iATTLE LIN 

 
 K.4
 
 /'You are an American, I hear," said the general, 
 addressing Leon in excellent English. 
 
 (Page 152.) Frontispiece.
 
 WITH JOFFRE ON THE 
 BATTLE LINE 
 
 BY 
 
 ROSS KAY 
 
 Author of "The Air Scout," "The Search for the Spy," 
 "Dodging the North Sea Mines," etc. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 
 CLARE ANGELL 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 BARSE &. CO. 
 
 NEW YORK, N. Y. NEWARK, N. J.
 
 Copyright, 1915 
 
 By 
 BARSE &. CO. 
 
 Printed in the United States of America
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTEB PAGE 
 
 I A START FOR THE FRONT 11 
 
 II A CLOSE CALL 19 
 
 III AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 26 
 
 IV A NEW ALLY 35 
 
 V A STRANGE CONVEYANCE 43 
 
 VI AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE UHLANS . . 50 
 
 VII A SURPRISE 57 
 
 VIII NEW FRIENDS 65 
 
 IX A RIDE IN THE NIGHT 74 
 
 X A NEW CONVEYANCE 84 
 
 XI A BOLD PLAN 94 
 
 XII AN AMBUSH 102 
 
 XIII A FRESH START FOR THE FRONT . . . Ill 
 
 XIV THROUGH THE AIR 121 
 
 XV THE ARRIVAL AT THE MARNE .... 133 
 
 XVI UNDER SUSPICION 144 
 
 XVII AT HEADQUARTERS 154 
 
 XVIII IN THE TRENCHES 164 
 
 XIX IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 175 
 
 XX AN EXCITING NIGHT . . 184
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 XXI THE INVADERS ATTACK . . . . . . 195 
 
 XXII THE CHARGE ( . ... 206 
 
 XXIII JACQUES' SCHEME 217 
 
 XXIV A SUCCESSFUL RUSE ....... 228 
 
 XXV CONCLUSION -.; . ... . . . 239
 
 WITH JOFFRE ON THE 
 BATTLE LINE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 A START FOR THE FRONT 
 
 '*"T% /T^ arm an( ^ snou ^ er f ee i J us t as fit as 
 
 \/ 1 they ever did. ' ' 
 
 jL * JL ' * You are a very lucky young man. 
 If that bullet had gone only a little farther to the 
 right you would not be dancing around in this 
 fashion." 
 
 Leon Platt was talking to a Red Cross nurse. 
 He was a young American, only seventeen years 
 of age. Traveling in Belgium at the outbreak of 
 the great war in 1914, he had been caught between 
 the battle lines. On his way from Liege to Brus- 
 sels he had chanced to meet a young French avia- 
 tor, Jacques Dineau, by name. These two boys 
 had formed a warm friendship earlier in the sum- 
 mer and it was a great surprise to both when they 
 met again so unexpectedly in Belgium. 
 
 The young American had already had some 
 
 thoughts of enlisting in the army of France. His 
 
 11
 
 12 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 ancestors had been French, so he was naturally 
 drawn to that country rather than to any other. 
 Jacques exerted all his influence to persuade his 
 friend to join the French army and Leon needed 
 but little persuading. He readily consented to 
 the pleadings of the young French airman and 
 soon found himself enrolled as a member of the 
 Army of the Republic. 
 
 Leon had been assigned to duty as an air scout 
 in conjunction with his friend Jacques. The 
 young Frenchman drove the aeroplane while Leon 
 acted as scout. Many thrilling experiences they 
 passed through together, and much valuable in- 
 formation had they acquired for their troops. 
 
 They had watched the great army of the Kaiser 
 roll on through Belgium in its mad drive for 
 Paris. Oftentimes they had come in closer con- 
 tact with this army than they desired. Slowly 
 they had retreated with the allied forces, as yet 
 unprepared to withstand the rush of the Ger- 
 mans; they had fallen back stubbornly, however, 
 fighting every inch of the way. 
 
 Finally had come the great battle at Charleroi, 
 and Mons. Leon and Jacques had been in the 
 trenches there and had their first experience on 
 the battle line. Needless to say, they acquitted 
 themselves with honor, and in a daring rescue of 
 a French flag Leon had been wounded in the shoul- 
 der. He had been taken to a hospital in Mons
 
 A START FOR THE FRONT 13 
 
 and cared for there. There it was that the con- 
 versation recorded at the beginning of this story 
 took place. 
 
 " Yes," exclaimed Leon, "it is as good as new." 
 
 "What are you going to do now?" inquired the 
 nurse. 
 
 * * Such a question to ask 1 I'm going to join my 
 regiment, of course." 
 
 "Do you know where it is?" 
 
 "No, I don't." 
 
 "Do you know that the whole allied army has 
 been driven back almost to the gates of Paris?" 
 
 "No, I didn't know that," replied Leon. 
 
 "Well, it's so, just the same," said the nurse. 
 "Between you and your regiment are thousands 
 and thousands of German soldiers. I don't see 
 how you expect to make your way through them. 
 There isn't one chance in a hundred that you will 
 succeed. ' ' 
 
 ' ' How do you know all these things ? ' ' demanded 
 Leon. 
 
 " I 'm telling you the reports we have received. ' ' 
 
 "Just the same, I'm going to make a try for 
 it." 
 
 "Do you suppose you can even get out of this 
 city?" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "The Germans are in control here and do you 
 think they are going to allow any man to leave
 
 14 WITH JOFFKE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 who wants to help the very people they are fight- 
 ing?" 
 
 "You mean there are German soldiers here in 
 this town!" 
 
 " I believe so. Not many of them, I hear, but 
 still there are no French or English troops at all." 
 
 "It'll be hard work, all right," said Leon 
 thoughtfully. "Still I think it can be done and 
 you may be sure I shall make an attempt." 
 
 "Good luck to you," said the nurse. "You'll 
 need good luck, too. When do you start?" 
 
 ' * What time is it now ? ' ' 
 
 "Half past four," replied the nurse, consult- 
 ing her watch. 
 
 "I am discharged from the hospital, am I not?" 
 asked Leon. 
 
 "Absolutely." 
 
 "All right, then; I shall start as soon as it is 
 dark." 
 
 "Very well. What few possessions you have 
 are in the office. Before you leave come there and 
 you may have them, and I will also try to secure 
 a little food for you." 
 
 "Thank you very much," said Leon warmly. 
 "I'll be there in about half an hour." 
 
 The nurse left him to go on with her work of 
 caring for the wounded. The hospital was 
 crammed to its capacity with the wounded of all 
 sides. Germans lay in cots alongside French-
 
 A START FOR THE FRONT 15 
 
 men; Irish, English, and Belgians were also in 
 evidence, Scotchmen were among the sufferers, 
 while now and then a black Turco appeared, 
 stricken in one way or another. 
 
 The hospital was a busy place, and a sad place, 
 as well. Here the results of the great game of 
 war were much in evidence. Most of the wounded 
 were young men in the prime of life and health, 
 and many would leave the place mutilated for life. 
 Here a man had lost a leg; there a man had had 
 an arm shot away. Sometimes it was found 
 necessary to amputate a limb to save the life of 
 a sufferer. Sometimes nothing would avail and 
 the occupant of a cot would be carried out, never 
 to return. 
 
 His place was immediately filled, however, and 
 soon the other men became hardened to these fre- 
 quent scenes and paid but scant attention to them. 
 Leon had noticed one thing, however. No mat- 
 ter how badly a man was wounded or how much 
 he suffered, he always wanted to get out and fight 
 again. Every man looked forward eagerly to the 
 day when once more he could rejoin his colors. 
 
 Leon himself was no exception to this rule, and 
 as he was only human, he was naturally impa- 
 tient to be in action again. He sat on the step 
 outside the hospital and pondered over in his 
 mind the best method of accomplishing his pur- 
 pose.
 
 16 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that he 
 failed to notice a man approaching on crutches. 
 
 "What are yez thinkin' about, me bye!" 
 
 Leon looked up startled by the unexpected 
 question. 
 
 "Hello, Pat," he said. "I didn't see you com- 
 ing." 
 
 "Yez should be able to hear me thin. These 
 wooden legs Oi hov are not viry quiet. Oi nivver 
 saw any one so dape in thought as youse, Oi must 
 say." 
 
 ' ' I was thinking of some way to get back to my 
 regiment," said Leon. "I have been discharged 
 from the hospital and I leave to-night." 
 
 Pat was an Irishman with whom Leon had be- 
 come acquainted soon after he had joined the 
 allied army. They had both been wounded at the 
 same time and had occupied adjoining cots in 
 the hospital. As the big Irishman heard Leon 
 speak, his eyes flashed. 
 
 "If Oi could only be wid ye," he exclaimed, 
 eagerly. "Wait a few days and take me along." 
 
 "I wish you could go with me," said Leon, "but 
 I can't wait. I can't stay here very well and I 
 am anxious to be back." 
 
 "Oi don't blame ye. Oi'll be sthartin' meself 
 purty soon." 
 
 "Do you think I can make it?" inquired Leon. 
 
 "Why can't yez I" demanded Pat. "It'll not
 
 A START FOE THE FRONT 17 
 
 be an aisy job, but Oi know Oi could do it, so why 
 can't youse do it, too?" 
 
 "I can do it, of course," exclaimed Leon, 
 springing to his feet. "It's just as you say, Pat, 
 it'll be hard but it can be done all right. Noth- 
 ing is impossible if you only have the right spirit, 
 and that's what you've given me." 
 
 1 'Do you know where your rigiment isT" 
 
 "Nb> but I'll find it somewhere." 
 
 "Thot's the way t' talk!" cried Pat, trying to 
 slap Leon on the back, and almost losing his bal- 
 ance as a consequence. 
 
 "I'm going to get ready now," said Leon. 
 "Good-by, Pat." 
 
 "Good-by, and good luck," said Pat heartily. 
 "Take care o' yerself an' Oi hope t' see yez soon 
 agin. ' ' 
 
 "I certainly hope so, too," exclaimed Leon, as 
 he disappeared inside the hospital. 
 
 He made his way to the office and there found 
 the nurse waiting for him, as she had promised. 
 She had his blanket and automatic revolver all 
 the things that had been rescued for him. In ad- 
 dition, she had an extra pair of socks, a very im- 
 portant item of clothing. When a man walks 
 many miles a day his feet must be taken care of 
 if he is to stand up under the strain. 
 
 This was all the clothing he possessed, aside 
 from his uniform, which he wore. He had but
 
 18 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 little money and his undertaking seemed almost 
 a hopeless one at the start. His friend, the nurse, 
 had provided him with a parcel containing food, 
 however, and consequently he was assured of at 
 least one or two meals. 
 
 Night had now fallen. Leon expressed his 
 thanks to his benefactor and prepared to leave. 
 He swung his blanket over his shoulder. Boiled 
 inside were his extra socks and his food. His 
 revolver he placed in his hip pocket, and he was 
 ready to set out. 
 
 He extended his hand to the nurse, thanked her 
 once more, and turned to go. 
 
 "Good luck," she said in a low voice as Leon 
 stepped out of the door and vanished into the 
 night.
 
 CHAPTER n 
 
 A CLOSE CALL 
 
 IT was with mingled feelings that the young 
 American departed on his perilous journey. 
 He was aware more fully every minute what 
 a difficult task he had undertaken, and as he made 
 his way down the dark and deserted street the 
 realization of the situation he was in came to him 
 with full force. 
 
 He thought of his home in America and won- 
 dered what his family were doing now. When 
 he had enlisted they had not known of his action. 
 He wrote them, of course, but so far he had re- 
 ceived no reply. Neither had he heard from his 
 twin brother, Earl. The two boys had gone 
 abroad together in the early part of the summer, 
 but had separated. Earl had remained in Eng- 
 land to visit friends, while Leon had crossed to 
 France to stay for a time with an aunt and uncle 
 in Paris. 
 
 Leon had had no news of Earl since the war 
 broke out and he wondered what he now was doing 
 or thinking. The two boys were exceedingly fond 
 of each other and Leon naturally was worried 
 about his brother. As he thought of all these 
 
 19
 
 20 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 things a wave of homesickness swept over him, 
 and for a moment he longed for home. 
 
 This feeling passed as quickly as it came, how- 
 ever, and the young soldier chided himself for 
 having yielded to the impulse. Once more he 
 was a soldier of France, enthusiastic and eager to 
 join his regiment on the battle front. Immedi- 
 ately he became alert and sensitive to his sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 Keeping as close as possible to the buildings he 
 made his way toward the south and the open 
 country. Few lights appeared in the houses and 
 thus far he had seen no one on the streets. He 
 was wide awake to every possibility, however, and 
 was careful that no one should take him by sur- 
 prise. Every few seconds he felt for his auto- 
 matic revolver and the bulge in his hip pocket 
 made him more comfortable every time he assured 
 himself of its presence. 
 
 There was no moon and practically no lights in 
 the town. Everything was covered with the blan- 
 ket of darkness so that it would have been a hard 
 task to see any one approaching unless he was 
 very close by. 
 
 Suddenly Leon stopped. 
 
 He thought he heard footsteps down the street, 
 and instinctively he drew back into the shadow of 
 an alley. He listened carefully and was now posi- 
 tive that he had been correct. Whether it was a
 
 A CLOSE CALL 21 
 
 friend or foe he could not tell but it was prob- 
 ably a foe. No Frenchman would be out at night 
 in a town which the Germans had taken. 
 
 Closer and closer came the foot beats, while in 
 the alley Leon tried to flatten himself against the 
 brick wall of a building. A second more and the 
 man would come into view. 
 
 Leon peered intently into the night, and as he 
 looked a German helmet became outlined to his 
 view against the sky. A gun to which was affixed 
 a long bayonet was over the German's shoulder 
 and the tramp of his heavy shoes echoed through 
 the empty street. 
 
 Directly in front of Leon the man stopped. 
 Resting his rifle on the ground he stood still and 
 looked all about him in a careless fashion, appar- 
 ently sure that he had nothing to fear. 
 
 Leon watched him as if spellbound. He had no 
 desire for an encounter just now, before he had 
 put much more than a mile between himself and 
 the hospital. He scarcely dared to breathe, so 
 fearful was he that he would be discovered. 
 
 He pressed closer to the wall in an effort to 
 obliterate himself from sight. As he did so he 
 dislodged a piece of loose mortar which fell to the 
 ground with a rattle. 
 
 Immediately the German wheeled like a flash 
 in the direction of the sound, and held his gun 
 ready for instant use.
 
 22 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 A challenge in the German language broke the 
 silence of the night. 
 
 Leon made no reply, except stealthily to draw 
 his revolver and shrink farther into the shadow. 
 He hoped the German would pass on, but such was 
 not to be the case. 
 
 The challenge was repeated and the German 
 began to walk slowly in Leon's direction. He was 
 evidently curious and determined to discover the 
 cause of the fallen mortar. Even in the tight 
 place in which the young American found him- 
 self he could not help thinking how brave and yet 
 how foolhardy his enemy was. 
 
 Seeing that there was no chance of the German 
 going away without investigating, Leon did the 
 only thing he could do under the circumstances. 
 
 Pointing his revolver at the dark figure of the 
 approaching German, he fired. 
 
 The report rang out in the still night air, and 
 without waiting to discover the effect of his bullet 
 Leon turned and ran. He desired to be out of 
 trouble of any sort just now, especially any that 
 might interfere with his journey southward. 
 
 At top speed he ran down the street, rushing 
 blindly ahead with little thought of whither he 
 was bound. 
 
 Scarcely had he gone thirty yards when a rifle 
 shot rang out behind him and a bullet sang past 
 his ears. Evidently his revolver shot had not
 
 A CLOSE CALL 23 
 
 done its work. He heard a shout of anger and 
 another bullet also whizzed over his head. 
 
 He did not slacken his pace, however, but in- 
 creasing his speed he kept on his way. He knew 
 the German stood small chance of hitting him 
 now, and he smiled at the thought of his being 
 able to catch him. Unless he ran into more dan- 
 ger ahead, Leon decided that he was almost out 
 of trouble, at least for the present. 
 
 Hardly had this thought passed through his 
 mind when a figure sprang from behind a near-by 
 tree and tried to seize him as he sped along. This 
 time it was Leon's turn to be taken by surprise. 
 He was running swiftly, however, and he was not 
 a light weight by any means. His assailant was 
 thrown aside by the shock of the contact and 
 failed to hold his grip on the fleeing young Ameri- 
 can. 
 
 Leon wheeled and fired three shots from his 
 automatic at the man who was trying to oppose 
 his progress. Then he turned and once more sped 
 on down the street. 
 
 This second man fired no shots at Leon, how- 
 ever. Whether it was because he had no gun or 
 because his own shots had taken effect, Leon did 
 not stop to consider. He was in a bad predica- 
 ment which was evidently getting worse. There 
 was no telling how many more Germans he might 
 meet before he got out of town and he decided
 
 that the open street was not a desirable place for 
 him to be in. Slackening his pace gradually, he 
 suddenly darted to one side and made his way 
 toward the rear of a neighboring house. That he 
 evidently was approaching the outskirts of the 
 town was apparent from the fact that the houses 
 here were somewhat scattered and were farther 
 apart. 
 
 He crouched low and remained within the 
 shadows as much as he was able. The house evi- 
 dently was deserted for no lights appeared in the 
 windows. Leon, however, was not planning to 
 take many chances. He came to the rear of the 
 house and there discovered several outbuildings 
 ahead of him, among which he recognized a barn 
 and toolhouse. The place was evidently a farm. 
 
 Leon decided that his best plan would be to 
 hide for an hour or so in the shelter of the barn. 
 By that time he believed he would be free from 
 pursuit at the hands of his former assailants. 
 He would eat some of his scanty store of food 
 and then strike out across the country. He re- 
 alized that his traveling would have to be done 
 mostly at night when the risk of detection would 
 not be as great as in the daytime. 
 
 "With this purpose in mind he started to run 
 across the open space of ground between the house 
 and the barn. Once behind the barn he felt he 
 would be comparatively safe.
 
 . A CLOSE CALL 25 
 
 At top speed lie made his way across the open 
 space. A moment later he reached the barn and 
 continued on to its rear. Beaching the corner of 
 the building he dodged quickly around, only to 
 run headforemost into a man approaching from 
 the opposite direction.
 
 CHAPTER HI 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 
 
 THE shock of the collision was enough to 
 send the man sprawling. Leon was abso- 
 lutely taken by surprise, but he had pres- 
 ence of mind enough to draw his revolver and 
 cover the prostrate figure on the ground at his 
 feet. 
 
 "Surrender!" cried Leon, out of breath and 
 forgetting that his adversary probably under- 
 stood no English. 
 
 The man on the ground had uttered a smothered 
 exclamation of surprise when they collided, but 
 otherwise had made no sound. 
 
 "Get up! Throw up your hands!" ordered 
 Leon in a sharp tone. 
 
 The man did not move. 
 
 "Get up or I'll blow you up," Leon exclaimed, 
 still unmindful that the man undoubtedly did not 
 understand a word he was saying. 
 
 Leon advanced to the place where the man was 
 lying and gave him a sharp kick squarely in the 
 ribs. 
 
 "I'll give you one last chance!" he exclaimed. 
 
 26
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 27 
 
 "Get on your feet and surrender, or I'll not wait 
 for you any longer." 
 
 "Please don't do that, Leon. I will get up." 
 
 So great was Leon's surprise at hearing him- 
 self addressed in this fashion, that he almost 
 dropped his revolver. 
 
 "Who are you?" he demanded, thunderstruck. 
 
 "Don't you know me?" exclaimed the man still 
 lying quietly on the ground. ' ' I think you should 
 apologize after the way you knocked me down." 
 
 A suspicion of who this man was began to dawn 
 on Leon. And yet he thought his surmise could 
 not possibly be correct. At the same time the 
 voice sounded strangely familiar. 
 
 "Don't you know me yet?" inquired the man, 
 slowly rising to his feet. 
 
 "Jacques!" cried Leon suddenly. 
 
 "It is I," replied Jacques, for it was he beyond 
 any doubt. 
 
 "What are you doing here?" exclaimed Leon 
 delightedly. 
 
 "What are you doing here, I should like to 
 know?" said Jacques. "You ought to be in the 
 hospital and yet here you are running over the 
 country, knocking your best friends down and 
 threatening to blow their heads off." 
 
 The two boys almost hugged each other, they 
 were so happy to be together again. For the last 
 few weeks they had passed through numberless 

 
 28 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 dangers together and they had come to feel as if 
 they were almost necessary to each other. 
 Jacques Dineau, the young French airman, had 
 gained a very warm spot in the heart of the 
 young American who had shared his fortunes so 
 closely. 
 
 All through the first Belgian campaign they 
 were together constantly and when Leon had been 
 wounded, one of his chief causes of annoyance was 
 that he had become separated from his comrade. 
 And here he was again, suddenly appearing al- 
 most as if he had sprung out of the earth. 
 
 "Where is our regiment?" demanded Leon. 
 
 * ' I cannot tell you, though I wish I could. ' ' 
 
 "Why aren't you with it?" 
 
 "It's a long story, Leon. After the battle of 
 Mons I became separated from the rest of our 
 troops. I was nearly captured many times and it 
 was only by the best of luck that I escaped. For 
 days I hid in barns and vacant houses, eating 
 whatever I could lay my hands on. Then the 
 Germans went south and I dared to venture forth 
 once again. I had known that you were taken to 
 the hospital in Mons when you were wounded, so 
 I was on my way there to obtain news of you if 
 possible. If you had blown my head off I should 
 never have seen you again, do you know that ! ' ' 
 
 "Thank heaven, I didn't!" exclaimed Leon 
 earnestly.
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 29 
 
 "What were those shots I heard a few moments 
 ago?" 
 
 "They were fired at me," said Leon, and he 
 quickly related his recent experiences to Jacques. 
 
 "If the Germans are after you we must be more 
 careful," said the young Frenchman, lowering his 
 voice. 
 
 The two boys cautiously withdrew to a position 
 behind a huge haystack and there related to each 
 other what had happened to them since last they 
 had been together. Leon produced his package 
 of food and the two boys partook sparingly of it. 
 
 "Where are you bound?" asked Jacques at 
 length. 
 
 "To rejoin our regiment, of course. What do 
 you intend to do!" 
 
 "The very same thing. I intended to find you, 
 if possible, and then start out with you to locate 
 our troops." 
 
 * ' Have you any idea where they are 1 ' ' inquired 
 Leon. 
 
 "Not the slightest. From what little I hear, 
 however, they have been driven far to the south- 
 ward. An old peasant woman told me yesterday 
 that the Germans expected to take Paris very 
 soon. They all said so when she saw them. She 
 said they were marching fast, sometimes thirty 
 miles a day, and that the allied armies were flee- 
 ing before them. It certainly looks bad for us."
 
 30 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 " They '11 never take Paris," exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "I hope not," said Jacques sadly. "They did 
 it in 1870 though, you must remember. That was 
 the terrible year, I'annee terrible as we say in my 
 language." 
 
 "I know," protested Leon, "but because they 
 did it then doesn't mean that they can do it now. 
 Germany was all prepared for this war while the 
 other nations weren't. They have a start on us 
 and it is only natural that they should win at 
 first. Wait until we can bring an equal number 
 of men up to oppose them, then you'll hear a dif- 
 ferent story. Take my word for it, the Germans 
 will never capture Paris on this trip." 
 
 "I hope you are right. I myself have such a 
 feeling deep down inside of me too, but not as 
 strong as yours." 
 
 "If we were only with our men," sighed Leon. 
 
 "Let's start now," exclaimed Jacques, spring- 
 ing to his feet. "We must make good time to- 
 night for we may not be able to travel very far 
 in the daytime." 
 
 "That's right," agreed Leon, slowly rising as 
 he spoke. 
 
 "Does your shoulder pain you?" inquired 
 Jacques. 
 
 "Not a bit. Why do you ask?" 
 
 "I thought you favored it slightly as you got 
 up."
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 31 
 
 "No," said Leon, "it is as good as ever." 
 
 "I'm very glad of that. Before we reach our 
 regiment again we shall probably need all the 
 strength and endurance we have. It is not going 
 to be an easy task." 
 
 "I guess not, but we'll get there all right." 
 
 The two boys were making their way across the 
 field keeping a sharp lookout in all directions for 
 possible surprises. As they had said, there was 
 a hard task ahead of them. Just how hard it 
 would be neither one realized for a moment. It 
 would be impossible for any one to foresee the 
 risks, dangers and hardships that must be under- 
 gone before they should gain their goal. That is, 
 if they ever should gain it. 
 
 "Do you suppose we shall have to walk all the 
 way!" said Leon, after they had marched along 
 in silence for some time. 
 
 "We may be able to get a ride." 
 
 "On the railroad?" 
 
 "I doubt that. You see, all the railroads be- 
 tween here and the front of the German advance 
 must be in their hands. Eailroads are the first 
 things an army seizes when it invades another 
 country. ' ' 
 
 "Of course," agreed Leon, "and I suppose 
 they are bringing up troop-trains loaded with 
 fresh soldiers all the time." 
 
 "They certainly are," said Jacques. "I saw
 
 32 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 at least ten trains filled with troops pass to the 
 south only yesterday.'* 
 
 " Where were you?" 
 
 "In the attic of a deserted house, alongside the 
 railroad track." 
 
 "What were you doing there!" exclaimed Leon 
 in surprise. 
 
 "Spending the day," laughed Jacques. "I 
 have had to spend every day for a long time now 
 in some such place, just as you and I will prob- 
 ably be forced to do, too." 
 
 "How do you think we can get food?" 
 
 "I have been thinking of that. I believe that 
 the best thing for us to do is to keep as far as 
 possible from the main roads. Back in the coun- 
 try districts we shall be less liable to capture or 
 to any trouble of that kind. At the same time 
 we shall stand more chance of obtaining food. I 
 am sure the peasants will look out for us." 
 
 "Do you think there are any peasants left?" 
 
 "Why not?" said Jacques. 
 
 "I thought they might all be with the army." 
 
 "Well, the young men probably are, but the 
 women will still be in their homes. The harvests 
 are ripe now and there should be plenty of food." 
 
 "Unless the Germans have seized it all." 
 
 "That may have happened, too," Jacques as- 
 sented. "Let us hope not, however. The main 
 body of the army will stick close to the railroads,
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 33 
 
 and if we get away from them we probably shan't 
 run into any German troops at all." 
 
 "How about the Uhlans!" said Leon. "They 
 are everywhere it seems to me. They will have 
 raiding parties all over the country." 
 
 "I'm not so sure of that," said Jacques. "The 
 cavalry usually goes in advance of the army, you 
 know, and we are in the rear." 
 
 "That's true, I never thought of that. I guess 
 you know more about soldiering than I do, 
 Jacques. ' ' 
 
 "I have had more experience," said the young 
 Frenchman simply. "When you have served as 
 long as I have you will know more than I do. " 
 
 ' 1 1 know one thing right now, ' ' exclaimed Leon, 
 "and that is, I'm tired." 
 
 "We may secure a ride in some peasant's cart," 
 said Jacques. "At any rate it is nearly dawn 
 and we should rest soon." 
 
 In the east a faint streak of light appeared. 
 The day was evidently approaching. In front of 
 them the two boys heard the crowing of a rooster 
 welcoming the rising sun. 
 
 "Did you hear that?" exclaimed Jacques. 
 "We are evidently approaching a house of some 
 kind. Perhaps there is a barn in which we may 
 hide for the day." 
 
 Sure enough, the two young soldiers came 
 within sight of a few buildings as they reached
 
 34 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 the top of a hill. A small farm lay spread out at 
 their feet and there they decided to spend the day. 
 
 Beconnoitering the land, they cautiously ap- 
 proached the barn with the intention of hiding 
 away in the haymow, at least until they should 
 find out if the farm was inhabited by friend or 
 foe. 
 
 As they drew near they saw no one and heard 
 no sound. A moment later they came to the barn 
 and entered.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 A NEW ALLY 
 
 ^m >f"ON DIEU!" 
 
 \/ 1 This startling exclamation greeted 
 
 JL * JL the two boys as they stepped inside 
 the supposedly empty building. Instinctively 
 they drew back quickly and placed their hands 
 upon the butts of their revolvers. In the dim 
 light of the early morning it was impossible to 
 see who it was that had cried out at their entry, 
 but both recognized the exclamation as French. 
 It also seemed to be in a woman's voice. 
 
 There was a great scurrying and rushing about 
 in the barn. Some one seemed greatly excited 
 and boxes and barrels were overturned as the ex- 
 citable inmate ran about the place. 
 
 "Who is there?" called Jacques in his own 
 language. 
 
 ' ' Mon Dieu ! Mon Dieu ! ' ' 
 
 There was no other reply. It was evidently a 
 woman's voice and she seemed badly frightened. 
 
 "Come along," said Jacques, turning to his 
 comrade. "It is only a poor peasant woman 
 whom we have frightened half out of her wits. ' ' 
 
 35
 
 "Do not be afraid. We are French and friends 
 of yours," Jacques called out again, as he spoke 
 to the woman. 
 
