day’s program?” - -“No. But we’re going to get into uniforms to-day. I just heard our -captain say so,” answered the stout lad. “Now we’ll look like real -soldiers!” - -Bob was right. A few minutes later came the call for the recruits to -line up and proceed to the quartermaster’s department to be measured -for uniforms. - -“Now this is something like!” exclaimed Bob. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -HOT WORDS - - -“What’ll we do with our old suits?” asked Ned, as, with his chums, he -walked toward the clothing department, a store in itself. - -“They go into the discard,” answered Bob, who, it seems, had been -making inquiries. “I suppose we can send ’em home and have ’em kept for -us until after the war.” - -“That’s what I’m going to do,” declared Ned. “This is a good suit, -though it looks a bit mussy now. I’m not going to throw it away.” - -“You might as well,” put in Jerry. - -“Why so? This war may not last as long as we think,” Ned made comment. -“And suits, and everything else, will be a lot higher after it’s over. -Might as well save what I can. Don’t see why it won’t do me any good.” - -“Because it won’t fit you,” Jerry returned. “Don’t you know what our -captain told us? He said the new uniforms we get will hang on some -of us like bags for a while, but when we fill out our muscles by the -exercise and drill, we’ll fill out the uniforms, too. - -“Now your tailor, Ned, and I will say he is a good one, made your -civilian suit to fit you. In other words he favored you. He padded the -hollow places and so on. But in a couple of months you’ll fill out so -that the suit you’re wearing now will look like a set of hand-me-downs -from the Bowery in New York.” - -“Well, I’ll send it home, anyhow,” decided Ned. - -“Yes, it may come in handy for your mother’s charity work,” agreed -Jerry. - -Before going to the tailor shop, Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with others of -the recruits, were measured. These measurements were standardized, so -that when each young man went in to get his uniform, the officer in -charge merely called off a certain number to designate coat, trousers, -hat and so on. - -The first outfit issued to the boys consisted of one coat, a pair -of trousers, a hat, with cord, three pairs of drawers, two pairs of -laces, a pair of leggings, a set of ornaments, an overcoat, two flannel -shirts, two pairs of shoes, six pairs of socks, a belt, a pair of -gloves and three undershirts. The value of each article was set down -and varied from a hat cord, marked as worth six and a half cents, to -an overcoat, which cost the government $14.50, making a total of about -$45 for each young soldier. For this, of course, Ned, Bob, and Jerry -paid nothing. A private gets his uniform and food for nothing, but an -officer has to buy his. - -“Return to barracks and get into your uniforms for inspection,” was the -order the boys received, and they were glad to do it. There were some, -like Ned, who sent their civilian clothes home to be used as parents -saw fit, and there was a general opinion, coinciding with Jerry’s, that -they would be of little use to the owners themselves after their army -service, for the young men would, indeed, be of different physical -appearance and size. - -“Well, how do I look?” asked Ned, as he and his two chums finished -dressing in the barracks. - -“It fits you sort of quick,” answered Jerry. - -The new uniform was, in truth, a trifle loose. - -“Yours fits the same way,” laughed Ned. “I guess I’ll do a double stunt -of exercise to fill out quicker.” - -“Bob looks good in his,” commented the tall motor boy. “It’s because -he’s so fat. When he loses some of his flesh he’ll look as though he -was wearing a meal sack.” - -“Watch your own step,” said Bob, with a laugh. “I’m satisfied.” - -There were jokes and jests among the recruits about the appearance of -one another, and when Pug Kennedy walked out on the way to drill, to -which the squad was summoned, Jerry called to him: - -“You’ve got your hat cord on backwards, old man.” - -It was not that Jerry felt any particular liking for Michael Kennedy, -to give him his real name, but the tall lad did not want any member -of his squad to look unmilitary, nor did he want a reprimand to be -directed toward Pug, as it might reflect on his companions. But Pug -Kennedy was still in an ungracious mood, it seemed, for he answered -Jerry’s well-meant remark with: - -“Mind your own business! It’s my hat cord.” - -“True enough,” agreed Jerry, good-naturedly; “but it may not be long, -if you wear it that way.” - -“Um!” grunted Pug, as he went out. But Ned took notice that, as soon as -he was out of sight around the corner of the barracks, the bully put -the cord on differently. It was a light blue cord, and indicated to -those who knew the regulations, that the man under the hat belonged to -the infantry, or foot-soldier, branch of the army. - -The cavalry wear yellow cords on their hats; and the artillery, red. -The engineers have a red and white mixed cord; the signal corps, orange -and white; the medical corps, maroon; and the quartermaster corps, buff. - -In addition there are certain ornaments on the collars of the coats to -distinguish the different branches of the service. The infantry wear -crossed rifles, the cavalry crossed sabers, the field artillery crossed -cannon, the engineers a castle, like the castle in a set of chessmen, -the signal corps crossed flags with a torch between, the quartermaster -corps wheel with a pen and sword crossed and an eagle surmounting, -while the members of the medical corps wear something that looks like -an upright bar with wings at the top and two snakes twining around it. -This is a caduceus, and is a form of the staff usually associated with -the god Mercury. The word comes from the Doric and means to proclaim, -literally a herald. - -“He took your advice, Jerry,” announced Ned, when he saw what Pug -Kennedy had done. - -“Glad he did. He might have been a little more polite about it, though. -I wish he was in some other squad, but I suppose there’s no use trying -to graft him somewhere else. We’ll just have to make the best of him.” - -“Or the worst,” added Bob. - -In their new uniforms the recruits went through the drill, and it could -not be denied that now there was a little more snap to it. It was more -inspiring to see men all dressed alike doing something in unison than -to watch the same company going through motions, one in a brown suit, -another in a green and a third in a blue. - -The drill was hard, and it never seemed to end. When one stopped, -there was only a brief rest period, and then came another. But it was -necessary, and the boys were beginning to feel that. - -“I wonder what the folks at home would think if they could see us now?” -asked Ned, as their respite came. - -“Well, I guess they wouldn’t be ashamed of us,” replied Jerry. - -“I should say not!” declared Bob, smoothing out some imaginary -wrinkles. “I think we look all to the mustard!” - -“Or cheese!” chuckled Ned. “Come on--there goes mess call,” he added, -for it was noon, and time for dinner. - -As it was Friday there was chowder as the main dish. There were fried -fish, candied sweet potatoes, green peas, fruit pudding, mustard -pickles, bread and coffee. It was a plentiful meal, and several made a -trip to the kitchen for a second helping. - -Bob was one of these, and it was when he was walking back to his -place at the long table that something happened which nearly caused -considerable trouble. - -Bob was carrying his filled plate in one hand, and his cup of coffee -in the other, when, as he passed the bench where Pug Kennedy was -sitting, some one bumped into the stout lad, jostling his arm, and the -coffee--or part of it--went down Pug’s back. - -Up the bully sprang with a howl, though the coffee was not hot enough -to burn him. - -“Who did that?” he demanded, wrathfully. - -There was no need to answer. The attitude of Bob, standing directly -back of Pug, with the half-emptied cup in his hand and the queer look -on his face, told more plainly than words that he was the guilty one. - -“Oh, so it’s you again, is it, you sneak!” and Pug fairly snarled the -words. - -“What do you mean?” demanded Bob, justly angry. - -“I mean that you’re trying to make trouble for me again--like the time -when you accused me of stealing your crullers. You’re trying to spoil -my uniform so I’ll get a call-down. I’ll fix you for this!” - -“It was an accident,” insisted Bob. “Some one ran against me, and----” - -“Accident my eye!” sneered Pug. “I’ll accident you! I’ll punch you good -and proper, that’s what I’ll do!” he yelled, and he leaped back over -the bench-seat and advanced toward Bob who stepped back. - -A fight was imminent. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A MIDNIGHT MEETING - - -“Put down your things and put up your hands!” Pug Kennedy fairly issued -the order to Bob as an officer might have done. - -“Why should I?” asked the stout youth. “I haven’t finished my dinner.” - -“Well, you’re not going to until I finish you. Come on! Put up your -hands! I’m a scrapper, but I won’t hit any one with his hands full. Put -’em up, I say, or I’ll smash you in a minute!” - -“Don’t you hit him!” called Ned, hastily arising from the opposite side -of the table. - -“Mind your own business!” ordered Pug. - -“Take some one your size!” came a voice from the end of the hall. - -“I’ll take you if you want me to!” snapped Pug. - -He took a step nearer Bob, and the latter, in very self-defense, was -about to set down his plate and cup, when Captain Trainer, who had a -habit of unexpectedly dropping into the mess hall, entered the big -room. He took in, at a glance, what was about to happen. - -“Stop!” he cried in commanding tones. “What does this mean?” - -“He spilled a lot of hot coffee down my back!” growled Pug, but he had -lost some of his belligerency since the advent of his captain. - -“I didn’t mean to,” explained Bob. “It was an accident, some one -jostled me.” - -“Very well,” said Captain Trainer. “That is equivalent to an apology, -Kennedy, and I direct you to accept it as such.” - -“I’m sure I’m sorry,” said Bob. “I really didn’t mean to.” - -“All right,” half growled Pug. “If you do it again, though, I’ll punch -you worse than I did before!” and he glared at Bob. - -The captain, seeing that he had averted hostilities for the time being, -thought it best to withdraw. Enlisted men, especially at meals, like to -be free from restraint, and an officer, no matter how much he is liked -by his command, is a sort of damper at times. - -Pug squirmed and twisted, trying to wipe some of the coffee stains from -the back of his coat and Bob went on to his place to finish his meal. - -“There’ll be trouble with that fellow before we are through with him,” -said Jerry to his chums in a low voice, as they went out of the mess -hall, for a little rest before drill was resumed. - -“He’s made trouble enough already,” said Bob. “Though of course it is -rather raw to have coffee spilled down your back. But I couldn’t help -it.” - -“Of course not,” agreed Jerry. “But what I meant was that we’ll have -personal trouble with him. He seems always spoiling for a fight, and -more so when we are concerned than any one else. Maybe he doesn’t like -being in the same squad with us.” - -“He can’t dislike it any more than we do,” suggested Ned. “Just wait -until I get made a corporal and have charge! Then I’ll make him step -around.” - -“Oh, are you going to get promoted to a corporal?” asked Jerry. “I -didn’t know that was on the bill,” and he winked at Bob. - -“Sure I’m going to be promoted,” went on Ned. “Aren’t you working for -that?” - -And Jerry and Bob had to admit that they were, though it was rather -early in the game to expect anything. - -The first step upward from private, the lowest army rank, is to be -made a corporal, and, after that one becomes a sergeant. A corporal -wears two V-shaped stripes, on his sleeves. The V in each case is -inverted. A sergeant has three such stripes. There are various sorts -of sergeants--duty or line sergeants, staff and major sergeants, mess -sergeants, supply sergeants and so on. The first sergeant is often -called “Top,” and sometimes considers himself almost a commissioned -officer. - -Sergeants and corporals are non-commissioned officers, and there is a -great difference in rank between a commissioned and a non-commissioned -man. - -A commissioned officer can resign, and quit when he wants to, but an -enlisted man, or a non-commissioned officer can not. Commissioned -officers are appointed by the President, and the commission carries a -certain rank, beginning with second lieutenant. Each step upward means -a new commission. The sergeants and corporals are appointed, nominally, -by the colonel of their regiment, by warrant. - -“Well, then Pug had better look out for himself, if you’re going to -have it in for him when you’re made corporal,” went on Jerry. “But say, -it must be fun to be an officer--even a non-commissioned one.” - -“It is,” agreed Ned. “You get out of a lot of work that isn’t any fun, -such as being the kitchen police, doing fatigue work like cleaning up -the barracks and grounds, digging drains and the like, and when you’re -on guard you don’t have to keep on the go--all you have to do is to -keep watch over the other sentries.” - -“Fine and dandy!” exclaimed Bob. - -“Me for it!” added Jerry. - -“But that isn’t getting us anywhere just now,” said Ned. “I’m detailed -for kitchen police this very day.” - -“So’m I,” admitted Bob, and, as it happened, Jerry was, too. - -When one is detailed to the kitchen police it does not mean that the -young soldier has to arrest those who eat too much, or too little. - -In an army camp the cooking is done, in most instances, by soldiers -detailed for it, though in some cases professional cooks may be used, -such having enlisted or been drafted. Each day certain members of the -company are named to help the cooks, of which there are usually three. -The helpers are known as the “kitchen police,” and they do all sorts -of work, peeling potatoes, washing the pots and pans, scrubbing the -floors, waiting on table, bringing in coal and wood. - -This kitchen policing goes by turn, so no one man gets too much of it, -or has to do it too steadily. It was the first time Ned, Bob and Jerry -had been assigned to this duty, and they went at it without grumbling, -which is what every good soldier does. Their many camping experiences -stood them in good stead in this, and the efficient manner in which -they went about their tasks in cleaning up the pots and pans drew a -compliment from the professional cook. - -“We’ll know our soup comes out of a clean pot the next time we eat,” -said Bob, as he gave the copper a final polish. - -“And by the looks of things we’re going to have a good feed to-morrow,” -added Ned. - -“We always do on Sunday,” said Jerry. - -On Sundays in camp, reveille, mess and sick calls are one hour later -than on week days, giving more opportunity for slumber, and on -Saturdays the first call for drill is not until 7:35 instead of 6:50, -which is also a little relief. - -“Yes, there’ll be a good dinner to-morrow,” resumed Bob, as he passed -the ice chest, having occasion to open it. “Plenty of chicken and the -fixings.” - -The Sunday dinner in camp, in fact, is usually the long-looked-for meal -of the week, and the supper, likewise, is more elaborate than usual. -The feeding of the boys of the army is a science, and it is worked out -to what might be called mathematical exactness. - -For instance, at Camp Dixton each enlisted man received, or was each -day credited with, what is called the “garrison ration.” This consisted -of a certain amount of fresh beef, flour, baking powder, bran, -potatoes, prunes, coffee, sugar, evaporated milk, condiments, butter, -lard, syrup and flavoring extract. - -Of course each man did not actually receive these things, for, if he -had, he would have had trouble in getting them cooked, or in shape -to eat. But that was his allowance and he was entitled to it or its -equivalent, each article mentioned being issued in certain specific -measure or weight. - -The soldiers were allowed to trade what they did not want for things -they did. They could swap beef for mutton, bacon for hash and so on. -They could have rice for beans, or dried apples for prunes, there being -substitutes for almost every ration issued. - -“And a nice thing about it, too,” said Jerry, when he and his chums -were discussing it, “is that you don’t have to eat it all.” - -“Don’t tell Bob that, it’ll scare him,” suggested Ned. - -“Well, I mean you can save some,” Jerry explained, “and turn it into -cash.” - -“Do we spend the cash?” asked Bob. - -“It isn’t usual. It’s turned back into the company fund, and used to -buy extras for special dinners--ice cream and the like.” - -While the ration spoken of is supposed to be issued to each soldier, in -reality it is not. He has to take the meal the cook prepares each day, -and this is supervised by the mess sergeant. This official is given -the task of looking after the kitchen. He is supposed to save a little -here and there, where he can, and convert mutton into ham and eggs on -occasions, and save enough on the prunes to have them turn into lemon -pie once in a while. - -All this Ned, Bob, and Jerry learned as they went along. They finished -their kitchen police work, and were relieved from duty, taking the -occasion to go to the Y. M. C. A. headquarters to write some letters. - -“I wonder how things are in Cresville,” observed Bob, as he carefully -sealed one envelope, and took care that his chums did not see the -address. - -“I had a paper from there the other day,” said Jerry. “The old town -seemed to be getting along in spite of our absence.” - -“No more fires?” asked Ned. - -“No; didn’t read of any.” - -“Crooked Nose wasn’t arrested for stealing the old Frenchman’s money, -or my father’s watch, or Mrs. Hopkins’ brooch, was he?” inquired Bob. - -“No. But the article said that the old man insisted that he did lose a -big sum on the occasion of the blaze. He tells the same story he told -us, but I guess few believe he had much money.” - -“All the same it was a mean trick, if some one robbed the old man, and -I’d like to catch Crooked Nose, if there is such a person,” declared -Ned with energy. - -“I’m with you!” added Bob. “Say,” he went on, “have any of you written -to Professor Snodgrass?” - -“No, and we ought to,” said Jerry. “We ought to invite him down to -camp. I heard he was given a leave of absence, and there are some queer -bugs down here in camp that he might like to look over.” - -“I’ll drop him a line,” promised Jerry. - -That night the three motor boys went on guard together for a two-hour -period just before midnight. Their posts adjoined, and as they marched -back and forth they could speak now and again. - -It was shortly before twelve o’clock, when the camp was wrapped in -darkness and very still, that, as Jerry passed a certain spot where -there was a small hollow among some trees, he saw, dimly outlined -against the sky, a figure crawling along in a stooping position. - -Jerry was about to challenge, for those were his orders, when he saw a -second figure crawl along, from the direction of a public road outside -the camp, and join the first. - -“That’s queer,” mused Jerry, as he observed the midnight meeting. “I’ll -have to look into this.