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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 - - - - - - -</pre> - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="600" height="700" alt="cover" title="cover" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> -<a id="image01"> - <img src="images/image01.jpg" width="384" height="600" alt="" title="" /> -</a><br /> -<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_220">THEY PERFECTED THEMSELVES IN THE USE OF THE RIFLE -AND THE BAYONET.</a></div> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h1>THE MOTOR BOYS<br /> -IN THE ARMY</h1> - -<p class="noic">OR</p> - -<p class="noi subtitle">Ned, Bob and Jerry as Volunteers</p> - -<p class="p2 noic">BY</p> - -<p class="noi author">CLARENCE YOUNG</p> - -<p class="noi works">AUTHOR OF “THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES,” “THE JACK<br /> -RANGER SERIES,” ETC.</p> - -<p class="p4 noic">ILLUSTRATED</p> - -<p class="p4 noic">NEW YORK<br /> -<span class="author">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="adpage"> -<div class="adbox"> -<p class="noic adauthor">BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG</p> - -<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Colored Jacket.</p> - -<hr class="r20" /> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><b>THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES</b></p> - -<ul> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE ROCKIES</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS OVER THE OCEAN</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE WING</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS AFTER A FORTUNE</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE BORDER</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS UNDER THE SEA</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON ROAD AND RIVER</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS AT BOXWOOD HALL</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON A RANCH</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE ARMY</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE FIRING LINE</li> -<li class="hang">THE MOTOR BOYS BOUND FOR HOME</li> -</ul> - -<hr class="r20" /> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><b>THE JACK RANGER SERIES</b></p> - -<ul> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS</li> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP</li> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES</li> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE</li> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB</li> -<li class="hang">JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX</li> -</ul> -</div> - -<p class="p2 noic"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1918, by<br /> -Cupples & Leon Company</span></p> - -<hr class="r20" /> - -<p class="noic"><b>The Motor Boys in the Army</b></p> - -<p class="right">Printed in U. S. A.</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<col style="width: 20%;" /> -<col style="width: 70%;" /> -<col style="width: 10%;" /> -<tr> - <th class="smfontr">CHAPTER</th> - <th class="tdl"></th> - <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">I</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Fire Alarm</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">1</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">II</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">The Runaway Engine</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">9</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">III</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">“Just As Easy!”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">16</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Crooked Nose</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">24</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">V</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Odd Man</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">33</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">First Call for Volunteers</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">42</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Chunky’s Trouble</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">51</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A Pro-German Meeting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">59</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A Fight in the Dark</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">68</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">X</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Parting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">79</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Off to Camp Dixton</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">85</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Pug Kennedy</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">91</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">In the Camp</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">100</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Somewhat Different</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">108</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">In Uniform</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">117</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Hot Words</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">125</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">A Midnight Meeting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">132</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A Stab in the Back</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">141</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A Cave-In</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">152</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">A Practice March</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">159</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Crooked Nose Again</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">166</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">The Accusation</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">174</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">The Minstrel Show</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">183</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">A Black-Face Pursuit</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">190</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">“A Prisoner”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">197</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXVI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">A Night Alarm</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">207</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXVII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">The Hand Grenade</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">213</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXVIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">The Storm</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">223</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">In the Old Barn</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">229</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">The Round-Up</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">237</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - - -<div class="blockquot"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> -<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#image01">THEY PERFECTED THEMSELVES IN THE USE OF THE RIFLE AND THE BAYONET.</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#image02">“TREASON! TREASON!” CAME THE CRIES FROM ALL OVER THE HALL.</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#image03">NED AND JERRY, HURRYING OVER SAW THE CORPORAL HOLDING PUG KENNEDY.</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#image04">“WE’LL SLIDE DOWN AND GRAB ’EM,” SAID JERRY.</a></td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="noi title">NED, BOB AND JERRY -IN THE ARMY</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> -<small>THE FIRE ALARM</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“You’re going, aren’t you, Ned?”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know!”</p> - -<p>“Will you be there, Bob?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, Jerry. It ought to be quite a -meeting, I should say.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“And we’ve got to hustle, too!” added Bob -Baker.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Quit it!” the latter begged. “What do you -think I’m made of, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’d feel better right now if you’d quit pinching -me!” exclaimed the tormented one. “Try it -on Ned a bit.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he doesn’t need waking up,” laughed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -Jerry. “But say, do we need tickets for this -meeting to-night?”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Who said I was?” demanded Bob.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Sure!” was the ready answer. “Don’t try to -back out, Bob. It’s too late.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s of no use trying to buck up against -a conspiracy like this,” sighed the stout youth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -“I guess I’ve got the price,” and he rattled some -change in his pocket.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<i>Upholding President Wilson, and proving to -him that Cresville approves of his course in declaring -a state of war with Germany exists.</i>”</p></div> - -<p>“No tickets needed,” read Jerry. “It’s a case -of first come first served, I guess.”</p> - -<p>They entered the drug store, and soon were being -served, talking, the while, of the coming patriotic -meeting.</p> - -<p>“Colonel Wentworth is going to preside,” announced -Ned.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and there’ll be enough rhetorical fireworks -to stock a battleship,” observed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a little too old, isn’t he?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but he’s in fine shape. Well, we’ll go -to the meeting, anyhow, and help whoop things -up.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” chimed in Jerry Hopkins. -“These are the days to show your colors.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -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:</p> - -<p>“Fellows, the dance racket is off! We’ve got to -show ourselves at the auditorium.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Some push!” exclaimed Ned, as he felt himself -being carried forward in the crush, for the -doors had just been opened.</p> - -<p>“It’s going to be a success all right,” added -Jerry. “They’ll never get ’em all in!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Hear that?” he asked, in a whisper, of Jerry.</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“Fire alarm! It’s from the box down near -dad’s store! I’m going to see what it is!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> -<small>THE RUNAWAY ENGINE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Sounded as if some one was hurt,” added Ned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Look at that!” cried the man who had made -the observation. “Look!”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>It did seem so, as Ned, Bob and Jerry noted -a moment later, when they hurried out in front<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“Catch those horses!” replied Jerry as he hurried -on.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>From then on matters at Boxwood Hall went -more smoothly, and Ned, Bob and Jerry were -accorded the place to which they were entitled.</p> - -<p>They had now come home for the Easter vacation, -to find their town plunged in war excitement, -in which the whole country shared.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Jim was thrown off all right!” exclaimed -Ned. “They’ve picked him up, and are carrying -him into Doctor Newton’s place.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Unless some one gets in front of ’em and -brings ’em up,” added Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -them, get his horse to going at the same speed as -the bolters, and then gradually bring them to a -stop.”</p> - -<p>“And you’re going to try that?” asked Bob, incredulously.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” agreed Ned. “Keep on, -Jerry, old man!”</p> - -<p>“I will! Hold tight, though, fellows, when it -comes to the last lap. There may be an upset!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -the speeding horses, but Jerry’s car was well in -the lead, though the horses had a good start.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Do you see anything of the fire?” asked Bob, -as Jerry’s car speeded on.</p> - -<p>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?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> -<small>“JUST AS EASY!”</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“It’s into the water for them!” grimly finished -Jerry Hopkins. “We’ll try to stop them before -they get there.”</p> - -<p>He gave the auto a little more gasoline, and it -leaped forward. At the same moment Bob -yelled:</p> - -<p>“There it is! See the blaze!”</p> - -<p>He pointed off to the left, and there a glare in -the sky, which increased in brightness as the boys -looked, could be observed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Ned gave a cry and pointed to something.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Jerry. “Another fire?”</p> - -<p>“Look at that old man! Right in the path of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -the engine! The horses’ll be on him in a minute!”</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” chimed in Bob, from the rear -seat. “Hi there! Get out the way!” he yelled. -“Don’t you see the engine?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Then, for the first time, the little man at the -side of the street seemed aware of what was going -on.</p> - -<p>“Look at him!” cried Jerry.</p> - -<p>“He’s right in the way of the horses!” added -Ned.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - -<p>“And he’s going to try to stop ’em!” came from -Bob. “Oh, boy! what’ll happen to him?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what he’s doing! That’s what he’s -<em>done</em>!” cried Bob.</p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -and so did the little man who had brought the animals -to a stop.</p> - -<p>“Say, did you see him do it?” cried Jerry to -his chums.</p> - -<p>“I should say yes!” chimed in Bob.</p> - -<p>“Just as easy!” murmured Ned, admiringly. -“Just as easy!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Professor Snodgrass!”