 Leon could not understand what his friend was 
 saying, but he supposed it was all right, and he 
 followed closely behind him as he made his way 
 into the barn. 
 
 At first no one was to be seen. The boys 
 searched in every nook and corner of the building, 
 under carriages and in the stalls, only to be dis- 
 appointed. Jacques frequently called out in a 
 loud voice that they were French and would do 
 the woman no harm, but she refused to respond. 
 
 "Here she is," exclaimed Leon at length. 
 "Come and talk to her, Jacques." 
 
 Leon had lifted the cover of a large feed box 
 and inside discovered the object of their search. 
 A middle-aged French woman was crouching in 
 one corner shaking with fear. At the sight of 
 Leon her teeth began to chatter with fright and 
 she also began to talk as fast as she was able. 
 Naturally what she said was lost on the young 
 American, for he knew but little French, and was 
 not able to understand a real Frenchman when 
 once he got started. It seemed almost incredible 
 to him that people could talk as fast as they did. 
 
 Jacques approached at Leon's call and did his 
 best to reassure the frightened woman. He so 
 far succeeded that in a few moments she came
 
 A NEW ALLY 37 
 
 forth from lier hiding place, although as yet she 
 did not entirely trust her two visitors. 
 
 "She thought we were Germans," explained 
 Jacques. 
 
 "I should imagine that was the trouble," 
 laughed Leon. "I never saw any one so fright- 
 ened in all my life." 
 
 ' ' Maybe she 's had some experience with them. ' ' 
 
 The woman stood watching the two young sol- 
 diers from a short distance. She was still shak- 
 ing from her nervousness and the effects of the 
 fright she had received, but evidently she was 
 becoming more convinced every moment that she 
 was with friends. 
 
 She spoke to Jacques and for a short time they 
 carried on a conversation, very little of which 
 Leon could comprehend. Every now and then 
 he caught a word or phrase, and the one that 
 pleased him most of all was what he thought to 
 be the word meaning "eat." 
 
 That he was correct in his surmise was soon 
 manifest. 
 
 "She has invited us to have some breakfast," 
 Jacques announced at last, turning to his friend. 
 
 "That's fine," exclaimed Leon heartily. "You 
 said we would accept, all right, didn't you!" 
 
 "Yes, and we'd better go into the house now." 
 
 "All that's necessary is for you to show me the 
 way," said Leon.
 
 38 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 In a very short time the two young soldiers 
 were seated in a cozy little kitchen, while the odor 
 of frying bacon and hot coffee filled their nos- 
 trils. 
 
 Jacques kept up a steady conversation with 
 their hostess. 
 
 She seemed to be the only inmate of the house, 
 and this turned out to be the case. Her husband 
 and two sons were all at the front. She was left 
 behind to manage her little farm and live as best 
 she was able. Just now her crop of hay was in 
 the fields ready to be brought in. Water would 
 spoil it and even now the sky threatened rain. 
 She had only one horse left to her ; an animal too 
 old to be of use to either army. 
 
 Jacques communicated all this information to 
 his comrade, who at once suggested a plan. 
 
 "Let's help her get her hay in," he cried en- 
 thusiastically. 
 
 "Ought we to spend our time that way?" pro- 
 tested Jacques, doubtfully. "I'd like to do it, but 
 I feel that perhaps we ought to hurry on as 
 quickly as possible." 
 
 "It won't take long. Let's do it." 
 
 "Very well, if you say so." 
 
 When Jacques communicated this news to their 
 hostess she was almost overcome. Such unex- 
 pected aid seemed far too good to be true. She 
 soon perceived, however, that the two boys were
 
 A NEW ALLY 39 
 
 serious in their offer, and from that moment she 
 could hardly do enough for them. 
 
 "This is something like!" exclaimed Leon 
 heartily, when a few moments later they were 
 busily partaking of a piping hot breakfast. 
 
 "It surely is," agreed Jacques, "but I must 
 say I feel tired." 
 
 "That's right, we have been up all night, 
 haven't we?" laughed Leon. 
 
 "Didn't you know that?" 
 
 "I had almost forgotten it. I was so happy to 
 be on my way again that I had forgotten almost 
 everything else, especially when I saw all this 
 food." 
 
 "Well, I am nearly played out," said Jacques. 
 "I don't know how long I shall be able to keep 
 awake out there in the fields." 
 
 "Long enough, I guess," said Leon. "There 
 isn't very much hay and all we'll have to do is to 
 bring it into the barn. That won't take very 
 long. ' ' 
 
 "Come on, then," exclaimed Jacques, rising 
 from the table as he spoke. 
 
 Leon reluctantly followed him, regretfully leav- 
 ing the food that remained uneaten. 
 
 A short time later, armed with pitchforks, they 
 were hard at work. The peasant woman man- 
 aged the horse and wagon, while the two boys 
 made the load. As Leon had predicted not much
 
 40 WITH JOFFKE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 time was consumed and when two hours had 
 passed the task was completed. For one lone 
 woman, however, the labor would have proved a 
 most difficult undertaking, and her gratitude was 
 correspondingly sincere. 
 
 " Can't we sleep here to-day ?" asked Leon of 
 his comrade as they walked back to the house 
 after their work. 
 
 "I guess so. I'll ask our hostess." 
 
 This he proceeded to do and she not only agreed 
 to the suggestion, but practically insisted upon 
 the further acceptance of her hospitality by her 
 guests. She led the way to a small room on the 
 second floor where a huge feather bed offered a 
 hearty welcome to the two tired young soldiers. 
 They lost no time preparing for the welcome rest. 
 
 "Did you tell her to call us at dark?" asked 
 Leon. 
 
 "I did. She also promised to keep a lookout 
 for any wandering bands of Germans. I think 
 we don't need to worry." 
 
 "She'll do her best for us, that's sure. Has 
 she seen any German troops lately?" 
 
 "Two days ago a squad of Uhlans stopped 
 here." 
 
 "Did they take anything?" 
 
 "There was nothing to take except two hams 
 and a barrel of flour which she had hidden safely 
 away in the barn."
 
 A NEW ALLY 41 
 
 "Pretty lucky, I should say," exclaimed Leon. 
 "Good night." 
 
 "Good morning you mean, don't you?" 
 
 "I guess maybe I do. Anyway, I'm going to 
 sleep." 
 
 It seemed to the two boys that they had been 
 asleep only a few moments when a loud knock- 
 ing at the door aroused them. Leon was the first 
 to awake and after a great deal of shaking he 
 managed to make Jacques, too, open his eyes. 
 
 "Who is it!" called Jacques in French. 
 
 The peasant woman answered that it was fast 
 growing dark and that they should once more be 
 on their way. 
 
 The boys were soon downstairs, ready to start. 
 Their hostess had prepared dinner for them, 
 among the articles of food being generous slices 
 of the precious ham, and bread made from the 
 rescued flour. 
 
 Jacques protested against this lavishness, but 
 to no avail. Nothing was too good for a soldier 
 of France, the grateful woman maintained, and 
 she purposed to give them the best she had. 
 After dinner she engaged Jacques in a long and 
 earnest conversation. Leon, completely mysti- 
 fied, listened in a vain effort to catch the meaning 
 of it all. 
 
 Jacques was protesting vigorously, but the 
 woman only became more insistent in what she
 
 42 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 was saying. When she brought a woman's sun- 
 bonnet and dress and handed them to his friend, 
 Leon gave up trying to solve the riddle. 
 
 At length Jacques seemed to agree to what the 
 woman had said, and she hurried smiling out of 
 the house. 
 
 "She has given us her horse and cart," said 
 Jacques, turning to his comrade. "I am going to 
 dress up as a woman and drive it." 
 
 "We won't take it," exclaimed Leon warmly. 
 
 "Oh, yes, we will. At first I thought we would 
 refuse it, too, but I've changed my mind. She 
 would be heartbroken if we didn't do as she wants 
 us to." 
 
 "How are we going to manage it?" 
 
 "You'll know all about it in a very short time."
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 A STRANGE CONVEYANCE 
 
 FIRST of all Jacques dressed himself in the 
 garments the peasant woman had given 
 him. Covering his other clothes he put 
 on the dress and when he had donned the sun- 
 bonnet, he made a very good looking girl. His 
 cheeks were rosy, and his figure slight. Unless 
 scrutinized too closely he might easily pass as a 
 young country girl. 
 
 "You're all right," laughed Leon. "You want 
 to keep your feet out of sight though, for I hope 
 no one would ever accuse a French girl of having 
 feet the size of yours." 
 
 "Do you think I will pass in other respects?" 
 
 "You certainly will. You're a fine looking 
 girl." 
 
 "Come then, and we will start on our journey 
 at once." 
 
 In the barn they found their hostess waiting 
 for them. She had hitched the horse to a wagon 
 loaded with hay and everything appeared to be in 
 readiness for their departure. 
 
 "How can I go along in this way!" exclaimed 
 
 43
 
 44 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 Leon. "I can't pass as a Frenchman. I don't 
 look like one and I don't know but a very few 
 words of the language." 
 
 "That is all arranged for," Jacques assured 
 him. 
 
 "How!" 
 
 "I'll show you at once." 
 
 He spoke rapidly to the peasant woman who 
 smiled delightedly at his words. Turning to 
 Leon she beckoned him to approach and then she 
 showed him a remarkable thing. 
 
 Mounting the wagon she dug busily in the cen- 
 ter of the hay for a few moments. The two boys 
 watched her excitedly, and though Jacques evi- 
 dently knew the secret he was as interested as his 
 friend. 
 
 Under the hay appeared a wire cage, in some 
 respects similar to a huge rat trap. It was 
 crudely made and what its use had been Leon had 
 no idea. This cage formed a space in the middle 
 of the hay-load, perhaps four feet square, the bot- 
 tom of the contrivance resting on the wooden 
 boards of the wagon. 
 
 Here Leon evidently was expected to remain 
 while they were on the road. All about him the 
 hay would be piled so that he would be completely 
 hidden from sight. 
 
 "What do you think of that?" exclaimed 
 Jacques.
 
 A STRANGE CONVEYANCE 45 
 
 "Why, it seems to be all right," said Leon 
 somewhat dubiously. "It doesn't look very com- 
 fortable and I wonder if I can breathe in there." 
 
 "You didn't expect comfort, did you? At any 
 rate it's far easier than walking. As for breath- 
 ing, there is no doubt about that ; the hay will be 
 piled loosely about you and you will be perfectly 
 all right." 
 
 "Did you think of this scheme!" 
 
 "No; our hostess here was the inventor. She 
 told me all about it in the house. She thinks it is 
 fine because now we can travel day times as well 
 as at night." 
 
 "Do you think so too!" 
 
 "I don't see why not, if I can pass myself off 
 as a woman." 
 
 "I hope you can do that," laughed Leon. "If 
 you are caught it means trouble for me just as 
 much as for you. Suppose some one should set 
 fire to this load of hay while I am inside." 
 
 "At any rate you'd keep warm," said Jacques 
 consolingly. 
 
 "I never expect to be as cold as that," replied 
 Leon earnestly. 
 
 "Yes," he continued, "this conveyance seems 
 all right to me." 
 
 "Let's start then." 
 
 They shook hands with the poor peasant woman 
 who had befriended them. They were profuse in
 
 46 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 their thanks to her, and she in turn vas just as 
 grateful for the help the young soldiers had given 
 her. She begged Jacques to be on the lookout for 
 the men of her family, and this he promised to do. 
 She gave them careful directions as to the route 
 they should follow and now they were ready to 
 start. 
 
 Leon climbed upon the hay-load and prepared 
 to conceal himself. In his little room were placed 
 the blankets and the few possessions the young 
 soldiers owned. The blankets helped to make 
 him comfortable and to lessen the jolting of the 
 wagon. 
 
 "Have we everything!" he asked of Jacques as 
 he prepared to descend. 
 
 "I think so. How about your revolver?" 
 
 "It is in my pocket. Do you want me to keep 
 yours ? ' ' 
 
 ' l No, indeed, I much prefer it right where it is. ' * 
 
 "Suppose you are caught with it." 
 
 "I guess if I am caught, it won't make much 
 difference whether or not I have a gun." 
 
 "That's true enough, to be sure. All right 
 then, here goes!" 
 
 Leon scrambled down the pocket into the hay. 
 There was a door on the top of the cage through 
 which he descended. Then Jacques and the peas- 
 ant woman piled the hay all about him so that the
 
 A STRANGE CONVEYANCE 47 
 
 wagon appeared to be carrying nothing but its 
 load of fodder. 
 
 1 1 Can you breathe ? ' ' inquired Jacques in a low 
 voice. 
 
 " Perfectly. You didn't put very much hay 
 around me, did you?" 
 
 "Only enough to hide you surely. This is a 
 very small load anyway, you know." 
 
 "I'm fixed fine in here," said Leon. "Can you 
 hear me talk all right!" 
 
 "Just as well as ever. Are you ready to 
 start?" 
 
 "Go ahead," called Leon. 
 
 In another moment the two young soldiers were 
 once more on their way to join their regiment. 
 The wagon bumped along over the rough barn- 
 yard, but as soon as the boys reached the road 
 the riding became much easier. 
 
 Leon did not cease wondering at the marvelous 
 roads all over France. Here they were almost at 
 the northern border and the same broad white 
 roads were to be found there as existed nearer 
 Paris. 
 
 He was very comfortable in his little compart- 
 ment and happy too, except that he would have 
 liked to see where they were going. 
 
 "Is there any moon?" he asked of Jacques. 
 
 "Almost full," was the reply.
 
 48 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "I'd like to be out with you and see it. It's 
 pretty stuffy in here." 
 
 "Why don't you come out then?" exclaimed 
 Jacques teasingly. "I am not stopping you, I'm 
 sure. ' ' 
 
 "Don't be funny, Jacques. It is bad enough 
 being in here, without your teasing me about it. 
 How much hay is there on top of me anyway?" 
 
 "Oh, about a foot and a half or two feet," 
 answered Jacques. 
 
 "Then I could easily get out. If I just stood 1 
 up I could lift the cage and all right up on my 
 shoulders." 
 
 "Don't try it now, please," exclaimed Jacques. 
 "I guess you could do as you say, but I'll take 
 your word for it." 
 
 "Don't tease me then," threatened Leon, pre- 
 tending to be angry. 
 
 "All right, I won't any more. We are coming 
 to a town now, I think, so we'd better not talk 
 for a while. ' ' 
 
 They lapsed into silence. Jacques, dressed in 
 girl's clothing, made a strange picture as he drove 
 into the little French town. Only a few people 
 were on the one narrow street, and when they saw 
 a girl driving the hay-load they paid scant atten- 
 tion to her. Germans seemed to be the only ob- 
 jects of interest in that part of the country, just 
 then, and nothing else mattered.
 
 A STRANGE CONVEYANCE 49 
 
 Perhaps if Leon had suddenly jumped to his 
 feet and appeared in the middle of the hay-load 
 the sight would have created as much consterna- 
 tion as the Germans. Leon, however, had no such 
 thought, for he was sound asleep. Curled up in 
 his little cage he slept on in spite of the rumble 
 of the cart and the squeaking of its wheels. 
 
 After passing through the village, Jacques had 
 addressed several remarks to his friend, but re- 
 ceiving no response he decided that he must be 
 asleep and so he tried no more. The horse trav- 
 eled slowly and more than once the young French- 
 man dozed off and so caught a few winks of sleep 
 himself. 
 
 "What time is it?" 
 
 Leon was at last awake, and stiff and cramped 
 as well. 
 
 "I don't know," replied Jacques, "but it is get- 
 ting light." 
 
 "Whew," exclaimed Leon. "I've been asleep 
 a long time. Have you had any excitement I ' ' 
 
 "Not a bit, but I think I see some now," said 
 Jacques sharply. "Don't say another word un- 
 less I tell you to."
 
 CHAPTEE VI 
 
 AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE TIHLANS 
 
 FAR down the road ahead of them Jacques 
 saw horses, ridden by men who were 
 wearing German helmets. They were ap- 
 proaching and there appeared to be about ten in 
 the force. 
 
 A band of raiding Uhlans, he said to himself, 
 and soon he would know whether his disguise was 
 effective or not. He was decidedly nervous about 
 the test he was about to undergo, and he hoped 
 that his voice would not betray him. 
 
 However, if Jacques felt nervous, what could 
 be said of the young American inside the load of 
 hay? He had no idea of the nature of the ex- 
 citement which his friend had said was coming; 
 he could not see anything and the best he could 
 do was to guess at what was in store for him and 
 his young French comrade. Leon spent a few 
 very uneasy moments. 
 
 Presently he heard the clatter of hoofs, and 
 then a loud command in German as the horses 
 came to a stop alongside the wagon. He knew 
 something critical was about to happen and he 
 
 60
 
 AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE UHLANS 51 
 
 felt for his revolver as he crouched in the dark- 
 ness of his hiding place. 
 
 Outside he could hear words in German and 
 then occasionally Jacques would answer in 
 French. If he could only see what was happen- 
 ing! He was nervous and only his great confi- 
 dence in his friend's quick wit prevented him from 
 springing to his feet and disclosing himself. 
 
 He knew Jacques was possessed of cool judg- 
 ment and good nerve, however, and he decided 
 that the only thing for him to do was to trust to 
 him. Hours seemed to pass as he awaited the 
 result of the conference, but in reality only a few 
 moments elapsed: 
 
 At length to his great relief he heard a com- 
 mand given and the Germans galloped off down 
 the road. Still Leon did not dare to speak for he 
 had no way of knowing whether all the Uhlans 
 had left or not. 
 
 " They've gone," exclaimed Jacques a moment 
 later. 
 
 "All of them?" 
 
 "Yes. There were ten of them in all." 
 
 "What did they want?" 
 
 "How do I know? I don't understand German 
 and evidently they don't understand French." 
 
 "What did they do?" insisted Leon. "I want 
 to know what happened." 
 
 "They just stood and talked and looked at me.
 
 52 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 I think they had some discussion as to whether 
 they should let me go or not. Anyway, that 's the 
 way it seemed to me, and for a while I thought 
 they were going to make me go along with them." 
 
 "You are sure they are all gone now?" 
 
 "Positively, and it seems to me we ought to 
 stop somewhere soon. We have been traveling 
 all night, you know, and our horse ought to have 
 a rest. We want something to eat, too." 
 
 "Is it light outside now?" asked Leon. 
 
 "Light as day." 
 
 "Let's stop then; I'm tired of living in here 
 like a mole. I tell you it's nervous work, too, 
 when any Germans come along. When they were 
 talking to you there a few minutes ago, I can tell 
 you I was anxious." 
 
 "I'll see if I can discover a good place for us 
 to stop," said Jacques. 
 
 "Aren't there any woods near-by?" 
 
 "Yes, there are some just ahead. Perhaps 
 there is a peasant's house in them somewhere and 
 we can put up there for the day." 
 
 "What can we feed the horse?" exclaimed Leon 
 suddenly. " 
 
 Jacques laughed heartily. 
 
 "Are you fooling?" he asked. 
 
 "Certainly not," replied Leon hotly. "What 
 are you laughing at?" 
 
 "I hope you are not serious just the same.
 
 AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE UHLANS 53 
 
 But if you are, I'd like to ask you one question. 
 What is it we have on this wagon?" 
 
 "Hay, of course." 
 
 "You are right. What do horses eat?" 
 
 It was now Leon's turn to laugh. 
 
 "This darkness and close air must have affected 
 my brain," he said. "I never heard of anything 
 so silly as my asking what the horse would eat. 
 Did you ever have a brain storm like that ! ' ' 
 
 "Oh, yes," replied Jacques cheerfully. "Per- 
 haps you are feeling the effects of your cramped 
 position in there. I'll get you out very soon." 
 
 "It can't be any too soon for me," exclaimed 
 Leon heartily. 
 
 As he spoke Jacques heard hoof beats behind 
 him and turning around he spied two horsemen 
 approaching. They were Germans and evidently 
 part of the detachment that had stopped him a 
 short time previously. 
 
 "Quiet, Leon! Quiet!" he cautioned. "Here 
 come two Uhlans." 
 
 Jacques, after the first quick glance he cast 
 over his shoulder, paid no more attention to the 
 approaching horsemen. He kept his eyes straight 
 ahead and endeavored to compose himself as 
 much as possible. At any rate he did not know 
 whether or not it was on his account that the Ger- 
 mans were returning and he determined that even 
 though that should prove to be the case he would
 
 54 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 show no signs of uneasiness if he could prevent 
 it. 
 
 Louder and louder sounded the approaching 
 hoof beats. The hearts of the two young soldiers 
 also beat faster and faster, as they heard their 
 enemies draw nearer and nearer. 
 
 Both boys had a feeling that they were the ob- 
 jects of the Uhlans' return and they prepared 
 themselves to meet whatever might happen. 
 They were both determined to resist capture to 
 the last and to go to any extremity to avoid this. 
 Leon had his revolver grasped tightly in his right 
 hand, while Jacques carefully removed his from 
 his blouse and placed it in the hay beside him. 
 
 The two Germans were almost upon them now 
 and Jacques steeled himself for the encounter. A 
 moment later they were alongside the wagon and 
 then in front of it. Perhaps they were going past 
 after all, thought Jacques. 
 
 This was not to be the case, however. Just as 
 the young Frenchman had almost persuaded him- 
 self that the danger was gone the Germans sud- 
 denly drew rein and wheeled their horses. One 
 on each side of the road they stood, effectually 
 blocking any chance of passage. 
 
 Jacques looked at them as unconcernedly as 
 possible and tried his best to hide his feelings. 
 The horsemen held up their hands and Jacques 
 stopped the wagon.
 
 AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE UHLANS 55 
 
 "Where are you going?" asked one of the 
 Uhlans in French. 
 
 Evidently the first detachment that had stopped 
 the boys had met with one of their comrades who 
 could speak French. He had been sent back to 
 question the girl on the load of hay. 
 
 "To my uncle's, down the road," replied 
 Jacques somewhat taken back at being addressed 
 in his own language. 
 
 "To whom are you taking the hay?" continued 
 the German. 
 
 "To my uncle, of course." 
 
 "What can he use it for?" 
 
 "Why, to feed his horses," exclaimed Jacques 
 in mock surprise. 
 
 "That cannot be true," said his questioner. 
 "We have just been all along this road and you 
 may be sure we left no horses behind us." 
 
 "It must have been very recently," said 
 Jacques, realizing that he was on dangerous 
 ground and fighting for time to think of some 
 way out of his peril. 
 
 "A week ago," said the man, looking narrowly 
 at Jacques. 
 
 "At any rate I must see him," said the young 
 Frenchman. "Will you let me pass, Monsieur?" 
 
 "You come with us," exclaimed the man gruffly, 
 suddenly changing his manner. 
 
 "But why?"
 
 56 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "Because I tell you to. Come along, no fooling 
 now. ' ' 
 
 "But why do you want me?" protested Jacques. 
 "What possible service can I, a poor French peas- 
 ant girl, do you ? ' ' 
 
 "I said for you to come with us!" said the 
 Uhlan sharply. "If you won't come of your own 
 accord, we '11 make you. ' ' 
 
 "I don't see why I should," continued Jacques 
 quietly. 
 
 "You're coming just the same," cried the Ger- 
 man angrily, and he reached forward to grasp the 
 bridle of the horse Jacques was driving. 
 
 As he did so Jacques suddenly sprang to his 
 feet, revolver in hand. 
 
 "Quick, Leon! Quick!" he shouted. "I need 
 help."
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 A SURPKISE 
 
 LEON was not slow to respond to the sum- 
 mons. For some time he had been crouch- 
 ing in readiness for just such a call. 
 Consequently the moment he heard his name 
 spoken he acted. Grasping the wire cage which 
 covered him, he lifted with all his strength and 
 hurled it high into the air. Eevolver in hand he 
 scrambled out of his cubby-hole as fast as he pos- 
 sibly could. 
 
 As he did so he heard several pistol shots in 
 quick succession. 
 
 The Uhlans had been completely taken by sur- 
 prise at the sudden change in the actions of the 
 supposed French girl. Seeing her abruptly 
 spring to her feet and call out in deep, mannish 
 tones for some one they could not see was bad 
 enough. And then suddenly to see the whole top 
 of the hay-load fly into the air, however, was 
 something that seemed completely to daze them. 
 The cavalrymen sat on their horses as if they 
 were too stunned to move. 
 
 Jacques had relied upon this lack of quick action 
 on their part and had fired several shots into the 
 
 57
 
 58 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 air in order further to increase the astonishment 
 of the Germans. At the same time he called upon 
 both of them to surrender. 
 
 The light somewhat dazzled Leon's eyes when 
 he emerged from his hiding place, but the first 
 objects he saw when he became somewhat accus- 
 tomed to it were two huge Uhlans seated on two 
 splendid horses. Both men were holding their 
 hands high above their heads in token of their 
 surrender. 
 
 "Take their weapons away from them, Leon," 
 ordered Jacques. 
 
 "I certainly will," exclaimed Leon delightedly. 
 
 He quickly leaped down to the ground and ap- 
 proached their prisoners. 
 
 "Keep them covered, Jacques," he warned. 
 
 "Don't worry about that. I feel sorry for the 
 one that moves first." 
 
 It was but a moment's work to disarm the two 
 men, and when this task was completed, Jacques 
 ordered the Uhlans to dismount. 
 
 This they did and while Leon stood guard over 
 them Jacques took off his dress. He quickly tore 
 it into strips and soon the two Germans, who still 
 seemed to be somewhat dazed, were securely 
 bound hand and foot and laid by the roadside. 
 
 "Now we'd better leave," exclaimed Jacques. 
 
 "Yes, and quickly, too." 
 
 "Shall we take their horses'?"
 
 A SURPRISE 59 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "What shall we do with ours?" 
 
 "Leave him here. He can't be of any possible 
 use to us." 
 
 "Very well," agreed Jacques, "but I want to 
 do one thing for him. He brought us quite a long 
 distance last night and should be rewarded." 
 
 He quickly cut the traces and let their faithful 
 old horse out of the shafts. He took the bit out 
 of the animal's mouth and led him around to the 
 rear of the wagon. The horse immediately began 
 contentedly to munch the hay. There Jacques 
 left him. 
 
 "That's the way, Jacques!" said Leon approv- 
 ingly. "Now let's get on our new mounts and 
 leave this section as fast as we can go." 
 
 The boys, both of whom were expert horsemen, 
 and had proved their ability not long before in 
 Belgium,* were soon in the saddle. 
 
 "Why not dress up in these men's uniforms?" 
 exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "Yes, and be shot for a couple of spies," 
 grunted Jacques. "Not for me. I prefer per- 
 sonally to take my chances in a French uniform. ' * 
 
 "You're right, as usual," agreed Leon. 
 "Come on." 
 
 Setting spurs to their horses they sped off down 
 the road. 
 
 See "The Air Scout."
 
 60 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "That was the easiest thing I ever saw," said 
 Leon a few moments later. "You certainly 
 worked that trick in great style, Jacques." 
 
 "It was your sudden appearance that finished 
 them, I think," said Jacques. "You should have 
 seen the look on their faces when the cage and 
 the hay shot up into the air. They were stunned 
 absolutely." 
 
 "It's a good thing they were, for I couldn't see 
 a thing when the light first struck my eyes." 
 
 "I guess they thought there was a noiseless 
 bomb or something like that inside the hay," said 
 Jacques ; and both boys laughed delightedly at the 
 recollection. 
 
 "You'd jump too, if you suddenly saw the top 
 fly off a hay-load, wouldn't you!" demanded 
 Leon. 
 
 "I know I would," laughed Jacques. 
 
 "Well, then, I guess we ought not to blame 
 those Uhlans. At the same time I'm glad there 
 was no fight." 
 
 ' ' So am I. I think we '11 have plenty of fighting 
 later and there is no use in looking for trouble 
 before it can be seen." 
 
 "That's right. By the way, when are we going 
 to stop and have a little food?" added Leon. 
 
 "I was thinking of that very thing," said 
 Jacques. "Let's stop now."
 
 A SURPRISE 61 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "Turn in here to the right. We ought to find 
 a place near-by." 
 
 The two hoys were riding through a long 
 stretch of woods. A narrow path ran at right 
 angles with the main road and this path the two 
 young soldiers chose to follow. It wound in and 
 out under the great trees in the forest and was 
 evidently but little used. 
 
 A mile or so the two boys rode into the woods, 
 still following the pathway. 
 
 "Isn't this far enough?" demanded Leon. 
 
 "I was hoping we'd find a stream of some 
 kind," said Jacques. "We could give our horses 
 a drink then, and have one ourselves." 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon, "that sounds like a 
 good idea." 
 
 "You have the food with you, haven't you?" 
 
 "I have what the peasant woman gave us." 
 
 "That's what I mean. Pretty soon we'll have 
 to be foraging for ourselves and I don't think 
 there is very much food to be had in this part of 
 the country." 
 