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -A STAB IN THE BACK - - -Jerry Hopkins was of two minds. He knew his orders as sentry required -him to challenge any one trying to pass in or out of camp after hours -without a pass. And it did not seem likely that these persons, whoever -they were, would act so suspiciously if they had passes. In fact, one -came from the direction of the barracks, and the other from the town, -which lay about three miles from camp. - -On the other hand, Jerry knew that often some of the boys stayed in -town beyond the legal hour, and tried to run past the guard without -getting caught, for in the latter event it meant punishment for being -out after taps. - -The soldier boys were but human, and, naturally, they did not want to -see their fellow soldiers get into trouble. So it was sometimes the -custom not to look too closely when some of the late-stayers tried to -run guard. - -“If that’s all it is, I guess I can find something to do at the other -end of my post,” thought Jerry, for he felt that, some day, he might -want a similar favor. - -But as he was debating with himself he heard Ned approaching, and he -waited. - -“Everything all right?” asked Ned in a low voice. - -“Well, not exactly,” was the answer. “Did you see anything suspicious?” - -“Suspicious? No.” - -“Take a look down in that hollow,” suggested Jerry. As he pointed to -indicate the place to Ned, they both saw two figures in a crouching -attitude on the ground. They were two men, one in the unmistakable -uniform of a soldier, and the other a civilian. And they appeared to be -in close conversation. - -“What’s that?” asked Ned in a low voice. - -“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” returned Jerry. “I was just -wondering whether to challenge or not.” - -“Maybe we can find out who they are first,” suggested Ned. “If it’s -just a couple of boys out late.” - -“That’s what I was going to do,” said Jerry. - -“But one seems to be a civilian, and he hasn’t any right around camp at -this hour.” - -“I’m going over and take a look.” Jerry spoke now with decision. - -“I’ll go with you,” offered Ned. “It’s about midway of both our posts.” - -Jerry and Ned wanted to do their duty, as they had been instructed by -their officers, but, at the same time, if by a little avoidance of a -strict rendering of the rules they could help out an indiscreet fellow -soldier, they were tempted to do that. It all depended on what was -taking place over there in the dark hollow. - -Of course there had been talk of enemy spies and of German activities, -and a great deal of it had a basis in fact, or easily could have. And -it was true that a German spy could do a great deal of damage around -Camp Dixton if he tried. There were great store-houses that could be -set on fire, there were barracks and stables that could be burned, and -more than one fire that did occur during the early days may be set down -as having been the work of an enemy alien. If such were the men meeting -at midnight in the hollow, just off the posts of Jerry and Ned, they -wanted to know it. Even if one did wear Uncle Sam’s uniform, that was -no reason for believing him true. There are traitors in all walks of -life. - -“What do you make ’em out to be?” asked Ned in a whisper of his tall -chum. - -“I’m not sure. One seems to be a soldier, but the other isn’t. And the -soldier, if he is that, came from the direction of our place.” - -“Going to yell for the corporal of the guard?” - -“Not yet a while. Let’s see who they are.” - -The thick grass muffling their footsteps, Ned and Jerry drew near to -the place where they had last seen the figures. They were not in sight -now, being crouched down in the dark shadows. But as the boys paused to -listen, they heard the murmur of voices, and some one said: - -“It’s a little soon to start anything yet. Wait about a week and the -place will be full. Then the damage will be all the greater.” - -“All right; just as you say,” came the response. “Only my friends are -getting impatient to have me do something.” - -“Oh, you’ll do it all right!” said the first speaker. “And now you’d -better hop along. The sentries may be over this way any minute. I’ve -got to sneak back. See you again in the usual way.” - -Then came a silence, and Ned and Jerry looked at one another in the -darkness. They could just make out each other’s outlines. - -“Did you hear that?” whispered Ned. - -“Sure I did. It was----” - -“Pug Kennedy!” filled in Ned. - -“And if the other didn’t speak with a German accent I’ll never draw -another ration.” - -“Just what I think. But what does it mean? Why should Pug Kennedy be -out after hours, running the guard and meeting with men who may be -enemy aliens?” - -“Can’t answer,” replied Jerry. “But it’s up to us to find out. But -let’s go easy. We don’t want to make fools of ourselves, and start a -false alarm. Wait until we see what happens.” - -They did not have long to wait. A few seconds later they heard a -shuffle in the grass, and a dim figure came toward them. It was that of -a soldier, as Ned and Jerry could see. Of the second person there was -not a sign. But he might still be in the dark hollow, or he may have -crawled off. At any rate it was Jerry’s duty to challenge, and he did -it. - -“Halt!” he cried, bringing his rifle to “port,” as the regulations -called for. “Who goes there?” - -“Friend,” was the answer, though the tone of the reply was anything but -friendly. “That you, Hopkins?” came the inquiry. - -“Yes. Who are you?” Jerry asked, though he knew full well. - -“I’m Kennedy. I’ve been out on a bit of a lark. Can’t you look the -other way a second until I slip past?” - -It was not an unusual request, and it was one that was often complied -with. Yet Jerry hesitated a moment. Kennedy might be telling the truth, -and the midnight meeting might be innocent enough. But it looked -suspicious. And Jerry had reason to think that the fighter had come -from the barracks only recently--not that he was just returning to them. - -“Go on. Look the other way and I’ll slip past--that’s a sport!” begged -Pug Kennedy, and his voice was more friendly now. “I’ll do as much for -you some day.” - -It was an appeal hard to resist, and Jerry was on the point of -complying, while Ned was willing to agree to it, when some one was -heard walking along from a point in back of the three young men. - -“It’s the corporal!” hissed Kennedy. “Keep your mouths shut and I’ll do -the rest.” - -He suddenly seemed to melt away in the darkness, but he probably -dropped down in the long grass. The approaching footsteps came nearer -and a voice called: - -“Hopkins! Slade! Are you there?” - -“Here, sir,” was the answer, and Jerry and Ned saw the corporal of the -guard standing near them. - -“Anything the matter?” he asked. - -“Well, I thought I saw some one over here,” answered Jerry, “and I came -to look. But I don’t see anything now.” - -There was a very good reason for this. Jerry had his eyes tightly shut! - -“False alarm, was it?” asked the corporal with a laugh. “Well, that -often happens. But it’s best to be on the alert. There are some of the -boys out, and we want to catch them as examples. If you see anything -more give a call.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -Jerry and Ned turned away to go back on post when something happened. -It was a yell of pain, and came from a point not far from where the -corporal had been talking to the two sentries. - -“What’s that?” exclaimed Ned. - -“Some one hurt,” answered Jerry. “I wonder----” - -He did not have time to complete his surmise, for the corporal called: - -“Guard! Over this way! I’ve caught him!” - -There was a sound of a struggle, and then a light flashed. Ned and -Jerry, hurrying over, saw the corporal holding Pug Kennedy, and -flashing a pocket electric light into the bully’s face. - -[Illustration: NED AND JERRY, HURRYING OVER SAW THE CORPORAL HOLDING -PUG KENNEDY.] - -“You were right--there was some one here,” said the corporal. “I -stepped on his hand in the dark and he yelled. Otherwise I might not -have seen him. Sorry, Kennedy, but it’s your own fault,” went on the -non-commissioned officer. “Take him to the guardhouse,” he ordered Ned -and Jerry, and there was no choice for them but to obey. - -“I’ll get even with you for this!” growled Pug Kennedy, as he marched -along. “I’ll fix you!” - -“We didn’t do anything,” said Jerry in a low voice. “We were going to -keep still.” - -“Yes you were! You gave me away--that’s what you did. You called the -corporal and peached on me! I’ll fix you for this!” - -It was useless to protest, and Jerry and Ned did not. Kennedy, -muttering and growling, was turned over to the keeper of the -guardhouse, and locked up for the rest of the night. He would be given -a hearing in the morning. - -“How much shall we tell?” asked Ned of Jerry, when they were relieved, -and, with Bob, went to turn in. - -“Better not say anything until we’re asked,” was Jerry’s opinion. “Let -the corporal do the talking. After all he found him, we didn’t.” - -“But about the meeting in the dark, and the talk we heard?” - -“Well, if I was sure what it meant I’d speak of it. But we may only get -laughed at for imagining things if we speak of it. And we haven’t much -to go on. Let the corporal do the talking.” - -This they did, with the result that Pug Kennedy was punished for being -out after taps and trying to run the guard, no very serious offense, -but one which carried with it an extra round of police work--cleaning -up around camp--and Pug was more or less the laughing butt of his -comrades. - -“It’s all your fault!” he declared to Ned and Jerry. “You wait! I’ll -get square with you!” - -But as several days passed, and the “scrapper,” as he was called, made -no effort to carry out his threat, Ned and Jerry rather forgot about -it. As for the midnight meeting, it seemed to have been nothing more -than an attempt on the part of Pug Kennedy to be friendly with some -civilian he had met in town. - -“Though what they were talking about I can’t guess,” said Jerry. - -“Same here,” agreed Ned. - -The days in camp were spent in drill. It was drill, drill, drill from -morning until night. - -Most of the drills were for the purpose of getting the new soldiers in -good physical shape, fit to stand the hard work that would come later. -To the three motor boys it was much the same sort of thing they had -gone through when training for football. There were the preliminary -steps, the slow movements, followed by speeding-up practice and then -hard driving. - -In the course of a few weeks they learned how to march in unison, how -to go through certain parts of the rifle drill without making it look -too ragged, and finally, one day, orders were issued for bayonet drill. - -“This is beginning to look like real war, now,” said Ned in delight, as -he and his chums got their guns and bayonets ready for the work. - -“What is it to be, trench or with the bags?” asked Bob. - -“Bags,” answered Jerry, who had been reading the orders. “The trench -work comes later.” - -There are several kinds of bayonet drill and exercise, and among them -are trench and bag work. In the former, which is only used after the -youths have become somewhat familiar with the weapon, there are two -lines of soldiers. One is down in a trench, and they are “attacked” -by another line standing above them, the theory being that the party -outside the trench is the attacking one. - -Bag bayonet work is something on the same scale as tackling the -dummy in football practice. On a wooden framework a number of canvas -bags, filled with sawdust, shavings, hay or other soft material, are -suspended. On each bag, which swings freely by two ropes, are painted -two white dots. These, in a measure, correspond to the scarlet heart on -the buffer of a fencer. - -Standing in a row before the swinging bags, with leveled bayonets, the -young soldiers endeavor to stab through the object as near the white -spots as possible. This is to train their eyes. - -Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with their comrades, were marched to the practice -ground, and then, after some preliminary instruction and illustrative -work by men proficient in the drill, the lads were allowed to do it -themselves. - -“It looks easy, but it’s hard,” declared Bob, when he had made several -wild lunges, to the no small danger of the man next him. - -“Take it easy, Chunky,” advised Jerry. “You’ve got more than a week to -stay here. Go slow.” - -Pug Kennedy, who was stationed next to Ned, had done better than any of -the others. Perhaps his proficiency with his fists stood him in good -stead. However that may have been, he won commendation from the officer -in charge. - -“Now for a general attack!” came the orders, after a while. “I want to -see how you’d act if you were told to go over the top and smash a crowd -of Germans! Lively now!” - -The boys went at it with a will, one or two fairly ripping the bags -from their fastenings. - -Suddenly there was a cry of pain, and Jerry saw Ned stagger in the -line, and drop his rifle. Then Ned fell, and on the back of his olive -shirt there appeared a crimson stain. Ned had been stabbed by a -bayonet. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -A CAVE-IN - - -Momentary confusion followed Ned’s cry and his fall, and those nearest -him, when they saw the blood, felt a good deal of alarm. But efficient -officers were in charge of the drilling squads, and a few sharp orders -sufficed to bring the men back in line, while an examination was made -of the injured lad. - -He was bleeding freely, but when his shirt was taken off it was seen -that a bayonet had struck him a glancing blow, cutting a long, but not -deep, gash in the fleshy part of his back. - -“How did this happen? Did any one see it?” asked the officer in charge -of the instruction. - -“It was----” began a lad who had been standing next to Ned. - -“I did it!” growled out the unpleasant voice of Pug Kennedy. “But I -didn’t mean to.” - -“I should hope not,” commented the officer, rather sharply. “But how -did it happen?” - -“He leaned over and got right in my way just as I was making a lunge,” -explained the fighter. “I tried to hold back my gun but it was too -late.” - -The officer looked sharply at Kennedy, but there seemed to be no good -reason why his word should be doubted. - -“Very well,” said Captain Reel, who was giving the bayonet instruction. -“Only be more careful after this. Save such strokes for the Germans. We -can’t afford to lose any of our soldiers. This will be all for to-day.” - -Ned had been carried to the infirmary, and thither, having received -permission to do so, went Bob and Jerry. They were met by an orderly -who, on hearing their inquiries, told them that Ned’s wound was not at -all serious, and that he would be kept in his bed only long enough to -make sure there would be no infection from the steel and to enable the -wound to heal slightly. - -Later in the day they were allowed to see their chum. Ned was on a cot -in the infirmary, and he smiled at Jerry and Bob. - -“Oh, I’m not out of the game for long,” he said, in answer to their -inquiries. “I’ll be a bit stiff for a day or so, the doc says, but -it’ll soon wear off.” - -“How did it happen?” asked Jerry. “Did you really get in his way as he -says you did?” - -“I didn’t know it if I did,” answered Ned. “I was just making a lunge -myself, and I’d been doing it right along, so I knew my distance.” - -“He did it on purpose,” insisted Bob. “I was talking to the fellow who -was on the other side of Pug Kennedy, and he says there was plenty of -room. He did it on purpose to get even with you, Ned, for the way he -was caught the other night, when he tried to run the guard.” - -“Oh, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that,” objected Jerry. “Pug Kennedy -is a scrapper, and he doesn’t like us. But I don’t believe he’d -deliberately try to bayonet a chap.” - -“Well, I don’t know what to believe,” returned Ned. “I thought I had -plenty of room on each side of me, but my foot may have slipped. Or -maybe Pug’s may have done the same thing.” - -“He made it slip!” declared Bob. “He wanted to get square with you and -he took that way.” - -“If he did it’s a pretty serious way,” said Jerry, “and he ought to -be dismissed from the service. But it’s going to be as hard to prove -that as it would be to prove that he had some plot on foot when he met -that man at midnight. I don’t believe we can do anything unless we get -better proof.” - -“Oh, drop it all!” exclaimed Ned. “It’s only a scratch, anyhow, and it -won’t kill me. There’s just as much chance that it was an accident as -that he did it on purpose. I’m not going to make any accusation against -him.” - -“No, I don’t believe it would be wise,” agreed Jerry. “But, at the -same time, we’ll keep watch on him. He may try something like it again.” - -Ned’s prediction as to the lightness of his injury proved correct. In -two days he was out of the infirmary, and though he was not allowed to -go in for violent drill for a week afterward, he said he felt capable -of it. - -Pug Kennedy made a sort of awkward apology for his share in the -accident. - -“I didn’t mean to do it,” he said to Ned. “But either you leaned -over too far toward me, or else I slipped. You may think I did it on -purpose, on account of you giving me away to the corporal that night, -but I didn’t.” - -“I had nothing to do with your getting caught when you went out from -barracks that night,” said Ned. “It was your own fault. As for getting -square--you’re welcome to try.” - -“Who says I was going out of barracks?” asked Pug vindictively. - -“Weren’t you?” Ned asked. - -“No. Course not. I was coming in, and I sort of got lost in the dark. -I didn’t know my way and I asked a fellow I met. He was one of the -teamsters, I guess. I was talking to him, when I was caught--I mean you -saw me and then the corporal came.” - -“We didn’t send for him,” declared Jerry “He just happened to come at -that moment.” - -“Well, it looked as if you’d sent for him,” growled Pug. “I’d be glad -to think you didn’t. And I’m sorry you’re hurt,” he added to Ned. - -“Oh, I’m not hurt much,” was the easy answer. “Next time I’ll give you -plenty of room when there’s bayonet drill.” - -Whether Pug liked this or not, he did not say. But he went away -muttering to himself. - -Ned was soon back with his chums again, drilling away, and dreaming of -the time when he and they could go to France to fight the Huns. But -much preliminary work was necessary. It was, as has been said, drill, -drill, drill from morning until night. - -Meanwhile the boys were beginning to appreciate what the army life was -doing for