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Jerry, in surprise.</p> - -<p>“It’s our old friend, Professor Uriah Snodgrass!”</p> - -<p>“Great rattlesnakes, so it is!” shouted Bob.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Hurt? No. Why?” asked the surprised scientist.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Why because you stopped that runaway.”</p> - -<p>“Runaway? Was that a <em>runaway</em>?” asked -Professor Snodgrass in great surprise.</p> - -<p>“Of course it was!” cried Ned. “Didn’t you -know it?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t he the limit?” cried Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Same old professor. Hasn’t changed a bit,” -observed Bob.</p> - -<p>“Well, considering it was only about three weeks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The boys did not either—that is Ned and Bob -did not. But Jerry did. He was always resourceful.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Can you?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“All right. And it can’t be any too soon!” -murmured Bob, as he looked at the reddening -sky.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Going to leave the professor here?” asked -Bob, as Hank climbed to the driver’s seat of the -steamer, while Jake got on behind.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” agreed Jake. “Anything to -get to the fire. This has been an awful night!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>Off started the powerful automobile pulling the -engine, while the red blaze in the sky grew -brighter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> -<small>CROOKED NOSE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Some fire, boys!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we aren’t going to get there any too -soon.”</p> - -<p>“I doubt if we can save any of the old shacks -if they get going.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Can you make it, boys?” asked Hank, from -his seat in front of the throbbing engine.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>On chugged the automobile, and behind it rumbled -the fire engine. The machine was not of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“It’s one of the big tenements!” cried Ned.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and it’s gone beyond saving, I guess,” -added Jerry. “The engine didn’t get here in -time.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Here comes the other engine!” some one -shouted, as Jerry drew the one he was pulling up -to a fire plug.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have a stream on in a jiffy!” exclaimed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -Jake. “But the second engine’d better play on -the other end of the block to keep that from -catchin’.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“You play on the fire itself, Jake!” the chief -ordered. “What happened to your engine, and -where’s the driver?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Good for them! Well, get busy.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Anybody hurt?” asked Jerry of the chief.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Think they can save any of it?” asked Bob of -Jerry, as they stood watching, having put their -automobile in a safe place.</p> - -<p>“Not any of the tenement that’s burning, I -don’t. They’ll be lucky if the rest of the block -doesn’t go.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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!</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe he’s planning some expedition to -South America, or some place like that, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -wants us to go with him,” said Bob. “We have -had some corking times with him.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>They had left him at Boxwood, about three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Looks like a rescue,” observed Ned.</p> - -<p>“That’s what it is,” said Bob. “They’re taking -down an old woman!”</p> - -<p>“And some children!” added Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a cry arose at the far end of the burning -tenement; the end that could not longer be -held back from the flames.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Another one they’ve forgotten,” cried Ned.</p> - -<p>“Or else he hid away, or has been unconscious,” -added Bob.</p> - -<p>“They’ve got to get him soon!” exclaimed -Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to get him down!” cried Jerry.</p> - -<p>“If we only had a ladder!” added Ned.</p> - -<p>“Here’s one!” shouted Bob, and he pointed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Will it reach?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to try,” Jerry yelled. “Bring it -over!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The old man, half choked from smoke, was -leaning from the window now, shouting as well as -he could with his feeble breath.</p> - -<p>“Don’t jump!” yelled Ned. “We’re coming -after you!”</p> - -<p>Quickly he started up the ladder, followed by -Jerry. The old man held out his arms to them -imploringly.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Keep still! We’re coming! We’re coming!” -yelled Jerry.</p> - -<p>The aged man was excited and fearful, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -small wonder. The smoke, pouring from the window -around him, was thicker now, and the flames -back of him were brighter.</p> - -<p>Up and up went Ned and Jerry. When they -came closer they could hear the old man shouting:</p> - -<p>“My money! My money! I must get my -money and the jewelry!”</p> - -<p>They were at the window now, the ladder just -reaching to it, with not a foot to spare.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>He turned as though to hobble back into the -smoke filled and fire encircled room.</p> - -<p>“You’ll be burned to death if you go!” shouted -Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> -<small>THE ODD MAN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“We’ve got to get him!” cried Jerry to Ned.</p> - -<p>“Sure thing! He’ll be burned to death in there -in less than a minute! What’s he mean about -Crooked Nose?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Right!” answered the stout one, making his -voice heard above the various noises of the fire.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“There he is!” cried Ned, pointing to a figure -huddled on the floor.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>They caught hold of the old man. He appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -to be a Frenchman, though he spoke good -English. The boys lifted him up, and this seemed -to restore his scattered senses.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“He’s raving!” said Ned.</p> - -<p>“Don’t talk! Save your breath!” mumbled -Jerry, doing just what he warned his chum against. -“Catch hold and——”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Once again on the ladder, Jerry called:</p> - -<p>“Now work him out till he hangs over my -shoulder like a sack of flour, Ned. I can carry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -him down that way. He isn’t heavy. Hold him -steady until I give the word.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Just in time,” murmured Ned, as he came to -the ground, a few seconds after Jerry reached it.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. We might take a look.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“These are the boys who brought you down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -the ladder, who saved you,” said a doctor, pointing -to Ned and Jerry.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“No,” answered Jerry gently. He thought the -old man was still wandering in his faculties.</p> - -<p>“Who is Crooked Nose?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Is Crooked Nose a man?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -the jewelry, but I forgot where I put it when the -fire came. Oh, was it burned?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But maybe Crooked Nose took it,” suggested -Mr. Cardon. “He is a villain.”</p> - -<p>“What’s his name?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>The crippled old Frenchman shook his head.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Then, when he seemed to think that all was lost, -the old man became calmer, and told a more connected -story.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Gee, that will be a big loss for somebody!” -remarked Ned.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>There was nothing more the motor boys could -do, and, learning that some of the neighbors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -would care for the old Frenchman, they got ready -to go home.</p> - -<p>“Hadn’t we better go back and see what has -become of Professor Snodgrass?” asked Bob, as -they reached their automobile.</p> - -<p>“Well, it might be a good plan,” agreed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Some of the bugs he is after may have carried -him off,” suggested Ned, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>They started for the place where the runaway -fire horses had been caught by Mr. Snodgrass.</p> - -<p>“This has been what you might call a ‘large’ -evening,” remarked Jerry, as he guided the car.</p> - -<p>“Somewhat juicy,” added Ned.</p> - -<p>“Speaking of juicy reminds me of a broiled -steak,” put in Bob. “What do you say to a little -supper? I’m hungry.”</p> - -<p>“For once I agree with your gastronomic suggestion,” -replied Jerry. “What say, Ned?”</p> - -<p>“I’m with you. Let’s include the professor if -we can find him.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -if he did not get on some bug-hunting chase that -kept him out all night.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, you’re a gentleman!” angrily murmured -Jerry, who had received the full impact of the -odd character.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t even say: ‘Excuse me!’ did he?” asked -Ned.</p> - -<p>“Nothing like it. He must be going to catch -a train!”</p> - -<p>Bob, who was just behind his chums, turned -quickly and looked after the man.</p> - -<p>“Did you see him?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Did I <em>see</em> him. I <em>felt</em> him!” declared Jerry, -with a rueful laugh.</p> - -<p>“And did you notice?” went on Bob, in some -excitement.</p> - -<p>“Notice what?” Ned inquired.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> -<small>FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Did he really have a crooked nose?” asked -Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Ned darted out to the sidewalk, and looked up -and down the street. He came back to report.</p> - -<p>“The man, Crooked Nose or not, isn’t in sight,” -he said. “But if you think it’s worth while postponing -the meal——”</p> - -<p>“No, don’t!” hastily begged Bob. “Maybe -after we caught up to him it wouldn’t be the right -man.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>So the boys proceeded with their meal, talking -meanwhile about the events of the night.</p> - -<p>“I wonder how the patriotic meeting made -out?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, how does it feel to be a hero?” asked -Ned, as he greeted the professor.</p> - -<p>“A hero?” murmured Mr. Snodgrass, wonderingly.</p> - -<p>“Yes. Didn’t he tell you, Mother?” inquired -Jerry. “He stopped the team that was running -away with the fire engine and——”</p> - -<p>“And you never mentioned it, Professor!” exclaimed -Mrs. Hopkins.</p> - -<p>“Too modest!” murmured Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -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?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” chimed in Ned. “I guess we -can all congratulate ourselves.”</p> - -<p>“How was the meeting?” asked Mrs. Hopkins.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The talk became general, and Professor Snodgrass -told of having heard from a fellow scientist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“We’re glad to see you,” declared Jerry. “Are -you counting on going anywhere else after bugs?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Mother?” demanded Jerry, who -saw that something was wrong.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“He mentioned a diamond brooch.”</p> - -<p>“If it is mine and it is gone!” Mrs. Hopkins -clasped her hands. “It cost eight hundred dollars!”</p> - -<p>“In that case Martley will have to pay for it,” -added Jerry quickly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Jerry. But it will make a lot of trouble,” -sighed his mother.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and it was quite a bend, too,” said Bob. -“Why do you ask, Mr. Snodgrass?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Professor Snodgrass not only spent the night -at Mrs. Hopkins’ house, but his visit extended -over several days.</p> - -<p>During that time some highly interesting facts -came to light.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Of course both Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Baker -were much disturbed, and so was Mr. Martley.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“That isn’t as bad as my mother’s loss,” returned -Jerry. “That diamond brooch cost eight -hundred dollars!”</p> - -<p>“Martley was a fool to trust the old Frenchman -with the things.”</p> - -<p>“He knows that—now. Not but what I guess -the old man was honest enough. But it was a -careless thing to do.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe Crooked Nose got the things.”</p> - -<p>“If he did, I hope we get Crooked Nose.”</p> - -<p>“So do I. I don’t think we’ll get much out of -Martley. He’s too deeply in debt, so I’ve heard.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -of the United States into the war against -Germany.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Look at that, fellows!” cried Jerry.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Bob, whose view was obstructed -by Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“The first call for volunteers,” he murmured. -Then, with a suddenness that was startling, he -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Fellows, this hits us! I’m going to offer myself -to Uncle Sam! Are you with me?”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> -<small>CHUNKY’S TROUBLE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Ned Slade clapped Jerry Hopkins on the back -with such vigor that the latter almost lost his -balance.</p> - -<p>“What does that mean?” Jerry asked.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Do you think we can make it?” asked Bob. -“I mean will our folks let us cut school?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess so,” answered Jerry easily, though, -to tell the truth, he had some doubts about it.