 "Oh, we'll manage somehow," exclaimed Leon 
 cheerfully. 
 
 "You Americans always have lots of confidence, 
 anyway," said Jacques laughingly. 
 
 "Well, it's a good thing to have, isn't it?"
 
 62 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "It certainly is," agreed Jacques. 
 
 "There's a brook ahead," Leon exclaimed sud- 
 denly. 
 
 A moment later the two young horsemen came 
 to the bank of a small brook which made its way 
 through the center of the forest. 
 
 "Let's follow it for a mile or so to the south," 
 said Jacques. 
 
 "Is that the direction in which we want to go?" 
 
 "Yes, and I think we'd better get some distance 
 away from this path. So far, we haven't met 
 any one, but you never can tell. ' ' 
 
 "It's impossible to be too careful to suit me," 
 agreed Leon, as they turned the heads of their 
 horses from the path and started to follow the 
 winding bed of the brook. 
 
 For some time they proceeded in silence, 
 Jacques leading the way. The horses they had 
 captured were magnificent animals but they had 
 been ridden hard and far and were in need of 
 rest. The boys too were very tired after their 
 tedious ride in the hay cart, and they had eaten 
 nothing since the preceding evening. 
 
 Presently they came to a little ravine, sur- 
 rounded on all sides by steep cliffs and huge 
 rocks. A small clump of trees was situated in the 
 center of the hollow and here it was the boys de- 
 cided to make their camp. 
 
 Jacques had filled a bag with hay before they
 
 A SUBPRISE 63 
 
 left their wagon, and this he gave to the horses 
 after allowing them to drink at the brook. The 
 two boys also drank deeply of the cool, clear 
 water and then at once set about preparing their 
 meal. 
 
 "What have we to eat?" inquired Jacques. 
 
 "Some hard biscuits, two loaves of bread and 
 some bacon." 
 
 "That's better than nothing, anyway." 
 
 ' * Of course it is. I call that a very good meal, ' ' 
 laughed Leon. "We can have some hot bacon at 
 any rate." 
 
 "How are you going to cook it? We have 
 nothing to put it in." 
 
 "Give me a match and I'll soon show you." 
 
 "I don't know whether I have any matches or 
 not." 
 
 "Oh, Jacques, you must have," exclaimed Leon 
 in alarm. "Every good soldier always carries 
 matches." 
 
 "Have you any?" demanded Jacques as he 
 fumbled through his pockets. 
 
 "No, but I'm not a good soldier, I admit." 
 
 "Well, I have two, and don't waste them what- 
 ever you do." 
 
 "You tie the horses while I build the fire," said 
 Leon as he began the task of gathering firewood. 
 
 Jacques had been holding the two horses by 
 their bridles all this time, while they munched the
 
 64 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 hay on the ground at their feet. Now he led them 
 about fifty feet away and proceeded to fasten 
 them to the low hanging branch of a near-by tree. 
 Then he gathered up the remnants of the hay and 
 carried it to the hungry animals. 
 
 When he returned to his comrade, there was a 
 bright fire burning. Leon was sharpening sticks 
 with which he speared fat chunks of bacon and 
 held them over the fire to roast. 
 
 "That's the finest smell I have ever encoun- 
 tered," exclaimed Jacques enthusiastically. "I 
 didn't know I was so hungry." 
 
 "This will taste all right," said Leon, "even if 
 it doesn't look so very good." 
 
 "Cut some slices of that bread, Jacques," he 
 added. "We'll have roast bacon sandwiches." 
 
 This was quickly done and soon the two young 
 soldiers were busily engaged in appeasing their 
 keen appetites. So engaged in this occupation 
 were they that they did not notice what was go- 
 ing on about them. They had entirely forgotten 
 that they might be in danger. 
 
 They speedily were recalled to the possibility, 
 however, when they heard the rush of feet be- 
 hind them and felt strong hands grasp them 
 tightly around their necks and hold their arms 
 fast.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 NEW FRIENDS 
 
 THE two boys were so completely taken by 
 surprise at this sudden onslaught that 
 they were powerless to resist. Before 
 they had time to realize what was happening they 
 found themselves bound hand and foot. Strug- 
 gle as they might, they could not loosen their bonds 
 in the slightest degree. 
 
 The first thought to flash through the boys' 
 minds had been that their assailants were Ger- 
 mans; probably some comrades of the Uhlans 
 whose horses they had seized had tracked them 
 to this spot. 
 
 Imagine their surprise at looking up into the 
 faces of five or six great rough looking, bearded 
 men, who certainly were not Germans, and who 
 resembled no Frenchmen that Leon, at least, had 
 ever seen. He wondered if they were robbers or 
 desperadoes of some sort, who were hiding in 
 this forest to escape the law. 
 
 They were certainly as wild appearing individ- 
 uals as he had ever beheld. Bagged and unkempt, 
 and all large and powerfully built, they did not 
 
 65
 
 66 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 present a very pleasant appearance, whoever they 
 might be. 
 
 The captors of the young soldiers stood over 
 them, talking rapidly in a language that to Leon 
 seemed a strange gibberish, which possibly might 
 be a dialect of the French. He trusted so, at any 
 rate. 
 
 Jacques straightway began to talk. The men 
 looked at him for a moment in surprise and 
 then quickly loosed him from his bonds. Leon 
 was soon released also and the boys arose to 
 their feet, once more free. At least they were no 
 longer tied. 
 
 "What is happening?" asked Leon of his 
 friend. 
 
 Jacques, however, paid no attention to his com- 
 rade, but kept busily talking to the strange look- 
 ing men. 
 
 They must be French, thought Leon, or they 
 could not understand what his comrade was say- 
 ing. Certainly Jacques was using that language. 
 The men stood around him gesticulating and talk- 
 ing rapidly. They pointed to the horses and 
 then they pointed to Leon, evidently questioning 
 Jacques in regard to them. 
 
 They laughed at Jacques' replies and as far as 
 Leon could understand appeared to be apologiz- 
 ing. At length the strange conversation ceased 
 and Jacques turned to his companion.
 
 NEW FRIENDS 67 
 
 "Well," said Leon, "who are your friends I" 
 
 "Wood cutters," replied Jacques. "They are 
 on our side all right, but they mistook us for Ger- 
 mans at first." 
 
 "I hope they won't treat their other friends 
 the way they did us," remarked Leon, as he 
 spoke, ruefully rubbing his neck where he could 
 still feel the effect of the strong grip with which 
 he had been seized. 
 
 "Yes," continued Jacques, "they saw the sad- 
 dles on our horses and thought of course we were 
 Uhlans. Then they decided to fix us so that we 
 could do no harm." 
 
 "I thought they were robbers, or outlaws, or 
 something like that," said Leon. "I have never 
 seen any French wood cutters before." 
 
 "They're not very handsome, I admit, but they 
 are good people." 
 
 "They kept us from our breakfast," protested 
 Leon. * 'At this time that is about the worst thing 
 any man could do to me." 
 
 "Never mind," said Jacques laughingly, "they 
 have invited us to breakfast with them." 
 
 "Good!" exclaimed Leon. "Let's start at 
 once." 
 
 The two young soldiers quickly secured their 
 horses and a moment later were following their 
 newly found friends over the rough ground to 
 the place where the wood cutters lived.
 
 68 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 It was a strange procession. The six great 
 grizzled peasants led the way in single file, while 
 close behind them came the two boys, each lead- 
 ing his horse. Up a narrow trail out of the ra- 
 vine they passed, and presently once more found 
 themselves in the deep woods. 
 
 "What were these men laughing at when 
 you were talking to them?" asked Leon of his 
 friend. 
 
 "I was telling them about the load of hay and 
 how surprised the Germans were when you sud- 
 denly burst out." 
 
 "They liked that, did they?" 
 
 "I should say they did. They all exclaimed 
 that they wished they had been there to help us 
 make prisoners of our victims, as well as to bring 
 away their horses. ' ' 
 
 "Well, I think a body guard of a few men like 
 these would be a very nice thing," laughed Leon. 
 "What do you say to our bringing them along?" 
 
 "It would suit us better than it would them, I 
 imagine. They are a strange lot of men and 
 usually very ignorant. ' ' 
 
 "Have they seen any Germans lately?" 
 
 "I don't know. I didn't ask and they said 
 nothing about it. They did say though that they 
 saw large bodies of troops pass to the south some 
 days ago." 
 
 "French or German?"
 
 NEW FEIENDS 69 
 
 ' ' Both. First went the French and a few Eng- 
 lish with them. Then came the Germans. Thou- 
 sands and thousands of them the man said ; thicker 
 than the leaves on a tree." 
 
 "That won't help us to reach our regiment any 
 sooner than we expected, will it?" exclaimed Leon 
 somewhat dolefully. 
 
 "No, but I think we can do it. Don't worry 
 just now, anyway ; here we are at our destination 
 and I'm ready to eat." 
 
 "We didn't leave our bacon back there in the 
 ravine, did we?" exclaimed Leon in sudden 
 alarm. 
 
 ' ' No, indeed. I brought along all the food that 
 we hadn't eaten, and you know what little chance 
 we had to do that. ' ' 
 
 ' 1 1 surely do. Let 's hope for better luck here. ' ' 
 
 Several rude huts were situated in a clearing 
 in the forest and here it was that the wood cut- 
 ters lived. Hewn from rough logs, with the cracks 
 stuffed with sod, the little houses did not present 
 a very attractive appearance. At the doors of 
 one or two there appeared women and a little 
 group of children. Unkempt and ill fed curs ran 
 out to bark at the newcomers. 
 
 "What a way to live," exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "It is pretty bad, isn't it!" said Jacques. 
 "These people are pitifully poor and I should 
 say that they existed rather than lived."
 
 70 WITH JOFFKE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 " Everything looks dirty, too," said Leon. "I 
 wonder if we can eat their food. ' ' 
 
 "I can eat nails, I believe," exclaimed Jacques. 
 "Never do I remember having been so hungry." 
 
 "We want sleep too, you know." 
 
 "We'll get that here, aU right." 
 
 The boys tied their horses in a low shed nearby 
 and a few moments later were busily engaged in 
 eating. A broth made from vegetables and 
 stewed rabbit was set before them and the two 
 young soldiers lost no time in testing its qualities. 
 
 "I don't know what this stuff is," said Leon 
 after his first few tastes, "but I do know that it's 
 mighty good." 
 
 "It's rabbit stew." 
 
 "Where did the rabbit come from?" 
 
 "How do I know!" inquired Jacques, amused 
 at the many questions his American comrade kept 
 asking. "I guess they poached it." 
 
 "You mean these men are poachers?" 
 
 "Probably." 
 
 "Well, it doesn't bother me any, I can tell you 
 that," said Leon as he applied himself more in- 
 dustriously than before to his task. 
 
 "Nor me." 
 
 Jacques turned to the woman who had brought 
 them the stew and told her how much they liked 
 it. She smiled delightedly, as did also the men 
 who were standing nearby watching the boys ap-
 
 NEW FEIENDS 71 
 
 pease their hunger. Simple folk, they seemed, 
 but hospitable and anxious to be of service. 
 
 At last the food was gone. Sleep was the next 
 thing that suggested itself to the boys and they 
 were invited to occupy two bunks in one of the 
 huts. This invitation they gratefully accepted 
 and decided to retire shortly. 
 
 11 We must find out soon what we are going to 
 do," said Jacques. 
 
 "What do you mean!" 
 
 "I mean what route we are going to take on our 
 way south." 
 
 "Don't you know the way!" exclaimed Leon. 
 "I thought you knew all about it." 
 
 ' ' Not at all. I have a general idea of the coun- 
 try, but not good enough to tell all the little places 
 we must go through, or which is the best route 
 to follow." 
 
 "How can we map out a route anyway!" de- 
 manded Leon. "We don't know where our regi- 
 ment is and even if we did know, what good would 
 it do us? Just because they are in one place 
 now, doesn't mean they'll still be there next 
 week." 
 
 "That's true enough. What do you suggest!" 
 
 "I haven't thought much about it, to tell you 
 the truth. I have been following you blindly." 
 
 * ' Well, I have a plan, ' ' said Jacques. ' * Tell me 
 what you think of it. You know that the Ger-
 
 72 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 mans are sending separate armies into France, 
 don't you?" 
 
 "You mean they are invading from different 
 points at the same time?" 
 
 "Exactly. That is the way I understand it, at 
 any rate. My idea is to follow the route of their 
 most westerly army ; that is the division our regi- 
 ment was pitted against, I believe." 
 
 "Either that or the one next to it," agreed 
 Leon. "What is the idea in following the Ger- 
 man western army though? Wouldn't it be 
 shorter to head straight for Paris from here ? ' ' 
 
 "It is shorter, but harder, I think. You see, 
 if we follow the German right wing, we will have 
 enemies on only one side of us, while if we start 
 straight from here, we will have them on all 
 sides. ' ' 
 
 "Quite right, and I guess your plan is the best 
 one after all." 
 
 "Very well, then. Let's get some rest now and 
 when evening comes we'll start out again. Prob- 
 ably one of these men will guide us part way on 
 our journey. At least he can put us on the right 
 track." 
 
 "All right," said Leon. "That sounds like a 
 good scheme. The first part of it is satisfactory 
 anyway. ' ' 
 
 The two boys arose and following one of the 
 wood cutters entered the low door of one of the
 
 NEW FEIENDS 73 
 
 near-by huts. A wide bunk at one end of the 
 rude house was offered them and they lost no time 
 in climbing in. Scarcely had their heads touched 
 the pillow before they were sound a,sleep.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 A BIDE IN THE NIGHT 
 
 WHEN Leon awoke it was already grow- 
 ing dark and inside the hut it was al- 
 most impossible to distinguish objects 
 clearly. At first he had no idea where he was 
 and he sprang to his feet with a start. Then he 
 suddenly remembered the happenings that had 
 brought him to the wood cutters' home and he 
 looked about him for his comrade. 
 
 Jacques, however, was nowhere to be seen. 
 
 He was not inside the hut, as Leon soon dis- 
 covered. This fact caused the young American 
 no little worry, as in times like the present it was 
 never a certainty that any one was safe. 
 
 Leon hastened to the door determined to find 
 his friend. As he emerged from the house he 
 spied Jacques approaching with one of the peas- 
 ants. The young American heaved a sigh of re- 
 lief at his discovery. 
 
 "Hey, there, Jacques!" he called. "I thought 
 you were lost." 
 
 "Not at all," laughed Jacques, coming up to 
 the place where Leon was standing. "I woke up 
 
 74
 
 A BIDE IN THE NIGHT 75 
 
 about a half an hour ago and I thought I would 
 scout around a little. This man is going to guide 
 us out of the woods." 
 
 "Good for him! When do we start!" 
 
 "As soon as we have had something to eat. I 
 was just coming to wake you up. When I 
 climbed out of that bunk you were snoring so loud 
 I thought at first one of those German forty-two 
 centimeter howitzers was bombarding us." 
 
 "Is that so?" laughed Leon. "Perhaps if the 
 Germans hear me they'll think it's the French ar- 
 tillery and run away from us." 
 
 "Well, anyway," said Jacques, "I have found 
 a guide. These people insist that we must eat 
 dinner before we start out and this man has of- 
 fered to show us the way." 
 
 "They're mighty good. How about our 
 horses?" 
 
 "They have been watered, fed and rubbed 
 down. We are ready to start at any time now." 
 
 "That is wonderful," exclaimed Leon. "Let's 
 eat our meal and be off." 
 
 They were soon busily engaged in disposing of 
 another simple, but hearty, meal, and as they ate 
 they discussed their plans. 
 
 "We want to reach Douai next," said Jacques. 
 "That is the nearest place of any size and is on 
 the route followed by the German right wing, I 
 think."
 
 76 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "We don't want to go into the city itself, do 
 we?" 
 
 ' ' Oh, I think not, but I mean that is the general 
 direction we want to follow." 
 
 "All right," said Leon, "and then where do we 
 go from Douai?" 
 
 "We go to Vitry and then to Arras. Then 
 down through Albert and Amiens; then on to 
 Paris." 
 
 "Sounds easy enough," said Leon. "How far 
 is it from here?" 
 
 "About a hundred miles or so, I should say." 
 
 "That's quite a fair walk." 
 
 "I know it is, but we'll get there. Anyway we 
 have horses." 
 
 "Yes, we have horses now," agreed Leon. 
 "To-morrow we may not though." 
 
 * ' Well, you know that song the English soldiers 
 were singing up around Mons, don't you! 'It's 
 a long way to Tipperary, but my heart's right 
 there.' It's a long way to Paris, too, but our 
 hearts are right there, and we'll be there too, be- 
 fore very long." 
 
 "I hope so. Perhaps we won't have to go all 
 the way to Paris anyway." 
 
 "That's so," agreed Jacques. "Anyway let's 
 make a start for it. Just think what General 
 JofF re will say when he hears we have forced our 
 way from Belgium to Paris through the whole
 
 A EIDE IN THE NIGHT 77 
 
 German army. He'll probably give us the Legion 
 of Honor." 
 
 "Wake up, Jacques. You're still asleep," ex- 
 claimed Leon laughingly. " Where are our 
 horses? We ought to be on our way." 
 
 A moment later the boys were seated in their 
 saddles ready to depart. Their guide was on foot 
 and was to lead the way through the forest, while 
 the two young soldiers followed slowly behind 
 him. The wood cutters crowded about them and 
 wished them the best of luck. Jacques thanked 
 them all, in behalf of himself and Leon, for their 
 hospitality and then they started off. 
 
 Both boys were in fine fettle and felt ready for 
 almost anything. Two hearty meals and a long 
 sleep had put fresh life into them and they were 
 both in high spirits. 
 
 "It's awfully dark in these woods," exclaimed 
 Leon, after they had covered a quarter of a mile 
 or more. 
 
 "It certainly is. What do you suppose we 
 would have done without a guide!" 
 
 "I've no idea. We'd have had to let our 
 horses go wherever they wanted to, I guess. I'm 
 sure I 'd hate to try to find my way through here. ' ' 
 
 "I'm letting my horse find his own path now," 
 said Jacques. "I hope he can see the way, for I 
 know I can't. He is following our guide all 
 right."
 
 "It's a good thing we have these horses, isn't 
 it!" chuckled Leon. "Just think of having to 
 walk all this distance." 
 
 "An automobile is better than a horse." 
 
 "All right, then. Let's get an automobile." 
 
 "Where shall we find onel" inquired Jacques, 
 much amused at his friend's enthusiasm. 
 
 "How do I know?" retorted Leon. "Where 
 did we find these horses?" 
 
 "On the road, of course." 
 
 "Well, then, that's the place to look for an 
 automobile. ' ' 
 
 "You talk as though it was easy," laughed 
 Jacques. ' ' Do you think we are going to find one 
 sitting by the roadside waiting for us?" 
 
 "You never can tell," persisted Leon. "We 
 might run across one." 
 
 "Do you think we could run it?" 
 
 "Well, if you can't, you ought to be ashamed 
 of yourself," exclaimed Leon. "Any man who is 
 an aviator in the French army and can't run- a 
 motor car ought to be made to walk to Paris." 
 
 A weird cry suddenly sounded far off to their 
 right, causing both horses to start nervously, and 
 forcing the boys to give all their attention to their 
 mounts. 
 
 Again the cry was heard, this time apparently 
 closer at hand and greater in volume. 
 
 "What is that?" exclaimed Leon nerv&usly, as
 
 A BIDE IN THE NIGHT 79 
 
 he tried to quiet his horse, which was shaking 
 with fear. 
 
 "Wolves, I think," replied Jacques. He spoke 
 a few words to their guide in his native tongue. 
 "Yes," he continued, "that is a pack of wolves. 
 Our guide says so." 
 
 "They won't attack us, will they?" said Leon. 
 
 "I don't think so. I knew that there were 
 wolves in these forests, but I don't think they'll 
 bother us. In winter, however, they grow very 
 bold sometimes, especially when they roam in 
 packs. ' ' 
 
 Once more the mournful and blood-curdling 
 howl of the wolf broke the silence of the night. 
 The two horses were exceedingly nervous and it 
 was with difficulty that the boys restrained them 
 from breaking into a run. 
 
 "There are several of them, I think," sug- 
 gested Leon in a low voice. 
 
 "Perhaps so," replied Jacques, "but we'll soon 
 be out of the woods and I think there is but slight 
 danger from wolves at this time of year. It is 
 only in the winter, when they are made desperate 
 by hunger, that they are bold enough to come 
 where men are." 
 
 The cry resounded through the forest several 
 times more, but each time it seemed to be more 
 distant and before long faded away entirely. 
 The horses soon became quiet and the journey was
 
 80 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 resumed in peace. In a short time they reached 
 the edge of the woods as Jacques had predicted, 
 and their guide prepared to turn back. 
 
 The boys thanked him for his kindness, and 
 for the food which he had presented them. This 
 supply Jacques now was carrying in a pack on 
 his back. 
 
 A long white road stretched before them and 
 when their guide had indicated the direction to be 
 taken, he waved good-by to the boys and entering 
 the woods once more, disappeared from sight. 
 
 "Well, here we are," exclaimed Jacques at 
 length. 
 
 "Yes, and I can't say I am as fond of the open 
 road as I am of the woods," replied Leon. 
 ' ' There are too many people on a highway like this 
 and the risk is much greater." 
 
 "That's true enough, but at the same time you 
 must remember that we can make much better 
 time here. I don't know how we can avoid the 
 risk." 
 
 "Neither do I. We'll have to be more careful, 
 that's all." 
 
 Setting spurs to their horses they started off 
 down the road at a brisk canter. The night was 
 very dark and very still, and to the two young sol- 
 diers it seemed as if the hoof beats of their 
 mounts must be heard for a long distance around. 
 They realized that they were in danger, for there
 
 A BIDE IN THE NIGHT 81 
 
 are bodies of stragglers behind every army, 
 especially one traveling as fast as the Germans'. 
 One of the wood cutters had told Jacques that he 
 understood they covered between twenty and 
 thirty miles a day. 
 
 This man had hidden in the woods as the Ger- 
 man masses surged past. Often he said he had 
 seen some of the men in the ranks, too exhausted 
 to keep pace with the others, urged on by the 
 swords of their officers. There was no time to 
 sympathize with weaklings and every man must 
 keep going, whether he felt like it or not. 
 
 "The German army is certainly a wonderful 
 machine, isn't it?" Leon exclaimed suddenly as 
 he recalled what he had heard and seen of it. 
 
 "It surely is," replied his companion, "and I 
 hope that no part of that machine is lurking 
 around here." 
 
 "We are helpless, if they are," said Leon. 
 "Any one could hear us coming a quarter of a 
 mile down the road and just sit and wait for us. 
 I don't like this horseback riding, down the main 
 highway at night, with the thought always in your 
 mind that at any second some German may be sit- 
 ting by the roadside aiming a gun at your head." 
 
 "What can we do?" protested Jacques. 
 
 "I don't know, I'm sure. We'll have to chance 
 it, I guess." 
 
 "We can't ride across country very well, and I
 
 82 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 hate to give up our horses, for we certainly make 
 much better time this way than on foot." 
 
 "If we only had an automobile," sighed Leon. 
 
 "What good would that do us! We'd still be 
 on the road just the same." 
 
 "Think of the speed we could make," Leon in- 
 sisted. "We could run away from any one who 
 chased us." 
 
 "That depends on the kind of car we had," 
 laughed Jacques. "I must say I've seen some 
 machines that couldn't run away from anything." 
 
 "Oh, but we'd pick a good one, of course." 
 
 "I hear one now," exclaimed Jacques suddenly. 
 
 Both boys reined in their horses and listened. 
 Sure enough, far down the road ahead of them 
 they could hear the whirr of a motor as it sped 
 over the country. Its searchlight flashed against 
 the sky for a moment as it climbed a low hill. 
 
 "Quick, Leon, get off the road," urged Jacques. 
 
 "Let's stop them," said Leon eagerly, not mov- 
 ing an inch. 
 
 "Don't be a fool !" cried Jacques, as he spurred 
 his horse ahead and hastily made his way to the 
 cover of some near-by trees. 
 
 Left alone, there was no choice for Leon but to 
 follow. A moment later the automobile sped by 
 with a rush and roar. As far as he could dis- 
 cover from the one quick glance afforded him,
 
 A KIDE IN THE NIGHT 83 
 
 Leon thought there were only two men in the car. 
 t They were evidently in great haste. 
 
 "You see how easy it would be," he explained 
 to Jacques, as they started down the road again. 
 "All we'd have to do would be to stand in the 
 middle of the road and point our revolvers at 
 them. They'd see us in the glare of the lights 
 and would stop quickly enough. Will you try it ! " 
 
 "I don't know," replied Jacques cautiously. 
 "It seems a risky sort of business to me." 
 
 "Oh, come on," Leon urged. "We can do it 
 easily. Will you try it on the next one that comes 
 along? I'll guarantee it'll be all right." 
 
 "Here comes one now," he suddenly exclaimed. 
 "Are you with me, Jacques? I can't do it alone, 
 you know." 
 
 "All right," cried Jacques, quickly dismount- 
 ing as he spoke. 
 
 With a sharp slap on the side the two faithful 
 horses were sent speeding down the road. Then 
 drawing their revolvers the boys took their places 
 directly in the pathway of the approaching auto- 
 mobile.
 
 CHAPTEE X 
 
 A NEW CONVEYANCE 
 
 "TTF we keep our nerve, we're all right," ex- 
 claimed Leon, as the huge car thundered 
 
 JL down upon them. 
 
 " Don't worry about our losing that," replied 
 Jacques grimly. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the automobile. It 
 was moving at the rate of at least fifty miles an 
 hour and for a moment it seemed to the two young 
 soldiers in the middle of the road that it was not 
 going to stop. 
 
 Suddenly the roar of the motor ceased; the 
 brakes screamed and whined and the car came to 
 a full stop not ten feet away from them. The 
 engine still ran smoothly and evenly, however. 
 
 "Quick, Jacques, run up to the car and disarm 
 the people. I think there is only one man in it, 
 though. I'll keep him covered." 
 
 Jacques sprang forward at once, still keeping 
 his gun gripped firmly in his right hand. Sure 
 enough, as Leon had said, there was but one man 
 in the machine and he was the chauffeur. 
 
 84
 
 A NEW CONVEYANCE 85 
 
 Calling upon him to surrender, Jacques sprang 
 upon the running board and pressed his revolver 
 close to the surprised man's ear. 
 
 "Come on, Leon!" he called. " There is only 
 one person here." 
 
 "What did I tell you?" cried Leon gleefully. 
 "I said we might as well have an automobile as a 
 couple of horses and here it is already." 
 
 He jumped into the tonneau of the car as he 
 spoke. 
 
 "The man's a German, isn't he?" he inquired 
 of Jacques. 
 
 "Certainly. Don't you see his helmet?" 
 
 Their captive sat silent in his seat, calmly look- 
 ing from one to the other of the young soldiers. 
 
 "Take his gun away from him, Leon," cried 
 Jacques. "I'll stand here and keep this revolver 
 pointed at his head. I guess that'll keep him 
 quiet." 
 
 Leaning over the back of the seat Leon quickly 
 deprived their victim of whatever means of de- 
 fense he had. 
 
 "All right, Jacques," he said. "Now what 
 shall we do with him?" 
 
 "Put him out of the car." 
 
 "Get out," shouted Leon in the man's ear. 
 
 He did not move. 
 
 "He can't understand you, Leon," Jacques re- 
 minded. "Make motions."
 
 86 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 * ' Get out, ' ' repeated Leon, waving his arms vio- 
 lently as he spoke. 
 
 This method of communication instantly had 
 the desired effect and the German rose to his feet. 
 As he did so he leaned forward and with a quick 
 motion did something to the mechanism of the 
 car. The motor began to slow down and pres- 
 ently stopped entirely. 
 
 "Stop that!" cried Leon angrily, but it was too 
 late to prevent the man from accomplishing his 
 purpose. 
 
 "Don't worry," exclaimed Jacques. "I know 
 what he did." 
 
 As the German, grinning maliciously, stepped 
 from the car, Jacques motioned for him to go in 
 front of the headlights. Following closely be- 
 hind him and constantly flourishing his revolver, 
 the young Frenchman made his captive hold up 
 his hands. 
 
 "Now you keep him covered," he said to Leon. 
 "I want to search him." 
 
 He quickly went through the German's pockets 
 and presently uttered an exclamation of satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 "Here it is," he exclaimed, very much relieved. 
 
 "What is it?" inquired Leon. 
 
 "It is what he took out of the car. We'd have 
 been helpless without it." 
 
 "I asked you what it was," repeated Leon.
 
 A NEW CONVEYANCE 87 
 
 "The little plug that furnishes the spark neces- 
 sary to start the motor." 
 
 "Well, I guess we do need that," exclaimed 
 Leon grimly. "You are sure you can run the 
 car, Jacques?" 
 
 "Positive." 
 
 "What make is it?" 
 
 "It's a Benz. I've often run one, and I know 
 all about them." 
 