them. They were becoming better physically, every day; as -hard as nails and as brown as berries. - -They wrote enthusiastic letters home, and received letters in reply, -giving the news of Cresville. Matters there were about the same. -There had been no more “peace” meetings, though it was said that -Mr. Schaeffer and his fellow pro-Germans were contemplating another -big meeting as a protest against the draft, which had been put into -operation. - -The place where the fire had been was still a heap of ruins, Mrs. -Hopkins wrote Jerry, and it had not been cleared because of a dispute -over the insurance money. Mr. Cardon, the Frenchman, had recovered -from his experience, though he still talked about the loss of his -money, which, he insisted, a man with a crooked nose had stolen. - - “I think his story is true,” wrote Mrs. Hopkins. “But nobody - has seen the man with the crooked nose, and there is positively - no trace of Mr. Baker’s watch nor of my diamond brooch. Mr. - Martley’s creditors have found his affairs in such a mess that - there will be next to nothing coming to them--so if the watch - and brooch are not recovered we will have to stand the loss - ourselves.” - -“Isn’t that the limit!” cried Jerry, as he read this portion of the -letter to his chums. - -“It sure is,” remarked Ned. - -“I’ll bet my dad feels sore,” put in Bob. - -Professor Snodgrass wrote to the boys, telling them he hoped soon to -pay them a visit. He was finishing cataloging the bugs he had caught on -his last trip to Cresville, he stated, and would soon be on the lookout -for more. - -It was two weeks after Ned’s injury by a bayonet in the hands of Pug -Kennedy, and he was fully himself again, that, one afternoon as he and -his chums were getting ready for hand grenade drill, a cry came from -a section of the camp near the artillery unit. There was a series of -shouts following a salvo of heavy guns. - -“There’s been an accident!” exclaimed Jerry, as he saw a number of -officers and men running. - -“Cannon exploded, maybe,” said Bob. - -“It didn’t sound so,” remarked Ned. “The noise wasn’t any louder than -usual. But it’s something,” he added. “There go the ambulances!” - -As he spoke a number of the vehicles dashed across the parade ground -toward the place that seemed to be the center of excitement. - -“Come on!” cried Ned. “We’ve got to see what this is!” - -The motor boys started to run, followed by several of their new chums, -and on all sides there were questions. - -“What is it? What happened?” - -A sentry, who did not leave his post, gave the first information. - -“A line of trenches caved in!” he said. “A lot of the men are buried -alive!” - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -A PRACTICE MARCH - - -Had such an accident as had occurred at Camp Dixton taken place in the -midst of a big city street, there would have been so much excitement -and conflict that the result would have been magnified in seriousness. - -As it was there was enough seriousness to it, but it was minimized by -the fact that the accident happened in the midst of a military camp, -and among men who are used to meeting resolutely every sort of accident -and emergency. - -Short and sharp were the orders issued. Those who could not be of help -were halted before they reached the place, and were held in readiness -for any work that would be needed. - -The three friends, being among the first to reach the scene, were put -in one of the rescue squads. It did not take long to understand what -had happened. Trenches had been dug in many parts of the camp to give -the men training under the conditions they would find in France and -Flanders. But there had been some heavy rain, and when a battery of -heavy guns was fired too near a certain line of the trenches, the soft -earth slid in on top of the men occupying the defenses. They were -buried, a number of them being covered out of sight. - -Fortunately there were plenty of entrenching tools on hand, and the -first thing to do was to begin digging the men out. This was done under -the direction of men of the engineer corps, who were experts in this -work. - -A hasty calling of the roll showed that twenty men had been caught -in the cave-in, and within five minutes every one had been dug out. -Several were unconscious, but there were pulmotors in the camp, -and these were used until all but one of the victims was breathing -naturally, if faintly. This one man died, and several had broken arms, -legs and other injuries. - -It was a serious and sad accident, and, for a time, cast a gloom over -the camp. But it was one of those seemingly unavoidable things for -which no one in particular was to blame. A court martial was held, and -the officer in charge of the work exonerated. - -Nor was the commander of the battery, the firing of the guns of which -loosened the soft earth, held responsible. He had nothing to do with -the trenches, and it was not his fault. - -The accident had its effect, though, in causing greater care to be -taken in making trenches after that, and bag or basket work was used, -to better bind the earth together. It was a soft and sandy soil, -without much body to it, and it shifted more easily than would earth -that had a clay mixture. - -The accident was also used to good advantage in causing a deeper study -of trench work, and the manner of making the trenches and laying them -out. Many of the recruits had a deep-seated aversion to grubbing in the -ground, digging trenches, but it was part of the drill work and had to -be done. The lads likened it to sewer work, and no one liked it. - -After the accident one of the French officers, who was an instructor -in camp, gave a series of lectures on trench warfare, and at the -conclusion there was not only a noticeable improvement in the -trenching, but there was more enthusiasm about it. - -“A trench may save our lives when we get to France,” was the way Jerry -expressed it. “I’m going to learn all I can about them.” - -“Same here!” echoed Ned. - -What with athletic work, learning the different marching and fighting -formations, doing the necessary police work, studying the mechanism -of rifles and machine guns, learning how to signal, digging trenches, -throwing hand grenades and dozens of other things, Ned, Bob and Jerry -were kept busy from morning until night. So with the other recruits. - -Of course there was a certain time set aside for play and amusement, -and each young soldier was told to play as hard as he worked. This was -so he might come back to his tasks refreshed, and with the desire to -give them the very best that was in him. - -The motor boys soon realized that the making of a soldier was a task -that was growing in complication. There were many new ways of fighting, -and defending oneself, and all these had to be mastered. - -The use of the aeroplane, camouflage, hand grenades, rifle grenades -and many other new and terrible forms of fighting made new systems -necessary. In gas attacks alone there was enough to study to keep -them busy many days in the week, and this branch was regarded as so -important that drill after drill was held merely in teaching the boys -the best and most rapid manner of adjusting the masks. - -All this time Ned, Bob and Jerry were progressing. They were becoming -stronger physically, and better able to stand hardship and exposure. -They could take long marches, carrying heavy packs, without getting -over tired, and they knew how to bind up wounds, how to apply -first-aid dressings, and how to carry wounded comrades from the field. - -Of course there was much that was unpleasant and hard. Many of their -associates were different from those they had been used to, and they -had to do what they were told--obey orders. No longer were they their -own masters. They lived by rule and rote, and every minute of the day, -save the recreation hours, had to be accounted for. - -But they knew it was doing them good, and they knew it was in a good -cause--the cause of humanity and world-betterment--and they did not -complain, except perhaps in a good-natured way, and occasionally. - -They had several more or less unpleasant encounters with Pug Kennedy -and fellows of his ilk, but this was to be expected. Ned’s back -completely healed and he was able to take his place in the hardest -drills with his chums. - -Somewhat to the surprise of the boys they found that rifle work was not -rated as highly as they had expected it would be, for the reason, they -were told, that it has been found that in the present war machine guns -and artillery play such a big part. - -Of course, for some time to come, the rifle will be the arm of the -infantry soldier. But it is coming to be more and more an auxiliary, -and not a direct means to an end. Hand grenades can do much damage -in the enemy trenches, and are easier to carry than a rifle and many -rounds of ammunition. - -But of course there was rifle practice, and many a day the motor boys -and their chums spent on the ranges, perfecting their aim. Every -encouragement was offered them to become expert marksmen, and the three -friends were not far from the front when the markings were made. - -The spring had given place to summer, and the camp was not any too -cool. But there were shower baths, and the officers were not over -severe in drills when the weather was too hot. There was plenty of -chance to cool off between drills. - -Occasionally the boys would have short leaves of absence, on which they -made trips to town and took in a show or two, getting in on “smileage” -books, or reduced rate tickets. - -It was after a hard day in the trenches, practice at bayonet drill, and -hand grenade throwing that Bob came into the Y. M. C. A. canteen where -Jerry and Ned had preceded him and asked: - -“Did you see the notice?” - -“What notice?” inquired Jerry. - -“Is Pug Kennedy going to be transferred?” Ned demanded. - -“Nothing doing,” announced Bob, as he slumped into a chair. He had -lost considerable flesh and looked the better for it. - -“Well, what is it?” some one asked. “Has Germany given up the war?” - -“I hope not until we get a chance to have a whack at her!” exclaimed -Jerry. “But shoot, Bob! What is it?” - -“We’re going to have a practice march,” was the answer. “There’s just -been a notice posted about it. We’re to go in heavy marching order, -across country, and live just as we would if we were in an enemy’s -land.” - -“That’s the cheese!” cried Ned. “We can live a sort of free and easy -life.” - -“Don’t you fool yourself, son,” said an older man. “I’ve been on these -practice marches before. How are your feet?” - -“Oh, pretty good.” - -“Well, they’ll need to be,” was the answer. “Toting seventy pounds on -your back, through mud puddles, over rough country, uphill, downhill, -isn’t any picnic. Just wait!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -CROOKED NOSE AGAIN - - -“Forward--march!” - -Snappily the command rolled out and it set in motion hundreds of -khaki-clad figures, each one with a rifle and a pack on his back. - -The hike, or practice march, from Camp Dixton had started. After days -of preparation, the laying out of a route, and the sending forward of -supplies to meet the small army of men at different places along the -way, the start had been made. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry recalled the rather direful prediction of the -soldier who had told them a marcher was only as good as his feet, but -they were not worried. - -“I guess we can keep up as long as the next one,” Jerry had said. - -“We’ve just got to!” declared Ned. “We can’t be shirkers.” - -“I only hope I don’t get hungry,” said Bob, with rather a woebegone -face. “I’m going to put some cakes of chocolate in my pocket, so I can -have something to nibble on.” - -“Don’t,” advised the same soldier who had spoken about their feet. -“Don’t eat sweet stuff until just before you can stop to take a drink. -Candy will make you thirsty, and the worst thing you can do is to take -a drink on the march. Wait until you stop. I’ve tried it, and I know.” - -And so the march had started. The route was in a big circle about the -camp as a center, and would take about five days. The men were to sleep -in dog tents, camping at certain designated points, and eating the -rations they carried with them and the food that would be brought to -them by supply trains that accompanied the army. It was to be as much -like a hike through a hostile land as it was possible to make it. - -In order to make the illusion complete--that of having the young -soldiers imagine they were at actual warfare--the same sort of marching -was to prevail as would have prevailed had the men from Camp Dixton -been on their way to take their place in the front line trenches, -bordering on No Man’s Land, or as if they were hastening to the relief -of a sorely-tried division. - -To that end it was ordered that the day’s march should be broken up -into periods. That is, the soldiers would march at the regulation speed -for a certain number of miles, a distance depending, to a certain -degree, on the nature of the land and whether or not it was uphill or -downhill. At the end of the distance a halt would be called, and the -men would be allowed ten minutes’, or perhaps a half hour’s, rest. -They were told not to take off their packs during this period, as it -would be hard to get them adjusted to their backs again, but they were -instructed to ease themselves as much as possible, by resting the -weight of their packs on some convenient rock, log or hummock. - -And so down the road went Ned, Bob and Jerry, in the midst of their -chums of the army--boys and men with whom they had formed, for the most -part, desirable acquaintances. - -“This is one fine day,” remarked Jerry, as he and his friends trudged -along together. - -“Couldn’t be better,” agreed Ned. “How about it, Chunky?” - -“Oh, it’s all right, I guess,” was the answer. - -“Chunky is worrying so much about whether or not he will have enough to -eat that he doesn’t know whether the sun is shining or whether it’s a -rainy day,” laughed a friend on the other side of the stout lad. - -“Well, I like my meals,” said the stout one, and there was more -laughter. - -On and on marched the young soldiers. Their officers watched them -closely, not only to gain a knowledge of the characteristics of the -men, but to note any who might be in distress, and also for signs of -stragglers who might purposely delay the march from a spirit of sheer -laziness. The younger officers were given points on the method of -marching and the care of their men by those who had been through the -ordeal before. It was a sort of school for all concerned. - -The day was hot, and the roads were dusty, and to trudge along under -those circumstances with seventy pounds, more or less, strapped to -one’s back was difficult and trying work. But there was very little -grumbling. Each man knew he had to do his bit, and, after all, there -was a reason for everything, and a deep spirit of patriotism had -possession of all. - -Now and then some one started a song, and the chorus was taken up -by all who could hear the air. This singing was encouraged by the -officers, for there is nothing that makes for better spirit than a -strain of music or a song on the march. - -They passed through a farming country, and on all sides were evidences -of the work of the farmers. The injunction from Washington to raise all -possible seemed to have been taken to heart by the agriculturists. - -Among the volunteers were many boys from cities, who had never seen -much of country life, and some of their remarks were amusing, as they -noted what was being done on the farms. - -During one of the halts, when Ned, Bob and Jerry, with some of their -chums, were resting beside the road near a farmhouse, Jerry saw a -somewhat lively scene being enacted near the red barn which was part of -the farm outfit. Pug Kennedy and one or two of his cronies were chasing -some chickens. - -As Jerry watched, he saw Pug knock a chicken down with the butt of his -rifle, and then seize the stunned fowl, and slip it inside his shirt, -which was big and baggy. Just as the scrapper did this a man came out -of the barn and began to remonstrate with the soldiers, of whom Pug -was one. But the Cresville friends noted that Pug walked away and came -toward them. The bulge in his shirt, made where he had hidden the -chicken, was plain to be seen. - -The man who had come out of the barn was evidently accusing the -soldiers to whom he was talking of having taken his chicken. They -denied it, and offered to be searched. They could easily afford to do -this. - -The farmer, getting little satisfaction, came back to appeal to the -company commander, who heard his story--one to the effect that a -chicken had been stolen. - -As looting was strictly forbidden, and as orders had been given to -make good any loss met by civilians on account of the soldiers, it was -necessary to conduct an inquiry. - -The captain started to question his men, but he had not proceeded far -when he came to Pug. - -“Did you take his chicken?” the scrapper was asked. - -“Naw! What would I want of a raw chicken?” was the answer. - -Just then Jerry gave a loud sneeze, ending with an exclamation of -“Ker-choo!” which sounded a bit like a rooster’s crow. - -There was a laugh at this, but Jerry had not done it intentionally, and -the officer seemed to know that. But Jerry had been standing near Pug -Kennedy when this happened, and the sneeze must have brought the hidden -chicken to its senses. It suddenly began to struggle inside Pug’s -shirt, and cackled. Perhaps it thought it heard the call of a comrade -fowl in Jerry’s sneeze. - -“Ah, I think we have what we want,” said the officer. “Kennedy, bring -the chicken here!” - -“I haven’t any----” - -Again the hen cackled and stirred within the bully’s shirt. The -evidence was conclusive. There was a laugh, and with an air of having -been caught in a petty trick Pug took out the fowl, not much the worse -for its experience, and handed it to the farmer. - -“If we weren’t on a hike, I’d send you to the guardhouse for that,” -said the officer sternly. “You know what the orders are against this -sort of business. I’ll take up your case when we get back to camp. -Fall in!” - -Kennedy muttered something, and shot a look of anger at Jerry. - -“That was your fault,” he said. - -“My fault?” - -“Yes, you sneezed on purpose like a rooster, and you woke up the hen!” - -“Oh, come off! I sneezed by accident.” - -“I don’t believe you!” said Pug. “I’ll get square all right!” - -This seemed his favorite threat. - -Jerry laughed. It seemed too far-fetched to be worth noticing, but he -was later to remember the promise of the bully. - -The farmer, his chicken restored to him, was satisfied, and the march -was taken up again. Nothing of moment occurred the rest of that day, -and at night a halt was made, and the dog tents put up in the fields -and woods near the road. Each man carried half a tent, and by combining -the two halves shelter for the largest part of a man’s body was -secured. It was not as comfortable sleeping as in the barracks, but the -night was warm and the boys were full of enthusiasm, which made up for -a lot. - -They were gaining valuable experience, and, aside from minor troubles, -every one was satisfied. - -It was late the next afternoon, and considerable ground had been -covered, when something happened that had to do with Jerry, Ned and -Bob. They, as well as every one else, were thinking of the coming -night’s rest and a meal, when the order was given to rest, it being the -last of those occasions for the day, preparatory to going into camp for -the night. - -As Ned, Bob and Jerry were taking what comfort they could beside the -road, the stout youth looked up as a wagon passed. In it was a man, -seemingly a farmer, and though he drove by quickly Bob exclaimed: - -“There he is!” - -“Who?” asked Jerry lazily. - -“Crooked Nose!” answered Bob, greatly excited. “He’s the man we saw in -Cresville the night of the fire when the Frenchman was robbed! Look, -there he is!” and he pointed to the retreating wagon, which turned off -down a side road. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE ACCUSATION - - -“Look here, Chunky!” exclaimed Jerry, with one look at his stout chum -and another at the tail-end of the wagon. “Is this a joke, or what?” - -“Mostly what, I guess,” put in Ned. “If it’s a joke I don’t see the -point, giving us heart disease that way. What do you mean? Was it -Crooked Nose?” - -“That’s what I said,” retorted Bob as nearly sharp as his bubbling -good-nature ever permitted him to be. “I tell you I saw the same man, -with the same crooked nose, that ran into you, Jerry, in the restaurant -that night in Cresville when we had the fire.” - -“Naturally if it was the same man he had the same nose,” said Ned. - -“Well, it was the same man all right,” went on Bob. “I don’t very often -forget a face.” - -“Nor the time to eat,” added Jerry with a laugh. “Never mind, it will -soon be time, Chunky. Don’t let your stomach get the best of you.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Bob. - -“I mean I guess you’re getting delirious from want of food. You’re -seeing things.” - -“I tell you I saw that man with the crooked nose!” asserted Bob. “And -moreover I think it’s our duty to follow him, and see what he’s doing -here. He may have my father’s watch, and Mrs. Hopkins’ brooch.” - -“Maybe that’s true,” agreed Jerry. “But we’ve got pretty slim evidence -to act on. And it seems out of the question to believe that he would be -away down here. You probably did see a man with a crooked nose, Bob, -but there are lots such.” - -“I’m sure it was the same one we saw in Cresville,” insisted the stout -lad. “Come on, let’s have a look down that road. We’ve got time.” - -But they had not, for just then the order came to fall in, and the -march was resumed. But it was only a short hike to the place where camp -was to be made for the night, and when Bob found that it was not more -than two miles to the road down which he had seen the wagon turn, he -said to his chums: - -“Say, fellows, we’ve got to investigate this.” - -“Investigate what?” asked Jerry, shifting his pack to ease a lame spot -on one shoulder. - -“Crooked Nose,” replied Bob. “We can ask for a little time off, and -take a hike by ourselves down this road. Maybe that fellow works on a -farm around here. Though what he’s doing so far from Cresville gets me. -I’ll wager it isn’t for any good. But we ought to look him up.” - -“S’pose we find he’s the wrong man, even if he has a crooked nose?” -asked Ned, not eager for further hiking just then. - -“We’ve got to take that chance,” Bob went on. “I’m sure, from the look -I had of him, that he’s the same one. Are you with me?” - -“Well, you needn’t ask that,” was Jerry’s answer. “Of course we’re -with you. And if this turns out a fizzle we won’t say we told you so, -Chunky. It’s worth taking a chance on, though if we do find this is the -same crooked-nosed chap we saw at the time of the fire, it isn’t going -to prove that he robbed the Frenchman. If he got all that valuable -stuff he wouldn’t be here--he’d be in the city having a good time.” - -“We’ll have to be careful about making an accusation, I guess,” agreed -the stout lad. “But if we find he _is_ the same chap we saw we could -telegraph to the police of Cresville and ask if he was wanted there. -If he is, the police there could take the matter up with the police of -this place. That’s the way they do it.” - -“Are there any police here?” asked Ned, looking around with a smile, -for they were in the midst of a country that looked too peaceful to -need officers of the law. - -“Oh, they always have constables, deputy sheriffs or something in these -villages,” said Jerry. “That part will be all right, Bob. Go to it.” - -And “go to it” Bob did. As soon as the army had come to a stop and the -supper mess had been served, the three motor boys sought and received -permission to go off for a stroll. It was early evening, and they must -be back within the guard lines at ten, they were told, but this would -give them time enough. - -Having traveled about as much as they had, the three friends had -acquired a good general sense of direction, and they had noted the -location of the highway down which Bob had said the crooked-nosed man -had driven. - -It was their plan to go back to this point and make some inquiries -of any resident they might meet in regard to the existence, on some -neighboring farm, of a man with a nose decidedly out of joint. - -“His defect is such that it surely will have been noticed,” said Bob. -“He’s a marked man if ever there was one, and he ought to be easy to -trace.” - -As the three friends left the camp, armed with written permission to be -absent until “taps” that night, Jerry, looking across the field, where -the dog tents were already up, said: - -“There goes Pug Kennedy. He must have a pass, too, for he’s going -toward the lines.” - -“I hope he isn’t going to trail us,” remarked Bob. “If we make this -capture, or give information by which Crooked Nose is caught, we want -the honor ourselves,” he added, with a grin. - -“Oh, Pug doesn’t know anything about the Cresville fire,” declared Ned. - -“He might,” insisted Bob. “He lives just outside the town, and he may -have heard of the Frenchman’s loss and about Crooked Nose. Come on, -let’s get going, and not have him ahead of us.” - -But Pug Kennedy did not seem to be paying any attention to the motor -boys. He marched steadily on, showed his pass to the sentry, and was -allowed to go through the line. Then he started off down the road. - -“That’s the way we’re going,” objected Bob, in disappointed tones. - -“Oh, don’t pay any attention to him!” exclaimed Jerry. “He’s probably -going out to see if he can pick up any more hens. We’ll mind our own -affairs, and he can mind his.” - -“If he only will,” murmured Ned. - -However there was nothing to do but proceed with the plan they had -made. Whether it would succeed or not was a question, and there was -also a question as to what to do in case they should discover the -right crooked-nosed man. But, being youths of good spirits, the boys -did not worry much about this end of the affair. - -Down the pleasant country road they marched, in the early twilight. It -would not be dark for a while yet, and they expected to make good use -of their time. Their first “objective,” as Bob said, would be the road -down which the crooked-nosed man had driven. - -This place was soon reached, but it proved to be a lonely stretch of -highway. At least no house was in sight, and there appeared to be no -residents of whom information could be asked. - -“But there may be a house just around the turn of the road,” suggested -Bob hopefully. “Let’s hike on.” - -So go on they did, and they were rewarded by seeing, as they made the -turn in the highway, a farmhouse about a quarter of a mile beyond. - -“Maybe he lives there, or works there,” suggested Bob. - -“What gets me, though, Chunky,” said Jerry, “is what he would be doing -down here.” - -“Nothing strange in it,” said the stout lad. “He may be a sort of tramp -farmer, and they go all over, the same as the umbrella men, or the -wash-boiler fixers. Come on!” - -They hurried forward, eager for what lay ahead of them, and if they had -not been so eager they might have been aware of a figure which had cut -across lots and was sneaking along behind them. And the figure was that -of Pug Kennedy. - -“I wonder what their game is?” Pug muttered to himself. “If they are -spying on me, it won’t be healthy for them. I’ll see what they’re up -to, and maybe I can put a spoke in their wheel.” - -Reaching the house, Ned, Bob and Jerry saw, sitting out in front, -evidently resting after his day’s labors, a bronzed farmer. He looked -at the boys with interest, and inquired: - -“What’s the matter? Lost your way?” - -“No, we came to see you,” answered Jerry. - -“To see me? Well, I’m sure I’m glad to see any of Uncle Sam’s boys. -Used to be one myself, but that’s long ago. Come in and set.” - -“No, we’re on business,” went on Jerry, who had been elected spokesman. -“Have you seen a man around these parts with a very crooked nose?” - -The farmer started, and looked closely at the boys. - -“A crooked nose?” he repeated. - -“Yes,” interjected Bob, “a _very_ crooked nose. It’s spread all over -one side of his face.” - -“Why, that must be Jim Waydell! At least that’s what he called himself -when he came to work for me,” said the farmer, who had given his name -as Thomas Martin to the boys, when they told him who they were. - -“Do you know him?” asked Jerry. - -“Well, not very much, no. He came along, asked for work, and, as I was -short-handed, I gave it to him. Why do you ask?” - -“We’re not sure whether he’s the man we want to see or not,” answered -Jerry, determined to be a bit cautious. “If we could have a look at him -close by----” - -“He’s out in the barn now,” interrupted the farmer. “Go talk to him, if -you like.” - -He waved his hand toward a ramshackle red building, and the three -boys started toward it. As they entered they heard some one moving -around, and then they caught sight of the very man they were looking -for standing in the opened rear door. The last rays of the setting sun -streamed full in on him from behind, and illuminated his face. His -crooked nose was very much in evidence. - -“There he is!” exclaimed Bob. - -And as if the words were a warning the man, with a cry, gave a jump up -into the haymow and disappeared from sight. - -“Come on!” cried Ned. “We’ll get him!” - -The three motor boys sprang to the pursuit, scrambling over the hay. It -was a noiseless chase, for the hay deadened all sounds. They could not -see the man, but it was evident that he was either going to hide, or -was making toward some unseen door by which he could escape. - -“We’ll get him!” exclaimed Bob. “Come on!” - -There came a cry from Ned. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry. - -“Slipped and stuck my hand into a hen’s nest in the hay,” was the -answer. “Broke about half a dozen eggs, I guess! Too bad! We might have -taken ’em back to camp to fry for breakfast.” - -Hardly had Ned uttered the words than the boys were startled by hearing -a voice they knew--the voice of Pug Kennedy. It said: - -“There they are now, Mister, stealing your eggs! I told you that’s what -they were after--robbing hens’ nests. Better look out for your eggs!” - -“I will!” exclaimed the voice of the farmer, in answer to this -accusation. “I wondered at their story of the crooked-nosed man! They -just wanted to get into my barn! I’ll fix ’em!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE MINSTREL SHOW - - -Ned, Bob and Jerry, hearing this talk, wondered greatly. What could it -mean? - -“Come down out of there!” cried Mr. Martin. “Come down out of my -haymow, and tell me what you mean! What are you after, anyhow?” - -“We want to catch that crooked-nosed man,” answered Jerry. “We didn’t -tell you before, but we think he is a thief.” - -“Well, I come pretty near _knowing_ you are!” was the grim retort. -“Come down here!” - -There was no choice but to obey, and rather puzzled as to what it all -meant, and why Pug Kennedy should come to make such an accusation, the -three chums slid to the barn floor from the haymow. They might miss -their chance of catching the crooked-nosed man, but it could not be -helped. - -“There! What’d I tell you?” exclaimed Pug, pointing to Ned, as the -chums faced the now angry farmer. “If those aren’t egg stains I’ll -never eat another bit of chow!” - -Too late Ned realized what his accidental slipping into the hen’s nest -meant. The evidence was damaging against him. The whites and yolks of -the eggs dripped from his hands, and there were stains on his uniform. - -“Ha! Caught you, didn’t I?” exclaimed the farmer. “Now you’ll pay for -this!” - -“We’re perfectly willing to pay for the damage we accidentally did to -your eggs,” answered Ned. “I believe I broke half a dozen, possibly -more. But it was while I was crawling around, trying to get the -crooked-nosed man, who was escaping.” - -“It’s a good story, but it won’t wash,” laughed Pug Kennedy. “They were -after your eggs, farmer, and that’s the truth.” - -“I believe you, and I’m much obliged to you for telling me. It isn’t -the first time I’ve been robbed by soldiers out on a hike, and I said -the next time it happened I’d complain. I’m going to. You’ll come with -me before your officers, and see what happens.” - -“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” exclaimed Jerry. “We admit we broke some of -your eggs by accident, and we’re willing to pay, and pay well for them. -We didn’t intend to steal!” - -“I should say not!” chimed in Ned, wiping his hands off on some hay. - -“I don’t know what you might do,” was the answer. “I only know what -I see--egg stains. You might have sneaked into the barn if I hadn’t -seen you. And when I did notice you, you told me some story about a -crooked-nosed man to make it sound natural.” - -“But there is a crooked-nosed man,” insisted Bob. - -“Course there is,” said the farmer. “I admit that. But he isn’t such an -unusual man. For all I know you may have seen him driving in with my -wagon--he’d been to town--and you made up that story about wanting to -see him.” - -“Yes, we did see him driving,” admitted Bob. “And then we thought----” - -He stopped. He realized that appearances were against him and his -chums, and that any explanation they might make, especially after Ned’s -mishap with the eggs, would seem strange. - -“First I thought you were all right, and really did want to see my -hired man,” went on the farmer. “But when this other soldier came and -said he’d seen you go into my barn, and had heard you talking about -getting eggs for a good feed, why, I realized what you were up to.” - -“Did he tell you that yarn about us?” asked Jerry, looking at Pug. - -“He did. And it’s the truth.” - -“Well, it isn’t the truth, and he knows it!” cried Ned. “He’s taking -this means of getting even because of what he thinks we did to him. All -right! Let it go at that. We’ll go before the officers with you. We’re -not afraid! We’ll tell the truth.” - -“You’d better!” declared Mr. Martin. “You wait till I hitch up and I’ll -take you back to camp. This soldierin’ business is all right, and I’m -in full sympathy with it. But it isn’t right to rob farmers, and your -officers won’t stand for it.” - -“We didn’t intend to rob you,” said Jerry. “And while you are acting -this way that man, who may be a desperate criminal, is escaping. If -you are bound to take us before our officers, at least look after the -crooked-nosed chap.” - -“Oh, I can lay hands on him when I want him,” said the farmer, and then -Ned, Bob and Jerry realized how futile it was to argue with him. - -“It’s too bad!” murmured Bob, as they drove back to the camp in the -wagon, Pug declining to accompany them, saying he would walk. - -“Yes, it is tough,” agreed Jerry. “Just when we were about to get hold -of Crooked Nose! If he’s the one you think he is, Bob, he’ll take the -alarm and skip.” - -“That’s what I’m afraid of. Hang Pug, anyhow! What’s his game?” - -“Maybe he made the accusation against us to cover up some trick of his -own,” suggested Ned, in a low voice so the now unfriendly farmer would -not hear. “Pug had some object in coming away from camp, and it wasn’t -to follow us, for he didn’t know what we were going to do.” - -“I don’t believe he did,” assented Jerry. “But he must have followed -us, and when he saw us go into the barn he made up his mean mind to -make trouble for us.” - -This was the only explanation the boys could think of, and they had to -let it go at that. - -The three chums had to stand no little chaffing and gibing when they -were brought back to camp in practical custody of the farmer. It was -not uncommon for the lads, on hikes and practice marches, to raid -orchards and hen roosts, and punishment was always meted out to the -offenders, while payment for the damage done was taken from their pay, -and their comrades jumped to this as the explanation of the present -predicament of Ned, Bob and Jerry. - -“But this accusation is unjust!” said Ned, when they were taken before -their captain. “It’s all a mistake.” - -“Well, let’s hear about it,” said the officer somewhat wearily, for -there had been several cases of raids on this march. - -Thereupon Mr. Martin told his story of having been informed by Kennedy -of the alleged intentions of the motor boys. And he told of having seen -them slide down from his haymow, one of them bearing unmistakable -evidence of eggs on his person. - -“I know it looks queer,” said Ned. - -“It certainly does,” agreed the captain, grimly. - -But he was a just man and he listened to the boys’ story. He seemed -somewhat surprised at the mention of the crooked-nosed man, but he made -no comment, and when all was said he gave his judgment. - -It was to the effect that as the boys had affirmed on their honor as -soldiers and gentlemen that they were telling the truth, he could not -but believe them. At the same time it was evident that they had done -some slight damage, and had put the farmer to some inconvenience in -bringing them back to camp, and it was only fair that they should pay. -Having already offered to make payment, they were very willing to do -this. - -So the incident was ended, and the farmer, convinced that he was in the -right, and jingling in his pocket a good price for the broken eggs, -went back to his home. - -So, much to their regret, the boys lost trace of Crooked Nose, or Jim -Waydell, as the farmer had called him. They could not look for the -suspect again that night, and the next morning they had to march away -with their comrades. - -“But when we get back to camp we’ll take a day or so off on furlough -and come back here and see if we can land him,” declared Bob. “We’re -not sure enough of his identity, on such casual glances, to cause his -arrest on mere information. We’ve got to get him ourselves and find out -more about him.” - -“We’re with you!” said Jerry, heartily. - -The practice march was a success from a military standpoint, though it -showed up some weak spots in the organization. But that was one of the -objects. - -For several days after the return of the army there were light drills -to enable the boys to recover from the strenuous exercise. Then one -evening Bob, in a state of some excitement, came hurrying into the Y. -M. C. A. quarters, looking for Ned and Jerry. - -“What’s up now?” they asked. “Have you seen Crooked Nose again?” - -“No, but our company’s going to give a minstrel show, and the committee -has asked me if we three will take part in it.” - -“A minstrel show?” repeated Jerry. - -“Yes, black up and everything!” exclaimed Bob. “It’ll be fun! Let’s do -it!