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s go and ask Colonel Wentworth,” suggested -Jerry. “He’ll know, all right.”</p> - -<p>“You said it!” agreed Ned. “Say, this is -great! I wonder if——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - -<p>He was interrupted by a cheer from the crowd -in front of the bulletin board.</p> - -<p>“Are they applauding our recent determination -to enlist?” asked Jerry, as the car started up the -street toward the office of Colonel Wentworth.</p> - -<p>“No, it’s just a new item on the bulletin board, -about the state militia being mobilized.”</p> - -<p>“That means business,” said Jerry. “Oh, boy! -but I hope we can get into this game from the very -start.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The eyes of Colonel Wentworth sparkled -brightly. He clasped the hand of Jerry Hopkins -and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“What did I tell you, gentlemen? Didn’t I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -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!”</p> - -<p>The colonel seemed starting on one of his orations, -but he caught himself in season and said:</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Glad to have done it!” exclaimed the enthusiastic -colonel. “Don’t hesitate to call on me if I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -can be of the slightest assistance to you. Good-bye -and good luck!”</p> - -<p>And, as they left his office, Ned, Bob and Jerry -could hear the former soldier telling his friends:</p> - -<p>“That’s the spirit of ’Seventy-six reincarnated! -That’s what’s going to beat the Kaiser!”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>There was something in the way Bob spoke that -made Ned remark to Jerry, a little later:</p> - -<p>“I wonder what’s the matter with Chunky? -He didn’t seem to enthuse very much.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No, he didn’t, that’s a fact,” admitted Jerry. -“Maybe he has a little indigestion.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But what about school? I don’t want to see -you lose all the advantage your studies will give -you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I can take them up later.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What are Bob’s parents, and Ned’s, going to -do?” asked Mrs. Hopkins.</p> - -<p>“I’ll find out,” answered Jerry.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -and some we aren’t intimate with, won’t come back -to Boxwood Hall.”</p> - -<p>“Are you sure about this?” asked his father.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I shall consent to Ned’s going,” said Mr. -Slade.</p> - -<p>“And Bob has my permission,” added Mr. -Baker. “He’s getting too stout, anyhow. It -may do him good.”</p> - -<p>“You may go, Jerry,” said Mrs. Hopkins.</p> - -<p>“Fine, Mother! I knew you’d say I might!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -And now, boys, let’s go and see Colonel Wentworth -and find out what the next step is.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go right over and sign up!” proposed -Ned eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Might as well,” added Ned. “How about it, -Chunky?”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Wait?” cried Jerry.</p> - -<p>“What for?” demanded Ned.</p> - -<p>Bob did not answer at once, but on his face -there was a troubled look. His chums wondered -what it meant.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> -<small>A PRO-GERMAN MEETING</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Wondering about me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, about the way you’re acting on this enlistment -business. You want to volunteer and -join the army, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, sure I do.”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“I’m not <em>afraid</em>, if that’s what you mean!” -blurted out Bob.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -afraid. And yet something has happened, hasn’t -it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, I s’pose you could call it that,” assented -Bob slowly.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to renege in the matter of -volunteering?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“What are you saying?” cried Jerry in amazement.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Why do you need an excuse?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, I suppose I may as well tell you.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>Bob looked up quickly.</p> - -<p>“Last night,” he answered. “You ought to -know. You left me there in the car.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> - -<p>“So I did. But I have a reason for asking. -Doesn’t her father own some stock in a Boston -German paper?”</p> - -<p>“I believe he does,” said Bob.</p> - -<p>“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 <i>Lusitania</i> 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?”</p> - -<p>“I suppose it’s true. But Helena hasn’t anything -to do with the paper.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose they are. It’s natural——”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“I should say so!” agreed Jerry. “I never -dreamed of this. What does it all mean?”</p> - -<p>“It’s his girl—Helena Schaeffer,” said Ned. -“Isn’t it true, Bob, that she has spoken to you -against volunteering?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Of course,” murmured Jerry and Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” and Ned asked -the question relentlessly. This was no time for -half-way measures, he felt.</p> - -<p>Bob did not answer for a moment. They were -talking in the street in front of Colonel Wentworth’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>Bob straightened up. His eyes grew brighter -and he squared his shoulders in a way his chums -well know.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>He started off down the street.</p> - -<p>“Where are you going?” demanded Jerry.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to have a talk with Helena,” Bob -answered.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“See you later,” said Ned, as his stout chum -left the car and started down the street toward the -Schaeffer home.</p> - -<p>“What do you think he’ll do?” asked Jerry, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -Ned turned the car in the direction of his own -home.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -a person claimed. But the war had made a difference.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well?” asked Jerry, as Bob joined his two -chums a little later. “How about you?”</p> - -<p>“I’m ready to go and sign up whenever you -are,” was the quiet answer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Good!” exclaimed Ned, clapping Chunky on -the back with such right good will that the stout -lad almost lost his balance.</p> - -<p>“I told you how it would be,” whispered Ned -to Jerry, and the latter nodded comprehendingly.</p> - -<p>“Have any trouble?” asked Ned. “I mean -did she break with you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, not exactly,” answered Bob. “But things -are not as pleasant as they were. It’s her father, -though, not Helena.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” agreed the stout lad. “I’m -going to do my duty. Friendship doesn’t count -in this war. It’s duty.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> - -<p>So the three boys started for Richfield, where -the nearest enlistment station was located.</p> - -<p>As they drove down the street their attention -was attracted by a large notice posted on the door -of the auditorium.</p> - -<p>“Another patriotic meeting?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Wait until I get out and see what it is,” suggested -Ned.</p> - -<p>He sprang from the car and ran up the steps. -When he came back there was a queer look on his -face.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> -<small>A FIGHT IN THE DARK</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Looks so,” admitted Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s tell Colonel Wentworth!” suggested -Ned.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“And I’d like to do some of the sitting!” added -Ned.</p> - -<p>“I’ll help,” offered Chunky.</p> - -<p>“And that will be some aid,” laughed Jerry, -as he looked at his stout friend.</p> - -<p>“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 <i>Lusitania</i>! -The wretches! Boys, this meeting ought -not to be held!” And there were peculiar looks -that passed back and forth among the three chums.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I should say I do remember!” exclaimed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Well—” Ned spoke suggestively.</p> - -<p>“Oh,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>Bob’s eyes showed interest.</p> - -<p>“Something doing?” he queried.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Better hang around a bit and watch,” advised -his tall chum.</p> - -<p>“You get my meaning, I see,” said Ned, with -a laugh.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But a few setting up exercises will take that -off you in jig time,” said the recruiting officer.</p> - -<p>His interest, too, was keen on getting the information -the boys had to give about the pro-German -meeting.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” commented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like aeroplane work,” said Jerry. “We’ve -had experience in that.”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking of submarines,” put in Ned.</p> - -<p>“Why not the artillery?” asked Bob. “You -know we had a little to do with explosives when -we went out west to our mine.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> - -<p>“And now we’ll get back and see about that -meeting!” exclaimed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“I shall be interested in the outcome,” said the -recruiting officer.</p> - -<p>“I hope you won’t be <em>disappointed</em>,” remarked -Jerry, with a smile.</p> - -<p>Colonel Wentworth was at once interested and -indignant.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“What had we better do?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We expect to do the same,” said Bob. “We -have some friends, too. We’ll all be there.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“And we’ll attend to the breaking-up!” exclaimed -Jerry. “Come on, boys! We’ve got -lots to do!”</p> - -<p>And for the rest of that day Ned, Bob and -Jerry were very busy.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Some one else we can get to help when the row -starts?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“It’s Helena,” answered Bob, and he seemed a -trifle uneasy. “Say, boys, what are we going to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -do about the women and girls?” he asked. “We -don’t want any of them roughly treated.”</p> - -<p>“There won’t be any rough treatment,” said -Jerry. “All those who wish, will be given a -chance to leave the hall peaceably first.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Bob seemed easier after this, but it was noticed -that his gaze strayed often toward that section of -the hall where Miss Schaeffer sat.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Why not?” some one in the audience demanded.</p> - -<p>“Because it is a violation of constitutional rights.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p><a href="#image02">“Treason! Treason!” came the cries from all -over the hall.</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> -<a id="image02"> - <img src="images/image02.jpg" width="382" height="600" alt="" title="" /> -</a><br /> -<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_76">“TREASON! TREASON!” CAME THE CRIES FROM ALL OVER -THE HALL.</a></div> -</div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the men on the platform, the German-American -speakers, were holding a hasty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“We’re with you to the finish!” exclaimed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Put ’em out!” some one called.</p> - -<p>“Don’t stand for any seditious talk!” advised -some one beside the colonel.</p> - -<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry kept together. They saw -half a dozen soldiers, regulars from the recruiting -station, walking toward the platform.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It’s a shame to stop our speakers!” declared -a man next to Jerry, and his voice was unmistakably -German.</p> - -<p>“Oh, is it? Say, what kind of an American -are you?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Chust as goot vot you are!” came the quick -answer. “I show you dot you can’t——!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Grab him!” cried Jerry to Bob, who was beside -Ned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“There’s going to be a fight!” joyously cried -Jerry. “Stick together, boys!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> -<small>THE PARTING</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 “<i>Der -Tag</i>.”</p> - -<p>“His <em>day</em> came right then and there,” explained -Ned afterward. “Only it was good night for -his.”</p> - -<p>As for Bob, he declared that, in the dark, he -was struck on all sides at once.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, things came off as we expected,” remarked -Jerry, tying his handkerchief around his -injured hand.</p> - -<p>“But not in just the way we had counted on,” -said Ned.</p> - -<p>This was true, for the boys had planned that -one of them should call for three cheers for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -flag, and demand that the band play the national -anthem.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Any more meetings of the ‘Friends of Liberty’ -scheduled for your town?”</p> - -<p>“Not just at present,” laughed Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But I don’t suppose you’ll dare go to call on -Helena now,” said Ned to Bob one day.</p> - -<p>“No,” was the somewhat disconsolate answer. -“I don’t believe it would be just the thing.”</p> - -<p>“Especially if Mr. Schaeffer were at home,” -observed Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It required no little tact to get such off the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“How long will that last?” asked Ned. -“When can we go to France and do some real -fighting?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but what we know about running them -may come in handy later,” remarked Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“And look who’s here to kiss little Bob good-bye!” -exclaimed Ned.</p> - -<p>“Who is it?” asked Chunky.</p> - -<p>“Miss Helena Schaeffer,” was the answer. -“Oh, Bob! Oh, boy! Go to it!