 "That's good," said Leon. "Let's get rid of 
 our friend here and start on our way. Somebody 
 will come along and take the car away from us 
 if we aren't more careful." 
 
 "Bight you are," agreed Jacques, "but what 
 shall we do with this fellow?" 
 
 "Leave him where he is." 
 
 "We might take him along as a prisoner." 
 
 "What could we do with a prisoner when the 
 German army is between us and our troops?" ex- 
 claimed Leon. 
 
 "I guess we couldn't do anything," replied 
 Jacques. ' ' We '11 leave him here as you suggest. ' ' 
 
 "Come along, then. We are wasting valuable 
 time. ' ' 
 
 A moment later the two young soldiers were 
 in the front seat of the automobile. Jacques had 
 started the motor and was at the wheel. The 
 German who had previously owned the machine 
 stood in the glare of the searchlights mournfully
 
 88 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 watching his enemies preparing to make off with 
 his car. 
 
 "Wait a minute, Jacques," exclaimed Leon 
 suddenly. 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 "Did you search him for papers of any kind!" 
 Leon continued excitedly. "He might have his 
 pockets full of valuable documents for all we 
 know. ' ' 
 
 "Don't worry about that," returned Jacques. 
 "When I was looking for the plug, you may be 
 sure I looked for papers, too. He didn't have a 
 thing." 
 
 1 ' All right, then. Go ahead. ' ' 
 
 The car started slowly as Jacques let in the 
 clutch, and they were soon turned around and 
 headed in the opposite direction from that in 
 which the car had come. The German stood by 
 the roadside looking very dismal. Leon kept his 
 glance fixed upon him, however, for he wished to 
 take no chances. A punctured tire or some simi- 
 lar mishap would be very annoying just at this 
 time. 
 
 The German made no move, however. He 
 probably appreciated the fact that one unarmed 
 man has no chance against two that possess guns. 
 The huge Benz thundered off down the road leav- 
 ing the German to his own devices.
 
 A NEW CONVEYANCE 89 
 
 " Perhaps he'll find our horses," remarked 
 Leon. 
 
 "He's very welcome to mine, I'm sure," 
 laughed Jacques. 
 
 "We ought to have told him about them. That 
 was the least we could have done for him." 
 
 "How could we tell him 1 ?" exclaimed Jacques. 
 "Neither one of us could speak German, and he 
 couldn't speak French or English." 
 
 "That's so. Anyway, I am satisfied with our 
 trade." 
 
 "This is a wonderful car, all right," remarked 
 Jacques. 
 
 "I wish my brother Earl could see me now," 
 sighed Leon. "He'd almost die of envy, I think. 
 Suppose he should suddenly appear here all at 
 once. ' ' 
 
 "Where was he when you last heard of him?" 
 
 "In England. That doesn't mean he is still 
 there, though. Personally I think he has started 
 out to look for me. I wrote him that I had en- 
 listed, you know, but even if he never received my 
 letter, I'm sure he'd expect me to do that." 
 
 "He also may have enlisted." 
 
 "Quite true. I shouldn't be a bit surprised." 
 
 "If he has enlisted I don't believe he is riding 
 around in as fine automobiles as you are," 
 chuckled Jacques.
 
 90 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE* 
 
 "I guess not." 
 
 "How about gasoline?" exclaimed Leon sud- 
 denly. 
 
 "I never looked," said Jacques. "We'd bet- 
 ter do it, too." 
 
 "We'll never get any more, that's sure. 
 What's the use of looking? All we can do is to 
 run until this gives out and then we'll have to 
 abandon the car. Won't that be a shame?" 
 1 l We may not be forced to it, however. ' ' 
 "What do you mean?" Leon exclaimed. 
 "How did we get this automobile?" 
 "We took it away from that German." 
 "Can't we get gasoline the same way?" 
 "You mean hold up another car and drain the 
 tank?" 
 
 "Why not?" said Jacques calmly. "I see no 
 reason why we can't do that, and as you say, it 
 would be a shame to abandon this beautiful ma- 
 chine just for the lack of a few gallons of gaso- 
 line." 
 
 "You're all right, Jacques," exclaimed Leon 
 gleefully. 
 
 "Say," he added, "isn't this a lark?" 
 "So far it is," agreed Jacques, "but things 
 can't go on like this forever, you know. I've just 
 been thinking about that and I'm afraid we are 
 due for an awful bump soon. Everything has 
 been too easy."
 
 A NEW CONVEYANCE 91 
 
 "We have been lucky, haven't we?" said Leon. 
 "Still," he added, "you can't call it aU luck by 
 any means. We have taken chances and won out. 
 That isn't luck." 
 
 "I don't care if it is," exclaimed Jacques, "if 
 it only keeps up." 
 
 The two boys lapsed into silence, as they sped 
 over the highway. Mile after mile they covered, 
 the powerful car seemingly ignoring all the diffi- 
 culties as well as the distances. Now and again 
 they approached small towns and after their first 
 experience they usually avoided them by a detour. 
 The first town they had come to, however, they 
 had sped right on through. 
 
 As they thundered along the single street that 
 composed the little settlement they had been 
 greeted by a half dozen bullets fired at them from 
 behind. Consequently they took no more such 
 risks. 
 
 Not another car had they met, and they both 
 often wondered what they should do if such an 
 emergency should arise. Perhaps they were 
 lucky, as Jacques had said. 
 
 "There's a big city ahead of us," exclaimed 
 Leon suddenly. 
 
 "Yes, that must be Douai," replied his friend. 
 "We had better take the next road to the left and 
 not attempt to go near the city." 
 
 As they turned from the main road a few mo-
 
 92 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 ments later, the first streaks of light were begin- 
 ning to appear in the east. Soon it would be day 
 and a bad time for two soldiers of the army of 
 France to be on the road in that part of the 
 country. 
 
 ''Hadn't we better stop soon?" said Leon pres- 
 ently. 
 
 "I was thinking that very thing," replied 
 Jacques. ' ' I had thought we should keep on until 
 we came to some heavy woods. We could run the 
 car in there and hide for the day. Also we might 
 keep a lookout for some passing automobile, for 
 we'll need gasoline soon." 
 
 "Can you run the car into the woods, though?" 
 
 "This car will go anywhere," exclaimed 
 Jacques. "I'll guarantee to take it into any 
 woods you select, if there is only room enough 
 between the trees." 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon. "You're the 
 driver. ' ' 
 
 Before they had covered many more miles the 
 day had broken and everything about them was 
 flooded with the beams of the early morning sun. 
 Still they had found no satisfactory shelter, and 
 they were becoming somewhat worried. 
 
 "I think I see some thick woods ahead," re- 
 marked Leon at length. "It's about time we were 
 out of sight, too." 
 
 "These are all right," said Jacques, as a mo-
 
 93 
 
 ment later they reached the spot Leon had indi- 
 cated. 
 
 There was a strip of woods on both sides of 
 the road. They were filled with large trees and 
 considerable underbrush was to be seen, which 
 promised an excellent refuge for the two young 
 soldiers and their captured automobile. Just be- 
 yond the patch of woods was a large open field, 
 evidently a part of a near-by farm. 
 
 Jacques ran the car slowly along, looking for a 
 suitable place to turn in. He had found what he 
 wanted when Leon suddenly grasped him by the 
 arm. 
 
 ' ' Stop the car, Jacques ! Quick ! " he exclaimed 
 in a low voice, pointing directly in front of him 
 as he spoke.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 A BOLD PLAN 
 
 JACQUES quickly followed his friend 's sug- 
 gestion and peered eagerly in the direction 
 Leon indicated. 
 
 At first he saw nothing. 
 
 "What is it?" he exclaimed. 
 
 " Don't you see?" cried Leon. "Look there. 
 Eight through that break in the trees." 
 
 "I don't see anything," said Jacques. "Yes, 
 I do, too," he added an instant later. "It's an 
 aeroplane. ' ' 
 
 "It certainly is," exclaimed Leon, "and it's 
 coming this way." 
 
 "Suppose it should land near here." 
 
 "I was just thinking of that," remarked 
 Jacques; and the two boys looked at each other 
 knowingly. 
 
 "Oh, Jacques, do you think we could?" said 
 Leon excitedly. 
 
 "Could what?" 
 
 "Capture that aeroplane, of course. Isn't that 
 what you were thinking?" 
 
 94
 
 A BOLD PLAN 95 
 
 "Yes, that's what I was thinking, all right, 7 ' 
 replied Jacques, "but I don't know how we could 
 capture it any more than you do." 
 
 "Well, let's put up the car and watch it any- 
 way," exclaimed Leon eagerly. 
 
 Jacques quickly turned the big Benz into the 
 woods at their right. Over the rough ground 
 they went until they reached a dense thicket. 
 Into this Jacques forced the automobile as far a's 
 it could go, and then the two boys quickly jumped 
 to the ground. To cover the exposed part of the 
 machine with loose boughs was the work of but 
 a moment, and then they hastened at full speed 
 back to the road again. 
 
 "Do you see it?" exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Let's run down to the edge of that big field. 
 We can see more of the sky there." 
 
 They set off down the road at full speed and 
 soon came to the border of the woods. They did 
 not go out into the open, however. Eemaining 
 under cover of the trees they skulked along the 
 edge of the forest, keeping a sharp lookout in all 
 directions for the missing aeroplane. 
 
 "Stop here," exclaimed Jacques at length. 
 
 The young soldiers crouched behind a dense 
 clump of bushes which kept them out of the sight 
 of any one in the field, but which did not shut off 
 their view of the sky or of the country in any
 
 96 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 way. Once settled there they eagerly resumed 
 their search for the aeroplane. 
 
 It was nowhere to be seen, however. 
 
 "This seems sort of silly," said Leon after 
 some moments had elapsed. "Here we are wait- 
 ing for an aeroplane we happened to see flying 
 overhead to come and land right at our feet. I 
 guess we were too enthusiastic." 
 
 "It looks so, doesn't it? As you say, I don't 
 see why we expected it to land, especially right 
 where we are. What were we going to do if it 
 did come down here?" 
 
 "I don't know, I'm sure," replied Leon. 
 "Perhaps we thought the aviator would turn it 
 over to us." 
 
 "Very likely," laughed Jacques. "The men 
 in it probably knew that I was an aviator in the 
 French army and could drive the machine. They 
 also knew that you and I were stranded from 
 our regiment and were anxious to get back. 
 Consequently they decided to turn their aeroplane 
 over to us in order to help us. ' ' 
 
 "It might have been a French machine," said 
 Leon, smiling at his friend's remarks. 
 
 "It wasn't, though," said Jacques. 
 
 "How do you know I" 
 
 "I saw it. It was a German machine of the 
 type they call a taube. ' '
 
 A BOLD PLAN 97 
 
 "Well, then, maybe you couldn't have run it 
 anyway," remarked Leon. 
 
 "Don't be silly, Leon. Of course I could run 
 it." 
 
 "You seem to have a lot of confidence in your 
 ability," laughed Leon. 
 
 "Why not? I've been in this aviation business 
 for some time now and in order to be a success 
 I can tell you it is necessary to know all about 
 machinery and motors. I'm not boasting when 
 I say I could run that taube without any trouble." 
 
 "Weir, it's gone, anyway," sighed Leon, rising 
 to his feet as he spoke. "We might as well go 
 back to our automobile." 
 
 Jacques also arose and the two young soldiers 
 started to retrace their steps through the forest. 
 
 They had covered only a few yards when 
 Jacques suddenly stopped. 
 
 "Listen," he exclaimed. 
 
 Both boys stood still. Over their heads and 
 from high in the air came the whirring sound 
 made by the propellers and motor of an aeroplane. 
 
 "They're coming back," cried Jacques excit- 
 edly. "Come on, Leon." 
 
 Quickly scrambling back to their place behind 
 the bushes the two boys peered eagerly upward 
 for a sight of their aerial visitor. 
 
 "There it is!" exclaimed Jacques in a low
 
 98 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 voice, as he spoke, pointing to the sky directly 
 about them. 
 
 "Yes, but they're not going to land, I'm 
 afraid." 
 
 "It doesn't appear so, but you can't tell yet. 
 They are about a thousand feet high, I should 
 say. ' ' 
 
 "Look," cried Leon. "They're turning." 
 
 "Yes, sir, they are, and I wouldn't be a bit 
 surprised now if they did land here after all. ' ' 
 
 The aeroplane, resembling a great buzzard in 
 its flight, described a circle in the air high above 
 the heads of the two eager watchers on the 
 ground below. The shape of the taube certainly 
 gave it the appearance of a bird and its flight 
 seemed to be as steady and true as that of an 
 eagle. 
 
 "They are circling around here, looking for a 
 place to land," cried Jacques. 
 
 "Do you think so?" 
 
 "I'm practically sure of it." 
 
 "That's great," exclaimed Leon gleefully. 
 "We may fly to Paris yet, Jacques." 
 
 "Don't be too sure," replied Jacques soberly. 
 "They haven't even landed, and if they do, we'll 
 have no easy task taking the machine away from 
 them." 
 
 "Oh, we can do it," said Leon confidently. 
 "You know we are lucky."
 
 A BOLD PLAN 99 
 
 "So far, yes. This may be the time when our 
 luck changes, though." 
 
 "I hope not. Anyway they're going to land, 
 aren't they?" demanded Leon, watching the aero- 
 plane intently. 
 
 "Yes. They've shut off their motor now, I 
 think." 
 
 "I can't hear it," said Leon, listening intently. 
 "We've got a great chance here, Jacques, and we 
 mustn't make a botch of it." 
 
 Both boys unconsciously felt for their re- 
 volvers, at the same time keeping their gaze 
 riveted on the descending aeroplane. Around and 
 around in great circles it went, steadily coming 
 closer and closer to the earth. Finally, with one 
 straight, headlong dive, it shot downward and 
 landed gracefully in the field not two hundred 
 yards distant from the place where the boys were 
 concealed. 
 
 It ran along the ground for some distance and 
 then came to a full stop. Almost immediately 
 two men got out. 
 
 "What shall we do now?" exclaimed Leon. 
 "Eush them?" 
 
 "Wait and see what they do first," cautioned 
 Jacques. 
 
 ' * But they may leave in a moment. We mustn 't 
 wait too long. ' ' 
 
 "Well, we can't charge them across this open
 
 100 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 field very well. What chance do you think we'd 
 have?" 
 
 ' ' None, ' ' agreed Leon. ' ' If we only had a rifle. ' ' 
 
 "But we haven't. Could you hit one of them 
 at this distance with your revolver?" 
 
 "Not one chance in a thousand." 
 
 "Nor could I. Consequently we must wait for 
 a short time and see if something doesn't happen 
 to our advantage." 
 
 "What are they doing!" said Leon, puzzled by 
 the actions of the two aviators. 
 
 "I should say they were preparing to eat break- 
 fast." 
 
 "I guess you're right. See, they're taking 
 things out of the aeroplane. Looks like a loaf of 
 bread and a can or something." 
 
 The two Germans busied themselves in their 
 task, and to all appearances were absolutely un- 
 conscious of any danger lurking near them. This 
 fact struck both boys forcibly. 
 
 "They probably think that the whole Allied 
 army has been driven almost to Paris," remarked 
 Jacques, ' * and that there is no danger of any kind 
 left in northern France." 
 
 "Well, they'll be fooled if they're not careful," 
 said Leon grimly. 
 
 "Yes, and I hope we are the ones to do it." 
 
 "We'll never do it sitting here like this," ex- 
 claimed Leon impatiently.
 
 A BOLD PLAN 101 
 
 "I know that, but what can we do?" 
 
 "Look!" cried Leon suddenly. "One of the 
 men is coming over here." 
 
 Sure enough, one of the Germans had started 
 to walk briskly in the direction of the hiding place 
 of the boys. He hurried along as though he had 
 some definite purpose in mind, and was eager to 
 execute it. 
 
 "Do you suppose he has seen us?" whispered 
 Leon. 
 
 "How could he?" 
 
 "What is he coming over here for, then?" 
 
 "I don't know, unless he is coming after some 
 wood to make a fire." 
 
 "That must be it," exclaimed Leon. "What 
 shall we do to him?" 
 
 "We can't shoot him, for the shot would alarm 
 his companion and he might fly away. We must 
 overpower him if we can and then go after the 
 other." 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon, "but we want our 
 guns handy, just the same. ' ' 
 
 The boys lapsed into silence. Crouching be- 
 hind the thick bushes they watched the German 
 approaching. Straight toward them he came, un- 
 concerned and apparently not in the least wor- 
 ried. He even whistled a tune as he swung along. 
 
 As he came closer and closer the two young sol- 
 diers prepared themselves for the attack.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 AN AMBUSH 
 
 THE German was barely twenty yards dis- 
 tant now, and as yet he apparently sus- 
 pected nothing. Ten yards away from the 
 ambush prepared for him he stopped to light a 
 cigarette he had selected from a case in his 
 pocket. 
 
 The two young soldiers noticed this fact with 
 satisfaction. Neither one of them had ever used 
 tobacco and they knew that consequently they 
 would be in better condition for the impending 
 struggle than would their adversary. 
 
 Breathlessly they waited for the proper mo- 
 ment to strike. The German would evidently 
 enter the woods about ten feet to the left of the 
 place where the boys were hidden. From behind 
 he would easily be able to see them and if he did 
 so before they had a chance to overpower him, he 
 might alarm his companion. It was necessary to 
 time the attack for just the proper instant. 
 
 As he came even with their hiding place, Leon 
 
 involuntarily started to rise to his feet. Jacques 
 
 102
 
 AN AMBUSH 103 
 
 gripped his friend firmly by the arm and held him 
 back. 
 
 "Wait one moment," he whispered. 
 
 The German walked more slowly after he en- 
 tered the forest. He began to look about him on 
 the ground and was evidently in search of wood 
 as Jacques had surmised. Leon was very impa- 
 tient at being held back, but Jacques held him 
 tightly, and as the young American could not 
 argue at this time there was nothing left for him 
 to do but submit to his comrade's plan, whatever 
 it might be. 
 
 "Now, come," whispered Jacques fiercely, at 
 the same time releasing his hold on Leon's arms. 
 
 Both boys rose to their feet at once and made 
 a rush at their enemy, whose back was now turned 
 to them. He was standing ten yards or more 
 away, unmindful of any danger whatsoever. 
 
 At the sound of the cracking branches and 
 leaves behind him he whirled suddenly, but too 
 late to escape the onslaught. Both boys instantly 
 leaped upon him. Jacques dealt him a crushing 
 blow with the butt end of his revolver and at the 
 same time Leon tackled him around the knees. 
 Never in all his experience on the football field 
 had he thrown an opponent quicker or harder than 
 he did this aviator. 
 
 The German lay upon the ground partly 
 stunned by the blow he had received from
 
 104 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 Jacques' revolver. Wasting no time, the boys 
 quickly removed their prisoner's coat and bound 
 his arms firmly behind his back. Then, with his 
 belt, they tied his feet securely together so that 
 he was absolutely powerless to move. 
 
 " Carry him over here," exclaimed Jacques. 
 
 "Where are you going to put him?" 
 
 "Just over here behind this tree, where he'll 
 be out of sight. His friend may be along in a 
 few minutes." 
 
 They quickly lifted their prisoner and carried 
 him to the spot Jacques had designated. As they 
 put him down he opened his eyes dazedly. Up 
 to this time he had been too stunned to resist, but 
 now having regained full control of his senses he 
 began to struggle violently. 
 
 The two boys stood over him with drawn re- 
 volvers fully prepared for any emergency, how- 
 ever. 
 
 "Do you think he can work himself loose?" 
 said Leon. 
 
 "Not the slightest chance," replied Jacques 
 confidently. 
 
 At the sound of voices their captive stopped 
 struggling and looked up into the faces of the 
 two boys. 
 
 "Who are you?" he inquired in excellent Eng- 
 lish. 
 
 It was a decided shock to the two young
 
 AN AMBUSH 105 
 
 soldiers to hear themselves addressed in this 
 tongue. 
 
 " Shall we tell him?" said Jacques, turning to 
 Leon. 
 
 "Why not! He is tied up safely and can do us 
 no harm." 
 
 "All right, then," exclaimed Jacques, "we'll 
 tell him if he wants to know. ' ' 
 
 "We're two soldiers of the French army," he 
 continued, addressing the German at his feet. 
 "We've been separated from our regiment and 
 we are trying to find it again. We saw you land 
 here in your aeroplane and we thought that if we 
 borrowed it, it might help us to get along much 
 faster." 
 
 The German laughed contemptuously. 
 
 "What could you do with an aeroplane?" he 
 inquired. 
 
 "Why, the same thing you have been doing," 
 replied Jacques calmly. 
 
 "You think you could run one then?" sneered 
 their captive. 
 
 "Look here," broke in Leon hotly. "My 
 friend here is an aviator in the French army, and 
 if you don't think " 
 
 "Don't bother to explain to him," laughed 
 Jacques. "It's none of his business who we are, 
 anyway. You stay here and watch this man 
 while I go and keep an eye on his friend. It's
 
 106 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 about time for him to begin a search for this in- 
 quisitive comrade of his. ' ' 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon. "I'll look out for 
 him." 
 
 Jacques returned to his post at the edge of the 
 woods, leaving Leon to deal with the captured 
 aviator. 
 
 "Now suppose you tell me who you are," sug- 
 gested Leon. "I am somewhat curious, too." 
 
 "What good would it do you to know that?" 
 
 "None at all," laughed Leon. "If you are 
 ashamed, don't tell me." 
 
 "Look here," exclaimed the German hotly, "it 
 seems to me you are a very confident young man. 
 What are you doing in the French army, any- 
 way? You don't look like a Frenchman." 
 
 "What good would it do you to know that?" 
 mimicked Leon. 
 
 The German spluttered with rage, but he was 
 helpless, and Leon enjoyed this show of temper 
 on the part of the prisoner. 
 
 "You speak English very well," said Leon. 
 
 "I went to Oxford," exclaimed the captive, and 
 then realizing that he had disclosed something 
 about himself he suddenly became quiet. Try as 
 he might Leon was unable to draw another word 
 from his prisoner. 
 
 The German lay quietly on the ground and 
 Leon soon became tired of merely looking at him.
 
 AN AMBUSH 107 
 
 What was the use in watching him further? He 
 was securely tied and unable to rise to his feet. 
 Certainly he could not escape. This was what 
 Leon believed and he decided to stroll over to the 
 place where Jacques was stationed. Accordingly 
 he began to walk slowly in that direction. 
 
 Scarcely had he gone ten feet when the captive 
 German began to yell at the top of his lungs. He 
 shouted in his native tongue, but it was easy for 
 Leon to believe that he was calling for help. He 
 knew that if the other aviator became suspicious 
 he might fly away, and their prize would be gone 
 forever. 
 
 With two bounds he was back at the place 
 where his prisoner was lying, and flinging himself 
 headlong upon the German he clapped his hand 
 over his mouth. 
 
 "If you make one more sound," he hissed in 
 the man's ear, "I'll use this revolver on you and 
 it won't be the butt end of it, either." 
 
 Quickly feeling in the pockets of the German's 
 coat Leon found a scarf. With this he gagged 
 his captive so that he was soon unable to talk 
 even if he had so desired. 
 
 This having been done he made his way to the 
 spot where Jacques was crouching behind the 
 bushes. 
 
 "Why did you let that fellow yell that way!" 
 demanded Jacques angrily.
 
 108 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "How did I know he was going to yell?" 
 
 "You should have known there was danger of 
 it." 
 
 "Did you think of such a thing, before you 
 left me?" 
 
 "No," said Jacques, "I didn't. Don't discuss 
 it now, anyway. Look at this other man out 
 here." 
 
 "Did he hear the shout?" asked Leon, as he 
 peered out upon the field where the aeroplane was 
 resting. 
 
 "Of course he heard it," said Jacques grimly. 
 "I think they could have heard it in London. I 
 never in my life heard such a loud voice. ' ' 
 
 "He acts as though he suspected something, all 
 right," exclaimed Leon after a brief look from 
 their hiding place. 
 
 "I should say he did. See, he's looking this 
 way." 
 
 "Yes, and here he comes." 
 
 At the sound of his companion's voice the avi- 
 ator that had been left with the machine started 
 quickly to his feet. Facing the woods he gazed 
 intently at them with a puzzled expression on his 
 face. Evidently he was undecided whether his 
 companion was in trouble or not, and he was wait- 
 ing for the call to be repeated. Leon already had 
 attended to that part of it, however.
 
 AN AMBUSH 109 
 
 The German stood for several moments, evi- 
 dently listening as intently as he was able, and 
 then, when he heard no further sound from his 
 friend, he started to walk slowly forward. With 
 his revolver in his hand he cautiously picked his 
 way across the field. 
 
 "The man's a fool," exclaimed Jacques in a 
 low voice. 
 
 "He certainly is," agreed Leon. "He's brave, 
 but he's a fool." 
 
 "Still," said Jacques, "I don't think I'd run 
 away just because I'd heard a shout. Especially 
 if I was almost certain there was none of the 
 enemy near-by. That's what this German 
 thinks." 
 
 "He's so exposed, though," protested Leon. 
 "He can't see us and we can see him perfectly. 
 Our position is certainly far superior to his." 
 
 "Yes, and we must take advantage of it, too. 
 This man is armed and ready for anything. We 
 can't afford to treat him the way we did the 
 other." 
 
 "It seems a shame." 
 
 "This is war, Leon," reminded Jacques. "Do 
 you think he'd hesitate if he was in our posi- 
 tion?" 
 
 "I know he wouldn't. Are you ready?" 
 
 "Let me give the word."
 
 UO WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LI N 1 
 
 "All right," and both boys crouched low be- 
 hind their ambush, with guns iii their hands and 
 fingers on the triggers. 
 
 The German had covered perhaps half the dis- 
 tance and now was about a hundred yards dis- 
 tant. He stopped and called the name of his 
 companion, but of course received no answer. 
 Then on he came once more. He was near on 
 now so that the two waiting boys could see him 
 distinctly. They could make out the deadly 
 whiteness of his skin, the eager gin his 
 
 eyes as he peered intently into the ; 
 
 Sixty, fifty, forty yards away he was. Then he 
 was only thirty yards distant and still Jacques 
 made no sign. It seemed to Leon his comrade 
 was never going to give the signal. The iiennau 
 came more slowly now. He was evidently 
 ous or suspicious. 
 
 He was scarcely twenty-five yards away when 
 Jacques nudged Leon. 
 
 "Now," he said in a whisper.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 A FKESH START FOB THE FRONT 
 
 THE two revolvers spoke at almost the same 
 instant. 
 Neither shot went true to its mark, but 
 the sharp bark of the automatics brought the 
 German to a sudden halt. He raised his revolver 
 and fired in the direction of the tiny puffs of 
 smoke issuing from the bushes. The bullets 
 crashed through the underbrush above the boys' 
 heads while they returned the fire vigorously. 
 
 They were not expert shots with revolvers as 
 can readily be imagined from the result of their 
 efforts. The German was unhurt and now had 
 turned and was running at top speed across the 
 field. None of his shots had taken effect either, 
 but he had been aiming at a blind target, while he 
 had afforded an excellent mark himself. 
 
 "His cartridges are gone," exclaimed Jacques, 
 springing to his feet. 
 
 "So are mine," cried Leon feverishly, trying 
 to jam a fresh supply into the chambers of his 
 gun. "Fire at him, Jacques! Fire!" 
 
 Jacques needed no advice on this score. He 
 111
 
 112 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 took quick aim and once more fired at the fleeing 
 German, who was now fifty yards distant and run- 
 ning at full speed. Evidently convinced that he 
 was at a decided disadvantage, the aviator was 
 risking his life no more than was necessary. He 
 was making for his aeroplane as fast as his legs 
 could carry him. 
 
 To the great surprise of both boys Jacques' 
 first shot was the only one needed. 
 
 The speeding German stumbled momentarily, 
 then pitched headlong to the ground and lay still. 
 
 "You've killed him," exclaimed Leon, stunned 
 by the full realization of what was taking place. 
 
 "Don't be too sure of that," said Jacques. 
 "You know how one of those Uhlans up in Bel- 
 gium once fooled us.* This man may be only 
 shamming. ' ' 
 
 "You hit him all right," insisted Leon. 
 
 "Well, if I did it was the best shot I ever made. 
 Go slow now, Leon," he added, as they started out 
 from the cover of the woods, and began to walk 
 across the field to the place where the German was 
 lying. 
 
 "Keep your revolver ready," cautioned 
 Jacques. 
 
 "No need to worry about that." 
 
 Slowly and carefully they made their way over 
 the rough ground. They were now within fifteen 
 
 * See " The Air Scout."
 
 A FEESH START FOR THE FRONT 113 
 
 or twenty yards of where their opponent lay. He 
 was stretched out at full length with his back 
 toward the boys. His face could not be seen. 
 
 " There's his gun," whispered Leon. 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "Lying out there on the ground. Don't you 
 see it?" 
 