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -A BLACK-FACE PURSUIT - - -Life in the United States army is very nicely balanced, at least in the -big cantonments where civilians are turned into soldiers in about six -months’ time. - -That is to say there is a well-balanced schedule, so much work and so -much play. Reading the schedule of what is required in the way of drill -would lead one to suppose that there was no time for play at all, but -there is, even on the French front, with grim No Man’s Land staring one -in the face. Shows and plays are sometimes given within sound of the -big guns. - -The officers in charge of the men well knew that “all work and no play -makes Jack,” not only a dull boy, but a poor soldier. So recreation -is planned for. Part of this plan is to let the young fellows amuse -themselves, make their own fun, which sometimes is better than having -it made by others. - -The captain of the company in which Ned, Bob and Jerry lived, moved and -had their being, had planned a minstrel show, as Bob had said. On the -cantonment grounds was a theater to which professionals occasionally -came from the cities to give their services. Almost every night there -was a moving picture show. - -“But this is to be different,” explained Bob, to his listening chums. -“Captain Trainer has found out that there’s considerable talent in our -bunch----” - -“Ahem! did you look at me?” asked Jerry, assuming an air of importance. - -“He pointed to me!” declared Ned. - -“You’re both wrong! It was I--Macbeth--he meant!” declaimed a lad with -a deep and resonant voice. - -“Oh, cut it out and listen,” advised Bob. “This is the game. The -captain has found out there are a lot of fellows in our company who -have acted in amateur theatricals, and there are a few professionals. -So he’s going to get up a minstrel show, and let the other companies -see what we can do. There’ll be a little admission charged, and if we -make any money it will go into the company’s fund to buy----” - -“Grub!” some one cut in, and everybody laughed, for by this time all -knew Bob’s weak point. - -“Well, grub, if you like,” he admitted. “But say, fellows, won’t it be -great?” - -“Sure!” came in a chorus. - -And then the boys fell to talking about the coming minstrel show. - -Preparations for it went on apace. Captain Trainer was an enthusiast, -and when he set out to do a thing he carried it to a finish. It was -that way with the minstrel show. - -A good many “try-outs” and much practice work were necessary. Then, -after a deal of weeding work, like that which a careful gardener gives -his plants, a very good show was evolved. - -It took pattern after the usual black-face affairs, with end-men, -bones, tambourines, the interlocutor and specialists. Some of the lads -were very clever, and really were almost as good as professionals. Ned, -Bob and Jerry were called on to state what they could do, and when it -was found that they had a comic-song trio “up their sleeves,” they were -put down for that. - -“We’ll make a hit all right,” declared Bob, after one of the rehearsals. - -“If we don’t get hit ourselves,” added Jerry. - -“That’s right!” chimed in Ned. “I understand there is a premium on old -cabbage stumps and other articles of that nature.” - -“Don’t let him scare you, Jerry,” advised the stout lad. “He’s only -afraid of that high note of his. But don’t worry, Ned. We’ll cover you -up if you make a break!” - -“Huh! I like your nerve. Now come on, let’s try that jazz song over -again,” which they did, to the delight of those privileged to listen to -the try-out. - -In the camp was a professional who showed the boys how to make up -with grease paint; burnt cork, the time-honored method of making a -black-faced comedian, is now only used by boys when they play in the -barn. On the stage, even for amateurs, black grease paint is used. - -“Say, you look just like a negro!” exclaimed Bob to Jerry, as they were -getting dressed in the evening before the show was to be given. “You’ve -even got the walk down pat.” - -“Yes. I’ve been practicing a bit,” Jerry admitted. “If you’re going to -do a thing, do it right, I say. You’re not bad yourself, Bob.” - -“Oh, well, my figure is against me. But I guess we’ll make out all -right.” - -Indeed the three motor boys were taking special pains with their -appearance. That is not to say the other actors were not also, but Ned, -Bob, and Jerry seemed to enter into the spirit of it more than some of -their chums. - -The various acts came off as planned, and were much appreciated by the -audience. There were many local hits and take-offs, not only on the -enlisted men, but on the officers as well. Mild fun was poked at the -different weaknesses of many in the ranks, and not a few of those -higher up, and considerable laughter resulted. - -The three Cresville friends did their act so well that they were -recalled again and again, and if they had not prepared something for -encores, which Jerry had insisted on, they might have had merely to bow -their thanks. As it was they sang verse after verse of a comical song, -bringing in all their friends, to the great delight of the latter. - -“You couldn’t have done better, boys,” complimented Captain Trainer, -as Ned, Bob, and Jerry came off the stage for the last time. “I’m glad -you’re with us. When we get over on the other side I hope you’ll still -keep up your spirits enough to give us some enjoyment, when we’ll need -it more than we do here.” - -“We’ll do our best,” said Jerry modestly. - -“You’d think they were a bunch of professionals to hear them talk,” -came a low, sneering voice to the ears of the three chums, when the -captain walked away. There was no need to ask who had spoken. It was -Pug Kennedy, and he was standing just outside the dressing room, -talking to one or two of his special cronies. He did not have many -associates. His “scrappy” nature prevented this. - -“I’ve a good mind to go over and give him a punch,” declared Ned, -angrily. “He’s made too many of those uncalled-for remarks of late. -I’m not going to stand it!” - -“Don’t start a row now,” advised Jerry. “It will spoil all the fun. Let -him alone. I heard something to the effect that he was going to apply -for a transfer, and if he does he won’t bother us any more.” - -“I hope to goodness he does,” said Bob. “He makes me tired!” - -Pug gazed over in the direction of the three friends, almost as if -inviting trouble, and then, seeing that they were not going to resent -the remark he had made with the intention that they should hear it, -he lighted a cigarette and strolled out into the darkness. Discipline -was somewhat relaxed on account of the minstrel show, and permission -was given for the men to remain up an hour later than usual, while the -guard lines were extended to allow considerable strolling about. - -“Come on, let’s go for a walk,” suggested Bob. “It will cool us off.” - -“What, walk with this black stuff on our faces?” exclaimed Ned. “If any -one sees us we’ll be taken for negroes.” - -“What of it?” asked Jerry. “Every one knows what’s going on. Besides, -we can’t wash up yet. We have to go on in the final chorus in about an -hour. I’m with you, Bob! We’ll take a walk and cool off.” - -They strolled through the camp, and presently found themselves near its -outskirts. They had plenty of time, as they had finished their special -part of the programme, and only came on in the grand “wind-up.” - -As they were walking along, talking intermittently of the show and -the chances of going “over there,” Bob, who was slightly in the lead, -called in a low voice: - -“Look, fellows! See him!” - -“See who?” asked Ned. “Do you mean Pug Kennedy?” - -“No, but look over under that light!” went on Bob, pointing. “Don’t -you see that man. It’s Crooked Nose again! Come on! We’ll get him this -time!” and he started to run, followed by Ned and Jerry, who did, -indeed, see in the glare of a camp light, the form of a man. And, as he -momentarily turned his face toward them, they saw that his countenance -was marred by a bent and crooked nose. - -The boys gave pursuit, their faces still blackened. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -“A PRISONER” - - -“What’s he doing here?” - -“Where’s he going?” - -“Did he see us?” - -These were the questions asked in turn by Ned, Bob, and Jerry, as they -slipped along in the darkness, following the man with the crooked nose, -whom they had so unexpectedly seen. - -“Maybe he came to laugh at us for the way the tables were turned on us, -the time we tried to catch him in the farmer’s barn,” suggested Jerry. - -“He’s come a long distance out of his way for a little thing like -that,” commented Ned. “I’m inclined to think he came here to meet some -one. After Bob spoke I saw the fellow look at his watch as though -impatient because of an appointment not kept.” - -“Well, where’s he going now?” asked Bob, repeating his question. - -“I guess it’s up to us to find out,” replied Jerry. - -“Maybe he’s trying to lead us into an ambush,” suggested Bob. - -“Cut out the dime-novel stuff,” advised Jerry, with a low laugh. “I’ve -got a better explanation than that, and the real one.” - -“What is it?” asked Ned. - -“It’s our black faces,” returned the tall chum. “If that crooked-nosed -man--Jim Waydell the farmer called him, though it may not be his right -name--if he saw us at all, which he probably did, he takes us for -negroes. That’s why he isn’t worried. He thinks we’re camp roustabouts, -and that we don’t know anything about him.” - -“I believe you’re right!” exclaimed Ned, after a moment’s thought. “We -do look like a trio of colored chaps, and that’s why he isn’t getting -worried and taking it on the run. Say, it’s a lucky thing we are this -way.” - -“Maybe,” assented Jerry. “Now mind your talk. Do the negro dialect as -well as you can, fellows, and we may find out something about this -mysterious Crooked Nose. If we can bring about his arrest for robbing -the Frenchman, or for setting the fire, which Mr. Cardon seemed to -think he did, it will be a good thing for us and Cresville. So pretend -we are colored men with a few hours off.” - -The boys walked as near as they thought safe to the solitary suspect, -who was trudging down the road alone. When they spoke aloud the motor -boys simulated the broad negro tones, talking and laughing as they -had often heard the camp teamsters and servants do, for the place was -overrun with good-natured, if rather shiftless, colored men. - -As for “Mr. Crooked Nose,” as the boys sometimes called him, he seemed -to pay little attention to those who were following him. Either he took -them for genuine colored men, and, as such, persons who could have no -interest in his movements, or he was indifferent to the fact that they -might be some of the minstrel players. - -What the man’s object was in coming to camp, when the farm on which he -was supposed to work was several miles away, could only be guessed at. -But the boys hoped to find it out. - -They were approaching the camp confines, and were debating whether they -could risk going beyond them, when the crooked-nosed man turned into a -field, and made his way toward a deserted barn. This was one that had -been on a farm when the land had been taken by the government for Camp -Dixton. - -“Maybe he’s going to sleep there,” suggested Bob. “Or perhaps he is -going to meet some one there.” - -“Keep quiet,” advised Jerry. “We’ll walk on down the road, as if we -didn’t care what he did. Then we’ll circle back and sneak up to the -barn. Maybe we can find out something about him. Strike up a song, so -he’ll think we’re what we pretend to be.” - -They began humming the chorus of one of the songs they had sung in the -minstrel show, and so passed on down the road. There was a moon, and -the movements of the crooked-nosed man could easily be observed. He -struck off across the vacant lots toward the barn, not even looking -back at the singing boys, who did, indeed, have the appearance of -negroes. - -Proceeding far enough beyond a turn of the road to be hidden from -sight, Ned, Bob, and Jerry waited a few minutes, and then turned back. -This time they did not sing, and they talked only in whispers. - -Cautiously they approached the barn, looking for any sign of a light -or any movement that would indicate the presence of the mysterious man -or of a person who had come there to meet him, or with whom he had -expected to keep a rendezvous. - -“‘All quiet along the Potomac,’” quoted Bob, in a low voice. - -“Well, have it quiet here, too,” whispered Jerry. “We may discover -something, and we may not. But there’s no use in giving ourselves away. -He may get angry if he finds we’re not what we seem to be, and knows -that we’ve been following him. Go easy now!” - -The young soldiers finally stood in the shadow of the barn and listened -intently. At first they heard nothing but the rattle and flap of some -loose pieces of wood. - -“He’s gone!” murmured Ned. - -“Listen!” advised Jerry. - -Even as he spoke they all heard the low murmur of voices. And the -voices were those of men. - -“We’ve got to get nearer, where we can hear better,” whispered Jerry to -his chums. “It’s around this way.” - -He led the way to the side of the barn that was in the deepest shadow, -and presently they came to a stop below a small window. The glass had -been broken out of it, and through the aperture came the tones of the -voices more distinctly. One said: - -“When did he say he was coming?” - -“He promised to be here to-night,” was the answer. - -Of course the boys, not having heard the crooked-nosed man’s voice, did -not know which was his, nor which was his companion’s. - -“To-night; eh?” came in sharp tones. “Well, he didn’t come, and you -tell him I want to see him, and see him bad. I’m tired of hanging -around here without any money, and I’m working like a dog on that farm.” - -“That’s Crooked Nose,” whispered Bob. - -“Yes,” agreed Jerry. - -“Well, I’ll tell him,” said the other voice. “I don’t know what’s got -into him lately. But he and Pug have some game on and----” - -The voice died out into an indistinguishable murmur. - -“Did you hear that?” demanded Ned, and his voice was so sharp that -Jerry clapped a hand over his friend’s lips. - -“Quiet!” he cautioned. - -They listened, but the voices were no longer heard. Instead came the -sound of feet tramping on bare boards. - -“They’re going away,” murmured Bob. - -“Let’s stay here and see what happens,” suggested Ned. “I’d like to -know who that other man is. Maybe there’s spy work going on in our -camp!” - -It was within the bounds of possibility. - -Waiting in the shadows, the motor boys heard the footsteps die away. -Then the murmur of voices sounded again. They came nearer, and -indicated that those who were talking were outside the barn. - -“Well, I’ll tell him you want to see him,” said the man who was with -the crooked-nosed fellow. - -“You’d better! He can have all the games he wants with Pug, but he’s -got to make a settlement with me. I took all the risk, and he got all -the money. I want my share!” - -“I’ll tell him!” - -“And now about this storehouse business,” went on the other. “Can you -get into it?” - -“I have an extra key. And Kratzler----” - -“No names!” warned the other quickly. “You can’t tell who may be -sneaking about. Nix on the names!” - -Then the voices died away again, and the boys, listening, could hear -nothing more. - -“There’s something wrong going on here!” decided Ned. “Did you hear -Pug’s name mentioned twice?” - -“Yes,” assented Jerry. “But it may not be the one we know.” - -“I believe it is,” went on Ned. “We’ve got to find out more about this. -There they go!” - -He pointed to two figures, dimly seen. They were moving rapidly away -across the field. - -“Come on!” exclaimed Ned, in a tense whisper. - -Just then in the distance, two shots rang out. - -“That’s the signal!” cried Jerry. “They’re ending the sketch ‘The -Sentry’s Last Challenge.’ We go on right after that in the final -chorus. We’ve got about five minutes to make it. Come on! Hike!” - -“But what about these fellows?” asked Bob. - -“We’ll have to let them go,” decided Ned. “We can’t afford to spoil -the minstrel show for the sake of something that may not amount to -anything.” - -“Not even to catch Crooked Nose?” asked Bob, in disappointed tones. - -“We’ll take up his case later,” said Jerry. “Just now we’re minstrels. -Come on.” - -There was nothing else to do, and though the boys wanted to remain and, -if possible, solve the mystery, they felt that they owed it to Captain -Trainer to make the minstrel show a success. They had important parts, -and the shots they had heard fired were blank cartridges, discharged -during the enactment of a little skit, played by some members of their -company. - -The two men had disappeared in the shadows, and it was a question -whether the boys could have spied on them to any further advantage that -night. So they hurried back, arriving just in time to take part in the -last chorus. - -After the show, which was voted a big success, the boys debated among -themselves whether they should report what they had seen and heard and -mention Pug Kennedy’s name. Also they talked of the time when they had -seen Pug have a midnight meeting with some one. - -“There was more in that than appeared on the surface,” declared Ned. - -“Yes, I agree with you,” said Jerry. “And there’s something in this -affair to-night, too. But we don’t know enough to cause more than -suspicions, and there’s a chance that things would go against us.” - -“Then what are we to do?” asked Bob. - -“Keep quiet, I say, until we have more definite information,” was the -tall lad’s answer. “We can make another attempt to find out more about -this crooked-nosed man.” - -“That’s what I say,” decided Ned. “Let’s wait a bit.” - -So they said nothing about having followed the man to the barn, being -able to get close to him because he took them for negroes, and they -bided their time. - -The minstrel show made a welcome break in the monotony of camp life, -and it acted like a good tonic. The boys were the more ready to take up -the routine of work, and there was plenty of it. - -As they progressed in their soldier life Ned, Bob and Jerry found it -more interesting. The need of the various drills began to be better -understood. They liked the work on the rifle ranges, the machine gun -exercises and the trench work. They went on several other hikes, and at -times were given charge of some new squads of drafted men who came to -camp. - -It was about two weeks after the minstrel show that Jerry, Bob and Ned -were all out on guard together when they heard the man on the post next -to Jerry’s calling: - -“Corporal of the guard!” - -“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry, as he sent the call down the line. - -“I’ve got a prisoner!” was the answer. “I caught him trying to get in -through the lines! I guess he’s a German spy!” - -“Maybe it’s the crooked-nosed man!” exclaimed Bob. - -“Or the one who was with him in the barn,” added Ned. - -“Or the one they spoke of as going into some game with Pug,” said -Jerry. “Come on! We’d better go help Kelly.” Kelly was the name of the -sentry who had called. - -The three boys went off on a run in the darkness, going to the aid of -their comrade. Little did they dream of the surprise in store for them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -A NIGHT ALARM - - -“Corporal of the Guard! Post Number Ten!” - -This was the cry, in various intonations, that went ringing down the -line in the darkness. As instructed, Ned, Bob and Jerry, being the -nearest to the place of the alarm, went to render what aid might be -necessary to the sentry who had first called. Meanwhile the corporal of -the guard, rousing those whose duty it was to go out with him and see -to the disturbance, was hastening to the scene. - -As Ned, Bob and Jerry approached they heard some one saying: - -“But I must have it! I tell you I must get it. It is exceedingly -valuable, and you ought not to stop me.” - -“Stop you! I’ve stopped you all right!” came the vigorous tones of -Kelly, the sentry. - -“But I must get through. I must!” - -“And I say you must not! Trying to run the guard under my very nose; -that’s what you were trying to do. But I caught you! You’re a German -spy--that’s what you are!” - -“No, I assure you that you are mistaken,” came a gentle voice in -answer. “I am only after some new specimens----” - -Ned, Bob and Jerry gave a shout. - -“It’s him, all right!” cried Jerry, enthusiastically if not -grammatically. - -“I thought it sounded like him,” added Ned. - -“Hello, Professor Snodgrass!” called Bob. “It’s all right. Keep quiet. -We’ll be with you in a minute!” - -They raced up to the excited sentry, who stood holding a small, -bald-headed man, at the same time flashing in his face a pocket -electric lamp. - -“Oh, it’s you, boys, is it?” asked the little man, who did not seem -at all disturbed by the situation in which he found himself. “Well, -I’m glad to see you. I just arrived, getting in rather late on account -of a delayed train. I walked over, intending to visit you. I had no -idea it was so late, but I am glad it is, for I have just seen some -specimens of moth that only fly about this hour. I wanted to catch some -but--er--this gentleman----” - -Professor Snodgrass, for it was he, paused and looked at his captor. - -“You’re right! I wouldn’t let you go chasin’ through the lines!” -exclaimed Kelly. “Do you know him?” he asked the motor boys. - -“He is a friend of ours,” declared Jerry. “We know him well. He is -Professor Uriah Snodgrass, of Boxwood Hall, and what he says is -true--he does collect moths and other bugs.” - -“Sufferin’ cats!” cried Kelly. “And I took him for a German spy! I -beg your pardon,” he went on. “My father was a professor in Dublin -University, and I’m sorry I disturbed you. I’ll help you collect bugs -when I’m off duty.” - -“Thank you!” said Professor Snodgrass, as if it was the most natural -thing in the world to get offers of assistance in this way. “I shall -be glad of help. Ha! There is one of the late-flying moths now!” and -he reached over and made a grab for something on the shoulder of the -corporal of the guard, who had come running up. - -“Here! None of that! What’s the idea! Disarm him!” cried the corporal, -who was hardly awake yet. “Has he bombs on him?” he asked of Kelly. - -“I guess it’s all a mistake,” the sentry replied. “I was patrolling -my post, when I saw some one walking along, and seemingly picking -things up off the ground. Or maybe, I thought, he was planting infernal -machines. So I rushed over and grabbed him, and I yelled and----” - -“I was only gathering bugs by the light of my little electric lamp,” -the professor explained. “I had no idea I was so near the army camp, -though I intended to visit it to see my friends,” and he motioned to -the motor boys. With his usual absent-mindedness he had forgotten all -about everything but what he saw immediately before him--the bugs and -the night moths. - -“Do you know this gentleman?” asked the corporal of Jerry. - -“Yes, he is a very good friend of ours.” - -“Then you may release him,” went on the corporal to Kelly. “And we are -sorry for what happened.” - -But it is doubtful if Professor Snodgrass heard him, for the little -scientist was again reaching forward to get something from the shoulder -of the corporal. This time he succeeded, and those gathered about had a -glimpse of a white, fluttering object. - -“One of the finest and largest white moths I have ever caught!” -exclaimed the delighted professor. “I thank you!” he added, as though -the corporal had done him a great favor by serving as a perch for the -insect. - -The excitement caused by the capture of the “prisoner” soon passed, and -the corporal went back to his rest, while Ned, Bob and Jerry, whose -tour of duty was up, took Professor Snodgrass in charge. - -They explained the matter to the officer in charge of their barracks, -and a spare bunk was found for the college instructor. - -But he did not seem inclined to use it. He wanted to sit up and enter -in his note book something about the specimens he had caught in such -a sensational manner, but when it was explained to him that to have -lights in an army camp after ten o’clock was against the regulations, -except in cases of emergency, he put out his pocket electric lantern -and dutifully went to sleep, with his specimen boxes under his bed. - -The next day Professor Snodgrass told the boys that so many students -had enlisted from Boxwood Hall that the teaching force was greatly -reduced. - -“I was given a leave of absence,” he added, “and I decided to come to -see you, and, at the same time, make a study of Southern moths and -other insects. So I came on, getting in rather late, as I mentioned.” - -“We’re mighty glad to see you,” returned Jerry. - -“How are things in Cresville?” asked Ned. “Or didn’t you stop there?” - -“Yes, I did, as I wanted to get your exact addresses. Matters are -quiet. A number of the boys have enlisted, or been drafted, as you -know, but otherwise things are about the same, your folks say.” - -“Any more news about the fire?” asked Bob. - -“Well, the ruins are still there, and I believe that Frenchman--whose -name I don’t recall--is in much distress about the loss of his money.” - -“And Crooked Nose has been here!” burst out Bob. “We must try to nab -him!” - -He and his chums talked about the possibility of this, but it is -doubtful if Professor Snodgrass heard, for, just then, a peculiar bug -attracted his attention, and he began to “stalk” it, as Ned remarked. - -The boys enjoyed the visit of the little scientist, and he took an -interest in matters about Camp Dixton; that is, when he was not -collecting bugs, in which occupation he spent most of his time. - -It was on the night of Professor Snodgrass’ third day’s stay at the -place where the soldier city had sprung up. Some hours after Ned, Bob -and Jerry had gone to their bunks at the signal of taps, they were -awakened by an alarm. - -“I’ve got him! I’ve got him!” some one shouted. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -THE HAND GRENADE - - -“Did you hear that?” asked Ned of Jerry, for the sound of the alarm in -the night had penetrated to their barracks, and several had awakened. - -“I’ve got him! I’ve got him! He mustn’t get away!” was shouted again, -and then a glimmer of the truth began to dawn on Jerry. - -“Corporal of the guard, post number seven!” was shouted from somewhere -out on the fields about the camp. - -By this time all in the immediate vicinity of the barracks, where Ned, -Bob and Jerry had their bunks, were aroused. Lights were set aglow, -and Ned, looking over to a bed which had been temporarily placed for -Professor Snodgrass, cried: - -“He’s gone!” - -“Yes. And I guess he’s the one who’s got him!” added Jerry with a -laugh. “I think it was his voice that caused the disturbance. Perhaps -we’d better go out and see what it all is. If it’s some one who doesn’t -know the professor they might take him for a spy, and use him roughly.” - -“Who do you suppose he’s caught?” asked Bob. “Do you think it can be -Crooked Nose or one of his cronies?” - -“I don’t imagine it’s anything as dramatic as that,” returned Jerry. “I -rather think the professor has been bug-hunting again, and he has found -his quarry most unexpectedly, which has caused his jubilation.” - -And this they found to be true. When they had slipped on a few garments -and their shoes and had gone outside, they found Professor Snodgrass -walking along between two sentries. On the faces of the soldiers were -puzzled looks, but on that of the little scientist was a gentle and -satisfied smile, as though the world had used him very well indeed. - -“I have it, boys!” he exclaimed, as he caught sight of his three -friends. “It is one of the rarest of its kind. I caught it----” - -“He caught it on my post, whatever it is,” said one of the sentries. -“And he nearly scared my supper out of me. Talk about snakes! I’d -rather see ’em any night!” - -“What did you find?” asked Jerry of the professor. - -“A new kind of centipede,” was the answer, and the professor showed, in -a glass-topped box, a horrible, many-legged insect that was squirming -around, trying to get out. - -“Oh, landy!” cried the sentry who had apprehended the little scientist, -peering into the box. “And to think one of them was loose on my post! -Say, how long do you live after one bites you?” he asked anxiously. -“There might be more where I have to walk, and if one nips me----” - -“Don’t worry,” said Professor Snodgrass. “The bite of this centipede, -while it is painful, is not deadly. Proper treatment will make you -safe. But this is a most wonderful specimen. I had hoped to find one, -but not so soon.” - -“And didn’t you discover anything else?” asked an officer who had come -out to see what the excitement was about. - -“Anything else? No, but I’ll keep on looking, if you’ll let me. I may -find a scorpion, though I am a bit doubtful about finding them so far -north. However, I’m sure that just before I caught the centipede I saw -a number of giant spiders with double stings. I’d like to look for -them, and----” - -“Excuse me, Lieutenant!” exclaimed the sentry who had caught the -professor. “But would you mind giving me another post? He found all -them animals he speaks of right here where I’m patrollin’.” And the -soldier looked more frightened than if he had been told to charge on a -battery of machine guns. - -“I mean you saw no unauthorized persons trying to get through the -lines, did you?” asked the lieutenant of the professor. “The insects -were all you found?” - -“Yes, but I haven’t found enough,” answered the scientist. “I should -like more time. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up to hunt for specimens, -and I was most successful.” - -“I’m afraid we shall have to ask you to postpone your operations until -morning,” said the officer with a smile. “We want you to feel free to -advance the cause of science as much as you can, but a war camp at -night is a nervous sort of place, and the least alarm disturbs a large -number of men.” - -“I’m sorry,” said Mr. Snodgrass. “I can, of course, wait until it is -light. There may be more scorpions and centipedes out then.” - -“I’m glad I go off duty,” murmured the sentry. - -Official explanations were then made. As he had said, Professor -Snodgrass had been unable to sleep, and had arisen, without awakening -the boys or any of their comrades, and had gone outside the barracks -with his electric flash light and his collection boxes. - -He had seen the centipede wiggling along in the sand, and had caught -it, his yells of delight, announcing the fact, giving the alarm, and -causing the sentries to think a corporal’s guard of German spies had -descended on them. Two of them made a rush for the professor, much to -his surprise. For when he was getting specimens he was oblivious to his -surroundings, thinking only of what he was after. - -The camp finally settled back to quietness again, and the professor -went with the boys back to the barracks, but it was some time before -any of them got to sleep again. - -The next day Professor Snodgrass found a number of what he said were -very rare and valuable bugs from a collector’s standpoint, but which, -to the boys and their chums, seemed to be utterly worthless and great -pests, for most of them bit or stung. - -“Ah, but you don’t understand!” the scientist would say, when -objections were made to his viewpoint. - -“Well, as long as you catch bugs by daylight, and don’t wake us up in -the middle of the night, we’ll forgive you,” said Ned. - -“Especially after disappointing us so,” added Jerry. - -“Disappoint?” queried the professor. “Why, I couldn’t have asked for a -better specimen of centipede than the one I captured.” - -They had a day’s furlough coming to them, and they decided to use it, -when it was granted, in making a search for the crooked-nosed man. -At the same time they could enjoy an outing with the professor, and -watch him catch “bugs,” as the boys called all his specimens, whether -they were horned toads or minute insects that needed a microscope to -distinguish them from the leaves on which they fed. - -“This will be like old times,” declared Bob, as they started out one -day after the morning mess, the professor being a guest of Jerry’s -company. - -But though the expedition was a success from a scientific standpoint, -in that Professor Snodgrass secured many new specimens, it was a -failure as far as the crooked-nosed man was concerned. There was no -trace of him at the old barn. In fact the boys scarcely expected to -find any there. But they did hope to get some news of him from Mr. -Martin, the farmer who had so unjustly accused the chums of taking eggs. - -“But he isn’t here,” said that person, when the boys had tramped out to -his place and made inquiries. Mr. Martin seemed somewhat ashamed of the -rôle he had played, and tried to make amends. - -“I guess you boys scared him away,” he said, referring to the -crooked-nosed man. “I don’t know anything about him except that he said -his name was Jim Waydell, and he came along here, asking for work. I -sized him up as a sort of tramp, but he was handy around the place, -and, as I needed a man, I took him on, though I didn’t like his looks. -But I figured he couldn’t help that. Anyhow he’s skipped, and I don’t -know where he is.” - -That seemed to end the matter, though the boys had hopes of coming -across the crooked-nosed man again. - -“Not only would we like to get him on account of the part he may -have had in robbing the Frenchman,” announced Jerry, “but I think he -and some others, including Pug Kennedy, are mixed up in a plan to do -some damage to the camp. We don’t know enough to say anything without -getting laughed at, perhaps, but we may be able to find out.” - -“That’s right!” exclaimed the professor. “Keep your eyes open. If I -hadn’t done that I’d never have caught the centipede.” - -They returned to camp, and the next day Professor Snodgrass had to -leave. He was on his way farther south, to visit a scientific friend, -the two expecting to go on a collecting trip together. - -“I may stop and see you on my way north again,” said the scientist. “If -I hear anything of the crooked-nosed man I’ll let you know.” - -Once again the boys took up the routine of camp life. They were being -made into good soldier material, along with thousands of their chums -and comrades, and they were beginning to love the life, hard as it was -at times. - -They drilled, and drilled, and drilled again; they perfected themselves -in the use of the rifle and the bayonet; and they received machine gun -instructions. - -“What is it to be to-day?” asked Bob, as they went out from the mess -hall. “Do we hike or shoot?” - -“Hand grenade practice,” answered Jerry. - -“Good!” exclaimed Ned. - -There was a fascination in hurling the lemon-shaped projectiles from -trenches, and watching them blow up the earth and stones beyond, where -some Germans were supposed to be hiding. - -Hand grenades are of several kinds. That used at Camp Dixton was a -variation of the Mills bomb, consisting of a hollow metal container, -shaped like a lemon, but somewhat larger. It is made of cast iron and -is crisscrossed and scored with a number of depressed cuts, which -divide the surface of the grenade into lozenge-like sections. The -grenade is filled with a powerful explosive, set off by a time fuse, -and when the bomb detonates it bursts into pieces, along the scored -lines, and the hundreds of lozenge-like pieces of iron become so many -bullets, flying in all directions. - -The hand grenade is thrown with a motion such as a cricketer uses in -“bowling” the ball. It is an overhand style of throwing, and this has -been found best for accuracy and does not tire the arm as much as a -straight throw. The arm is held stiff as the bomb is hurled. - -The time fuse can be set to explode the bomb as it reaches the other -trench, or it may be made to explode in mid-air, and, also, the -detonation can be made to take place after the bomb has landed. - -As long as the bomb is held in the hand it is harmless, for the fingers -press down on an outside lever that controls the firing mechanism. But -as soon as this hold is released, after the bomb has been made ready -for firing, it is likely to explode. Consequently after a bomb has been -hurled away from one, it is a good thing to keep one’s distance from it. - -“Lively work now, boys!” called the captain, as Ned, Bob and Jerry, -with their chums, entered the trench for the hand grenade work. “Just -imagine there are a lot of Germans in that other trench who need -extermination.” - -The practice began, and for a time one would have thought a real battle -was in progress, so rapid were the explosions of the grenades. A short -distance down the trench, in which the Cresville friends were, stood -Pug Kennedy. They had seen little of him during the last few days, as, -owing to an infraction of the rules, he had spent some time in the -guardhouse. But now he was out. - -“This way of throwing these lemons makes me tired!” exclaimed Pug. “Why -can’t I throw one like a baseball? I can make a better hit that way, -and I’m going to.” - -Before any of his comrades could tell him not to disobey orders this -way, Pug suddenly threw a bomb. In making the underhand toss, his elbow -struck the edge of the trench, the grenade left his hand and fell a -few feet away, directly in front of a line of soldiers crouched in the -depression. - -“Now look what you did!” yelled the corporal in charge of Pug’s squad. -“That’ll go off in a second or two!” - -“Heads down, every one!” cried a lieutenant who had seen what had -happened. - -The bomb, with the fuse set to explode it in a short time, lay on the -ground just outside the trench that was filled with young soldiers. -Pug’s recklessness had endangered all their lives. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE STORM - - -There had been several accidents in camp, and just before Jerry, Bob -and Ned had arrived two men had been killed by the premature explosion -of a hand grenade. It was no wonder then, that, as the young soldiers -saw the instrument of death so near them, and realized that in another -moment the missiles might be hurled among them, fear clutched their -hearts. - -“Down! Down!” shouted the lieutenant again, running along the wide -trench, in crouching fashion, to see that his command was enforced. -“Get down, every one!” - -Only in this way could danger be in a measure averted, and yet the -explosion, so near at hand, might cave in the trench, burying the boys. - -Not more than a second or two had passed since Pug, by his recklessness, -had created the danger, and yet it seemed like hours to some, as they -gazed with fascinated eyes at the bomb so near them. It needed only a -fraction more of time to bring about the explosion. - -And yet in that fraction Jerry Hopkins acted. Before any one was aware -of his intention he had leaped up on the firing step of the trench, and -was out, with a shovel in his hand. - -“What are you going to do?” yelled the lieutenant. “Come back! You’ll -be killed! That bomb’s going off!” - -Jerry did not stop to answer. There was no time. Neither was there time -to argue over disobeying one’s superior officer. Jerry knew he had to -act quickly, and he did. - -With one scoop of his shovel he picked the grenade up in it, and, with -the same motion, he sent the deadly missile hurtling over toward the -other trench, in which there were no soldiers stationed. - -With all his strength, and as far as he could, Jerry hurled the -grenade, and it had no sooner landed in the other trench, far enough -away to be harmless to the practicing squad, than it exploded. Up in -the air flew a shower of earth and stones, a few particles reaching -Jerry, who was out of the trench, and some distance in advance of it. - -For a moment after the echoes of the explosion died away there was -silence, and then came a ringing and spontaneous cheer. The soldier -lads realized that Jerry had saved the lives of some of them, and had -prevented many from severe injury. - -“Great work, my boy! Well done!” cried the lieutenant, as Jerry dropped -back into the trench, and the officer shook hands with the tall lad. - -“It was the only thing to do, that I could see,” Jerry explained. “I -didn’t want to pick the grenade up in my hand, but I thought I could -swing it out of the way with the shovel.” - -“And you certainly did,” the lieutenant said. “As for you, Kennedy, I -saw how you threw that bomb. It was against orders. You have been told -to use the overhand swing, and because you did not you dropped the -grenade too close to the trench. It was a violation of orders and a -serious one. You may consider yourself under arrest.” - -Pug received only what was due him, but the look he gave Jerry told -that lad he might look for some retaliation on the part of the bully. - -“I wish they’d put him out of the army, or at least transfer him to -some other company,” said Bob, when the practice was over. “He does -nothing but make trouble for us!” - -And it did seem so, from the very beginning. - -Jerry’s action was officially noted, and he received public commendation -from the captain for his quick work in getting the grenade out of the -way. - -Jerry’s action later received a more substantial recognition than mere -words, for he was made a corporal, being the first of the trio to gain -promotion. But Ned and Bob were glad, not jealous. - -“Corporal, we salute you!” exclaimed Bob, when Jerry was made a -non-commissioned officer, and Chunky and Ned formally gave Jerry the -recognition due him. - -“Oh, cut it out!” advised Jerry--unofficially. “I’m not going to be any -different.” - -But Jerry found that he had to be just a little different. He was given -charge of a squad of seven men, including Bob and Ned, much to the -delight of the latter, and the young officer was supposed to look after -their welfare, in a way, and also instruct them. - -“Well, I’m glad Pug Kennedy isn’t any longer in our squad,” Jerry said. -“We can sort of keep to ourselves now.” - -As marching, next to actually firing shots at the enemy, forms the -principal work of a soldier, there were many drills devoted to this -work. The uses of the different formations were explained to the lads, -and they were put through many evolutions which seemed tiresome in -themselves, but which had certain objects in view. - -Of course, on the battlefield, there is little chance for such marching -as is done on the drill ground. But there is always distance to go, -and sometimes in the quickest possible time, so the soldiers must be -hardened to marching under the most adverse circumstances. - -To this end many hikes, or practice marches, were held. Sometimes the -whole regiment, sometimes only certain companies, and again only a -squad would be sent out. - -It was one day, about two weeks after his promotion, that Corporal -Jerry Hopkins was ordered to take his squad out for an all-day hike -through the country. They were to take their rations with them, and -spend the day marching about. - -It was not an aimless march, though, for it had an object. Jerry was -ordered to bring back a map of the route he took, marking the location -of houses, barns, wells, places where fodder might be had for horses, -sustenance for men, and the location of the roads. - -This work is constantly being done by the army, so that the military -officials will have complete information about every part of our big -country, not only for use in times of peace, but in time of war, should -we ever be invaded by a foreign foe. - -Behold then, early one morning, Ned, Bob and Jerry, the latter in -command, with four other men, ready for the practice hike. - -“You will use your discretion, Corporal,” Captain Trainer had said to -Jerry. “If an emergency occurs, and you have to remain out all night, -seek the best shelter you can. You have your dog tents, and you have -rations enough until after breakfast to-morrow. If you should need -more you are empowered to requisition them, giving a proper receipt -for them, payment to be made later.” - -“Yes, sir!” - -Jerry saluted and marched his men down the road, not a little proud of -his mission. - -There was nothing remarkable about the hike. Hundreds of other squads -had done the same thing, and had brought back good maps. Jerry wanted -to do the same. - -Everything went well. They reached their objective, had supper, and -camped for the night. And then their troubles began. For no sooner were -they snug in their shelter tents than a violent storm came up, with -thunder and lightning, and two of the tents, low as they were, blew -over. - -“Say, this is fierce!” exclaimed Bob, for the tent he and Ned were -under had gone down. “Can’t we find some other shelter?” - -Jerry came out into the storm and darkness to look about. He realized -that he was responsible for the comfort of his men. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -IN THE OLD BARN - - -If there is one thing more than another which makes life in camp, -whether it be in the army or merely a pleasure excursion in the woods, -most miserable, it is rain. Snow does not seem so bad, but a soaking -rain seems not only to wet one through literally, but also mentally. It -depresses the spirits, though, in itself, a good rain is a blessing. - -“I say, Corporal!” called Charles Hatton, one of the recruits out with -the hiking squad. “There’s an old barn not far off. I’ll be washed away -soon. We could go into that shack out of the rain, I should think.” - -“I should think so, too,” agreed Jerry. “We’ll do it. I didn’t suppose -the storm would be as bad as this, or we’d have gone into the barn in -the first place. However, it isn’t too late, except that we’re already -wet through.” - -“But we can dry out in there, and have a good night’s sleep,” said Bob, -who loved his creature comforts, including sleeping and eating. - -Jerry gave the necessary orders. The dog tents were struck, those that -had blown down were recovered and, carrying their packs, the boys made -a rush through the storm for a somewhat dilapidated and seemingly -deserted barn which stood in a field, not far from the spot where camp -had first been made. - -“Well, this is something like!” exclaimed Ned, as they entered the -structure. The swinging doors, sagging on their hinges, had not been -locked, but, even if they had been, Jerry felt he would have been -justified in breaking them open, agreeing to pay for the damage done, -as he was authorized to do. - -“Well, there’s some hay I’m going to hit, as soon as I get dried out -a bit,” declared Bob, as he flashed his electric light on the mow. It -was not full, but enough hay remained to make a good bed for the tired -soldiers. - -They had eaten their supper, and there was nothing to do but to -stretch out and wait for morning, when they would be warmed by hot -coffee which they could make for themselves. They carried a little -solidified-alcohol stove for this purpose. - -The boys took off some of their wet garments and spread them out to -dry. Then they laid their blankets on the hay and prepared for a -better night’s rest than would have been possible under the tents, -even if it had not rained. - -“This is something like,” said Ned, as Jerry went to see that the doors -were fastened, for, in a measure, he was responsible for the safety of -the property of whoever owned the old barn. - -It was a very old one, and there seemed to be no house near it, but -then the boys could not see very well in the storm and the darkness, -and they were in a rolling country, so that the farmhouse might have -been down in one of the many hollows surrounding the barn. - -The building leaked in places, and two of the young volunteers had to -move their blankets after they had spread them out, to avoid streams -of water that trickled down on them. But at last all were settled and -ready for the night’s repose. - -There was no need of posting a sentry, so each one had his full rest. -Jerry fell asleep with the others. How long he slumbered he did not -know, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing, almost directly under -him, the sound of voices. - -Though he awoke, Jerry did not immediately get up to see who it was. He -was not yet fully aroused. At first he thought it might be some of his -own squad, who had found themselves unable to sleep, and who hoped to -pass away the hours of the night in talk. - -“But that won’t do,” thought Jerry. “If they want to gas they’ve got -to go somewhere else. We want to sleep.” - -However, as he became more thoroughly awake, and listened more intently -to the talk, he realized that it was none of his friends. - -The voices were those of men--three of them, evidently, to judge by the -different intonations--and they rose and fell in varying accents, the -murmur now becoming loud and again soft. And the men seemed very much -in earnest. - -Jerry and his chums were sleeping in what had been the hay-mow, but the -mow was a double one. That is, there was a platform, built up about ten -feet above the barn floor, and this platform, the floor of which was of -closely-laid poles, served to support the hay, of which there was still -quite a layer there. - -Below this was an open space, in which there was some straw. It was a -double mow, in other words, the upper part used for hay and the lower -for straw. In front of the two mows was an open space, forming the main -floor of the barn, on which stood some wagons and farm machinery, and -on the other side of this was another big mow, used evidently for the -storage of only one kind of farm produce, since it was not divided. - -Unrolling himself from his blankets, and making as little disturbance -as possible in this operation, Jerry made his way to the edge of the -mow and looked down. It was ten feet to the barn floor, and there was -a ladder at one side, up which the boys had climbed. - -Down below him, seated around a lantern, the glow of which was dimmed -by an old coat wrapped about it, Jerry saw three ragged and drenched -men. - -“Tramps!” was his instant thought. “They came in here just as we did, -to get out of the rain.” - -The rain was still coming down in torrents, as evidenced by the rattle -on the barn roof, and Jerry was about to crawl back and go to sleep -again, reasoning that the tramps had as much right in the barn as had -he and his squad, when something happened to make him change his plans. - -One of the men by a quick motion accidentally disturbed the coat -shrouding the lantern, and a bright gleam shot out at one side. This -gleam revealed something that made Jerry start and catch his breath. - -“Crooked Nose!” he exclaimed in a whisper, as he stared at one of the -three men gathered about the lantern. “There’s old Crooked Nose! And -this time we ought to catch him, sure!” - -For a daring plan had instantly occurred to Jerry. He and his chums -could make prisoners of the three men, including the mysterious one who -had been seen in Cresville the night of the fire. Of course, in a way, -it was taking a risk, not only of bodily harm, but also because the -young soldiers had no right to detain the men, against only one of whom -was there any suspicion, and but slight suspicion at that. - -“But we’ve got to get ’em and see what it all means,” decided Jerry. “I -wish I had a little more evidence to go on, though, and I wish I knew -who those other two were.” - -“Easy with the light there,” growled the man with the crooked nose, as -he replaced the coat his companion had dislodged. “Do you want to bring -the farmer and his dogs down on us?” - -“Nobody’ll be out such a night,” was the answer. “You’re too much -afraid. Freitlach!” - -“Shut up!” exclaimed the other. “Didn’t I tell you not to use that -name? Don’t use any names.” - -“Aw, don’t be so afraid!” taunted the third man--the one who had his -back toward Jerry. “You’re nervous.” - -“And so would you be if you’d done what I have. If they catch me--” and -the man with the crooked nose looked apprehensively over his shoulder -into the dark shadows of the barn. - -“That’s it; he’s too much afraid,” said the man with his back toward -Jerry. “He’s always afraid!” - -“He’s afraid of too much,” sneered the man who had displaced the coat. -“He’s afraid to give us our share of the swag, and I want mine, too. -I’m tired of waiting. I want to have a settlement and get out. That’s -what I told you when we met to-night, and that’s what I’m going to -have. I’ve starved and begged long enough. Now I want my share!” and -he banged his fist on the loose boards of the barn floor, close to the -lantern, setting it to swaying so that the man with the crooked nose -exclaimed: - -“Stop, you idiot! Do you want to set the place on fire?” - -“Well, it wouldn’t be the first place we’ve burned,” declared the -other, but the words died on his lips as the other struck him across -the mouth. - -“What does that mean?” demanded the man who had roused the ire of the -one with the crooked nose. - -“It means to keep still! Do you want to blow the whole thing?” - -“Might as well!” was the sullen answer. “I want my share. I don’t care -what happens after that. I’m going to skip out. I s’pose you’re going -to stay, Smelzer, until----” - -“Never mind about me,” growled the man whose face Jerry could not see. -“Pug and I have some plans of our own. They’ve been busted up some, but -I guess we can carry ’em out somehow.” - -“Well, I want my share,” went on the other, speaking to the one with -the mis-shapen nose. “I need the coin, and I’m going to have it. I did -my share of the work, and I want my share of the swag. When you got me -in on the scheme, Freit----” - -“What’d I tell you about names?” fiercely demanded the crooked-nosed -man. - -“Well, when you got me in on the scheme you said the Frenchman had a -pot of money, and a lot of jewelry, too.” - -“So he did have!” declared Crooked Nose. “I got part of it. I admitted -that. But the biggest part is there yet. It may be in the ruins of the -fire----” - -“Yes, the fire I set to give you a chance to get the coin!” broke in -the other. “Now I’m tired of fooling. Either I get half the money you -got from the old Frenchman, or I’ll go back to Cresville and see what I -can find in the fire ruins! I’m going to get something for the risk I -took. Give me half the money you got from the old man the night of the -fire, or I’ll squeal! That’s my last word!