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> -<small>OFF TO CAMP DIXTON</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Bob Baker did not flinch in what might be -called the “face of the enemy.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, Helena, I am glad to see you,” remarked -Bob, when he found himself near the -blue-eyed girl.</p> - -<p>“Are you?” she inquired, and her voice was not -very warm.</p> - -<p>“Of course I am!” he insisted. “It’s no end -good of you to come down to see me off.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I hope so, Helena.”</p> - -<p>“But you know war is a terrible thing!”</p> - -<p>“Are you sorry to see me go?”</p> - -<p>“Of course I am! I’m afraid you won’t come -back.” And for the first time she showed a little -emotion.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll come back all right!” declared Bob, -as he took her hand.</p> - -<p>“Let go!” she exclaimed. “Some one will see -us!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care!” declared the stout one. “I like -you a lot, Helena, and I’m sorry your father——”</p> - -<p>“Please don’t speak of him!” she begged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -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!”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -what was happening she had given him a rather -sisterly kiss on his forehead and disappeared in -the crowd.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“All aboard, boys!” he called. “All aboard!”</p> - -<p>“All aboard she is!” echoed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“We’re off for the camp!” said Ned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The three motor boys kept together, and soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -had stowed away their possessions and made themselves -comfortable.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Do we go right into camp?” asked one lad -from Cresville.</p> - -<p>“No, I believe we first have to stop at Yorktown -and go through a detailed examination,” answered -Jerry, who had been making inquiries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -“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.”</p> - -<p>“You mean separate the sheep from the goats!” -laughed Ned.</p> - -<p>“Something like that, yes,” Jerry admitted.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“When’s the next stop?” asked Bob, as the -conductor came through on one of his trips.</p> - -<p>“Oh, in about half an hour. But that isn’t -Yorktown.”</p> - -<p>“No, I know it isn’t.”</p> - -<p>“Chunky wants to know if there’s a lunch -counter there,” put in Ned, grinning.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, sort of one;” and the conductor -smiled.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> -<small>PUG KENNEDY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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 -<em>all</em> the while.”</p> - -<p>“You aren’t eating <em>all</em> the while,” said Ned. -“This is only the second in a while since we -started.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m hungry!” declared the stout lad. -“Maybe you are, too, only you’re too proud to -admit it.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Who said pie?” demanded a voice at the end -of the car.</p> - -<p>“That bunch up in the middle,” answered another, -indicating the motor boys.</p> - -<p>“Is there any chance for a feed?” came a -veritable howl from some hungry lad. “Tell me, -oh, tell me, I implore!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ve got the <em>money</em>! All we want is -<em>time</em> to eat!” came the cry.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I want apple pie!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Cherry for mine!”</p> - -<p>“Give me peach!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Sandwiches—all you got!” demanded Jerry.</p> - -<p>“And some crullers, if you haven’t enough pie!” -added Bob. “I want a <em>lot</em> of crullers. You can -put ’em in your pocket!” he confided to Ned.</p> - -<p>“Put ’em in your pocket? Man, dear! I’m going -to put <em>mine</em> in my <em>stomach</em>!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Back to the car, only just in time, rushed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“You seem pretty well provided for,” remarked -Ned to his stout chum, as the three motor boys -sat together again.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t aim to starve if I can help it,” -retorted Bob, as he munched away.</p> - -<p>“You must weigh five or six pounds more,” -added Jerry, with a glance at Bob’s pockets. -“That’s dangerous business, old man!”</p> - -<p>“What?” asked Bob, pausing half-way to a bite -of his sandwich.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -a line of small talk, which had rather died away -after the first part of the journey.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I did hope to get in the aviation corps, but -they tell me it’s pretty hard.”</p> - -<p>“Hard to get in?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, and hard to learn the rudiments of -the game.”</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -I think you could soon learn. You look as though -you were cool-headed.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I wish you would,” pleaded Harry, and then -he and Jerry plunged into a subject that interested -them both.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Bite my tongue? Come on! You know better -than that. Hand ’em over!” and Bob, extending -his fist, shook it under Ned’s nose.</p> - -<p>“Hand what over? What do you mean? If -you mean these magazines, I’ve just started ’em. -Besides, they’re mine!”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t mean the magazines, and you -know it!” declared Bob.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m sure I don’t know what you do -mean. What’s the row, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“The rest of what?” asked Ned, innocently -enough.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I see they’re empty,” observed Ned -coolly. “But I haven’t got ’em!”</p> - -<p>“You have so!”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -about Ned’s clothes with thoroughness, and convinced -himself that the crullers were, as Ned had -declared, not on his person.</p> - -<p>“Well, you know where they are!” declared -Bob.</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t!”</p> - -<p>“Jerry does, then!”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked the tall lad, looking up -from his book on aeroplanes, which he and his -new acquaintance were going over.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>But Bob did not give up. Satisfied that Ned -did not have the pastry on his person, Bob set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Here they are! I knew you’d snitched ’em!” -and he pulled out a bag, and drew therefrom a -cruller.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Maybe that’ll teach you to let Pug Kennedy’s -things alone!” he growled.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> -<small>IN THE CAMP</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Here, fellow, don’t you hit him again!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you’re going to butt in, are you?” sneered -the other.</p> - -<p>“No, I’m not in the habit of doing that,” said -Jerry. “But what did you strike Bob for?”</p> - -<p>“None of your business.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, it is our business, too,” said Ned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“What happened, Bob?” asked Jerry, as Ned -walked up to the heavily-built lad.</p> - -<p>“Why, I was looking for my bag of crullers, -and I saw them in his pocket and——”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Keep your hands off me!” roared Pug Kennedy. -“If you’re looking for trouble——”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“No you don’t! Just sit there awhile!” cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -Ned, and he plumped himself down on the struggling -one, holding him in place.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Let me up!” spluttered Pug Kennedy.</p> - -<p>“Not until I get ready,” answered Ned coolly.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll agree if he will,” was the answer, and the -tall lad grinned cheerfully.</p> - -<p>“Who said I wanted to fight?” growled Pug<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -Kennedy, as he saw several unfriendly looks cast -in his direction, and noted the athletic build of -Jerry Hopkins.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Well, why didn’t you say so?” growled Pug, -who, in truth, looked something like the animal -from which had come the nickname.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t give me a chance,” said Bob. “If -you wanted to fight why didn’t you say so?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess I know my business,” was the calm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t promise anything!” growled Pug.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>With mutterings and growls, Pug Kennedy -shook himself after Ned let him up, and slunk -into his seat, away from the others. Ned, Bob,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -and Jerry went back to their places, and quiet was -once more restored.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Let ’em go, I don’t want ’em,” growled Bob.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“You want to look out for that fellow,” he -said in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“What fellow?”</p> - -<p>“That Pug Kennedy. The one you sat on.”</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’s a scrapper and always looking for a -fight. He comes from the same town I do, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -he’s licked every boy in it, some bigger than he -is, too.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“The army is just the place to get it done,” observed -Ned. “Thanks for telling me. See you -again some time.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -resemblance more real, in certain ways, than -fancied.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be careful,” promised Bob, now quite anxious.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> -<small>SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Get up! Get up! You must get up!”</p> - -<p>“I say, Ned!” lazily called Bob from his bed -amid the blankets on the ground under a khaki -tent, “what day is it?”</p> - -<p>“What difference does that make?” asked Ned. -“What time is it?”</p> - -<p>“You ought to know without asking, when you -hear that <em>horn</em>,” grunted Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Horn? Bugle you mean,” came a voice from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> -the other corner of the tent, if a conical tent, the -shape used in the army, can be said to have “corners.”</p> - -<p>“Have it your own way,” assented Jerry. “I’m -anxious to know what Bob meant by asking what -day it was.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Chance to rest!” exclaimed Ned. “Say, we -haven’t <em>done</em> anything yet.”</p> - -<p>“Done anything!” challenged Bob. “Don’t -you call that drill we went through yesterday anything?”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The rousing notes of the bugle, “rousing” in -a double sense, again sounded, and, not without -considerable grumbling and growling, in which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>In columns of four abreast, carrying their handbags -and suitcases, the new soldiers were marched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -up to camp, a most unmilitary looking lot, as the -boys themselves admitted.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“For all the world like a sort of picnic in a new -mining town,” as Ned wrote home.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Quit your kicking!” exclaimed Jerry. “Aren’t -you glad you’re in this, and are going to help lick -the Huns?”</p> - -<p>“Sure I am!” declared the stout lad.</p> - -<p>“Then keep still about it!”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a wooden shack will be better,” agreed -Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“First call” is a series of stirring notes on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It isn’t like our bathroom at home,” said Bob, -as he polished his face, “but I suppose the results -are the same.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed Ned. “They have showers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -here, and that’s more than they have in some -camps, yet, I hear.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll need a shower after drill,” declared -Jerry. “It’s going to be hot and dry to-day.”</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> -<small>IN UNIFORM</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>Breakfast call was sounded at 6:15 and half -an hour was allowed for it.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>With this as a starter the boys marched into -the mess hall and sat down at long tables to eat.</p> - -<p>“How goes it, Chunky?” asked Ned, as he -noticed his stout chum beginning to eat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Tell you better when I’ve had my second or -third helping,” was the somewhat mumbled reply.</p> - -<p>“Talk it out, Chunky,” advised Jerry. “Don’t -scramble your reply; leave that to the eggs you’re -sailing into.”</p> - -<p>“Huh, I’ll sail clear through these, and then -some.”</p> - -<p>“Can you have as much as you like?” asked a -rather timid lad next to Ned.</p> - -<p>“All you want, son, and more,” answered the -squad leader, who was walking about, and who -had overheard the question.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, do you feel better?” asked Ned, as he -and Jerry filed out with Bob.</p> - -<p>“Lots,” was the answer. “What call’s that?” -he inquired, as another bugle note blared out.</p> - -<p>“Sick call and fatigue,” answered Jerry, who -was learning the army orders and regulations.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -in need of medical attention are collected, an -officer marches them to an infirmary.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Say, what do you think you’re on—a vacation?” -asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Well, no, not exactly,” answered Bob slowly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The battalion of four companies comes next -and a major commands a battalion, while three -battalions usually make up a regiment, which is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean—up?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“I mean it looks as though we were going to -listen to a speech,” went on Ned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -with, you must be physically fit to stand much hard -work, and this drill is to get you in good condition.