 "He may have another." 
 
 "I don't believe it. I think you killed him." 
 
 A loud groan immediately assured the two 
 young soldiers that this was not the case, how- 
 ever. 
 
 "Look out," cried Jacques. 
 
 "I'm just going around in front of him," re- 
 plied Leon. "I'm all right." 
 
 He made a short detour and approached the 
 wounded aviator. He held his gun ready for in- 
 stant use, however, in case the German should at- 
 tempt a surprise of any kind. Meanwhile Jacques 
 was also ready for any emergency. 
 
 When the German spied Leon, he merely held 
 on to his shoulder and groaned. 
 
 "He's badly wounded," exclaimed Leon as he 
 noted a thin stream of blood covering his enemy's 
 shirt with its crimson stain. 
 
 "Never mind that. Search him first," di- 
 rected Jacques. 
 
 "Keep him covered then." 
 
 Leon quickly convinced himself that the Ger-
 
 114 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 man was not armed. His only weapon had evi- 
 dently been the gun which he had discarded as he 
 fell. This Leon appropriated to his own use. 
 
 "What shall we do with him now?" exclaimed 
 Leon. 
 
 "Leave him where he is." 
 
 "We can't do that. He'd be sure to die out 
 here in the sun." 
 
 "Do you think he'd worry about us if we were 
 in his place?" 
 
 "Perhaps not, but I couldn't leave any man in 
 this condition." 
 
 "You're too soft-hearted," said Jacques. 
 "You forget that this is all a part of war, and 
 that tenderness and war don't go together." 
 
 ' ' That may be, but I refuse to abandon him this 
 way. ' ' 
 
 "What do you propose to do?" 
 
 Leon was thoughtful for a moment in his ef- 
 fort to think of some means of disposing of their 
 wounded enemy. 
 
 "If we stay here much longer, some one may 
 come along and take the aeroplane away from 
 us," remarked Jacques, somewhat irritated by his 
 companion's delay. 
 
 "I know what we'll do," exclaimed Leon sud- 
 denly. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "We'll untie our friend back there in the woods
 
 A FEESH STAET FOB THE FRONT 115 
 
 and leave him to take care of his companion. 
 That's the best we can do." 
 
 "Do you think it's safe to do that?" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "He may cause trouble for us." 
 
 "How can he?" demanded Leon. ""We're 
 armed and he isn't. I don't see how he can pos- 
 sibly do us any harm." 
 
 "All right then, if you say so," agreed 
 Jacques. "Let's not waste any time about it, 
 though. ' ' 
 
 The boys immediately set out for the forest, 
 leaving the wounded aviator still groaning and 
 moaning on the ground. 
 
 "Do you think he's badly hurt?" inquired Leon 
 of his friend. 
 
 "I don't believe so, though, of course, I don't 
 know much about it. It strikes me, though, that 
 if he was very badly wounded he couldn't writhe 
 around and make as much fuss as he has been 
 doing. ' ' 
 
 "I hope he does recover." 
 
 "Why do you hope that? He is a German and 
 our enemy, and do you think he 'd feel sorry if he 
 had shot one of us ? " 
 
 "No, of course not." 
 
 "Then what is the matter with you?" 
 
 "Well," said Leon, "this seems different. In 
 a battle there are hundreds and thousands of men
 
 116 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 and it may be all right to kill people then. When 
 there are only two on each side I can't help feel- 
 ing as if it was cold blooded and cruel." 
 
 "You're funny," laughed Jacques. "If I 
 didn't know you as well as I do I might think you 
 didn't have much nerve." 
 
 "You see what I mean though, don't you?" 
 
 "Yes, I do, and I think you are all right if you 
 don't overdo it. First of all we must look out 
 for ourselves though." 
 
 "I intend to do that all right," said Leon 
 grimly. 
 
 At this moment they entered the woods and 
 were soon standing over the prostrate body of 
 their captured German. 
 
 "Hello, Oxford," Leon greeted him banter- 
 ingly. "Have you felt lonesome without me to 
 talk to youT' 
 
 The German merely glared at Leon and made 
 no reply. 
 
 "Oh, come," urged Leon, "don't be angry. 
 We've returned to untie you and let you go. 
 Aren't you glad?" 
 
 At these words their captive's eyes gleamed, 
 but he made no sound. 
 
 "We haven't much time, Leon," said Jacques. 
 "Let's get to work." 
 
 "All right. I'll roll him over and you untie 
 him."
 
 A FRESH STAET FOE THE FRONT 117 
 
 The German had been lying flat on his back. 
 Leon quickly grasped him by the arm, however, 
 and turned him over so that he rested face down- 
 ward. It was but the work of a moment to re- 
 lease his arms and when this was done the two 
 young soldiers prepared to depart. 
 
 "You can untie your feet yourself," remarked 
 Leon. 
 
 "Where's Karl?" exclaimed the German sud- 
 denly. 
 
 "Who's Karl?" 
 
 "My friend who was with me." 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Leon as if suddenly remem- 
 bering something. "You'll find Karl resting out 
 in the middle of the field. He's probably waiting 
 for you and I feel sure he'll be glad to see you 
 again. ' ' 
 
 The German merely growled something under 
 his breath while he worked hard to loosen the 
 strap which held his ankles. 
 
 "We'll make you a present of something be- 
 fore we leave, too," said Jacques. 
 
 The German looked at him suspiciously. 
 
 "Yes," continued Jacques, "we'll make you a 
 present. At least, it is more of a trade than a 
 present. We intend to take your aeroplane so 
 we '11 give you our automobile. If you walk about 
 two hundred yards in that direction," and he 
 pointed toward the woods as he spoke, "you'll
 
 118 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 find a nice big Benz automobile in the middle of 
 a clump of bushes. We have no further use for 
 it, so if you think you'd like to have it, you're 
 very welcome, I'm sure." 
 
 "That's the truth," added Leon seriously, for 
 it was evident the German did not believe what 
 Jacques had said. 
 
 "Will it run!" asked the German, only half 
 convinced. 
 
 "It surely will," said Jacques. "It's a beauti- 
 ful car, too. There may not be much gasoline in 
 the tank, but otherwise it 's in fine condition. ' ' 
 
 "Good-by and gaod luck to you," smiled Leon 
 as he and Jacques started to walk away. The 
 German paid no attention to him, however, but 
 merely busied himself in brushing off his clothes, 
 and stretching his limbs which were cramped 
 from long being in one position. 
 
 "I'd love to stay and tease the fellow some 
 more," chuckled Leon. "I never saw a man get 
 so mad when you make fun of him. ' ' 
 
 "You wouldn't tease him if he didn't get mad, 
 I suppose," laughed Jacques. 
 
 "Of course not. There's no fun in it if the 
 person you are teasing doesn 't pay any attention 
 to you." 
 
 "Look at our wounded friend," exclaimed 
 Jacques suddenly. 
 
 The two young soldiers had just emerged from
 
 A FRESH STAKT FOR THE FRONT 119 
 
 the woods and were surprised to see the man they 
 had left writhing in pain, sitting up and looking 
 all about him. 
 
 "I guess he wasn't as badly hurt as we thought, 
 was he?" said Leon. 
 
 "It doesn't look so, and I think you need worry 
 about him no more. He and his cheerful friend 
 in the woods will soon be speeding down the road 
 in their new automobile." 
 
 "We'd better speed away in our new aero- 
 plane," exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "Right you are, and the sooner the better." 
 
 "Suppose we can't start it." 
 
 "Don't think of such a thing at a time like 
 this." 
 
 "I don't want to. I certainly hope we have no 
 trouble." 
 
 They had come to the place where the taube 
 was resting and Jacques, with a critical eye, was 
 soon inspecting the engine. He tested the cylin- 
 ders and the many delicate little mechanisms at- 
 tached to the motor. 
 
 "How does it seem!" inquired Leon, who had 
 been an interested spectator of these proceedings. 
 
 "First rate. Everything is in fine order." 
 
 "Ready to start!" 
 
 "Right away. We'd better dress more warmly 
 though. ' ' 
 
 In the car of the aeroplane they found sweaters
 
 120 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 and heavy jackets. They did not hesitate to ap- 
 propriate these articles of clothing and were soon 
 bundled up and fully prepared for the cold cur- 
 rents they were sure to encounter when they were 
 high in the air. 
 
 The engine was started and the boys took their 
 places in the car. 
 
 "This seems like old times," exclaimed Leon 
 delightedly. 
 
 "Doesn't it, though! This certainly is better 
 than horses or automobiles, isn't it?" 
 
 "I told you we were lucky," insisted Leon. 
 
 "I'm not so sure of it even yet," smiled 
 Jacques. "Are you ready?" 
 
 "All ready." 
 
 Jacques pulled a lever and the aeroplane shot 
 forward and ran along the ground for a consid- 
 erable distance. Then elevating the planes the 
 young Frenchman caused the taube to rise from 
 the ground and sail gracefully into the air. 
 
 Leon turned and waved his hand at the two 
 Germans on the ground beneath him.
 
 CHAPTEE XIV 
 
 THROUGH THE ATE 
 
 "'IT "IT TTHERE are we bound?" 
 V/\/ "To Paris, of course." 
 y y "Do you know the way?" 
 
 "I think so." 
 
 "Well," said Leon, "do you think we can fly 
 that far in one attempt?" 
 
 "I see no reason why we can't." 
 
 "All right, Jacques. I leave it all to you." 
 
 "Do we want to go to Paris, though?" ex- 
 claimed Leon a moment later. "We want to re- 
 join our regiment and if we run across the French 
 army between here and Paris we will stop, won't 
 we?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, of course. I only spoke of Paris, 
 because I didn't know what else to say." 
 
 "Paris may have been captured by this time." 
 
 "Do you believe that it has been?" exclaimed 
 Jacques angrily. 
 
 "No, I don't." 
 
 "Neither do I, and I don't think there are 
 enough Germans in all of Germany to take Paris." 
 
 "Let us hope not," said Leon fervently. 
 
 121
 
 122 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 They had risen to a height of nearly three thou- 
 sand feet by this time and the earth beneath them 
 seemed very far away. Neither boy had any feel- 
 ing of uneasiness, however. Jacques was an avia- 
 tor by profession and Leon, acting as his scout, 
 had accompanied him on practically all of his 
 flights in Belgium during the first part of the war. 
 Consequently they were experienced in the art 
 of flying and confidence usually comes with ex- 
 perience. 
 
 "It seems good to be up here again, doesn't 
 it?'* exclaimed Jacques. 
 
 "It certainly does." 
 
 "Let's try not to end this flight the way we did 
 the last one we took together. Do you remember 
 that?" 
 
 "When we hit the tree, you mean?" 
 
 "Yes, and what was it that made us hit the 
 tree?" 
 
 "Why, one of our planes collapsed. You know 
 that as well as I do." 
 
 "What made the plane collapse?" insisted 
 Jacques. 
 
 "Bullet holes." 
 
 ' ' That 's what I 'm getting at. How did we hap- 
 pen to have bullet holes there?" 
 
 "Why, the Germans shot at us, and happened 
 to hit us, that's all." 
 
 "Yes," laughed Jacques, "that is exactly so.
 
 THROUGH THE AIR 123 
 
 I was trying to make you admit that it was be- 
 cause you insisted upon dropping that last bomb 
 that we happened to be in a position to be struck. ' ' 
 
 "I wonder if there are any bombs in this aero- 
 plane," exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "I don't think so." 
 
 "I'm going to look anyway." 
 
 "Well, if you do find any we'll take good care 
 to be high enough up in the air so as to be well 
 out of range of any German guns. I want to 
 reach Paris." 
 
 "There are none here," said Leon a brief time 
 afterward in a disappointed tone. 
 
 "I'm glad of it." 
 
 "Don't you like to drop bombs on your en- 
 emies ? ' ' 
 
 "Of course I do, but just now my one ambition 
 fcs to find my regiment." 
 
 "We're making good time all right. What 
 place is that ahead?" 
 
 "Arras, I should say/' replied Jacques after a 
 moment. 
 
 Far beneath them the city lay. The houses ap- 
 peared so small that they all seemed to run in to- 
 gether. People on the streets looked to be the 
 size of ants and without the aid of the field 
 glasses Leon had discovered in the aeroplane, it 
 would have been difficult for him to distinguish 
 objects clearly.
 
 124 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "You're going directly over the town!" ex- 
 claimed Leon. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "I don't know, except that I thought there 
 might be more chance of being shot at above a 
 town than in the country." 
 
 "Is any one looking up at us?" 
 
 "I should say so," replied Leon, peering down 
 through his glasses. "In the square there is a 
 big crowd of people and they are all looking up 
 and pointing at us. ' ' 
 
 "They probably think we're going to drop a 
 few bombs." 
 
 "I wish we could." 
 
 "Not here though." 
 
 "No, not here, but on the Germans when we 
 come up with them." 
 
 "We may not see any of them at all," said 
 Jacques. 
 
 ' ' Why not ? Where could they all disappear ? ' ' 
 
 "That's not it. We are pretty far to the west 
 to strike any of the German armies, I think. I 
 imagine that they are all to the left of us." 
 
 "Do you know that for sure?" 
 
 "No, that's only a guess, but it seems reason- 
 able to me." 
 
 "Yes, I think it does," agreed Leon. "They 
 all want to keep in touch with one another I sup- 
 pose, and if one division got 'way over here it
 
 THROUGH THE AIR 125 
 
 might be cut off from the rest and either be forced 
 to surrender or be destroyed." 
 
 " Still," said Jacques, " there's this about it. 
 The Germans have been down this way in an ef- 
 fort to outflank our troops. If they succeeded 
 in that it would be pretty serious business for the 
 Allies." 
 
 "What do you mean ( outflank' them?" 
 
 "Why, to turn the flank, to get behind them or 
 on one side and force them in toward the center. 
 If they could do that they might be able to sur- 
 round our troops. That might mean defeat." 
 
 "You mean that Germany would win the war 
 if they could turn the flank of the Allies here?" 
 demanded Leon in astonishment. 
 
 "I do not," said Jacques warmly. "They'll 
 never win this war. At the beginning they may 
 have more success than we do, but that's because 
 they are better prepared and have more men. 
 Wait till Russia gets going though, and wait till 
 England's army begins to grow. Then you'll see 
 the Allies chasing the Germans out of France 
 instead of what has been happening here 
 lately." 
 
 "How big is England's army?" asked Leon. 
 
 "You mean her regular army?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Not over two hundred thousand men, I should 
 say. ' '
 
 126 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "Oh, they must have more than that/' Leon in- 
 sisted. 
 
 "That doesn't include their reserves of course," 
 continued Jacques. "They would bring the total 
 up to about three quarters of a million." 
 
 "England hasn't nearly as large an army as 
 some of the other nations then?" 
 
 "No, she hasn't," said Jacques. "Of course 
 I haven't included their troops in India and 
 Canada and their other colonies. Before very 
 long England will have a big army over here just 
 the same. Don't fool yourself about that." 
 
 "We can use them all right." 
 
 "I guess we can. We don't know much about 
 the situation here now though. Since we left 
 Mons we might as well have been in South Amer- 
 ica for all the knowledge we have as to what is 
 going on." 
 
 "That's all right," said Leon confidently. 
 "Just wait a little while now and we'll be right 
 in the thick of it again." 
 
 "We will, if we're lucky." 
 
 "We're that all right, just as I've often told 
 you lately. You said our luck was not going to 
 keep, but you see it has. Just think how every- 
 thing has come out right for us lately and how 
 much faster we are traveling than we expected. 
 You must admit you never thought you'd be so 
 near Paris by this time."
 
 THROUGH THE AIE 127 
 
 "No, I can't say I did," Jacques admitted. 
 "Still I don't like to hear you talking about luck 
 all the time. I'm afraid it will change if we do." 
 
 The aeroplane now was racing through the air. 
 The boys were comfortably dressed in the clothes 
 they had appropriated and were perfectly happy. 
 At times they conversed and then again they re- 
 mained silent for some moments, while they 
 looked at the fertile green land beneath them and 
 dreamed of the time soon to come when they 
 should have another chance to distinguish them- 
 selves on the battlefield. 
 
 From their seats, high in the air, none of the 
 scars of war could be seen. The little villages 
 seemed to be peaceful and the farmhouses cozy 
 and comfortable. The country appeared fresh 
 and everywhere beautiful. Like great white rib- 
 bons the roads wound their way in and out among 
 the hills, even at this distance giving promise of 
 smoothness and comfort to those who traveled 
 over them. 
 
 Leon never ceased marveling at these wonder- 
 ful highways. 
 
 "I never saw such splendid roads," he ex- 
 claimed, turning to Jacques. 
 
 "They are wonderful," said Jacques simply. 
 
 "They're certainly fine for motorcycles and au- 
 tomobiles. When this war is over I intend to 
 come over here again with a motorcycle."
 
 128 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 " There may be no roads when the war is over," 
 said Jacques sadly. " Think of the thousands of 
 men and horses that are marching over them; 
 the hundreds of ammunition and supply wagons; 
 the great guns and all the other things that go 
 with an army." 
 
 "That's right," said Leon, "the roads are likely 
 to be badly torn up, aren't they?" 
 
 "I should say so. Just think what some of 
 those heavy guns would do to a road in wet 
 weather when the ground is soft." 
 
 "The only way to save them then, as far as I 
 can see," exclaimed Leon, "is to drive the Ger- 
 mans out of France as fast as we can. The roads 
 will be even more cut up when winter comes and 
 the frost gets into the ground." 
 
 "It's easier to talk about driving them out 
 than it is to do it, I fear. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, I don't know," laughed Leon. "The Al- 
 lies will soon have us with them again and think 
 what a help that will be. ' ' 
 
 "I hope we'll soon be with them as you say." 
 
 "How far are we from Paris now!" 
 
 "Let's see. How long ago was it when we left 
 Arras?" 
 
 "About an hour." 
 
 "And we flew over Amiens about twenty min- 
 utes ago. We should be close to Paris in a very 
 short time now."
 
 THROUGH THE AIR 129 
 
 ' t There 's a city ahead of us now. What is it ! " 
 
 "Beauvais, I think. That's about half way be- 
 tween Amiens and Paris." 
 
 "This is somewhat faster than being on foot, 
 I should say," remarked Leon. "Think of the 
 different ways we've traveled since we left Mons. 
 On foot at first, then in a hay wagon, then on 
 horseback, then in an automobile, and now in an 
 aeroplane. Every one faster than the one pre- 
 ceding it. I don't see what we can do next, do 
 you?" 
 
 "I hope we shall need nothing more," laughed 
 Jacques. 
 
 As the aeroplane came closer and closer to Paris 
 the spirits of the boys steadily rose. They felt 
 that they were nearing the end of their journey 
 and they were both impatient to be back in har- 
 ness once more. 
 
 "There's a river ahead!" exclaimed Leon a few 
 moments later. 
 
 "That's the Oise," replied Jacques. "A few 
 miles from here it joins the Seine and flows down 
 into the English Channel near Havre." 
 
 "We must be very near Paris then." 
 
 "We're almost in Paris. I'm going to turn 
 east here and fly around the city. We haven't 
 seen any troops at all so far and it worries me. 
 I say we look around a little before we do any- 
 thing else."
 
 130 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon. "You're the boss." 
 
 They turned and headed toward the east. To 
 their right was Paris, seen dimly in the distance, 
 while the two boys in their aeroplane merely 
 skirted the suburbs of the great city. Leon kept 
 a sharp lookout below him for signs of troops, 
 but he saw none. 
 
 "All the houses are torn down," he exclaimed 
 suddenly. 
 
 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Jacques in 
 astonishment. 
 
 "Just what I say. All the houses are torn 
 down. Do you suppose the Germans have de- 
 stroyed them!" 
 
 "I don't know. Perhaps so. Either that or 
 the French tore them down themselves so that the 
 buildings would not be in range of their guns. 
 There is a big fort three or four miles to our 
 right." 
 
 "That must be it," said Leon. "They don't 
 look as if they had been hit by shells. They are 
 razed even with the ground." 
 
 "We've evidently been missing something by 
 not being here," said Jacques anxiously. "I 
 hope Paris is still in our hands." 
 
 "I hope it is too. Do you intend to fly all 
 the way around the city?" 
 
 "We'll keep on until we discover something." 
 
 On they flew steering a course due east.
 
 THROUGH THE AIR 131 
 
 "There's another river," announced Leon. 
 
 "The Ourcq," said Jacques. 
 
 "I see smoke too," cried Leon excitedly. 
 "Over toward our right" 
 
 "Much of it?" 
 
 "I should say so. I believe they're blowing 
 up the whole country. I can hear guns too. 
 Jacques, we're in the thick of it again." 
 
 "It certainly looks so. Now what we want to 
 do is to land among our own troops and not among 
 the Germans." 
 
 "There seem to be two lines. The one on this 
 side must be the German. Fly over them, 
 Jacques, and we'll soon find out." 
 
 "We'll keep well out of range, too," said 
 Jacques soberly. 
 
 "There's another river here," exclaimed Leon. 
 "I never saw so many rivers." 
 
 "That's the Marne. That joins the Ourcq east 
 of Paris. Can you see whether those troops be- 
 low are French or German?" 
 
 "They're Germans," said Leon. "The others 
 are surely French and we'll soon be with them." 
 
 The battlefield below them must have been a 
 busy place, as both boys agreed. Great masses 
 of troops could be seen intrenched, while a cloud 
 of smoke hung over all. The great guns belched 
 forth a steady stream of shot and shell while the 
 roar of it all could be heard even at the height
 
 132 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 at which the two returning young soldiers were 
 flying. 
 
 "I'm going to land now," announced Jacques, 
 when they had reached a spot somewhat in the 
 rear of the French lines. 
 
 Down, down, down they went in great easy 
 circles. Leon was peering intently over the side 
 of the car when suddenly he uttered a startled 
 exclamation. 
 
 "They're firing at us, Jacques!" he cried. 
 "Our own troops are firing at us!"
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE ARRIVAL AT THE MABNE 
 
 ' *"^T "TTO~U don 't mean it ! " exclaimed Jacques 
 ^/ in astonishment. "They can't be fir- 
 JL ing at us." 
 
 At the same time he unconsciously pulled the 
 lever and caused the aeroplane to mount rapidly 
 higher and higher into the air. 
 
 "They are shooting at us, just the same," said 
 Leon. "We'd better get out of here just as fast 
 as we can too. Certainly we can't land here." 
 
 "I don't understand it," said Jacques, while 
 as he spoke the taube rocked slightly and a bul- 
 let hole appeared in the tip of one wing. 
 
 "I do," exclaimed Leon suddenly. "We're in 
 a German aeroplane, Jacques. Why shouldn't 
 they fire at us?" 
 
 "How stupid we are," cried Jacques disgust- 
 edly. "We deserve to be shot for being so care- 
 less and so silly." 
 
 "Well, we stand a good chance all right," said 
 Leon grimly. "There are plenty of people firing 
 at us. Every little puff of smoke I see, seems to 
 
 133
 
 134 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 be aimed directly at us. How soon will we be out 
 of range ? ' ' 
 
 "In about one minute." 
 
 "Don't make it any longer." 
 
 It was an exciting minute that followed. Leon 
 could plainly see that they were the target for 
 hundreds of guns on the battleline below. As he 
 peered anxiously downward he wondered if the 
 Allies hadn't forgotten about the German hosts 
 that opposed them. It seemed as if the two boys 
 in their aeroplane were the one object the soldiers 
 below had made up their minds to destroy. 
 
 Not more than a hundred and fifty feet below 
 them a shell exploded. The air was rent by the 
 concussion and the force of the explosion caused 
 the frail craft they were in suddenly to drop. 
 Only the skill and quick wit of the young French- 
 man at the wheel saved them from capsizing. 
 
 Both boys' faces were white and set as they 
 struggled for their lives. To Leon it seemed as 
 if hours had passed since his comrade had last 
 spoken about the minute that must elapse before 
 they should be safely out of range. He glanced 
 frequently at the bullet hole in the tip of the wing. 
 Would this prove their undoing he wondered, as 
 the same thing had so nearly done in Belgium a 
 abort time before? 
 
 The shell that had so nearly caused their de- 
 struction had robbed them of some of their head-
 
 THE AERIVAL AT THE MAENE 135 
 
 way, as well as forced them lower. This meant 
 more time before they would be entirely out of 
 range, and every second was precious. What a 
 horrible ending, thought Leon, to be killed by the 
 guns of your own army. 
 
 "We're safe, now, I guess," exclaimed Jacques 
 at length. 
 
 "Thank goodness," sighed Leon in great relief. 
 
 "Are they still shooting at us?" 
 
 "I can't tell. They are quite far behind us 
 now." 
 
 "We're all right, I'm sure." 
 
 "Whew, what a narrow escape!" exclaimed 
 Leon. "You know, I feel weak after that, and 
 I never hope to spend another five minutes like 
 the last." 
 
 "Weren't we stupid?" 
 
 "That hardly expresses it," said Leon hotly. 
 "We're fine soldiers, we are, to do a thing like 
 that ! Just imagine what might have happened to 
 us." 
 
 "Let's try to forget it. Suppose we should 
 reach camp and tell every one what a thing we did. 
 Why, we'd never hear the last of it." 
 
 "And we don't deserve to, either." 
 
 "Just think," said Jacques. "We made our 
 way from Belgium right down to Paris, only to 
 wind up our journey by the most stupid per- 
 formance I have ever heard of. We are the luck-
 
 136 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 iest people on earth to be alive now, I can tell 
 you!" 
 
 "Ah, ha, at last you admit we are lucky, do 
 you?" 
 
 "This time I do, but our luck almost left us, 
 didn't it?" 
 
 "It certainly did. I never hope to come so 
 close again." 
 
 "Look down," directed Jacques. "If you 
 don't see any one and if there is a good place 
 nearby, we'll land." 
 
 "Bight beneath us," exclaimed Leon, after a 
 hasty examination of the earth below. 
 
 "Sure there are no troops nearby?" 
 
 "Absolutely." 
 
 The taube, in response to Jacques' manipula- 
 tions, began to descend. This time there was 
 nothing to interfere with their descent and in a 
 very few minutes the two young soldiers were 
 once more on solid ground. 
 
 "Now what shall we do with the aeroplane?" 
 said Leon. 
 
 "I was just thinking of that, and I don't know 
 what we ought to do. ' ' 
 
 "We can't use it, that's sure." 
 
 "Nor could any of our troops use it very well." 
 
 "It might be very useful in scouting over the 
 German army. None of their soldiers would fire 
 at it."
 
 THE ARRIVAL AT THE MARNE 137 
 
 "I know,'* said Jacques, "but there would be 
 too much confusion and risk when returning. I 
 think we'd better destroy it." 
 
 "That seems a terrible shame," protested Leon. 
 
 "I know it does, but what else can we doU If 
 it's of no use to our army we don't want to run 
 any chance of having it fall into the hands of the 
 Germans again. I guess we'll have to burn it 
 up." 
 
 "All right," Leon agreed. "How are you go- 
 ing to do it ?" 
 
 "No trouble about that. Have you any 
 matches?" 
 
 "Just one," replied Leon, feeling in all his 
 pockets. 
 
 " That 'U do." 
 
 Jacques quickly unscrewed the top of the gaso- 
 line tank. Tearing a strip from his shirt he 
 dipped it in the fuel until it was thoroughly sat- 
 urated. Then he placed one end of his impro- 
 vised fuse in the tank while the other hung loosely 
 over the edge. 
 
 "Now we're ready," he exclaimed, at the same 
 time lighting one end of the strip. 
 
 "We'd better run," he cried, and both boys 
 sprinted at full speed for about forty or fifty 
 yards. They stopped then and turned just in 
 time to see a great flame burst from the gasoline 
 tank and envelope the whole aeroplane. A mo-
 
 138 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 ment later what was once a beautiful piece of 
 machinery had become a twisted mass of junk. 
 
 ' ' That aeroplane was good to us, and I 'm sorry 
 to see it go," said Leon sadly. 
 
 "Yes, it was too bad, but we did the wisest 
 thing, I think." 
 
 "No doubt of it. Now let's go back to the 
 battle and see what we find." 
 
 The sound of the firing could be distinctly heard 
 as the two boys started off to complete what they 
 hoped would be the final stage of their journey. 
 A steady rumbling and roaring sound informed 
 them that a great battle was raging not far 
 away. The earth shook with the force of the 
 explosions. 
 
 "How far away are we from the battle?" in- 
 quired Leon. 
 
 "About five miles, I should say." 
 
 ""We'll be there in a little over an hour then, 
 won't we?" 
 
 "I should think so. It'll be dark before that 
 time, too." 
 
 "What do we care?" laughed Leon. "It may 
 be all the better for us anyway. Perhaps they'd 
 shoot at us if we came along in the daytime." 
 
 "I can't get over that trick of ours," exclaimed 
 Jacques. "I hope no one will ask us anything 
 about it." 
 