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -THE ROUND-UP - - -Jerry Hopkins, lying in the haymow and looking down at the men and -listening to them, could hardly believe his senses. At last it was all -clear to him. Before him was the crooked-nosed man who had been seen -in Cresville the night of the tenement house fire. And now, by his own -admission, there was the man who had set the blaze so the robbery could -be carried out with less fear of detection. As to the third man, Jerry -did not know what to think. His mention of “Pug” seemed to link him -with the bully, Kennedy, but this yet remained to be proved. - -“Anyhow, I’m sure of one thing,” decided Jerry, as he looked back into -the dark mow, and could detect no movement that would indicate his -chums were awake. “Crooked Nose is the man who robbed old Mr. Cardon, -and the other chap is the one who set the fire. They’re both guilty -by their own admission. But where is his other money if these fellows -didn’t get it? And the brooch and the watch? I wonder if they could be -in the ruins?” - -Jerry was thinking quickly. There was much to do if he hoped to capture -the three men and fasten their crimes on them. First he must awaken -some of his companions, and let them listen to the incriminating talk. - -Jerry crawled to where his two friends were sleeping. He first -awakened Ned, and clapped a hand over his mouth to silence any sudden -exclamation of surprise. - -“What is it?” Ned demanded. - -“Crooked Nose!” whispered Jerry. “Keep still! I think we have them!” - -Bob was harder to arouse, and inclined to make more noise, but at -length the three motor boys, leaving the other soldiers sleeping in the -hay, had crawled to the edge of the mow and were looking down on the -three men gathered about the shaded lantern. The discussion was still -going on. - -“Why don’t you wait?” begged the crooked-nosed man, who had given his -name to Mr. Martin as Jim Waydell. “Why do you want to spoil things -now?” and he addressed the fellow who had displaced the coat, which had -been adjusted again, however. “Why don’t you wait?” - -“Because I’m tired of waiting,” was the growled-out answer. “I want -some coin. I set the fire. You robbed the Frenchman. It was fifty-fifty -with the risk. Now let it be the same with the coin.” - -“But I tell you I haven’t got much coin left,” declared Crooked Nose. -“We missed the biggest bunch of it, and what I got----” - -“Give me half of what you got then!” growled the other. - -“I can’t. I had to spend some----” - -“Don’t talk so loud!” warned the man whose face was in the shadow. -“First thing you know some one may hear us, and then----” He shrugged -his shoulders, as though no words were necessary. - -“Great Scott!” whispered Ned to Jerry. “Is it possible we have stumbled -on the very men we wanted?” - -“More a case of them stumbling in on us,” Jerry answered. “Listen to -what they are saying.” - -It was the same argument over again, one man demanding money and the -other trying to pacify him without giving it. - -“What are we going to do?” whispered Ned. - -“Get ’em, of course,” Jerry replied in the same low voice. “Do you -think we three can manage them alone--each one take a man?” - -“Sure!” declared Ned. He and his chums were in excellent physical -condition, thanks to their army training. - -“Well, then let’s jump on ’em. Take ’em by surprise,” advised the tall -lad. “We can slide down from the hay and grab ’em before they know -what’s up. We’ve heard enough to convict them now. It was the very -evidence we needed.” - -“Better wake up the other fellows so they can stand by us in case of -trouble,” advised Bob, and this was decided on. While the two men -were still disputing, and their companion waited, Ned, Bob and Jerry -silently roused their sleeping comrades, briefly telling them what the -situation was. - -“We’ll slide down and grab ’em,” said Jerry. “They don’t appear to be -armed, but if they are we’ll take ’em by surprise before they can get -their guns. You stand by with your rifles, fellows. I guess the sight -of the guns will be all that’s needed. All ready now?” he asked Ned and -Bob in a whisper. - -[Illustration: “WE’LL SLIDE DOWN AND GRAB ’EM,” SAID JERRY.] - -“All ready!” - -The boys had drawn back to the far end of the haymow to make their -plans, so their whispers would not penetrate to the ears of the men. -But there was little danger of this, as the storm outside was making -too much noise. - -The three chums from Cresville now worked their way to the edge of the -haymow. The men were still below them, Crooked Nose and his companion -angrily arguing, while the other man had risen. For the first time -Jerry and his chums had a glimpse of the face. - -“I’ve seen him somewhere before,” decided Jerry. - -But there was no time then for such speculation. The men must be caught. - -Poised on the very edge of the haymow, Jerry and his chums waited a -moment. They were going to jump down the ten feet and rush at the men. -There was a litter of straw below them which would break the force of -their leap. - -“Go!” suddenly whispered Jerry. - -Three bodies shot over the edge of the haymow, landing with a thud on -the barn floor. The men, hearing the noise and feeling the concussion, -turned quickly. A sudden motion of one again displaced the coat over -the lantern, so that the scene was well lighted. - -“They’ve got us!” yelled Crooked Nose, and he made a rush, but Jerry -Hopkins caught him in his long arms. - -“Get out the way!” shouted the man who had been begging for a division -of the spoils, as he headed for Ned like a football player trying to -avoid a tackle. But Ned was used to such tactics. He downed his man -hard, the thud shaking the barn. - -Bob did not have such luck. His man crashed full into him, knocked Bob -to one side and then disappeared in some dark recess of the barn. -Chunky, somewhat dazed, rose slowly and tried to follow. - -Meanwhile Jerry and Ned were struggling with the two men they had -caught. The outcome was in doubt, for the prisoners were desperate. -But the advent of the other soldiers sliding down from the haymow with -rifles ready for use, soon settled the matter. - -“Surrender!” sharply ordered Jerry. - -“Guess we’ll have to,” sullenly agreed the crooked-nosed man. - -“Now find the other fellow,” Jerry ordered, when the men had been tied -with ropes, which had been found in the barn. - -But this was more easily said than done. Using the lantern and their -electric searchlights the boys hunted through the barn, but the third -man was not to be found. - -“He got away,” said Bob regretfully. - -“Oh, don’t worry,” returned Jerry consolingly. “We got the two main -ones, anyhow. And maybe these fellows will have something on them to -tell who the other fellow was.” - -The prisoners did not answer, but they looked uncomfortable. - -“Well, this is a good night’s work,” declared Jerry, when he and his -chums had a chance to talk matters over. “We’ve got the robber and the -firebug, and I guess we can help get back most of the Frenchman’s -money and maybe the gold watch and the diamond brooch. They are back in -the fire ruins, I imagine.” - -By turns Ned, Bob and Jerry explained to their companions the reason -for capturing Crooked Nose and the other man, relating the story of the -fire in Cresville some months back. - -There was little sleep for any one the rest of that night. A guard was -posted over the two prisoners, when a search had failed to reveal the -missing third man, and in the morning, after a hasty breakfast in the -old barn, the march back to camp was made. The storm was over. - -There was some surprise when Jerry and his chums returned with their -prisoners. Captain Trainer, when he heard the story, had the men locked -up in the guardhouse until the civil authorities could be communicated -with, as the crime was not a military one. - -And, a little later, Hans Freitlach, _alias_ Jim Waydell, the -crooked-nosed man, and Fritz Lebhach, his companion, were safely in -jail, and some papers found on them disclosed their real identity. - -They were German spies, being members of a band that had for its object -the destruction of munition plants and warehouses and factories, where -war goods for our government and the Allies were being stored and made. -They had set a number of fires, it was learned afterward, though the -one in Cresville had been a personal matter, designed to get hold of -the old Frenchman’s money. After that crime Freitlach and Lebhach had -fled, agreeing to meet later in the South, as they did, much to their -own discomfort. - -“And who do you think that other man was--the one that bowled Bob -over?” asked Jerry, rushing excitedly up to his chums a few days after -the men had been sent to Cresville to await trial. - -“Haven’t an idea, unless he was some football star,” Chunky ruefully -answered, remembering his failure to tackle. - -“He was Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” was the unexpected information -Jerry gave. - -“Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” exclaimed Ned and Bob. - -“Yes. His name is Meyer, and he’s another German spy, and so is Pug. -Meyer masqueraded as an Irishman, for he had been pals with an Irish -prize-fighter for some years.” - -“And was it his father Pug sneaked out to meet at night?” asked Ned. - -“Yes,” answered Jerry. “Since Pug has deserted the whole story has come -out. His father was another spy, and his particular work was to make -trouble in camps--set fire to storehouses, quartermasters’ depots and -the like. Pug was going to help him, and that’s why he enlisted--the -rotten traitor! But he’s gone, and the Secret Service men hope to catch -them both.” - -A week later came back word from Cresville that filled the young -soldiers with keen satisfaction. The ashes of the tenement house fire -had been thoroughly searched and an iron box belonging to the French -engraver had been recovered. It contained a large part of the old man’s -money and also Mr. Baker’s gold watch. - -“I’m glad dad has his watch back,” said Bob. “But what about the -diamond brooch belonging to Jerry’s mother?” - -“Maybe they’ll get that later,” said Jerry hopefully. - -And they did, although not in the manner expected. The doings of the -crooked-nosed man were minutely investigated, and it was finally -learned where he had left the brooch with a pawn-broker for a small -amount--thinking to get it out of pawn later on and sell it, when it -might be safe to do so. The authorities took charge of the valuable -piece of jewelry, and it was finally turned over to Mrs. Hopkins, much -to her delight. - -The thief and the firebug received long terms in state’s prison--terms -which were richly deserved. - -As for Pug, the military authorities made a search for him after his -desertion, which followed the capture of the two men, but he was not -found. It was surmised that his step-father got word to him, somehow, -after the former’s escape from the barn, that the game was up, and that -Pug had better flee. So he did. - -The crooked-nosed man and his companion both declared that Pug and his -father helped plot the Cresville fire, and wanted to have a share in -the proceeds of the robbery. Whether this was true or not could not be -learned. - -It was learned that Mr. Cardon had, at one time, done some business -with Crooked Nose, as it is easier to call him than using one of his -many false names. But the unscrupulous one had cheated the Frenchman, -and then, later, using the knowledge he had of his wealth and habits, -had tried to rob him, getting a confederate to set the fire. The -men had gone South after the Cresville crimes because Pug was sent -there, and they wanted to keep in touch with him. But, thanks to -the activities of Ned, Bob and Jerry, the gang’s operations were -successfully broken up. - -To the barracks, where Ned, Bob and Jerry were sitting and talking, -there penetrated the clear notes of a bugle. - -“What’s that--another drill?” asked Ned, starting up. - -“The mail has come,” interpreted Jerry. - -“Oh, boy!” yelled Bob, making a rush for the door. - -A little later all three were reading letters and looking over papers -from home. - -“Good news, Chunky?” asked Ned, as he saw a smile light up his stout -chum’s face. - -“Surest thing you know!” was the answer. “Helena writes to say that her -father has changed his views, and that they’re both real Americans now. -She says she likes me better than ever for being in the army and---- -Oh, I didn’t mean to read that!” and Bob blushed. “It was something -about the Red Cross I was going to tell you.” - -“Go to it, Bob!” laughed Jerry. “Helena’s all right!” - -It was that evening, in the free period between the last mess and taps, -that a cheering was heard in a distant part of the camp. - -“What’s that?” asked Jerry of his two friends. - -“Maybe they’ve caught Pug Kennedy,” suggested Ned. - -“I hope it’s better news than that,” Jerry remarked. - -“It is,” Bob informed them, when he came back from a hasty trip of -inquiry. “We’ve received orders to move.” - -“Move? Move where?” - -“Over there!” - -A cheer from his chums interrupted Bob’s words, and for some time -there was such confusion that any connected story of it was out of the -question. - -But those of you who wish to follow the further fortunes of Ned, Bob -and Jerry may read of other adventures that befell them in the next -volume of this series entitled, “The Motor Boys on the Firing Line, or, -Ned, Bob and Jerry Fighting for Uncle Sam.” - -“Well, we put in quite a summer, didn’t we?” observed Jerry to his -chums one day, as they came back from a practice hike. “We had some -lively times.” - -“And we may have more,” added Ned. “I just had a letter from Professor -Snodgrass. He says he’s coming on another bug-hunting trip. I’m going -to tell the captain to warn the sentries not to shoot when they see a -bald head.” - -“That’s the idea!” laughed Jerry. And while the motor boys are talking -over their various adventures we will take leave of them. - - -THE END - - - - -THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES - -BY LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid_ - - -[Illustration] - - BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS - _or The Rivals of Riverside_ - -Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to play baseball and -particularly to pitch. - - - BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE - _or Pitching for the Blue Banner_ - -Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding school and play on the -school team. - - - BASEBALL JOE AT YALE - _or Pitching for the College Championship_ - -Joe goes to Yale University. In his second year he becomes a varsity -pitcher and pitches in several big games. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE - _or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_ - -In this volume the scene of action is shifted from Yale college to a -baseball league of our Central States. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE - _or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles_ - -From the Central League Joe is drafted into the St. Louis Nationals. A -corking baseball story all fans will enjoy. - - - BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS - _or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_ - -How Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay in the box -makes an interesting baseball story. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES - _or Pitching for the Championship_ - -The rivalry was of course of the keenest, and what Joe did to win the -series is told in a manner to thrill the most jaded reader. - - - BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD - _or Pitching on a Grand Tour_ - -The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world, playing in many -foreign countries. - - - BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING - _or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_ - -Joe cultivates his handling of the bat until he becomes the greatest -batter in the game. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE KHAKI BOYS SERIES - -BY CAPT. GORDON BATES - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color._ - -_=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_True-to-life stories of the camp and field in the great war._ - - - 1. THE KHAKI BOYS AT CAMP STERLING - _or Training for the Big Fight in France_ - -Two zealous young patriots volunteer and begin their military training. -Together they get into a baffling camp mystery. - - - 2. THE KHAKI BOYS ON THE WAY - _or Doing Their Bit on Sea and Land_ - -Our soldier boys having completed their training at Camp Sterling are -transferred to a Southern cantonment from which they are finally sent -aboard a troopship for France. - - - 3. THE KHAKI BOYS AT THE FRONT - _or Shoulder to Shoulder in the Trenches_ - -The Khaki Boys reach France, and, after some intensive training in -sound of the battle front, are sent into the trenches. - - - 4. THE KHAKI BOYS OVER THE TOP - _or Doing and Daring for Uncle Sam_ - -A spirited tale, telling how the brave soldier boys went over the top -in the face of a fierce fire from the enemy. - - - 5. THE KHAKI BOYS FIGHTING TO WIN - _or Smashing the German Lines_ - -Another great war story, showing how the Khaki Boys did their duty as -fighters for Uncle Sam under tremendous difficulties. - - - 6. THE KHAKI BOYS ALONG THE RHINE - _or Winning the Honors of War_ - -Telling of the march to the Rhine, crossing into Germany and of various -troubles the doughboys had with the Boches. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES - -BY LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._ - - - 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons, a “hayseed,” makes good on the scrub team of Randall -College. - - - 2. A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK - _A Story of College Football_ - -A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick’s best style, that is bound to -grip the reader from the start. - - - 3. BATTING TO WIN - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on -Randall College team. There is a great game. - - - 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN - _A Story of College Football_ - -After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes -a touchdown that won a big game. - - - 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL - _A Story of College Athletics_ - -The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely -exciting. - - - 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS - _A Story of College Water Sports_ - -Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track, -gridiron and diamond. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE JACK RANGER SERIES - -BY CLARENCE YOUNG - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Lively stories of outdoor sports and adventure every boy will want to -read._ - - - 1. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS - _or The Rivals of Washington Hall_ - -You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can’t help it. He is bright and -cheery, and earnest in all he does. - - - 2. JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP - _or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_ - -This volume takes the hero to the great West. Jack is anxious to clear -up the mystery surrounding his father’s disappearance. - - - 3. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES - _or Track, Gridiron and Diamond_ - -Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of school -games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field. - - - 4. JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE - _or The Wreck of the Polly Ann_ - -How Jack was carried off to sea against his will makes a “yarn” no boy -will want to miss. - - - 5. JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB - _or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail_ - -Jack organizes a gun club and with his chums goes in quest of big game. -They have many adventures in the mountains. - - - 6. JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX - _or The Outing of the Schoolboy Yachtsmen_ - -Jack receives a box from his father and it is stolen. How he regains it -makes an absorbing tale. - - - _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in - bold by “equal” signs (=bold=). - - --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. - - --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - --The author’s em-dash and long dash styles have been retained. - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Boys in the Army, by Clarence Young - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY *** - -***** This file should be named 53320-0.txt or 53320-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/3/2/53320/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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