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>And the boys found, before the day was over, -that their captain spoke the truth, and with a -knowledge that could not be questioned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Who?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“That Pug Kennedy we had the row with in the -train. They’re going to put him in our squad, -I’m afraid.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Pug Kennedy was, indeed, put in the squad with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -the three Cresville friends, and his unpleasant face -grinned at them as the drill went on.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Chunky?” asked Ned. “Have -you managed to squeeze another mess call into the -day’s program?”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now this is something like!” exclaimed Bob.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> -<small>HOT WORDS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“What’ll we do with our old suits?” asked -Ned, as, with his chums, he walked toward the -clothing department, a store in itself.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“You might as well,” put in Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll send it home, anyhow,” decided Ned.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it may come in handy for your mother’s -charity work,” agreed Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -and food for nothing, but an officer has to -buy his.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Well, how do I look?” asked Ned, as he and -his two chums finished dressing in the barracks.</p> - -<p>“It fits you sort of quick,” answered Jerry.</p> - -<p>The new uniform was, in truth, a trifle loose.</p> - -<p>“Yours fits the same way,” laughed Ned. “I -guess I’ll do a double stunt of exercise to fill out -quicker.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Watch your own step,” said Bob, with a laugh. -“I’m satisfied.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -which the squad was summoned, Jerry called to -him:</p> - -<p>“You’ve got your hat cord on backwards, old -man.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Mind your own business! It’s my hat cord.”</p> - -<p>“True enough,” agreed Jerry, good-naturedly; -“but it may not be long, if you wear it that way.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>In addition there are certain ornaments on the -collars of the coats to distinguish the different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“He took your advice, Jerry,” announced Ned, -when he saw what Pug Kennedy had done.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Or the worst,” added Bob.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what the folks at home would think -if they could see us now?” asked Ned, as their -respite came.</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess they wouldn’t be ashamed of -us,” replied Jerry.</p> - -<p>“I should say not!” declared Bob, smoothing -out some imaginary wrinkles. “I think we look -all to the mustard!”</p> - -<p>“Or cheese!” chuckled Ned. “Come on—there -goes mess call,” he added, for it was noon, -and time for dinner.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -arm, and the coffee—or part of it—went down -Pug’s back.</p> - -<p>Up the bully sprang with a howl, though the -coffee was not hot enough to burn him.</p> - -<p>“Who did that?” he demanded, wrathfully.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, so it’s you again, is it, you sneak!” and -Pug fairly snarled the words.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” demanded Bob, justly -angry.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“It was an accident,” insisted Bob. “Some one -ran against me, and——”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>A fight was imminent.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> -<small>A MIDNIGHT MEETING</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Put down your things and put up your -hands!” Pug Kennedy fairly issued the order to -Bob as an officer might have done.</p> - -<p>“Why should I?” asked the stout youth. “I -haven’t finished my dinner.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you hit him!” called Ned, hastily arising -from the opposite side of the table.</p> - -<p>“Mind your own business!” ordered Pug.</p> - -<p>“Take some one your size!” came a voice from -the end of the hall.</p> - -<p>“I’ll take you if you want me to!” snapped Pug.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Stop!” he cried in commanding tones. -“What does this mean?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean to,” explained Bob. “It was an -accident, some one jostled me.”</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said Captain Trainer. “That is -equivalent to an apology, Kennedy, and I direct -you to accept it as such.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I’m sorry,” said Bob. “I really -didn’t mean to.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“He’s made trouble enough already,” said Bob.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -“Though of course it is rather raw to have coffee -spilled down your back. But I couldn’t help it.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Sure I’m going to be promoted,” went on Ned. -“Aren’t you working for that?”</p> - -<p>And Jerry and Bob had to admit that they were, -though it was rather early in the game to expect -anything.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -first sergeant is often called “Top,” and sometimes -considers himself almost a commissioned officer.</p> - -<p>Sergeants and corporals are non-commissioned -officers, and there is a great difference in rank between -a commissioned and a non-commissioned -man.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Fine and dandy!” exclaimed Bob.</p> - -<p>“Me for it!” added Jerry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But that isn’t getting us anywhere just now,” -said Ned. “I’m detailed for kitchen police this -very day.”</p> - -<p>“So’m I,” admitted Bob, and, as it happened, -Jerry was, too.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“We’ll know our soup comes out of a clean pot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -the next time we eat,” said Bob, as he gave the -copper a final polish.</p> - -<p>“And by the looks of things we’re going to -have a good feed to-morrow,” added Ned.</p> - -<p>“We always do on Sunday,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Of course each man did not actually receive -these things, for, if he had, he would have had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t tell Bob that, it’ll scare him,” suggested -Ned.</p> - -<p>“Well, I mean you can save some,” Jerry explained, -“and turn it into cash.”</p> - -<p>“Do we spend the cash?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -to have them turn into lemon pie once in a while.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I had a paper from there the other day,” said -Jerry. “The old town seemed to be getting along -in spite of our absence.”</p> - -<p>“No more fires?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“No; didn’t read of any.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’m with you!” added Bob. “Say,” he went -on, “have any of you written to Professor Snodgrass?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll drop him a line,” promised Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“That’s queer,” mused Jerry, as he observed -the midnight meeting. “I’ll have to look into -this.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> -<small>A STAB IN THE BACK</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“If that’s all it is, I guess I can find something -to do at the other end of my post,” thought Jerry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -for he felt that, some day, he might want a similar -favor.</p> - -<p>But as he was debating with himself he heard -Ned approaching, and he waited.</p> - -<p>“Everything all right?” asked Ned in a low -voice.</p> - -<p>“Well, not exactly,” was the answer. “Did -you see anything suspicious?”</p> - -<p>“Suspicious? No.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Ned in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” returned -Jerry. “I was just wondering whether to challenge -or not.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe we can find out who they are first,” -suggested Ned. “If it’s just a couple of boys out -late.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I was going to do,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“But one seems to be a civilian, and he hasn’t -any right around camp at this hour.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going over and take a look.” Jerry spoke -now with decision.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’ll go with you,” offered Ned. “It’s about -midway of both our posts.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What do you make ’em out to be?” asked Ned -in a whisper of his tall chum.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Going to yell for the corporal of the guard?”</p> - -<p>“Not yet a while. Let’s see who they are.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“All right; just as you say,” came the response. -“Only my friends are getting impatient to have me -do something.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Then came a silence, and Ned and Jerry looked -at one another in the darkness. They could just -make out each other’s outlines.</p> - -<p>“Did you hear that?” whispered Ned.</p> - -<p>“Sure I did. It was——”</p> - -<p>“Pug Kennedy!” filled in Ned.</p> - -<p>“And if the other didn’t speak with a German -accent I’ll never draw another ration.”</p> - -<p>“Just what I think. But what does it mean? -Why should Pug Kennedy be out after hours, running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -the guard and meeting with men who may be -enemy aliens?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Halt!” he cried, bringing his rifle to “port,” as -the regulations called for. “Who goes there?”</p> - -<p>“Friend,” was the answer, though the tone of -the reply was anything but friendly. “That you, -Hopkins?” came the inquiry.</p> - -<p>“Yes. Who are you?” Jerry asked, though he -knew full well.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -Jerry had reason to think that the fighter had -come from the barracks only recently—not that -he was just returning to them.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It’s the corporal!” hissed Kennedy. “Keep -your mouths shut and I’ll do the rest.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Hopkins! Slade! Are you there?”</p> - -<p>“Here, sir,” was the answer, and Jerry and -Ned saw the corporal of the guard standing near -them.</p> - -<p>“Anything the matter?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Well, I thought I saw some one over here,” answered -Jerry, “and I came to look. But I don’t -see anything now.”</p> - -<p>There was a very good reason for this. Jerry -had his eyes tightly shut!</p> - -<p>“False alarm, was it?” asked the corporal with -a laugh. “Well, that often happens. But it’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” exclaimed Ned.</p> - -<p>“Some one hurt,” answered Jerry. “I wonder——”</p> - -<p>He did not have time to complete his surmise, -for the corporal called:</p> - -<p>“Guard! Over this way! I’ve caught him!”</p> - -<p>There was a sound of a struggle, and then a -light flashed. <a href="#image03">Ned and Jerry, hurrying over, saw -the corporal holding Pug Kennedy</a>, and flashing a -pocket electric light into the bully’s face.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> -<a id="image03"> - <img src="images/image03.jpg" width="381" height="600" alt="" title="" /> -</a><br /> -<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_147">NED AND JERRY, HURRYING OVER SAW THE CORPORAL -HOLDING PUG KENNEDY.</a></div> -</div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’ll get even with you for this!” growled Pug -Kennedy, as he marched along. “I’ll fix you!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>“We didn’t do anything,” said Jerry in a low -voice. “We were going to keep still.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“How much shall we tell?” asked Ned of Jerry, -when they were relieved, and, with Bob, went to -turn in.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“But about the meeting in the dark, and the -talk we heard?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It’s all your fault!” he declared to Ned and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -Jerry. “You wait! I’ll get square with you!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Though what they were talking about I can’t -guess,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Same here,” agreed Ned.</p> - -<p>The days in camp were spent in drill. It was -drill, drill, drill from morning until night.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What is it to be, trench or with the bags?” -asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“Bags,” answered Jerry, who had been reading -the orders. “The trench work comes later.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Take it easy, Chunky,” advised Jerry. -“You’ve got more than a week to stay here. Go -slow.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>The boys went at it with a will, one or two fairly -ripping the bags from their fastenings.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> -<small>A CAVE-IN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“How did this happen? Did any one see it?” -asked the officer in charge of the instruction.</p> - -<p>“It was——” began a lad who had been standing -next to Ned.</p> - -<p>“I did it!” growled out the unpleasant voice of -Pug Kennedy. “But I didn’t mean to.”</p> - -<p>“I should hope not,” commented the officer, -rather sharply. “But how did it happen?”</p> - -<p>“He leaned over and got right in my way just -as I was making a lunge,” explained the fighter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -“I tried to hold back my gun but it was too late.”</p> - -<p>The officer looked sharply at Kennedy, but -there seemed to be no good reason why his word -should be doubted.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“How did it happen?” asked Jerry. “Did you -really get in his way as he says you did?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“He made it slip!” declared Bob. “He wanted -to get square with you and he took that way.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t believe it would be wise,” agreed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -Jerry. “But, at the same time, we’ll keep watch -on him. He may try something like it again.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Pug Kennedy made a sort of awkward apology -for his share in the accident.