 "From the sound of that cannonading I should
 
 THE AEEIVAL AT THE MARNE 139 
 
 say that those people up in front of us had all 
 they could attend to on their own account, with- 
 out bothering with other people 's affairs. ' ' 
 
 " There is certainly a terrible battle going on," 
 exclaimed Jacques. "I hope our men are win- 
 ning. So far everything seems to have been in 
 favor of the Germans. Think how far they've 
 come since we saw them last." 
 "All the way from Belgium." 
 "I should say so. Isn't that awful!" 
 "You notice that the French still have Paris, 
 though," remarked Leon. "I think we'll drive 
 them back yet. ' ' 
 
 "How did they get 'way down here so quickly?" 
 "Easiest thing in the world. They had more 
 men than we did, and we couldn't stop them till 
 now. If the Allies have collected some more 
 troops in the meantime and can put as many men 
 in the field as the Germans have, we '11 drive them 
 back. You wait and see." 
 
 "There was an army being formed in Paris, 
 I know, ' ' said Jacques. 
 
 "Do you know," exclaimed Leon, "that just 
 before we crossed the Ourcq River I thought I 
 saw a great mass of men off to our right? They 
 seemed to be coming from Paris. Do you sup- 
 pose that could be the army you just mentioned?" 
 "I don't know, but I shouldn't be surprised 
 if it was. ' '
 
 140 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 " Let's hope they do their part," said Leon 
 earnestly. 
 
 The two young soldiers were walking briskly 
 along the road in the direction of the battle. 
 Louder and louder sounded the roar of the artil- 
 lery as they came nearer and nearer. Uncon- 
 sciously the two boys quickened their pace and 
 hastened forward. The smell of powder and 
 smoke came faintly to their nostrils and acted 
 as a spur to their tired feet. 
 
 Neither one thought of food as they walked 
 rapidly forward in the gathering darkness. The 
 roar of battle was in their ears and the desire 
 to be in it was in their hearts. 
 
 "We'll soon be there, I'm glad to say," re- 
 marked Leon. 
 
 "Yes, and we must report, the first thing we 
 do." 
 
 "Where shall we report f" 
 
 "At headquarters, of course. You didn't ex- 
 pect to go right out in the trenches now, did 
 you!" 
 
 "Why, I had thought something of doing that," 
 laughed Leon. "I guess I don't know as much 
 about military matters as I should." 
 
 "Don't let that worry you," said Jacques re- 
 assuringly. "You know all that's necessary for 
 your work."
 
 THE ARRIVAL AT THE MARNE 141 
 
 "What is my official standing anyway! Do 
 you know?" 
 
 "You're a scout. At first you were attached 
 to the aviation corps, and you may be again for 
 all I know. You'll probably be kept as a scout 
 anyway, though this time it may be with the 
 cavalry. ' ' 
 
 "That wouldn't be so bad," Leon remarked. 
 "Still I think I'd rather be in the aviators' divi- 
 sion. ' ' 
 
 "Perhaps all the aeroplanes are destroyed by 
 now, or there may not be enough left to go around. 
 .We may both get a new job." 
 
 "Well, I don't care much, though I do hope 
 things will be arranged so that we can be together. 
 I'd feel lost without you now, Jacques." 
 
 "That feeling is mutual," replied the young 
 Frenchman simply, and Leon could detect a slight 
 catch in his comrade's voice as he spoke. 
 
 For some time they remained silent as they 
 cautiously proceeded. In fact the roar of the 
 battle made conversation difficult. The rattle of 
 musketry could be heard frequently during a lull 
 in the firing of the heavy guns and mortars. 
 
 "We ought to strike the outposts in a minute," 
 exclaimed Jacques, making himself heard with 
 difficulty. 
 
 Hardly had he spoken when they came in sight
 
 142 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 of the battlefield. It was so dark tliat it was im- 
 possible to see all that was occurring, but the 
 flash of firing from all sides made it very evident 
 that the fight was being carried on in deadly 
 earnest. 
 
 It was a fascinating yet terrible sight and both 
 boys stopped short and looked on in amazement. 
 All along a line extending a seemingly indefi- 
 nite distance the French troops were posted. 
 The heavy artillexy kept up a constant cannonade, 
 but the fire of the smaller guns seemed to be 
 slackening. 
 
 "The fighting is slowing down, now that night 
 is coming on," said Jacques. 
 
 "Well, no human beings could keep up much 
 longer the pace set here a while ago," replied 
 Leon. "I should think the noise would drive the 
 men in the trenches crazy, if it didn't stop once in 
 a while." 
 
 "Some do lose their minds," said Jacques, as 
 he once more started to walk forward. "Come 
 on, Leon ! " he called. 
 
 They made their way slowly toward the battle- 
 line and the place where just ahead of them they 
 could see that the supply wagons were stationed. 
 At least, they supposed this to be the case, for it 
 was too dark to see distinctly. 
 
 Perhaps they had covered twenty or twenty- 
 five yards when the figure of a man suddenly
 
 143 
 
 loomed up out of the darkness and a moment later 
 the two boys were looking into the barrel of a 
 long rifle, to the end of which was attached a 
 gleaming bayonet.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 TJNDEB SUSPICION 
 
 A SHARP challenge was flung at them 
 through the darkness. 
 It was in French, and both boys in- 
 stantly heaved a sigh of relief. At last they were 
 back among the Allies and their troubles were 
 over. How little did they suspect what was in 
 store for them. 
 
 "Who are you?" questioned the sentinel 
 sharply. 
 
 "We have just rejoined the army," replied 
 Jacques, speaking in his own tongue, for evidently 
 the sentry understood no other. 
 
 "Why were you absent from it?" 
 
 "We became separated from our regiment in 
 Belgium, and have just succeeded in forcing our 
 way back." 
 
 "You have no uniforms on," said the guard 
 suspiciously. 
 
 "We were in the aviation corps. We did not 
 wear the regulation uniform, and the clothes we 
 had are now in rags. ' ' 
 
 "You'd better tell your story to the officer in 
 
 144
 
 UNDEE SUSPICION 145 
 
 charge," said the guard. "Come along with me, 
 both of you." 
 
 Walking in front of the sentry the two young 
 soldiers obediently made their way. Their cap- 
 tor marched behind them and directed their 
 course. 
 
 "What's the trouble?" asked Leon, who had 
 understood nothing of what had passed between 
 Jacques and the soldier. 
 
 "He suspects we are spies or " 
 
 ' ' Silence there ! ' ' commanded the guard sharply. 
 
 The boys quickly obeyed and no further words 
 were spoken by them until they arrived at their 
 destination. This proved to be a country house, 
 about a half mile distant, in which headquarters 
 had been established. 
 
 The two young captives were led inside, de- 
 prived of their weapons and then locked in a near- 
 by room. Putside, sentries could be observed 
 walking regularly up and down in front of the 
 house. 
 
 "This is a nice fix," exclaimed Leon, flinging 
 himself down upon a chair at one end of the room. 
 
 "I should say it was. I must say I never ex- 
 pected to be captured and held as a spy by my 
 own army." 
 
 "That sentinel was a fool," said Leon hotly. 
 "He ought to have known enough to realize that 
 we are all right. Do we look like spies ? ' '
 
 146 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "Well, I don't know," laughed Jacques. "If 
 I look like you I might be taken for almost any- 
 thing." 
 
 ' ' You 're not very beautiful, ' ' said Leon. ' ' Per- 
 haps we do look suspicious. Still, I don't be- 
 lieve we'll have any trouble in proving who we 
 are, do you ? ' ' 
 
 "How are we to prove it?" 
 
 "I don't know, but I don't see how we can help 
 it. Maybe we'll see some one we know I'm not 
 worried anyway. I think it is a good joke." 
 
 "I hope it turns out that way," said Jacques. 
 "Anyway, there's no use in worrying. I think 
 I'll take a little nap here until they call us again. 
 No man can tell when that will be. ' ' 
 
 "A good idea," exclaimed Leon; and both boys 
 were preparing to stretch themselves upon the big 
 double bed that occupied part of their room, when 
 the door opened and a soldier summoned them to 
 follow him. 
 
 Down the hall of the great country house they 
 went, until they came to the end. Here they 
 turned to the right and were ushered into what 
 was manifestly used as the dining room. 
 
 Several officers were seated about a table from 
 which the dishes evidently had just been removed. 
 The men were studying maps and glanced up 
 quickly as the two young prisoners were led be- 
 fore them. A short conversation ensued between
 
 UNDER SUSPICION 147 
 
 the guard and the gray-haired officer who was 
 apparently in command. 
 
 "You are under suspicion of being German 
 spies,'* said the officer sternly, turning to the two 
 young soldiers who now were standing before 
 him. "What have you to say for yourselves f " 
 
 Jacques acted as spokesman. As a matter of 
 fact it would have been impossible for Leon to 
 undertake that duty, speaking only a little 
 French as he did. 
 
 "We are both enlisted in the French army," 
 said Jacques. "We were in the fighting in Bel- 
 gium and after the battle at Mons became sep- 
 arated from our regiment. We have just suc- 
 ceeded in making our way down here." 
 
 "You came all the way from Belgium?" in- 
 quired the officer skeptically. 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied Jacques. 
 
 "Is your friend here French?" asked the officer. 
 
 "He is an American, who enlisted in the French 
 army while he was in Belgium soon after the war 
 broke out." 
 
 "He looks like a German," remarked their 
 questioner. "Tell me how you made your way 
 from Belgium here so easily," he went on. 
 
 "My friend here was wounded at Mons," be- 
 gan Jacques. "He was in the hospital there and 
 when he was discharged he started out on foot 
 to rejoin his regiment. I had been separated
 
 148 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 from my division and also was stranded. On the 
 outskirts of Mons we met by accident." 
 
 "That sounds unlikely," sniffed the officer. 
 "Don't go into details in your story. Tell me 
 how you happened to be here in the rear of the 
 French lines if you came from Belgium. How 
 did you manage to get around our forces and ap- 
 proach us from this side?" 
 
 "We didn't go 'round the lines. We came over 
 them." 
 
 "Over them?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Jacques. "We flew over in an 
 aeroplane." 
 
 The officer laughed heartily at this. "I sup- 
 pose," he said, "that you'll tell me next that you 
 were in that German taube that sailed over us 
 this afternoon." 
 
 "That's just where we were," exclaimed 
 Jacques quickly. 
 
 "Look here, young man," said the officer 
 sharply. "I don't propose to have you make fun 
 of me, and if you expect me to believe any such 
 ridiculous statement as the one you just made, 
 you are wrong." 
 
 "But I am telling you the truth," protested 
 Jacques. 
 
 "Very well, then," sneered the officer. 
 * ' Kindly tell me where you got the aeroplane and 
 how you happened to be able to run it. ' '
 
 UNDER SUSPICION 149 
 
 "We captured the taube near Douai from two 
 German aviators. They had landed in a field next 
 to some woods in which we were hiding. We 
 caught one of them and bound him, and the other 
 one we shot, wounding him in the shoulder. We 
 appropriated the aeroplane and started for Paris. 
 That was late this morning and here we are. I 
 happened to know how to run the machine because 
 that is my business. I am a member of the avia- 
 tors ' division, attached to the twentieth army 
 corps of the French army." 
 
 During this recital the officers gathered about 
 the table had looked at the speaker in amazement. 
 Jacques told his story in such a straightforward 
 way, however, that evidently some of the listen- 
 ers were inclined to believe he was speaking the 
 truth. 
 
 The appearance of the two young soldiers was 
 so ragged and unkempt that, as Jacques had 
 previously remarked, they might be taken for al- 
 most anything. In war times an army must pro- 
 tect itself to the fullest extent of its power also, 
 and no chances are taken. Naturally the officers 
 were careful. 
 
 The officer in charge looked at Jacques search- 
 ingly. "I hope you are telling the truth, young 
 man," he said, "for if you are not, it will go hard 
 with you and your companion. This is no time 
 for fooling, you know."
 
 150 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "I swear I am telling only the exact truth/' in- 
 sisted Jacques. 
 
 "What is your name?" 
 
 Before Jacques had a chance to reply there was 
 a commotion at the door and all the officers at 
 the table sprang to their feet. The two boys 
 turned their heads to observe the cause of this 
 fresh excitement and beheld an elderly man with 
 white hair and a white mustache enter the room 
 accompanied by two aides. He wore the shoulder 
 straps of a general and as he walked forward 
 every one saluted. 
 
 His sharp eyes swept the room and every one 
 in it. Then he turned to the officer who had been 
 questioning the boys. 
 
 "Good evening, Colonel," he said. "What is 
 happening here I ' ' 
 
 ' ' These two young men were brought in by the 
 guard and are suspected of being spies. We were 
 questioning them." 
 
 The general looked at the two young men 
 keenly. 
 
 "Tell me your story," he said. 
 
 Jacques once more related the story of their 
 adventures from the time they left Mons until 
 they arrived at the Marne. He did not elaborate 
 on the story, but neither did he leave out any- 
 thing.
 
 UNDER SUSPICION 151 
 
 "That is all," he remarked simply when he had 
 finished. 
 
 The general for a moment was silent and 
 thoughtful. "Nothing you have related is im- 
 possible," he said, "and yet it is a thrilling tale. 
 What is your name, young man?" 
 
 "Jacques Dineau." 
 
 "Jacques Dineau," repeated the general. 
 "That name sounds familiar to me, and yet I 
 can't seem to place it exactly." 
 
 "I have been in the army four years, your ex- 
 cellency," said Jacques. 
 
 "Where did you serve?" 
 
 "First in Morocco, then here in France. Upon 
 my return from Africa, over two years ago, I was 
 detailed to the aviation corps and have been there 
 ever since." 
 
 The general appeared to be trying to think of 
 something that had escaped his memory. The 
 other officers regarded him curiously, for it was 
 evidently not his custom to concern himself with 
 every suspect in this manner. Leon was at a 
 loss to understand what was happening about him, 
 and he wondered who this distinguished looking 
 man, whom every one seemed to respect so thor- 
 oughly, could be. 
 
 "You say you were in the fighting at Mons?" 
 questioned the general.
 
 152 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "Yes, General," replied Jacques. 
 
 The general's face suddenly lighted up. "Did 
 not you and a comrade save a French flag from 
 capture?" he asked quickly. 
 
 "I had that honor," answered Jacques, blush- 
 ing deeply at the mention of his heroism. "I and 
 my companion here." 
 
 "I knew I had heard your name," exclaimed 
 the general. "A full account of your deed, to- 
 gether with a recommendation for promotion were 
 handed me. I am glad to meet two such brave 
 young soldiers," and he shook hands warmly with 
 both Jacques and Leon. 
 
 "You are an American, I hear," said the gen- 
 eral, addressing Leon in excellent English. 
 
 "Yes, General," replied Leon, saluting. 
 
 "Well sir, I want to thank you for your de- 
 voted service to us in these troublesome times. 
 We are proud to have such soldiers in our army. ' ' 
 
 Leon, who had caught but little of what had 
 been said, did not know the reason for this dem- 
 onstration and merely blushed and stammered 
 in reply. 
 
 "Now, Colonel," said the general, turning once 
 more to the officer who had first questioned the 
 boys, "I don't imagine you want to detain these 
 young men any longer. ' ' 
 
 "I should say not," was the hearty reply, and 
 at once, not only the colonel but all the officers
 
 UNDER SUSPICION 153 
 
 in the room came forward and cordially shook 
 hands with both boys. 
 
 "Where do you expect to sleep to-night 1 ?" asked 
 the colonel, after this small reception was at an 
 end. The general who was responsible for their 
 release was now busily engaged in conversation 
 with several officers at the opposite end of the 
 room. Dispatches were being handed to him and 
 he was busy poring over a huge map spread out 
 in front of him. 
 
 "I've no idea," said Jacques. 
 
 * ' I '11 see that you are kept here, ' ' said the colo- 
 nel, and summoning an orderly he gave a few 
 short directions. 
 
 The boys were led back into the room from 
 which a short time before they had been brought 
 as prisoners. Here they were to spend the night 
 and both boys looked longingly at the big soft bed, 
 the first one that they had a chance to sleep in 
 for some time. 
 
 Clean night clothes were provided for them and 
 the orderly then withdrew. 
 
 ' l How I do expect to sleep to-night ! ' ' exclaimed 
 Leon. "By the way, who was that general who 
 was talking to us and who got us off?" 
 
 "Don't you know?" 
 
 "No, of course I don't." 
 
 "That was General Joffre," said Jacques 
 quietly.
 
 CHAPTER XVH 
 
 AT HEADQUARTERS 
 
 WHEN Jacques had told Leon all that 
 General Joffre had said, the young 
 American became so excited that in 
 spite of his weariness he had great difficulty in 
 falling asleep. 
 
 To think that he had been personally congratu- 
 lated by the comm ander-in-chief of the Western 
 Allied armies! What a story that would make 
 when he reached home again. How envious his 
 friends would be. He wished his brother, Earl, 
 could hear of his good fortune. And what would 
 his uncle in Paris say? Leon almost laughed 
 aloud as he thought of him. "He'll think I'm 
 about the greatest man in the whole world," Leon 
 said to himself. 
 
 Then he remembered what Jacques had told him 
 about promotion. Suppose he were to be made a 
 lieutenant, or should be decorated with the Legion 
 of Honor. It all seemed too wonderful to be true, 
 and when Leon finally fell asleep he dreamed all 
 night long of heroic deeds and crowds of cheering 
 
 154
 
 AT HEADQUARTERS 155 
 
 people acclaiming him as he rode through the 
 streets of Paris in his triumphal carriage. 
 
 Both boys awoke in the morning greatly re- 
 freshed. At first they could not recall where they 
 were, nor how they came to be there. 
 
 The sounds of distant cannonading, however, 
 recalled them to their senses. 
 
 "You know," remarked Leon, "I think those 
 guns sound farther away than they did last 
 night." 
 
 "Yes, I think they do," agreed Jacques, listen- 
 ing intently. 
 
 "Perhaps we're driving the Germans back." 
 
 "Maybe they're nearer Paris." 
 
 "The only thing to do is to get up and find 
 out," exclaimed Leon, springing out of bed as he 
 spoke. "Come on, Jacques." 
 
 "Oh, I hate to leave this bed," sighed Jacques, 
 slowly following his friend's example. 
 
 A bathroom adjoined their bedroom and soon 
 the two young soldiers were preparing for a 
 plunge. A long time had elapsed since they had 
 been able to indulge in such a luxury and it was 
 consequently appreciated all the more on that 
 account. 
 
 Returning to their bedroom they found there a 
 soldier waiting for them. He had brought them 
 new uniforms and a complete change of clothes, 
 so that they were soon equipped better than ever
 
 156 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 before. As soon as they had dressed, they sal- 
 lied forth and obtained breakfast. This accom- 
 plished, they were at a loss as to what they should 
 next do. 
 
 "We ought to report," said Jacques, "but I 
 don't know where to do it." 
 
 "Aren't we at headquarters now?" 
 
 "I think we are, but to whom ought we to go? 
 Do you know?" 
 
 "I have no idea." 
 
 "Well, we'd better find out at once. Let's look 
 around. ' ' 
 
 "Down this way first," suggested Leon, and the 
 two young soldiers started to walk down the wide 
 hall of the house. 
 
 They had gone but a short distance when they 
 met the colonel who had questioned them the night 
 before. They saluted and he stopped. 
 
 "I want to see you two young men," he said 
 pleasantly. "Where were you going?" 
 
 "We want to report," replied Jacques, "but 
 we don't know where to go." 
 
 "That is what I wanted to talk to you about," 
 said the colonel. "You are to report to me at 
 noon to-day, in the same room in which we were 
 last evening." 
 
 The officer immediately passed on down the 
 hall, leaving the two boys to their own devices. 
 
 "Well," exclaimed Leon, after Jacques had de-
 
 AT HEADQUAETEBS 157 
 
 livered this message to him, "what are we going 
 to do until noon? That's a long time off." 
 
 "Suppose we look around the house here for a 
 while." 
 
 "Won't we be ordered out if we do!" 
 
 "Ordered out of the house do you mean?" 
 
 "Yes," said Leon. "I thought maybe they 
 wouldn't care to have us prowling around head- 
 quarters when a big battle is going on. ' ' 
 
 "All right then ? we'll go outside and see what 
 is to be seen there." 
 
 They sauntered down the hall and out to the 
 broad veranda of the chateau. Broad lawns 
 stretched away in front of the house, with great 
 trees scattered here and there upon them. White 
 driveways wound around the grassy stretches, 
 and through a distant gate occasional glimpses of 
 a garden could be had. 
 
 Everywhere bustle and activity were manifest. 
 Automobiles raced in and out of the grounds, men 
 on horseback galloped hither and thither, while 
 noisy motorcycles buzzed incessantly back and 
 forth. Every one, except our two young soldiers, 
 seemed to be in a hurry and to have plenty to do. 
 They were apparently the only idlers on the 
 scene. 
 
 * ' What a sight this is ! " exclaimed Leon. ' ' Did 
 you ever see such activity?" 
 
 "Great things are happening," replied Jacques,
 
 158 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "and it keeps a good many men busy to see that 
 everything is run in the right way." 
 
 "It certainly seems to," agreed Leon. "I sup- 
 pose General Joffre is even busier where he is 
 than these people are here." 
 
 "There is no question about that, I guess." 
 "My!" exclaimed Leon. "I'd like to be out 
 there on the battlefield with him now." 
 "On the battlefield?" 
 
 "Why, of course. Where else would he be?" 
 * * Look here, Leon, ' ' said Jacques. ' ' Don 't fool 
 yourself for a minute. General Joffre is not out 
 on the battlefield. He is right in this house." 
 "What do you mean by saying that?" 
 "Just what I say. He is in this house." 
 "What is he doing here?" demanded Leon, 
 much surprised at his comrade's statement. 
 "Why isn't he out where he can see what is going 
 on?" 
 
 "Because this is the place for him to be. On 
 the battlefield he couldn't see what is going on. 
 Here he knows everything that happens." 
 "How does he?" 
 
 "Upstairs in that room," said Jacques, point- 
 ing as he spoke, "there is a great big map. That 
 map has on it every road, canal, railway, river, 
 hill, clump of trees, valley, swamp, bridge and 
 everything else you can think of that is in the dis- 
 trict covered by the battles."
 
 AT HEADQUARTERS 159 
 
 "That can't show him where the troops are, 
 though," insisted Leon. "They are changing 
 positions all the time and he can't possibly follow 
 them." 
 
 * ' You 're wrong again, ' ' laughed Jacques. ' ' Let 
 me tell you something. Besides the map, there 
 is a wonderful collection of waxheaded pins. 
 They are of all different colors and sizes and in- 
 dicate the different kinds of troops. These pins 
 are placed in the map and show exactly where each 
 division is stationed." 
 
 "That's wonderful," exclaimed Leon, "but how 
 can they tell just where each division is at a cer- 
 tain time? I should think they'd shift so quickly 
 that it would be impossible to keep the map up 
 to date." 
 
 "Not at all. The room is full of telephones and 
 there is a telegraph too. Besides the regular kind 
 there is also a wireless. Then the spies and avia- 
 tors are constantly bringing in reports. You'll 
 find that that map is as accurate as anything could 
 possibly be under the circumstances." 
 
 "Who attends to all that!" 
 
 "You mean the map!" 
 
 "Yes. "Who changes the pins? General Jof- 
 fre?" 
 
 "No," said Leon. "General Bertholet, and his 
 aides have charge of that. It is his duty to keep 
 the map in such shape that at any hour of the day
 
 160 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 or night General Joffre may look at it and abso- 
 lutely rely upon it." 
 
 1 'Who is General Bertholet?" 
 
 "He is Chief of Staff." 
 
 "I should think he had a pretty hard job," re- 
 marked Leon thoughtfully. "You say he has to 
 have the map ready for inspection even in the 
 middle of the night?" 
 
 "Why, of course." 
 
 "I don't see how one man can direct all that. 
 When does he get any sleep ? ' ' 
 
 "He lives in his pajamas most of the time, 
 they say. He may be asleep when suddenly the 
 telephone will ring. General Bertholet jumps out 
 of bed, wide awake instantly. He learns over the 
 telephone that a battle is about to commence and 
 that the Germans are attacking in a certain place. ' ' 
 
 "Who is it that telephones to him?" inquired 
 Leon. 
 
 "Why, some man on the battlefield, or near 
 enough to it for him to know just what is going 
 on in that particular place." 
 
 "Where does he find a telephone on the battle- 
 field?" persisted Leon. "I suppose there must 
 be a telephone girl and a private booth out there. ' ' 
 
 "Don't be silly, Leon," protested Jacques. 
 
 "I don't see how it's done, that's all." 
 
 "Why, every army has a field telephone. It is 
 connected with headquarters and is carried right
 
 AT HEADQUARTERS 161 
 
 up to the battle line. Each division of the army 
 has a telephone so that at headquarters they re- 
 ceive reports immediately of any change that 
 takes place in the fight. " 
 
 "That is wonderful, isn't it?" 
 
 "Yes, and I started to tell you how it all works," 
 said Jacques. "You interrupted me before I had 
 a chance, however. ' * 
 
 "I am sorry," said Leon. "Go ahead and I 
 won't stop you again." 
 
 "Well," went on Jacques, "suppose General 
 Bertholet gets a report that the Germans are at- 
 tacking a certain division and also that they have 
 numbers superior to the French. The general in 
 command of that division wants reinforcements 
 at once. Very well. General Bertholet knows 
 that five or ten miles in back of that particular 
 division are quartered several thousand reserves. 
 He also learns from the pins on the map that a 
 number of autobuses are near the reserves. He 
 immediately gives orders that these reserves shall 
 proceed with four batteries of 75-millimeter ar- 
 tillery, ten machine guns and three squadrons of 
 cavalry to reenforce the division that is in need 
 of aid. Before ten minutes have elapsed several 
 thousand reinforcements are on their way to the 
 front." 
 
 "It sounds simple enough," said Leon. 
 
 "It is simple when you understand how it
 
 162 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 works. Everything is done right from here; 
 every one knows his business and there is no con- 
 fusion. ' ' 
 
 "Let me ask you something," exclaimed Leon. 
 "You said General Bertholet learned from the 
 pins that there were autobuses nearby. I thought 
 you said the pins indicated troops." 
 
 ' ' So they do. They indicate autobuses too, and 
 almost every other thing you could possibly men- 
 tion. Why, they even show the size of the guns 
 and the kind of ammunition used in them." 
 
 "General Bertholet must have to keep very 
 familiar with everything on the map." 
 
 "That hardly expresses it," laughed Jacques. 
 "He probably knows that map as well as he does 
 his own face." 
 
 "Yet it must be constantly changing." 
 
 "It certainly is. Every time a bridge is blown 
 up or a pontoon thrown across a stream or a food 
 convoy changes position, General Bertholet shifts 
 the pins on the map. ' ' 
 
 "When does he sleep or eat?" inquired Leon. 
 
 "Whenever he can. I told you he lived in his 
 pajamas most of the time, and between battles he 
 tries to get a little rest. He is up and down pretty 
 much all the time. I guess he eats the same way 
 he sleeps and that is whenever he can find two 
 minutes when he is able to stay away from his 
 map. ' '
 
 AT HEADQUARTERS 163 
 
 "It must be good fun, though." 
 
 "I imagine the men in charge don't think it's 
 much 'fun.' A business as serious as war can't 
 have a great deal of 'fun' in it. Everything has 
 to be absolutely accurate, too. Just think, one 
 mistake in that room up there might cause the de- 
 feat of the whole army." 
 
 "That's right," agreed Leon, "and think of 
 how big an area has to be covered all the time. 
 How long is the battle line now ? Do you know ? ' ' 
 
 "Nearly two hundred miles, I heard some one 
 say." 
 
 ' ' What ! ' ' exclaimed Leon. * ' As long as that ? ' ' 
 
 "It extends all the way from Paris to Alsace," 
 said Jacques. "It is a crooked line, too, running 
 through Chalons, Verdun, Nancy and down al- 
 most to Luneville. That must cover two hundred 
 miles easily." 
 
 "It does if you say so," said Leon. "Those 
 places you mentioned don't mean anything to me. 
 I know one thing, though, and that is, that I'd 
 like to be out on that line somewhere right now." 
 
 "What time is it?" 
 
 "About quarter to twelve," replied Leon, con- 
 sulting his watch. 
 
 "We'll go and report then. Perhaps after we 
 have received our orders we may find ourselves 
 on the firing line only too soon. ' '
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII 
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 
 
 PROMPTLY at noon the two young soldiers 
 presented themselves at the door of the 
 room where the night before they had been 
 cross-examined. They were soon admitted and 
 were greeted pleasantly by their new friend, the 
 colonel. 
 
 "Are you young men ready to go back to 
 work?" he asked. 
 
 11 Indeed, we are," replied Jacques. "It was 
 for that very purpose that we have tried so hard 
 to make our way here from Belgium." 
 
 "Very well," agreed the colonel, smiling at the 
 young soldiers' enthusiasm. "Your regiment is 
 with the twentieth army corps and is now at Bar 
 le Due. I suppose you would rather be with your 
 old regiment than any other." 
 
 "Yes," replied Jacques, "unless you want us 
 somewhere else." 
 
 "I had hoped to keep you here," said the 
 colonel. "You did such splendid work in Bel- 
 gium as scouts that I wanted to use you for that 
 same purpose now. It could not be arranged just 
 
 164
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 165 
 
 at the present time, however, so I can give you 
 your choice. I can send you wherever you wish 
 to go. ' ' 
 
 "We'd rather go back to our own regiment 
 under the circumstances, I'm sure," said Jacques. 
 "When do we start?" 
 
 "You seem eager to he off," smiled the colo- 
 nel. 
 
 "We have been away a long time, Colonel," 
 said Jacques. "We are anxious to be back in 
 the center of things once more." 
 
 * ' That is the right spirit, ' ' exclaimed the colonel 
 rising. "Here are orders for you to secure full 
 equipment and you will be notified shortly at what 
 time a troop train will take you to the front." 
 
 The conversation was evidently at an end. 
 The boys saluted and turned toward the door 
 when the colonel called them back. 
 
 "I nearly forgot one thing," he said. "Both 
 of you young men have been recommended for 
 decoration for bravery. I hope that very soon I 
 shall be able to send word to you that the formal- 
 ity of granting you this honor is over." 
 
 The colonel bent to his work once more, leaving 
 the two young soldiers standing in the center of 
 the room, their heads swimming. As they walked 
 out of the door it almost seemed to them that they 
 were walking on air. 
 
 "What do you think about that?" exclaimed
 
 166 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 Jacques, when he had translated the colonel's 
 words to Leon. 
 
 "I don't believe it's true," said Leon. "I'm 
 sure you must be dreaming." 
 
 "No such thing. I repeated his very words to 
 you." 
 
 "Well, then," exclaimed Leon, "all I can say 
 is that I feel more important than any other man 
 in France. Look at me., Jacques. Has my head 
 grown any larger!" 
 
 "I think not," laughed Jacques. "I'm sure 
 mine has, though." 
 
 "How about our luck now?" queried Leon. 
 "Will you agree with me now that we are blessed 
 with good fortune I I haven 't mentioned the sub- 
 ject for some time, but I don't see how you can 
 possibly dispute it any more." 
 
 "I don't intend to. I think it is true and I am 
 hoping as hard as I can that our luck will never 
 forsake us." 
 
 "Shall we give three cheers for ourselves!" 
 
 "We'd better get our equipment before we do 
 anything else," laughed Jacques. 
 
 In a short time the two young soldiers were 
 fully fitted out for service at the front. Each 
 carried a rifle and wore a cartridge belt about his 
 waist. A blanket was slung over his shoulder and 
 the boys appeared very much like the many other 
 thousands of French soldiers. In their uniforms
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 167 
 
 the privates seemed to be many editions of the 
 same man, and at a short distance it was next to 
 impossible to distinguish one from another. 
 
 An hour later they were seated in a compart- 
 ment of one of the little French railway carriages, 
 bound for the front. Four other men were in the 
 same compartment and they were a happy-go- 
 lucky lot. To see them one might think they were 
 starting for a holiday instead of for a battle. 
 They were light-hearted, they sang and laughed 
 and joked and appeared to be in the best of spirits. 
 Leon commented on this fact to his comrade who 
 had been conversing with the other men. 
 
 "One reason why they seem so happy is because 
 the Germans have been driven back from Paris," 
 said Jacques. 
 
 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Leon excit- 
 edly. 
 
 "Just what I say. One of these men just gave 
 me the news and he declares it is true. He says 
 that when the Germans came almost up to the city, 
 the army of Paris came flying out, and attacking 
 the invaders on their right wing, compelled them 
 to retreat.' 5 
 
 "Isn't that wonderful!" cried Leon. "Where 
 did this army of Paris attack from and when did 
 all this happen ?" 
 
 "They came across the Ourcq River and at- 
 tacked the flank of the Germans who were facing
 
 168 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 on the Marne. This took place late yesterday, I 
 understand. ' ' 
 
 "Those must have been the troops I saw, then," 
 said Leon. " Don't you remember I said I saw 
 a large body of soldiers just before we crossed the 
 Ourcq? They looked to me as if they were com- 
 ing from Paris. ' ' 
 
 " Probably you're right," Jacques agreed, 
 "Anyway, Paris is saved." 
 
 "You said there weren't enough Germans in the 
 world to take it," said Leon. 
 
 "I did, and I was right. The last reports, so 
 this man says, were that the German army was on 
 the run. We had their right wing caught between 
 two divisions of our troops. These two divisions 
 began to close in like a pair of scissors ready to 
 cut, and when General von Kluck saw that his 
 army was the thing that was going to be cut, you 
 can be sure he didn't waste any time in getting 
 out of the way of harm. ' ' 
 
 "Who is General von Kluck?" 
 
 "He is in command of the German right wing. 
 It was the route taken by his army that we fol- 
 lowed all the way from Belgium. ' ' 
 
 "Is that so?" exclaimed Leon. "You say he 
 is out of danger now, though?" 
 
 "No, I don't think so. He is retreating rap- 
 idly and we are pressing him hard on all sides, 
 as I understand it. ' '
 
 IN THE TEENCHES 169 
 
 "I hope we're in time for some of the fun.'* 
 
 "Ah, but where we are going the German lines 
 are holding, I believe." 
 
 "Wait till we get there, though," laughed 
 Leon. "By the way," he continued, "I'd like to 
 send a post card or something to my mother and 
 father in America. I don't suppose I can get 
 such a thing, though." 
 
 "I have two. I got them just before we left, 
 one for you and one for me. I also want to send 
 a word to my old parents. "We'll just about have 
 time before the train arrives at Bar le Due to 
 write them." 
 
 There was but one pencil and Leon insisted that 
 his comrade should use it first. When Jacques 
 had finished, the train was almost pulling into the 
 station at their destination. Leon wrote, "Am 
 well and happy. Have just learned that I am to 
 be decorated for bravery," and then the train 
 came to a halt. The conductor promised to mail 
 their cards; the men quickly detrained and fell 
 into line with the rest of the troops that had ar- 
 rived with them. 
 
 They were at once marched to camp and were 
 soon settled. No further orders were given at the 
 time and the men prepared for supper. 
 
 "Do you remember when we woke up this 
 morning that I said the firing sounded farther 
 away?" remarked Leon, as he and Jacques were
 
 170 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 seated on the ground eating their simple but 
 hearty meal. 
 
 "Yes, and evidently you were right. The Ger- 
 man right wing began to retreat last evening, so 
 by this morning the fighting was some distance 
 further north. At last the Allies have taken the 
 offensive." 
 
 "And I hope," exclaimed Leon, "that they 
 won't give it up until the Germans are driven out 
 of France and Belgium. Pretty soon we may be 
 invading Germany and perhaps we'll be in Berlin 
 in a few weeks. ' ' 
 
 "I'm afraid not," smiled Jacques. "We may 
 be there some day, but I think not in a few weeks. 
 It is my opinion that the fighting will be in France 
 for a long time to come. The Germans will en- 
 trench themselves at every point and it will be a 
 big piece of work to drive them out." 
 
 "But you think we can do it, don't you?" 
 
 "I think we'll win, of course. But I'm not fool- 
 ing myself into thinking it will be any easy thing 
 to do." 
 
 "I wish they'd give us a chance to try it, just 
 the same," said Leon eagerly. "Now that we're 
 back at the front I want to get into action. I 
 don't like this idleness and just sitting around 
 camp." 
 
 "You wait a few days," cautioned Jacques. 
 "By that time you'll wish you had a chance to sit
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 171 
 
 around camp and do nothing. You'll find life in 
 the trenches is no fun after you've had a good 
 taste of it." 
 
 " Perhaps that's so," Leon agreed. "The way 
 I feel now, however, is that I want to get right out 
 on the battle line and get down to business." 
 
 As he finished speaking a bugle sounded. It 
 was the call to arms and immediately soldiers 
 came hurrying from all directions. 
 
 Jacques and Leon were among the first to ar- 
 rive and were soon in line, awaiting orders. The 
 plan was to relieve the men in the trenches with 
 fresh troops. By working in relays this way it 
 was found that better results were obtained. The 
 soldiers were given a rest between fights and a 
 comparatively fresh body of men was always 
 maintained near the battle line. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon now, or rather early 
 evening, and darkness was just beginning to fall. 
 The order to march was given and the troops 
 moved forward. Silently and swiftly they went, 
 every man eager and determined. 
 
 An artillery duel was going on between the op- 
 posing forces. The firing had slackened some- 
 what in the last half hour, but this was no sign 
 that the fighting was to be discontinued during the 
 night. In fact, night attacks were favorite de- 
 vices of both sides. Oftentimes large bodies of 
 troops would steal up under cover of darkness to
 
 172 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 a place within a few yards of the opposing 
 trenches. Then, with a last mad rush, they occa- 
 sionally caught the enemy completely unprepared 
 for their fierce bayonet charges. 
 
 Several batteries of heavy guns, concealed 
 under the brow of a hill or by a clump of trees, 
 were passed on the way to the trenches. The 
 firing squads were scorched and blackened by 
 their work, but they were cheerful and waved 
 their hands enthusiastically to their comrades as 
 they passed by on their way to the trenches. 
 
 The reinforcements soon arrived at the front 
 and the men who had been there for many hours 
 were ordered to fall back. This they did reluc^ 
 tantly, for although they were well nigh exhausted 
 by their long hours of fighting they were eager to 
 stay and continue it. 
 
 "Well, here you are," exclaimed Jacques, as he 
 and Leon took their places. "Is it as nice as you 
 thought it was going to be?" 
 
 "The trenches aren't very comfortable, but 1 
 wouldn't mind that part of it if there was only 
 something going on. I hate this sitting around. ' ' 
 
 "So do I, but we can't always have what we 
 want. Something is apt to start at any minute. 
 That is one thing that keeps you alert ; you never 
 can tell when we may be attacked or when we our- 
 selves may be ordered to attack. ' ' 
 
 "What's going on now?" exclaimed Leon.
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 173 
 
 "What is that officer saying back there? He 
 seems to be making some sort of a speech." 
 
 "He wants volunteers to go forward and recon- 
 noiter the enemy's trenches," said Jacques, after 
 listening intently for a moment to what the officer 
 was saying. 
 
 "When does he want them to go?" 
 
 "Eight now." 
 
 "Come along, Jacques," exclaimed Leon, 
 springing up. "You and I will go." 
 
 "If they'll let us, we will," agreed Jacques, 
 quickly following Leon's example. 
 
 They walked quickly to the place where the 
 officer was standing and offered their services. 
 Scores of others also presented themselves, but 
 Leon and Jacques were the first to apply. Every 
 man among the scores of volunteers insisted that 
 he should be the one selected for the dangerous 
 task. The officer smiled proudly as he saw the 
 eagerness of his soldiers. 
 
 1 1 1 want only three men, ' ' he said. ' ' I will take 
 the first three to apply." 
 
 Consequently Leon and Jacques were chosen 
 and with them a young Frenchman whom Jacques 
 knew and with whom he had served in Morocco. 
 
 "I want you men to find out all you can about 
 what is going on in the German lines," said the 
 officer. "You are not to expose yourselves un- 
 necessarily, but I want all the information I can
 
 174 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 get. Find out if they are preparing to advance 
 or fall back, or what ; in fact, everything you can. ' ' 
 
 Without a word the three volunteers turned and 
 started to carry out their dangerous mission. 
 The German trenches were about eight hundred 
 yards, or nearly half a mile, distant, and toward 
 these they made their way. 
 
 It was a perilous adventure and none of the 
 three volunteers knew whether or not he would 
 ever return alive. They gave but little thought 
 at the time to this phase of the question, however.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 
 
 FORWABD into the dark night the little 
 band went. The battle lines were on the 
 very edge of the Argonne forest and as far 
 as possible the three men took advantage of the 
 cover of the trees. 
 
 They moved swiftly at first, when the danger of 
 detection was comparatively slight. Their cau- 
 tion was not relaxed for one moment, however, 
 and great care was observed not to make any 
 noise. In front of them and to their rear shells 
 thrown by the heavy batteries were exploding. 
 The rule fire of the infantry had practically ceased 
 for the present. 
 
 At the distance which separated the two armies 
 the rifle bullets had but slight effect, especially 
 at night. This kind of fighting was reserved for 
 the daylight and particularly for the charges 
 made by the forces of foot soldiers on the oppos- 
 ing trenches. 
 
 Thus far most of the attacking had been done 
 by the Germans. They had made a desperate 
 drive to break through the Allied lines in their 
 
 175
 
 176 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 dash for Paris. This thrust had been checked, 
 crumpled up and rolled back at the very gates of 
 the city, but this did not mean that the Germans 
 had abandoned their attempts to gain the goal 
 they so much desired. 
 
 Time and again the gray-clad troops were 
 hurled at the French and English lines. Until 
 within the last day or two these fierce onslaughts 
 had been frequently successful, though they were 
 attended by frightful losses to the invaders. Out 
 of the distance would come the German hordes in 
 their massed formation, shooting from the hip. 
 
 The machine guns and rifles of the Allies would 
 rake their lines from end to end. The Germans 
 fell like nine-pins and yet onward the advancing 
 troops came. The gaps were quickly filled by 
 those behind until by sheer force and weight of 
 numbers they gained ground. 
 
 Now, however, the Allies were resisting more 
 successfully and were not only checking the at- 
 tacks of the enemy, but in some cases were even 
 advancing themselves. The change in the for- 
 tunes of war had worked wonders with the French 
 and English troops. In many instances the offi- 
 cers with difficulty held back their men. They 
 seemed intoxicated by their success and were 
 eager to storm the strongest defenses of the 
 enemy, apparently having no concern for their 
 own lives.
 
 IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 177 
 
 Bayonet charges had become of frequent occur- 
 rence. At this style of fighting no troops could 
 compare with the Turcos, the black soldiers from 
 the French colonial possessions in Northern 
 Africa. Great brawny, strapping men they were, 
 unacquainted with fear, who liked nothing better 
 than to engage in a hand to hand struggle. Sel- 
 dom it was that they came off second best and it 
 was rumored that the Germans feared these black 
 warriors more than any forces that faced 
 them. 
 
 Some of this new spirit which pervaded the 
 Allied armies had entered the hearts of the three 
 volunteers now cautiously making their way along 
 the edges of the Argonne forest toward the Ger- 
 man lines. 
 
 It was exciting work. There was always the 
 chance that they might be discovered by the 
 enemy, not only by those in the trenches, but also 
 by a party of men sent out for the same purpose 
 for which they themselves were advancing. 
 
 It was thrilling as well as exciting, however. 
 The feeling of danger and the sense of adventure 
 helped the three volunteers to enjoy their mission 
 in spite of the peril which attended them. 
 
 When three quarters of the distance had been 
 covered a halt was called and a whispered consul- 
 tation was held. 
 
 "We're within two hundred yards of the Ger-
 
 178 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 mans now," whispered Jacques. "What do you 
 think we'd better do?" 
 
 "We ought to approach them from the side, I 
 think," said Leon. "It would be out of the ques- 
 tion to go right straight ahead, it seems to me. ' ' 
 
 ' * That 's right, ' ' agreed the third member of the 
 party. "They'd see us surely, if we went di- 
 rectly up to them. We wouldn't stand a chance 
 in the world." 
 
 "Very well, then," said Jacques, "we'll make a 
 detour from here around through the border of 
 the forest." 
 
 "There is a German battery of machine guns 
 at the very end of their line," said the soldier 
 who accompanied the two boys. "We don't want 
 to get in the way of that or it will soon be all over 
 with us. I have often fired one myself and I know 
 the damage they can inflict." 
 
 "We'll approach it from the side," said 
 Jacques. "Are you both ready?" 
 
 "All ready," replied his two companions. 
 
 They were just about to drop on all fours and 
 continue their advance, when Leon suddenly 
 grasped each of his companions by his arm. 
 
 "Listen," he whispered excitedly. 
 
 All three stood as if they had been all at once 
 transformed into statues. Three pairs of ears 
 strained to catch the faintest sound that might
 
 IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 179 
 
 indicate the presence of danger. At the end of 
 two or three minutes, which seemed like hours to 
 the listeners, Jacques turned to Leon. 
 
 "What was it you heard!" he whispered. 
 
 "I thought I heard the bushes crackle as if 
 some one was approaching. I guess I must have 
 been mistaken, however. ' ' 
 
 "I heard nothing," said Jacques. "We'd bet- 
 ter proceed." 
 
 Before they had a chance to carry out this sug- 
 gestion, however, a sound was heard by all three 
 that caused them to stop once more. Undoubtedly 
 some one was coming through the forest and who- 
 ever it was seemed to care but little as to how 
 much noise he made. 
 
 "Drop," whispered Jacques fiercely, and in- 
 stantly the three scouts threw themselves flat upon 
 the ground and waited. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the sounds. Twigs 
 crackled and snapped while bushes were evidently 
 being thrust aside in the path of the oncomer. 
 To the three young soldiers stretched upon the 
 ground the only explanation which offered itself 
 was that a machine gun was being moved forw r ard. 
 It was hard for them to understand why so little 
 precaution was being taken, however. 
 
 It was now too late to run and as they waited, 
 every one of the three scouts vowed to himself
 
 180 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 that if he was to die he would die fighting. Three 
 automatic revolvers were held in readiness for the 
 first sign of the enemy. 
 
 The noise was not ten feet away now and was 
 coming directly toward the position held by the 
 three young soldiers of France. Suddenly the 
 crackling in the underbrush ceased when it was 
 almost upon them. 
 
 "Moot" 
 
 Leon heard Jacques laugh nervously, while on 
 his other side the young French regular exclaimed 
 softly under his breath. 
 
 ' ' To be fooled that way by a cow ! ' ' whispered 
 Jacques disgustedly. 
 
 " Thank heaven it is a cow," exclaimed Leon 
 fervently, feeling somewhat limp. 
 
 None of the three made any attempt to talk or 
 to move for some moments. The tension they had 
 been under was very great and the unexpected 
 and sudden ending of the adventure had left them 
 all too weak to do anything. 
 
 Finally, Leon spoke. His natural American 
 curiosity and desire to talk could be restrained 
 no longer. "What is a cow doing here!" he in- 
 quired in a low voice. 
 
 "I don't know," replied Jacques. "She prob- 
 ably belongs to some peasant in the neighborhood 
 who had to desert his home and everything he 
 owned when the country was invaded."
 
 IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 181 
 
 "I should think she'd have been shot and eaten 
 long before this." 
 
 "That's what will happen to her soon, all 
 right," said Jacques. "Are we ready to go 
 now?" he continued. 
 
 "How about the cow?" asked Leon. 
 
 "Leave her where she is," replied Jacques, 
 "we don't want her." 
 
 The animal in question was standing near-by, 
 quietly and contentedly chewing her cud and ap- 
 parently unconscious that a war was going on or 
 that she was in any danger herself. She was as 
 contented as if in her own barnyard. 
 
 "Allons," whispered the regular to Jacques, 
 and Leon and all three moved forward again. 
 
 Leon had learned enough of the French lan- 
 guage to know that the word "aliens" meant 
 "come on." In fact, he discovered from time to 
 time that he was able to understand a part of 
 what was spoken around him. Every day lie 
 learned new words and new phrases and was bet- 
 ter able all the while to make himself intelligible 
 to his French comrades. 
 
 The young soldiers now crawled forward, lying 
 prone on their stomachs. The greatest care was 
 taken to maintain absolute silence, for the slight- 
 est noise might mean the loss of all three lives. 
 Each man felt in front of him with his hands as 
 he advanced. Every twig and branch and stone
 
 182 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 which might hinder progress or cause any sound 
 was carefully removed. 
 
 Three abreast they wormed their way forward. 
 Slowly, very slowly, they proceeded, but all were 
 agreed that safety was to be preferred to speed. 
 The old fable of the hare and the tortoise was 
 being illustrated once more. Infinite patience and 
 determination possessed the souls of the three 
 scouts and when these two qualities are combined 
 they are hard to defeat. 
 
 Their progress was scarcely perceptible, but 
 still they advanced. Closer and closer they came 
 to the enemy's lines. They had covered a hun- 
 dred and fifty yards of the last two hundred, and 
 an hour and a half had been consumed in this 
 effort. 
 
 Fifty yards ahead of them they could see the 
 spit of a machine gun as it poured its rain of 
 leaden death into the French trenches. This gun 
 was on the extreme left of the German lines and 
 by the flash of the shells a squad of perhaps half 
 a dozen men could be seen in charge. 
 
 The three scouts stopped and waited. They 
 watched the sight intently and after a short time 
 had elapsed the firing from this gun ceased. This 
 was the signal for a further advance on the part 
 of the scouts. More rapidly they crawled now, as 
 the Germans had evidently left their gun for a
 
 IN THE ENEMY'S LINES 183 
 
 few moments. This was an opportunity not to be 
 missed. 
 
 All three wriggled forward as rapidly as they 
 were able, still taking pains to preserve silence, 
 however. They now bore off to their right more 
 than before in order to approach the trenches 
 from the side, or, if possible, from the rear. 
 Nearer and nearer they came until at length they 
 reached a spot parallel with the German trenches. 
 
 Hardly ten yards away stood the machine gun. 
 The Germans had been called away for supper or 
 for a brief time they had relaxed their vigilance. 
 At any rate the gun was unmanned and presented 
 a great temptation to the three young French sol- 
 diers. 
 
 "We can capture that gun," whispered 
 Jacques. 
 
 "I can fire it," replied the young regular. 
 "We can turn it on the Germans and scare the 
 lives out of them." 
 
 "All right," agreed Leon. "Let's make a rush 
 for it." 
 
 They gathered themselves together for this des- 
 perate attempt and a moment later when Jacques 
 gave the signal they sprang to their feet and to- 
 gether made a swift dash for the place where the 
 machine gun was standing.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 
 
 DURING the lull in the fighting the Ger- 
 mans had withdrawn a short distance 
 and were eating the soup which com- 
 posed their principal food. Evidently the fear of 
 a surprise attack was far from their thoughts, and 
 as a consequence they were unprepared for what 
 was about to come. 
 
 A dozen strides were sufficient to bring the 
 three daring scouts to the place where the machine 
 gun was standing. Here they were in the midst 
 of the hostile lines, only three men opposed to at 
 least two companies of the enemy. 
 
 As yet their presence had not been detected. 
 
 "Wheel her !" exclaimed Jacques in a low voice, 
 at the same time grasping the spokes of one wheel 
 in both hands. Leon took the opposite side and 
 their companion the rear, and a moment later the 
 machine gun was no longer pointing toward the 
 French soldiers, but directly at the Germans them- 
 selves. 
 
 " Hurry !" urged Leon eagerly. "We haven't 
 $ second to lose!" 
 
 The ammunition for the gun was in a case close 
 
 184
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 185 
 
 at hand and from this a large quantity of bullets 
 were soon extracted. They were in long strips, 
 like the strips of caps sold for toy pistols, and 
 sooner than it takes to tell about it the bullets 
 were loaded in the gun and all was in readiness 
 for action. 
 
 The young regular was in charge and he soon 
 showed that he understood his task. He aimed 
 the machine gun at the group of Germans who 
 were nearest, and could be faintly seen through 
 the darkness. Then he opened fire on them. 
 
 "Let 'em have it!" cried Leon, as a rain of bul- 
 lets poured forth upon the luckless Germans. A 
 steady stream of fire and lead belched from the 
 mouth of the gun as Jacques and his companion 
 swept the enemy's lines. 
 
 " They 're on the run," shouted Leon. "At 
 least those that are left are running." 
 
 Evidently the Germans were demoralized. So 
 unexpected an attack and from such close quarters 
 had surprised them and thrown them into disor- 
 der. Confusion reigned on all sides. 
 
 "Keep it up! Keep it up!" cried Leon, danc- 
 ing up and down in his excitement. "Point it 
 down the trenches here ! Give them all a taste of 
 it!" 
 
 His suggestion was quickly followed. The mur- 
 derous fire of the machine gun raked the trenches 
 and soon cleared them of any Germans that might
 
 186 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 have remained there. Thus far not a shot had 
 been fired at the three young scouts. The Ger- 
 mans were in full retreat and their retreat was 
 fast becoming a rout. They undoubtedly sup- 
 posed that a large force of the French had at- 
 tacked them, and so completely had they been 
 taken by surprise that they did not wait to find out 
 the truth. 
 
 As they broke and ran for their lives a power- 
 ful searchlight from the French lines was flashed 
 upon them and the French batteries at that mo- 
 ment also opened fire. Charge after charge of 
 grapeshot was hurled into the huddled and con- 
 fused masses of the Germans. The effect of this 
 was deadly and the ranks of the enemy were rid- 
 dled and torn from end to end. 
 
 The French had evidently been waiting for some 
 sign of activity on the part of their scouts and no 
 time was lost in taking advantage of the daring 
 effort of the three young soldiers. 
 
 "Give 'em some more!" cried Leon. "Shoot 
 where the searchlight is playing. ' ' 
 
 "Give us some more ammunition!" shouted 
 Jacques, with difficulty making himself heard 
 above the noise of the firing. 
 
 "I certainly will!" responded Leon, and he 
 quickly emptied the case of all that it held. 
 "Shoot it all at them," he urged, "and be quick 
 about it! They're leaving us pretty rapidly and
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 187 
 
 they'll soon be where we can't take a shot at 
 them." 
 
 This was indeed true. The Germans were flee- 
 ing in riotous haste, every man for himself ; and in 
 their mad flight they left everything that might 
 hinder their movements in any way. Another 
 machine gun some fifty yards distant was aban- 
 doned; ammunition was disregarded and the 
 ground was littered with rifles thrown away. 
 
 "They've almost gone," announced Leon, as 
 the powerful searchlight swept the ground where 
 the Germans lately had been entrenched. 
 
 "It's a good thing they have," gasped Jacques. 
 "The barrel of this gun is so hot it would melt if 
 we fired much more." 
 
 "We don't need any more," cried Leon. "We 
 chased the whole crowd of them away. Here 
 come our troops," he announced. 
 
 Sure enough, several companies of French in- 
 fantry were advancing on the run and soon came 
 to the captured trenches. They cheered loudly as 
 they realized what had taken place. Not a Ger- 
 man was to be seen ; they all had been put to flight 
 by three soldiers. The daring effort of the three 
 scouts had been a complete success. 
 
 "Get that other machine gun!" shouted 
 Jacques. 
 
 "They'll get it, all right," exclaimed Leon. 
 "Don't worry about that."
 
 188 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 The French soldiers immediately took posses- 
 sion of the abandoned trenches so that their lines 
 in this place were moved forward nearly a half 
 mile. Not often did it happen that a gain of such 
 magnitude was made without great loss of life on 
 the part of the assailants. In order to capture 
 intrenched positions it is usually necessary to at- 
 tack with a force at least four or five times as 
 large as that of the defenders. 
 
 The three young soldiers were soon the center 
 of a joyous group who slapped them on their 
 backs and cheered them and applauded their 
 splendid achievement. The young lieutenant who 
 had sent them forward was among the first to con- 
 gratulate them. 
 
 "You did wonderfully, marvelously 1 " he ex- 
 claimed, shaking hands with all three of the young 
 men in turn. "I cannot tell you how proud I am 
 of you! You shall all be recommended for the 
 medal. ' ' 
 
 Jacques and Leon and their companion were 
 greatly embarrassed at all this display which was 
 being made over them. They had not realized 
 what a brave deed they had done. They had 
 started out to do as they had been ordered, and 
 had seen a chance to go a little bit farther. They 
 had seized this opportunity and had been success- 
 ful. That was all. The thought that they were 
 doing any very brave or heroic act had not oc-
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 189 
 
 curred to them until their comrades began to heap 
 praises upon them. 
 
 "Let's get out of this," whispered Leon to 
 Jacques at the first opportunity. 
 
 " That's what I say," replied Jacques, and 
 quietly and unobserved the two young soldiers 
 took their places in the trenches. 
 
 "We're heroes, did you know that?" said Leon 
 a few moments later. 
 
 "So it seems," laughed Jacques. "I don't like 
 it, do you?" 
 
 "No, I don't; but I'm glad of one thing." 
 
 1 ' That we are to be recommended for the medal 
 again? With two recommendations we ought to 
 get at least one medal. I want one badly. ' ' 
 
 "No more than I do, and I only hope we don't 
 get killed before we have a chance to wear them. ' ' 
 
 "We always stand a good chance of that, I sup- 
 pose." 
 
 "We certainly do, and I don't think we'll have 
 to wait long for an opportunity." 
 
 "What do you mean by that?" exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "Just wait and see. I don't believe the Ger- 
 mans are going to give up these trenches without 
 more of a fight. Their one idea is to get ahead, 
 and unless I'm very much mistaken we'll see them 
 back here shortly." 
 