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Who says I was going out of barracks?” -asked Pug vindictively.</p> - -<p>“Weren’t you?” Ned asked.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We didn’t send for him,” declared Jerry -“He just happened to come at that moment.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m not hurt much,” was the easy answer. -“Next time I’ll give you plenty of room when -there’s bayonet drill.”</p> - -<p>Whether Pug liked this or not, he did not say. -But he went away muttering to himself.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“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.”</p></div> - -<p>“Isn’t that the limit!” cried Jerry, as he read -this portion of the letter to his chums.</p> - -<p>“It sure is,” remarked Ned.</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet my dad feels sore,” put in Bob.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -the artillery unit. There was a series of shouts -following a salvo of heavy guns.</p> - -<p>“There’s been an accident!” exclaimed Jerry, -as he saw a number of officers and men running.</p> - -<p>“Cannon exploded, maybe,” said Bob.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>As he spoke a number of the vehicles dashed -across the parade ground toward the place that -seemed to be the center of excitement.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” cried Ned. “We’ve got to see -what this is!”</p> - -<p>The motor boys started to run, followed by -several of their new chums, and on all sides there -were questions.</p> - -<p>“What is it? What happened?”</p> - -<p>A sentry, who did not leave his post, gave the -first information.</p> - -<p>“A line of trenches caved in!” he said. “A lot -of the men are buried alive!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> -<small>A PRACTICE MARCH</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The accident had its effect, though, in causing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Same here!” echoed Ned.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -from morning until night. So with the other recruits.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -dressings, and how to carry wounded comrades -from the field.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -much damage in the enemy trenches, and are easier -to carry than a rifle and many rounds of ammunition.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Did you see the notice?”</p> - -<p>“What notice?” inquired Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Is Pug Kennedy going to be transferred?” -Ned demanded.</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing,” announced Bob, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -slumped into a chair. He had lost considerable -flesh and looked the better for it.</p> - -<p>“Well, what is it?” some one asked. “Has -Germany given up the war?”</p> - -<p>“I hope not until we get a chance to have a -whack at her!” exclaimed Jerry. “But shoot, -Bob! What is it?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the cheese!” cried Ned. “We can live -a sort of free and easy life.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you fool yourself, son,” said an older -man. “I’ve been on these practice marches before. -How are your feet?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, pretty good.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> -<small>CROOKED NOSE AGAIN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Forward—march!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I guess we can keep up as long as the next -one,” Jerry had said.</p> - -<p>“We’ve just got to!” declared Ned. “We can’t -be shirkers.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“This is one fine day,” remarked Jerry, as he -and his friends trudged along together.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t be better,” agreed Ned. “How -about it, Chunky?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s all right, I guess,” was the answer.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I like my meals,” said the stout one, and -there was more laughter.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>During one of the halts, when Ned, Bob and -Jerry, with some of their chums, were resting beside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> - -<p>The captain started to question his men, but he -had not proceeded far when he came to Pug.</p> - -<p>“Did you take his chicken?” the scrapper was -asked.</p> - -<p>“Naw! What would I want of a raw -chicken?” was the answer.</p> - -<p>Just then Jerry gave a loud sneeze, ending with -an exclamation of “Ker-choo!” which sounded a -bit like a rooster’s crow.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Ah, I think we have what we want,” said the -officer. “Kennedy, bring the chicken here!”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t any——”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -of business. I’ll take up your case when we get -back to camp. Fall in!”</p> - -<p>Kennedy muttered something, and shot a look -of anger at Jerry.</p> - -<p>“That was your fault,” he said.</p> - -<p>“My fault?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you sneezed on purpose like a rooster, -and you woke up the hen!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, come off! I sneezed by accident.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe you!” said Pug. “I’ll get -square all right!”</p> - -<p>This seemed his favorite threat.</p> - -<p>Jerry laughed. It seemed too far-fetched to -be worth noticing, but he was later to remember -the promise of the bully.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>They were gaining valuable experience, and, -aside from minor troubles, every one was satisfied.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“There he is!”</p> - -<p>“Who?” asked Jerry lazily.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br /> -<small>THE ACCUSATION</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Naturally if it was the same man he had the -same nose,” said Ned.</p> - -<p>“Well, it was the same man all right,” went on -Bob. “I don’t very often forget a face.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“I mean I guess you’re getting delirious from -want of food. You’re seeing things.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Say, fellows, we’ve got to investigate this.”</p> - -<p>“Investigate what?” asked Jerry, shifting his -pack to ease a lame spot on one shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Crooked Nose,” replied Bob. “We can ask -for a little time off, and take a hike by ourselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to be careful about making an accusation, -I guess,” agreed the stout lad. “But if -we find he <em>is</em> 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.”</p> - -<p>“Are there any police here?” asked Ned, looking -around with a smile, for they were in the midst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -of a country that looked too peaceful to need officers -of the law.</p> - -<p>“Oh, they always have constables, deputy sheriffs -or something in these villages,” said Jerry. -“That part will be all right, Bob. Go to it.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> - -<p>“There goes Pug Kennedy. He must have a -pass, too, for he’s going toward the lines.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Pug doesn’t know anything about the Cresville -fire,” declared Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“That’s the way we’re going,” objected Bob, -in disappointed tones.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“If he only will,” murmured Ned.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -discover the right crooked-nosed man. But, being -youths of good spirits, the boys did not worry -much about this end of the affair.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But there may be a house just around the turn -of the road,” suggested Bob hopefully. “Let’s -hike on.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Maybe he lives there, or works there,” suggested -Bob.</p> - -<p>“What gets me, though, Chunky,” said Jerry, -“is what he would be doing down here.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>They hurried forward, eager for what lay -ahead of them, and if they had not been so eager<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter? Lost your way?”</p> - -<p>“No, we came to see you,” answered Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>The farmer started, and looked closely at the -boys.</p> - -<p>“A crooked nose?” he repeated.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” interjected Bob, “a <em>very</em> crooked nose. -It’s spread all over one side of his face.”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -name as Thomas Martin to the boys, when they -told him who they were.</p> - -<p>“Do you know him?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“He’s out in the barn now,” interrupted the -farmer. “Go talk to him, if you like.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“There he is!” exclaimed Bob.</p> - -<p>And as if the words were a warning the man, -with a cry, gave a jump up into the haymow and -disappeared from sight.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” cried Ned. “We’ll get him!”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“We’ll get him!” exclaimed Bob. “Come on!”</p> - -<p>There came a cry from Ned.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Hardly had Ned uttered the words than the -boys were startled by hearing a voice they knew—the -voice of Pug Kennedy. It said:</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br /> -<small>THE MINSTREL SHOW</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry, hearing this talk, wondered -greatly. What could it mean?</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“We want to catch that crooked-nosed man,” -answered Jerry. “We didn’t tell you before, but -we think he is a thief.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I come pretty near <em>knowing</em> you are!” -was the grim retort. “Come down here!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Caught you, didn’t I?” exclaimed the -farmer. “Now you’ll pay for this!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a good story, but it won’t wash,” laughed -Pug Kennedy. “They were after your eggs, -farmer, and that’s the truth.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“I should say not!” chimed in Ned, wiping his -hands off on some hay.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what you might do,” was the answer. -“I only know what I see—egg stains.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“But there is a crooked-nosed man,” insisted -Bob.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we did see him driving,” admitted Bob. -“And then we thought——”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Did he tell you that yarn about us?” asked -Jerry, looking at Pug.</p> - -<p>“He did. And it’s the truth.”</p> - -<p>“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!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -Let it go at that. We’ll go before the officers -with you. We’re not afraid! We’ll tell the -truth.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I’m afraid of. Hang Pug, anyhow! -What’s his game?”</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -away from camp, and it wasn’t to follow us, -for he didn’t know what we were going to do.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>This was the only explanation the boys could -think of, and they had to let it go at that.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But this accusation is unjust!” said Ned, when -they were taken before their captain. “It’s all a -mistake.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let’s hear about it,” said the officer -somewhat wearily, for there had been several -cases of raids on this march.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -of them bearing unmistakable evidence of eggs -on his person.</p> - -<p>“I know it looks queer,” said Ned.</p> - -<p>“It certainly does,” agreed the captain, grimly.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But when we get back to camp we’ll take a day -or so off on furlough and come back here and see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“We’re with you!” said Jerry, heartily.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What’s up now?” they asked. “Have you -seen Crooked Nose again?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“A minstrel show?” repeated Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Yes, black up and everything!” exclaimed Bob. -“It’ll be fun! Let’s do it!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br /> -<small>A BLACK-FACE PURSUIT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The captain of the company in which Ned, -Bob and Jerry lived, moved and had their being,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Ahem! did you look at me?” asked Jerry, assuming -an air of importance.</p> - -<p>“He pointed to me!” declared Ned.</p> - -<p>“You’re both wrong! It was I—Macbeth—he -meant!” declaimed a lad with a deep and -resonant voice.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Grub!” some one cut in, and everybody -laughed, for by this time all knew Bob’s weak -point.</p> - -<p>“Well, grub, if you like,” he admitted. “But -say, fellows, won’t it be great?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Sure!” came in a chorus.</p> - -<p>And then the boys fell to talking about the coming -minstrel show.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“We’ll make a hit all right,” declared Bob, -after one of the rehearsals.</p> - -<p>“If we don’t get hit ourselves,” added Jerry.</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” chimed in Ned. “I understand -there is a premium on old cabbage stumps and -other articles of that nature.”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, my figure is against me. But I guess -we’ll make out all right.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -the ranks, and not a few of those higher up, and -considerable laughter resulted.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll do our best,” said Jerry modestly.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I’ve a good mind to go over and give him a -punch,” declared Ned, angrily. “He’s made too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -many of those uncalled-for remarks of late. I’m -not going to stand it!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I hope to goodness he does,” said Bob. “He -makes me tired!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Come on, let’s go for a walk,” suggested Bob. -“It will cool us off.”</p> - -<p>“What, walk with this black stuff on our faces?” -exclaimed Ned. “If any one sees us we’ll be -taken for negroes.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Look, fellows! See him!”</p> - -<p>“See who?” asked Ned. “Do you mean Pug -Kennedy?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>The boys gave pursuit, their faces still blackened.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br /> -<small>“A PRISONER”</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“What’s he doing here?”</p> - -<p>“Where’s he going?”</p> - -<p>“Did he see us?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Well, where’s he going now?” asked Bob, repeating -his question.</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s up to us to find out,” replied Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Maybe he’s trying to lead us into an ambush,” -suggested Bob.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Cut out the dime-novel stuff,” advised Jerry, -with a low laugh. “I’ve got a better explanation -than that, and the real one.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Maybe he’s going to sleep there,” suggested -Bob. “Or perhaps he is going to meet some one -there.”</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -Strike up a song, so he’ll think we’re what we pretend -to be.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“‘All quiet along the Potomac,’” quoted Bob, -in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“He’s gone!” murmured Ned.</p> - -<p>“Listen!” advised Jerry.</p> - -<p>Even as he spoke they all heard the low murmur -of voices. And the voices were those of men.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to get nearer, where we can hear -better,” whispered Jerry to his chums. “It’s -around this way.”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“When did he say he was coming?”</p> - -<p>“He promised to be here to-night,” was the -answer.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s Crooked Nose,” whispered Bob.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes,” agreed Jerry.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>The voice died out into an indistinguishable -murmur.</p> - -<p>“Did you hear that?” demanded Ned, and his -voice was so sharp that Jerry clapped a hand over -his friend’s lips.</p> - -<p>“Quiet!” he cautioned.</p> - -<p>They listened, but the voices were no longer -heard. Instead came the sound of feet tramping -on bare boards.</p> - -<p>“They’re going away,” murmured Bob.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>It was within the bounds of possibility.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll tell him you want to see him,” said -the man who was with the crooked-nosed fellow.</p> - -<p>“You’d better! He can have all the games -he wants with Pug, but he’s got to make a settlement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -with me. I took all the risk, and he got all -the money. I want my share!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell him!”</p> - -<p>“And now about this storehouse business,” -went on the other. “Can you get into it?”</p> - -<p>“I have an extra key. And Kratzler——”</p> - -<p>“No names!” warned the other quickly. “You -can’t tell who may be sneaking about. Nix on -the names!”</p> - -<p>Then the voices died away again, and the boys, -listening, could hear nothing more.</p> - -<p>“There’s something wrong going on here!” decided -Ned. “Did you hear Pug’s name mentioned -twice?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” assented Jerry. “But it may not be the -one we know.”</p> - -<p>“I believe it is,” went on Ned. “We’ve got -to find out more about this. There they go!”</p> - -<p>He pointed to two figures, dimly seen. They -were moving rapidly away across the field.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” exclaimed Ned, in a tense whisper.</p> - -<p>Just then in the distance, two shots rang out.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“But what about these fellows?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to let them go,” decided Ned.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -“We can’t afford to spoil the minstrel show for -the sake of something that may not amount to -anything.”</p> - -<p>“Not even to catch Crooked Nose?” asked Bob, -in disappointed tones.</p> - -<p>“We’ll take up his case later,” said Jerry. -“Just now we’re minstrels. Come on.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“There was more in that than appeared on the -surface,” declared Ned.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I agree with you,” said Jerry. “And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“Then what are we to do?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I say,” decided Ned. “Let’s -wait a bit.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It was about two weeks after the minstrel show<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -that Jerry, Bob and Ned were all out on guard -together when they heard the man on the post next -to Jerry’s calling:</p> - -<p>“Corporal of the guard!”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry, as he sent -the call down the line.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“Maybe it’s the crooked-nosed man!” exclaimed -Bob.</p> - -<p>“Or the one who was with him in the barn,” -added Ned.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br /> -<small>A NIGHT ALARM</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Corporal of the Guard! Post Number -Ten!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>As Ned, Bob and Jerry approached they heard -some one saying:</p> - -<p>“But I must have it! I tell you I must get it. -It is exceedingly valuable, and you ought not to -stop me.”</p> - -<p>“Stop you! I’ve stopped you all right!” came -the vigorous tones of Kelly, the sentry.</p> - -<p>“But I must get through. I must!”</p> - -<p>“And I say you must not! Trying to run the -guard under my very nose; that’s what you were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -trying to do. But I caught you! You’re a German -spy—that’s what you are!”</p> - -<p>“No, I assure you that you are mistaken,” came -a gentle voice in answer. “I am only after some -new specimens——”</p> - -<p>Ned, Bob and Jerry gave a shout.</p> - -<p>“It’s him, all right!” cried Jerry, enthusiastically -if not grammatically.</p> - -<p>“I thought it sounded like him,” added Ned.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Professor Snodgrass!” called Bob. -“It’s all right. Keep quiet. We’ll be with you -in a minute!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>Professor Snodgrass, for it was he, paused and -looked at his captor.</p> - -<p>“You’re right! I wouldn’t let you go chasin’<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> -through the lines!” exclaimed Kelly. “Do you -know him?” he asked the motor boys.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“I was only gathering bugs by the light of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Do you know this gentleman?” asked the corporal -of Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he is a very good friend of ours.”</p> - -<p>“Then you may release him,” went on the corporal -to Kelly. “And we are sorry for what happened.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> - -<p>They explained the matter to the officer in -charge of their barracks, and a spare bunk was -found for the college instructor.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The next day Professor Snodgrass told the boys -that so many students had enlisted from Boxwood -Hall that the teaching force was greatly reduced.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“We’re mighty glad to see you,” returned Jerry.</p> - -<p>“How are things in Cresville?” asked Ned. -“Or didn’t you stop there?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Any more news about the fire?” asked Bob.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“And Crooked Nose has been here!” burst -out Bob. “We must try to nab him!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got him! I’ve got him!” some one -shouted.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a><br /> -<small>THE HAND GRENADE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Corporal of the guard, post number seven!” -was shouted from somewhere out on the fields -about the camp.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“He’s gone!”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Who do you suppose he’s caught?” asked Bob. -“Do you think it can be Crooked Nose or one of -his cronies?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>“What did you find?” asked Jerry of the professor.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“And didn’t you discover anything else?” -asked an officer who had come out to see what the -excitement was about.</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“I mean you saw no unauthorized persons trying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -to get through the lines, did you?” asked the -lieutenant of the professor. “The insects were -all you found?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry,” said Mr. Snodgrass. “I can, of -course, wait until it is light. There may be more -scorpions and centipedes out then.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad I go off duty,” murmured the sentry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Ah, but you don’t understand!” the scientist -would say, when objections were made to his -viewpoint.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Especially after disappointing us so,” added -Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Disappoint?” queried the professor. “Why, -I couldn’t have asked for a better specimen of -centipede than the one I captured.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -like his looks. But I figured he couldn’t help -that. Anyhow he’s skipped, and I don’t know -where he is.”</p> - -<p>That seemed to end the matter, though the boys -had hopes of coming across the crooked-nosed -man again.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” exclaimed the professor. -“Keep your eyes open. If I hadn’t done that I’d -never have caught the centipede.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - -<p>They drilled, and drilled, and drilled again; -<a href="#image01">they perfected themselves in the use of the rifle -and the bayonet</a>; and they received machine gun -instructions.</p> - -<p>“What is it to be to-day?” asked Bob, as they -went out from the mess hall. “Do we hike or -shoot?”</p> - -<p>“Hand grenade practice,” answered Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Good!” exclaimed Ned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> -as much as a straight throw. The arm is held -stiff as the bomb is hurled.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Now look what you did!” yelled the corporal -in charge of Pug’s squad. “That’ll go off in a -second or two!”</p> - -<p>“Heads down, every one!” cried a lieutenant -who had seen what had happened.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a><br /> -<small>THE STORM</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” yelled the lieutenant. -“Come back! You’ll be killed! That -bomb’s going off!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>And it did seem so, from the very beginning.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -But Ned and Bob were glad, not jealous.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Oh, cut it out!” advised Jerry—unofficially. -“I’m not going to be any different.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m glad Pug Kennedy isn’t any longer -in our squad,” Jerry said. “We can sort of keep -to ourselves now.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Behold then, early one morning, Ned, Bob and -Jerry, the latter in command, with four other men, -ready for the practice hike.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -you are empowered to requisition them, giving a -proper receipt for them, payment to be made -later.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir!”</p> - -<p>Jerry saluted and marched his men down the -road, not a little proud of his mission.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Say, this is fierce!” exclaimed Bob, for the tent -he and Ned were under had gone down. “Can’t -we find some other shelter?”</p> - -<p>Jerry came out into the storm and darkness to -look about. He realized that he was responsible -for the comfort of his men.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a><br /> -<small>IN THE OLD BARN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -night’s rest than would have been possible under -the tents, even if it had not rained.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“But that won’t do,” thought Jerry. “If they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -want to gas they’ve got to go somewhere else. -We want to sleep.”</p> - -<p>However, as he became more thoroughly -awake, and listened more intently to the talk, he -realized that it was none of his friends.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Tramps!” was his instant thought. “They -came in here just as we did, to get out of the rain.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Nobody’ll be out such a night,” was the answer. -“You’re too much afraid. Freitlach!”</p> - -<p>“Shut up!” exclaimed the other. “Didn’t I tell -you not to use that name? Don’t use any names.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, don’t be so afraid!” taunted the third -man—the one who had his back toward Jerry. -“You’re nervous.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“That’s it; he’s too much afraid,” said the -man with his back toward Jerry. “He’s always -afraid!”</p> - -<p>“He’s afraid of too much,” sneered the man -who had displaced the coat. “He’s afraid to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -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:</p> - -<p>“Stop, you idiot! Do you want to set the place -on fire?”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“What does that mean?” demanded the man -who had roused the ire of the one with the -crooked nose.</p> - -<p>“It means to keep still! Do you want to blow -the whole thing?”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I want my share,” went on the other,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -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——”</p> - -<p>“What’d I tell you about names?” fiercely demanded -the crooked-nosed man.</p> - -<p>“Well, when you got me in on the scheme you -said the Frenchman had a pot of money, and a -lot of jewelry, too.”</p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a><br /> -<small>THE ROUND-UP</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” Ned demanded.</p> - -<p>“Crooked Nose!” whispered Jerry. “Keep -still! I think we have them!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> - -<p>“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——”</p> - -<p>“Give me half of what you got then!” growled -the other.</p> - -<p>“I can’t. I had to spend some——”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Great Scott!” whispered Ned to Jerry. “Is -it possible we have stumbled on the very men we -wanted?”</p> - -<p>“More a case of them stumbling in on us,” -Jerry answered. “Listen to what they are saying.”</p> - -<p>It was the same argument over again, one man -demanding money and the other trying to pacify -him without giving it.</p> - -<p>“What are we going to do?” whispered Ned.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“Sure!” declared Ned. He and his chums -were in excellent physical condition, thanks to their -army training.</p> - -<p>“Well, then let’s jump on ’em. Take ’em by -surprise,” advised the tall lad. “We can slide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><a href="#image04">“We’ll slide down and grab ’em,” said Jerry.</a> -“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.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> -<a id="image04"> - <img src="images/image04.jpg" width="383" height="600" alt="" title="" /> -</a><br /> -<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_240">“WE’LL SLIDE DOWN AND GRAB ’EM,” SAID JERRY.</a></div> -</div> - -<p>“All ready!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’ve seen him somewhere before,” decided -Jerry.</p> - -<p>But there was no time then for such speculation. -The men must be caught.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Go!” suddenly whispered Jerry.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“They’ve got us!” yelled Crooked Nose, and -he made a rush, but Jerry Hopkins caught him in -his long arms.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -Chunky, somewhat dazed, rose slowly and tried -to follow.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Surrender!” sharply ordered Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Guess we’ll have to,” sullenly agreed the -crooked-nosed man.</p> - -<p>“Now find the other fellow,” Jerry ordered, -when the men had been tied with ropes, which -had been found in the barn.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“He got away,” said Bob regretfully.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The prisoners did not answer, but they looked -uncomfortable.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -of the Frenchman’s money and maybe the gold -watch and the diamond brooch. They are back -in the fire ruins, I imagine.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>And, a little later, Hans Freitlach, <em>alias</em> 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Haven’t an idea, unless he was some football -star,” Chunky ruefully answered, remembering his -failure to tackle.</p> - -<p>“He was Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” was the -unexpected information Jerry gave.</p> - -<p>“Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” exclaimed Ned -and Bob.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“And was it his father Pug sneaked out to meet -at night?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -rotten traitor! But he’s gone, and the Secret -Service men hope to catch them both.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad dad has his watch back,” said Bob. -“But what about the diamond brooch belonging -to Jerry’s mother?”</p> - -<p>“Maybe they’ll get that later,” said Jerry hopefully.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The thief and the firebug received long terms -in state’s prison—terms which were richly deserved.</p> - -<p>As for Pug, the military authorities made a -search for him after his desertion, which followed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>To the barracks, where Ned, Bob and Jerry -were sitting and talking, there penetrated the clear -notes of a bugle.</p> - -<p>“What’s that—another drill?” asked Ned, -starting up.</p> - -<p>“The mail has come,” interpreted Jerry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh, boy!” yelled Bob, making a rush for the -door.</p> - -<p>A little later all three were reading letters and -looking over papers from home.</p> - -<p>“Good news, Chunky?” asked Ned, as he saw -a smile light up his stout chum’s face.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Go to it, Bob!” laughed Jerry. “Helena’s all -right!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Jerry of his two friends.</p> - -<p>“Maybe they’ve caught Pug Kennedy,” suggested -Ned.</p> - -<p>“I hope it’s better news than that,” Jerry remarked.</p> - -<p>“It is,” Bob informed them, when he came back -from a hasty trip of inquiry. “We’ve received -orders to move.”</p> - -<p>“Move? Move where?”</p> - -<p>“Over there!”</p> - -<p>A cheer from his chums interrupted Bob’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -words, and for some time there was such confusion -that any connected story of it was out of the -question.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the idea!” laughed Jerry. And while -the motor boys are talking over their various -adventures we will take leave of them.</p> - - -<p class="p2 noic">THE END</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="noi adtitle">THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</p> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><span class="smcap">By LESTER CHADWICK</span></p> - -<p class="noic"><i>12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid</i></p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/image05.jpg" width="150" height="225" - alt="THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES" title="THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES" /> -</div> - -<ul> -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or The Rivals of Riverside</i></span></span> - -<p>Joe is an everyday country boy who loves -to play baseball and particularly to pitch.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Pitching for the Blue Banner</i></span></span> - -<p>Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding -school and play on the school team.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE AT YALE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Pitching for the College Championship</i></span></span> - -<p>Joe goes to Yale University. In his second -year he becomes a varsity pitcher and pitches in several big games.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher</i></span></span> - -<p>In this volume the scene of action is shifted from Yale college -to a baseball league of our Central States.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles</i></span></span> - -<p>From the Central League Joe is drafted into the St. Louis -Nationals. A corking baseball story all fans will enjoy.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis</i></span></span> - -<p>How Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay -in the box makes an interesting baseball story.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Pitching for the Championship</i></span></span> - -<p>The rivalry was of course of the keenest, and what Joe did to -win the series is told in a manner to thrill the most jaded reader.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Pitching on a Grand Tour</i></span></span> - -<p>The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world, playing in -many foreign countries.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record</i></span></span> - -<p>Joe cultivates his handling of the bat until he becomes the -greatest batter in the game.</p></li> -</ul> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> - -<p class="noic">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="noi adtitle">THE KHAKI BOYS SERIES</p> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><span class="smcap">By CAPT. GORDON BATES</span></p> - -<p class="noic"><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color.</i></p> - -<p class="noic"><i><b>Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid</b></i></p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/image06.jpg" width="150" height="203" - alt="THE KHAKI BOYS SERIES" title="THE KHAKI BOYS SERIES" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2"><i>True-to-life stories of the camp and field -in the great war.</i></p> - -<ul> -<li><span class="adauthor">1. THE KHAKI BOYS AT CAMP STERLING<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Training for the Big Fight in France</i></span></span> - -<p>Two zealous young patriots volunteer and -begin their military training. Together they -get into a baffling camp mystery.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">2. THE KHAKI BOYS ON THE WAY<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Doing Their Bit on Sea and Land</i></span></span> - -<p>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.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">3. THE KHAKI BOYS AT THE FRONT<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Shoulder to Shoulder in the Trenches</i></span></span> - -<p>The Khaki Boys reach France, and, after some intensive -training in sound of the battle front, are sent into the trenches.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">4. THE KHAKI BOYS OVER THE TOP<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Doing and Daring for Uncle Sam</i></span></span> - -<p>A spirited tale, telling how the brave soldier boys went over -the top in the face of a fierce fire from the enemy.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">5. THE KHAKI BOYS FIGHTING TO WIN<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Smashing the German Lines</i></span></span> - -<p>Another great war story, showing how the Khaki Boys did -their duty as fighters for Uncle Sam under tremendous difficulties.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">6. THE KHAKI BOYS ALONG THE RHINE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Winning the Honors of War</i></span></span> - -<p>Telling of the march to the Rhine, crossing into Germany and -of various troubles the doughboys had with the Boches.</p></li> -</ul> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> - -<p class="noic">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="noi adtitle">THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES</p> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><span class="smcap">By LESTER CHADWICK</span></p> - -<p class="noic"><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors</i></p> - -<p class="noic"><i><b>Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid</b></i></p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/image07.jpg" width="150" height="215" - alt="THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES" title="THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2"><i>Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond -and on the gridiron himself.</i></p> - -<ul> -<li><span class="adauthor">1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Baseball</i></span></span> - -<p>Tom Parsons, a “hayseed,” makes good on -the scrub team of Randall College.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">2. A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Football</i></span></span> - -<p>A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick’s best style, that is bound -to grip the reader from the start.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">3. BATTING TO WIN<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Baseball</i></span></span> - -<p>Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players -on Randall College team. There is a great game.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Football</i></span></span> - -<p>After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall -makes a touchdown that won a big game.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Athletics</i></span></span> - -<p>The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely -exciting.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>A Story of College Water Sports</i></span></span> - -<p>Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are -on track, gridiron and diamond.</p></li> -</ul> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> - -<p class="noic">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="noi adtitle">THE JACK RANGER SERIES</p> - -<p class="noic adauthor"><span class="smcap">By CLARENCE YOUNG</span></p> - -<p class="noic"><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors</i></p> - -<p class="noic"><i><b>Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid</b></i></p> - -<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/image08.jpg" width="150" height="218" - alt="THE JACK RANGER SERIES" title="THE JACK RANGER SERIES" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2"><i>Lively stories of outdoor sports and adventure -every boy will want to read.</i></p> - -<ul> -<li><span class="adauthor">1. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or The Rivals of Washington Hall</i></span></span> - -<p>You will love Jack Ranger—you simply can’t -help it. He is bright and cheery, and earnest -in all he does.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">2. JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range</i></span></span> - -<p>This volume takes the hero to the great West. Jack is anxious -to clear up the mystery surrounding his father’s disappearance.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">3. JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or Track, Gridiron and Diamond</i></span></span> - -<p>Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of -school games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">4. JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or The Wreck of the Polly Ann</i></span></span> - -<p>How Jack was carried off to sea against his will makes a “yarn” -no boy will want to miss.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">5. JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail</i></span></span> - -<p>Jack organizes a gun club and with his chums goes in quest of -big game. They have many adventures in the mountains.</p></li> - - -<li><span class="adauthor">6. JACK RANGER’S TREASURE BOX<br /> -<span class="ident"><i>or The Outing of the Schoolboy Yachtsmen</i></span></span> - -<p>Jack receives a box from his father and it is stolen. How he regains -it makes an absorbing tale.</p></li> -</ul> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> - -<p class="noic">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="tnote"> -<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> - -<p class="smfont">A List of Illustrations has been provided for the convenience of - the reader.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> - -<p class="smfont">The author’s em-dash and long dash styles have been retained.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -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-h.htm or 53320-h.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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