 "Do you think they'll come to-night?" 
 
 "I don't know when they'll come, but it will be
 
 190 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 before to-morrow night, I am almost sure. That's 
 only my opinion, of course, ' ' said Jacques. 
 
 "Well, if they do retake the trenches, " ex- 
 claimed Leon, " they '11 have more trouble doing it 
 than we did in capturing them in the first place. ' ' 
 
 "No trenches were ever taken as easily as 
 these," laughed Jacques. "Wasn't it wonderful 
 the way we fooled those Germans f" 
 
 "I told you there 'd be some action as soon as 
 we got back at the front." 
 
 "You mustn't get conceited, Leon," cautioned 
 Jacques. 
 
 "No fear of that. My head is not swelled; I'm 
 only glad to think of how we happened to be able 
 to do what we did. I consider it luck more than 
 anything else. This is only another proof of how 
 lucky we are." 
 
 1 1 It is, indeed, ' * Jacques assented. ' ' We '11 also 
 be lucky if we don't catch pneumonia or some- 
 thing like that in these trenches. ' ' 
 
 "They are pretty damp, aren't they?" 
 
 "I should say they are. Are you as glad to be 
 in them as you thought you 'd be ? " 
 
 "Just exactly," exclaimed Leon cheerfully. 
 "I don't mind a few small discomforts. When 
 you're in the army, you know, you must remember 
 that it is not all brass buttons and dress pa- 
 rade. ' ' 
 
 "Well, I guess not," agreed Jacques earnestly.
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 191 
 
 "At least not in war time. Have you seen many 
 brass buttons or dress parades since you've been 
 in the army?" 
 
 "I saw some buttons and some parades. They 
 weren't dress parades, though, and I fancy that 
 the men in them weren't thinking much of how 
 they looked." 
 
 ''Most of them were wondering how they were 
 going to feel and act when the bullets of the enemy 
 began to whizz past their ears, I imagine," said 
 Jacques grimly. "I'd almost rather face bullets 
 than sit in this damp trench, though. ' ' 
 
 "Let me show you how to do it," exclaimed 
 Leon. 
 
 "What are you going to do?" inquired Jacques 
 curiously. 
 
 "Get some of that straw first," Leon directed. 
 
 The trenches were more or less covered with 
 straw. The side facing toward the enemy was in 
 this condition, at any rate. Consequently, when 
 the men stood up to fire they rested their arms in 
 the dry straw, which also afforded them consider- 
 able protection from the German sharpshooters. 
 
 As Jacques reached for some of this straw, Leon 
 divested himself of his knapsack and placed it on 
 the bottom of the trench. All about it he placed 
 the straw that Jacques handed him. In a few 
 moments he had a dry seat and a warm place in 
 which he could rest his feet.
 
 192 WITH JOPFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "That's a fine idea," exclaimed Jacques en- 
 thusiastically, and in a few moments he had fol- 
 lowed Leon's example and was warmly and com- 
 fortably quartered. 
 
 "Oh, yes," laughed Leon. "I have a wonder- 
 ful brain." 
 
 "Just the same, all the men are copying you," 
 said Jacques ; and sure enough, in both directions 
 through the trenches the soldiers were using their 
 knapsacks and the straw to make seats and dry 
 foot space for themselves. 
 
 "It certainly is more comfortable, isn't it?" 
 said Leon. * * Now I feel as if I can pass the night 
 fairly comfortably." 
 
 "You mean what is left of the night. It will 
 be dawn in about two hours." 
 
 "And at dawn the Germans will attack." 
 
 "T think you're right," Jacques agreed. 
 "Shall we tiy to get a little sleep?" 
 
 "It would be a good plan, I think. I wonder 
 what chance there is of our being able to do it?" 
 
 "No chance at all," exclaimed Jacques at the 
 end of about twenty minutes. "I can't sleep in 
 a place like this and at such a time." 
 
 "Nor I," said Leon. "Let's stand up and 
 stretch ourselves and see if we can see what is 
 going on." 
 
 Both boys stood up, but it was impossible for 
 them to see anything in the darkness. Jacques
 
 AN EXCITING NIGHT 193 
 
 engaged in conversation with the soldier nearest 
 him, and though Leon could understand but little 
 of what was said, he listened attentively. He had 
 determined to improve his every opportunity to 
 learn French. Since he had been in Europe and 
 in the war, and seen all the wonderful things there 
 were to see and had heard about all the things 
 that were going on, he had decided that it was 
 impossible to know too much. Consequently, he 
 resolved not only to learn French, but to take an 
 interest in other things as well. One can never 
 tell when knowledge may be useful or even when 
 it may save a life. 
 
 "We have been reenforced," said Jacques at 
 length, turning to Leon. "This man here says 
 the officers evidently expect an attack and that a 
 large force has been brought up to aid us. ' ' 
 
 The two young soldiers stood in the trenches 
 and discussed the possibilities of an attack and 
 what would be done in the event of such a thing 
 happening. They made up maneuvers and told 
 how they would act in like circumstances were 
 they in command of the troops. The night passed 
 quickly in this way and almost before they were 
 awjire of it the first streaks of light began to ap- 
 pear in the eastern sky. 
 
 Before long it was possible to distinguish ob- 
 jects at a distance, and now several men with spy- 
 glasses were stationed on the edge of the trenches.
 
 They swept the country in all directions, espe- 
 cially the district through which the Germans had 
 fled in their mad rout the preceding night. From 
 behind the French lines an aeroplane rose and 
 soared swiftly away to discover the position and 
 strength of the enemy. 
 
 "You look nervous," remarked Jacques to 
 Leon, whose hand shook as he reached for one of 
 the cups of coffee being now served the soldiers. 
 
 "I am nervous/* replied Leon. "I'm not 
 frightened, though." 
 
 As he spoke one of the men with a spyglass sud- 
 denly jumped to his feet. 
 
 "Here they come!" he shouted.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 
 
 INSTANTLY every one was alert. All 
 through the long lines of trenches the sol- 
 diers sprang to their feet, prepared for im- 
 mediate action. Needless to say, Leon and 
 Jacques were among the first to be in their places. 
 
 "Can you see anything!" inquired Leon 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Not a thing." 
 
 "Perhaps this man was mistaken." 
 
 "I guess not," said Jacques confidently. "He 
 had glasses, you know, and he was higher than 
 we are. He could see them long before we could, 
 even if he had no glasses to help him. They're 
 coming, all right." 
 
 "That looks like it!" exclaimed Leon, as a shell 
 shrieked over their heads and burst some distance 
 behind the French lines. 
 
 "Yes, and there is our reply to it," said 
 Jacques. 
 
 The French artillery had opened fire. The roar 
 of the cannonading became louder and louder as 
 the firing became more frequent. Shells from the 
 
 195
 
 196 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 German guns were bursting both in front and in 
 the rear of the French trenches. So far, however, 
 the damage they had done was slight. 
 
 " Those are the 'Jack Johnsons' they are 
 using," said Jacques. 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "Those big German howitzers. Don't you re- 
 member how the English soldiers at Mons chris- 
 tened them that ? ' ' 
 
 "Sure enough," exclaimed Leon. "They 
 aren't doing much damage to us yet, though, are 
 they?" 
 
 "No, but wait a few moments." 
 
 The soldier next to Jacques plucked him by the 
 sleeve and engaged him in conversation while a 
 grin of delight spread over his face. Jacques, 
 too, broke into a smile as he listened to his neigh- 
 bor's words. 
 
 "Did you hear that?" he asked, turning to 
 Leon. 
 
 "I didn't hear a thing you said." 
 
 "This man says that our gunners are writing, 
 'Love to the Kaiser,' and 'Regards from the 
 Allies,' on the shells they are firing at the Ger- 
 mans. J ' 
 
 "That's pretty good," laughed Leon. "I only 
 hope the Kaiser will receive the message." 
 
 "No fear of that. You may be sure he is in
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 197 
 
 some good safe place, where the enemy's shells 
 won't bother him." 
 
 "I wish he was in that crowd that is attacking 
 us." 
 
 "So do I. Can you see them yet?" 
 
 Leon stood on tiptoe and peered intently in the 
 direction from which the Germans had been 
 sighted. As the sun rose higher, the early morn- 
 ing mists were burned away and it was now pos- 
 sible to see a long distance. 
 
 "I see them!" cried Leon suddenly. "Look!" 
 and as he spoke he pointed straight ahead of him. 
 
 "I don't see a thing." 
 
 " There!" exclaimed Leon. "Don't you see 
 something moving 'way off there I ' ' 
 
 "Those long gray lines, you mean?" 
 
 "Yes. Those are the Germans." 
 
 "You're right," said Jacques suddenly. "I 
 saw that line before, but I didn't think it could be 
 the soldiers. It looks just like part of the land- 
 scape. ' ' 
 
 "It is hard to see them," agreed Leon. "Until 
 I saw them moving I thought they were a hedge 
 or something like that, too. At this time of day 
 they are especially hard to see. ' ' 
 
 "Those are wonderful uniforms," said Jacques. 
 " Think how much better they are than these 
 baggy red trousers the French troops have to
 
 198 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 wear. Our uniforms make us a perfect mark for 
 the enemy's guns." 
 
 "Yes, but I have heard they were going to be 
 changed. ' ' 
 
 "They ought to be," insisted Jacques. "Just 
 because our soldiers have worn these same uni- 
 forms for so many years they hate to give them 
 up. It is all absolute nonsense." 
 
 "Too late to change them before this battle," 
 laughed Leon. "Look!" he added, as he glanced 
 at the sky above them. ' ' That aeroplane we sent 
 up must be directly over the German lines. See, 
 it has changed its course and is now flying parallel 
 to us." 
 
 "They're being fired at, too. You can see 
 shells bursting around it." 
 
 "They're down fairly low," remarked Leon. 
 "I'm glad you and I are not in that machine, 
 aren't you?" 
 
 "I certainly am. I know how they must feel, 
 though. Do you remember how we felt when we 
 were being fired at on the Marne?" 
 
 "I shall never forget it." 
 
 "They're hit!" cried Jacques suddenly. 
 "Look at them! They're falling!" 
 
 "That is horrible," shuddered Leon, as he gazed 
 spellbound and with wide open eyes at the falling 
 aeroplane. Evidently it had been struck by a bul- 
 let or the fragment of a bursting shell. It had
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 199 
 
 suddenly pitched forward and then plunged head- 
 long toward the earth in its mad descent. Half 
 the distance from the ground it caught fire and a 
 roaring mass of flames dashed downward to de- 
 struction. 
 
 "Two more good men gone," sighed Leon. 
 "Who was the aviator, Jacques?" 
 
 "I don't know. He did his duty, anyway, for 
 he stayed over the German troops long enough to 
 give our gunners the range." 
 
 "We paid a big price for the information, I 
 should say." 
 
 1 1 Not very, ' ' remarked Jacques. " In a war like 
 this the lives of two men aren't worth a very 
 great deal. Not that I think that lives are to be 
 wasted by any means." 
 
 "The Germans waste them." 
 
 "They do seem to. I don't believe you'll ever 
 find General Joffre doing such a thing, however." 
 
 "I hope he'll not." 
 
 The two young soldiers talked on while the long 
 line of gray-clad Germans advanced upon them 
 slowly and yet steadily. They were still a long 
 distance away, too great a distance to be a mark 
 for rifle bullets. The artillery roared and crashed 
 continuously, however, and evidently the French 
 were doing considerable damage with their big 
 guns. Even with the naked eye it was now pos- 
 sible to see shells explode in the ranks of the
 
 200 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 enemy. A gap would appear, only to be filled al- 
 most immediately by those in the rear. 
 
 "How many of them are there, do you think?" 
 exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "About five or six regiments, I should say." 
 
 "That means about six or seven thousand men, 
 then." 
 
 "About that many, yes." 
 
 "How many have we here?" 
 
 "I don't know," replied Jacques. "Not over 
 four thousand. ' ' 
 
 "Can we hold them?" 
 
 "Certainly, we can. It will take more than the 
 men they have there to take these trenches away 
 from us now. The ones who are attacking are al- 
 ways at a disadvantage and need many more men. 
 You must remember that they can't even see us 
 yet, while they are in plain sight. They'll un- 
 doubtedly charge us and then you'll see them go 
 down like nine-pins when we open up. It's going 
 to be terrible, and we'll have to fight like demons." 
 
 "We'll do that, all right," said Leon. "Just 
 look at these men around us." 
 
 The French troops in the trenches were almost 
 beside themselves with excitement. Their hands 
 twitched nervously and as they peered forth upon 
 the mass of advancing Germans it was evident 
 that many were restraining themselves with diffi-
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 201 
 
 culty from jumping out of the trenches and rush- 
 ing forward to meet the oncoming host. 
 
 "Yes," said Jacques. "I guess you're right; 
 these men will fight like demons. If you were 
 fighting for your home and your country, I guess 
 you would, too." 
 
 "I expect to fight my best," said Leon stoutly. 
 
 * ' I know you do, ' ' exclaimed Jacques. ' ' I don 't 
 want you to think for a moment that I doubted 
 that fact. I was just thinking of these French- 
 men here whose country is invaded and is already 
 scarred horribly by this war." 
 
 "Well, it's better to win at the end than at the 
 beginning," said Leon. "The Germans are doing 
 their best now, while we will be stronger every 
 day." 
 
 ' ' That is true, ' ' agreed Jacques. ' ' At the same 
 time I wish we had been more prepared for this 
 war. We'll win in the end, all right, but if we 
 could win at the beginning, too, that would make 
 the end come quicker." 
 
 "We'll do our part in this fight," exclaimed 
 Leon. "I think we're going to be ordered to fire 
 in a moment." 
 
 All along the line sounded the click of the ham- 
 mers as the rifles were cocked. Every man set 
 himself a little more firmly in his place. Every 
 one gripped his rifle a little more tightly and
 
 202 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 grimly prepared himself for the struggle which 
 was about to come. 
 
 In close formation the Germans advanced. 
 They were shouting and singing as they came on 
 and above the roar of the big guns the sound of 
 the men's voices made its way. 
 
 "I wish they wouldn't sing," exclaimed Leon. 
 "It seems too horrible." 
 
 "Ssh," hissed Jacques. "Keep your eyes on 
 the captain there." 
 
 * ' Eeady, ' ' shouted the officer. ' * Aim ! Fire ! ' ' 
 
 The sharp bark of hundreds of rifles now added 
 to the ever increasing din. Fast and furious be- 
 came the fighting. The men in the trenches 
 worked feverishly to load and fire their guns as 
 rapidly as possible. 
 
 The Germans fell in scores, but their advance 
 did not slacken for a moment. On they came, 
 cheering wildly. The places of the fallen were 
 instantly taken by their fellows, so that the front 
 rank always remained intact. The French ma- 
 chine guns and mitrailleuses now opened fire and 
 the havoc they wrought was beyond description. 
 
 It was as if some man with a scythe was cut- 
 ting weeds in his gardens. Entire rows of the 
 Germans were cut down and plunged headlong to 
 the earth. The bravery of the attackers was mar- 
 velous for they did not once falter. On, on, on 
 they came like a great gray-green wave that had
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 203 
 
 just broken and was curling onward toward the 
 beach. 
 
 Leon and Jacques were working desperately. 
 The officers were exhorting their men to even 
 greater efforts, though every one already was 
 doing his utmost and needed no urging. So fast 
 were the men loading and firing that before many 
 minutes had passed the ammunition began to run 
 low. 
 
 The rifle-firing ceased to a certain extent, but 
 the artillery, and especially the rapid firers, kept 
 a steady rain of lead pouring into the German 
 ranks. 
 
 "We're checking them! They're breaking 
 up!" exclaimed Leon. 
 
 On his right the soldier who had stood shoulder 
 to shoulder with him had sunk forward and Leon 
 suddenly perceived that the man was dead. He 
 was half propped up in the trench, his head lying 
 on his outstretched arms. Shocked as he was by 
 this discovery, Leon quickly recovered his com- 
 posure. So intent was he on the battle now raging 
 that anything else could have but small effect on 
 him. 
 
 "Yes, sir," cried Jacques, "we are stopping 
 them. We'll send 'em back in a moment more, 
 too." 
 
 Both boys began to cheer, and their comrades, 
 catching a spark of their enthusiasm, also broke
 
 204 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 into a shout. This proceeding seemed to discon- 
 cert the Germans almost more than did the bullets. 
 They had received terrible punishment as they 
 pushed forward, but they were able to take all 
 that and still advance, for they believed that they 
 could drive out the French and they were pre- 
 pared for heavy losses. When the cheer from 
 the trenches reached them over the blood-stained 
 battlefield, however, they wavered. 
 
 For the first time the Germans hesitated. 
 Their front rank almost seemed to stop. The 
 troops in the rear consequently were checked and 
 before many minutes the attackers were gathered 
 in a great dense mass, apparently undecided 
 whether to advance or to retreat. 
 
 The non-commissioned officers shouted and 
 waved their swords. They exhorted their men to 
 go forward and they even struck some of the sol- 
 diers with the flat of their swords to urge them 
 onward. These efforts were in vain, however. 
 The Germans had suddenly lost confidence and 
 become demoralized. 
 
 Like any other machine, they ran well until 
 something went wrong. Something had suddenly 
 gone wrong with this section of the German war 
 machine, and like a pack of sheep the men hud- 
 dled closely together on the field, an easy mark 
 for the hail of bullets poured into their midst from 
 the French trenches.
 
 THE INVADERS ATTACK 205 
 
 "They're beaten! They're beaten!'* shouted 
 Leon excitedly. 
 
 ' ' No doubt of it, ' ' exclaimed Jacques. ' * We 've 
 got them now. ' ' 
 
 "Look there!" 
 
 The French officers were shouting to their men 
 and running up and down behind the trenches. 
 
 "It's the order to charge," cried Leon.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE CHARGE 
 
 OUT of the trenches swarmed the French 
 troops. Their opportunity had come and 
 they were fully aware of it. Now was 
 the time to strike and every man was eager to take 
 advantage of the moment. 
 
 Leon looked about him as he clambered out of 
 his place and took his stand upon the field of bat- 
 tle. His companions were like wild men. The 
 fire of battle and of victory was in their eyes andi 
 they acted like blooded dogs straining at the 
 leash. Their enemies were demoralized, on the 
 verge of rout, and every soldier of France was 
 impatient to hasten that rout and to have a share 
 in accomplishing it. 
 
 The long cruel bayonets gleamed in the rays of 
 the morning sunlight as the men quickly formed 
 and awaited the order to advance. Leon could 
 not help shuddering, in spite of himself, as he 
 thought of the frightful damage that could be 
 done by those slim blades of cold steel. 
 
 It was to be man against man now, however, 
 
 206
 
 THE CHAEGE 207 
 
 and the young soldier had no intention of dealing 
 gently with his opponents. The smoke of battle 
 filled his nostrils, while his ears thrummed with 
 the roar of the big guns. His fighting spirit was 
 aroused and he found himself almost as eager as 
 his companions for the word to advance. 
 
 To Leon it seemed as if hours passed before this 
 order came. In reality only a few seconds had 
 elapsed, but at such a time a whole lifetime some- 
 times seems to be crowded into a few short mo- 
 ments. 
 
 Now they were off! Leon and Jacques found 
 themselves in the midst of a yelling crowd of 
 frenzied Frenchmen, every man intent on dealing 
 out death and destruction to the Germans on the 
 field before them. The noise was almost deafen- 
 ing. The great guns of the Allies sent a constant 
 stream of shot and shell into the opposing ranks 
 in an effort to aid the charge. 
 
 Nor were the Germans idle. Their officers had 
 partly succeeded in rallying their men and they 
 evidently intended to make a stand. Their guns 
 were turned upon the mass of onrushing French- 
 men and the execution they wrought was deadly. 
 Men fell by scores, but the advancing lines did not 
 stop. On they went, cheering as before, one fixed 
 purpose in the minds of all. 
 
 "My men would have stormed the rock of Gib- 
 raltar that day," said their commander proudly,
 
 208 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 a week later when he was recounting the story to 
 a group of officers. 
 
 Nearer and nearer to the Germans they came. 
 Leon now could see the white, set faces of his op- 
 ponents. He wondered vaguely if he would ever 
 live to reach that mass of grim men waiting there 
 for him. All about him his companions were 
 dropping. The rain of bullets poured into their 
 midst was causing untold havoc. It hardly 
 seemed possible that any one would be left 
 alive. 
 
 The Germans were wavering, however. Ex- 
 cited as he was, Leon could see that plainly. It is 
 one thing to face rifles that you cannot see. It 
 is a different proposition, however, to watch long 
 rows of men rush toward you, every man with a 
 shining steel bayonet in his hands. In the one 
 case you can't see the threatening death, but in 
 the other it is before your eyes every second and 
 it requires a strong man to wait coolly for its 
 arrival. 
 
 The Germans hesitated. They appeared unde- 
 cided as to what next to do. And then, when they 
 realized that nothing they had done had produced 
 any marked effect upon the Allies and that noth- 
 ing they could do would stop them, their lines 
 wavered and then broke. 
 
 In vain their officers pleaded and threatened. 
 Demoralization had set in and no power on eartk
 
 THE CHARGE 209 
 
 could rally them now. The Germans turned and 
 fled. 
 
 1 1 They 're running ! They 're running ! ' ' shouted 
 Leon and Jacques, both wild with excitement. 
 
 A great cheer broke from the French ranks, and 
 waving their rifles on high the men increased their 
 speed. They were almost upon the fleeing Ger- 
 mans now. Artillery, rifles, anything that would 
 retard their flight was thrown aside as the de- 
 feated soldiers ran for their lives. 
 
 But the French were soon among them shoot- 
 ing, striking in all directions and on every side. 
 They were revenging themselves for their burned 
 homes, their battle-scarred countryside, and their 
 slain fathers, brothers, and sons. Eevenge was 
 sweet to these men and they made the very most 
 of it. 
 
 The German regiments were literally cut to 
 pieces. The field was strewn with the bodies of 
 the dead and dying. Hundreds lay about on all 
 sides. Many threw up their hands in token of 
 surrender and these alone were unharmed and 
 quickly made prisoners. 
 
 The Germans scattered and fled at their utmost 
 speed, safety being the uppermost thought in the 
 mind of every one. The French pursued them re- 
 lentlessly and almost gleefully, rejoicing in their 
 victory and desperately trying to make it as de- 
 cisive as possible.
 
 210 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 Leon and Jacques found themselves side by side 
 and unharmed when at last the fighting was over. 
 The German line had been completely routed and 
 aside from the dead and wounded left behind not 
 one remained on the battle field. Here and there 
 in the distance a squad of Frenchmen still could 
 be seen in pursuit of one of their foes, but other- 
 wise the struggle was all ended. The French 
 were left in undisputed possession of the ground. 
 
 "What a fight!" exclaimed Leon, mopping his 
 brow. 
 
 "What a success it was!" said Jacques en- 
 thusiastically. "My only regret is that I didn't 
 reach this spot before the Germans left it. I'd 
 like to have been able to strike a few blows at 
 them myself." 
 
 "It would have been necessary for us to run 
 much faster than we did to get here in time for 
 that," laughed Leon. "They didn't wait very 
 long. ' ' 
 
 "I should say not. We took a lot of prisoners 
 though. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, we did," agreed Leon. "Look at them 
 over there. Evidently some of the Germans 
 waited here at any rate. Not because they wished 
 to, though." 
 
 "And the prisoners are not the only ones who 
 remained either," said Jacques grimly. "Look 
 at the ground out there."
 
 THE CHARGE 211 
 
 "It is awful!" shuddered Leon. "Doesn't it 
 seem a shame that fine, brave men like that have 
 to be killed or wounded or perhaps maimed for 
 life? And they didn't start the war themselves 
 you know." 
 
 "You're not getting soft hearted, are you?" 
 
 "Not a bit." 
 
 "Do you feel sorry for the Germans who were 
 killed and wounded?" 
 
 ' ' Of course I do. Why shouldn 't 1 1 " 
 
 "They are our enemies." 
 
 "Perhaps they are," said Leon. "At the same 
 time they are brave men and I feel sorry for them. 
 That doesn't mean I don't intend to fight against 
 them, just as hard as ever. But these men out 
 here I have no grudge against and I feel sorry for 
 any man who is suffering." 
 
 "You are an American, that's why you sym- 
 pathize with these men," said Jacques. "If you 
 were French or Belgian or British you'd feel dif- 
 ferently. ' ' 
 
 "Perhaps. Still I hate to see any one suffer 
 and so do you, too." 
 
 "Not these men." 
 
 "Yes, you do, or you're different from the rest 
 of your countrymen." 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 * ' Look out there, ' ' directed Leon. ' ' Our troops 
 are caring for the wounded and they are taking
 
 212 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 just as good care of the Germans as they are of 
 their own men. ' ' 
 
 "Perhaps you're right," agreed Jacques, after 
 a moment spent in watching the acts of mercy be- 
 ing performed on the battle-scarred field. "Let's 
 go and see what we can do to help." 
 
 "That's the way," cried Leon. "I've -always 
 said that Frenchmen were good sports and now 
 I know it. ' ' 
 
 The two young soldiers were soon busily en- 
 gaged in assisting in caring for the wounded and 
 in carrying them to the motor-ambulances that 
 were now making their appearance. As fast as 
 one was filled it bore its load to the nearest hos- 
 pital, deposited it there and returned for more. 
 The work progressed rapidly. Soon the wounded 
 were all removed and the dead had been buried 
 in shallow graves. The chaplain said a few words 
 over their bodies, then the earth was piled on top 
 of them and the war was over, as far as they were 
 concerned. 
 
 "I don't believe I could stand all these sights 
 if I wasn't pretty well hardened to them now," 
 said Leon. 
 
 "They are pretty bad," agreed Jacques. 
 
 "Not so bad when the fight is on. You don't 
 notice such things then for you are too excited. 
 But when it is all over, you realize just how aw- 
 ful it all is."
 
 THE CHARGE 213 
 
 " We mustn't think about that part of it. Let's 
 try to forget the bad things and see if we can't 
 plan some new scheme for beating the Germans 
 again." 
 
 "Do you think they'll be back!" 
 
 "I know they will. We beat them easily that 
 time because they happened to become demoral- 
 ized, but that isn't apt to happen again." 
 
 "They won't be here right away, though," said 
 Leon. "It'll take them some time to reform their 
 lines and get reinforcements enough to attack us 
 again. ' ' 
 
 "Don't be too sure." 
 
 The two boys were now put to work along with 
 several hundred other soldiers digging new 
 trenches. This was hard work and not of the sort 
 enjoyed by many of the men. It was very im- 
 portant work though and had to be done as rapidly 
 as possible. 
 
 After two successful engagements the Allied 
 lines had made a gain of nearly a mile that day, 
 and in order to hold this advantage it was neces- 
 sary to entrench strongly. Every man was 
 equipped with a long handled shovel and was set 
 to digging. 
 
 To the two boys this was a new kind of labor 
 and one which called into play muscles long un- 
 used. Before many minutes had elapsed their 
 arms were aching and their backs were sore.
 
 214 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "I don't like this," said Leon. 
 
 "Nor I," admitted Jacques. "This is part of 
 the game though, and I guess we'll keep on digging 
 whether we like it or not. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, I imagine we shall," smiled Leon, as he 
 turned to his task with redoubled zeal. Even the 
 brief time that he had been a soldier had instilled 
 the idea in his head that he was to do exactly what 
 he was told. The idea of questioning his orders 
 almost made him laugh now, it was so ridiculous. 
 At first this unquestioning obedience had been 
 hard for the young American but he had become 
 so accustomed to it by this time that it was almost 
 second nature to him. 
 
 They dug on in silence for some time. The 
 trenches were almost finished now and the main 
 French force was preparing to occupy them. The 
 trenches were placed on the tops of three small 
 hills with a little valley between them. From 
 their places on top, the French could command the 
 approach to this small valley and make it decid- 
 edly uncomfortable for any force that might try 
 to enter it. 
 
 "I'm glad that job is over," exclaimed Jacques 
 sometime later, when he and Leon were resting 
 in the newly completed trenches. 
 
 * ' So am I, ' ' said Leon. " I 'm tired, too. ' ' 
 
 "I wish they'd give us an aeroplane and send us 
 scouting, don't you!"
 
 THE CHARGE 215 
 
 "We might get what those two men got this 
 morning. ' ' 
 
 "I guess not. We're lucky, you know," 
 laughed Jacques. 
 
 "Don't I hear an aeroplane now?" exclaimed 
 Leon, straightening up. 
 
 "You certainly do. Here it comes too." 
 
 Over their heads flew one of the French army 
 monoplanes evidently sent to find out what the 
 Germans in the vicinity were planning to do. No 
 one thought for a moment that because they had 
 sustained a reverse the Germans would stop try- 
 ing. In fact they were only expected to re- 
 double their efforts on that account. As a mat- 
 ter of fact their defeat was only a slight one 
 anyway, when measured by some of the other 
 battles of the great war. In the reports it would 
 probably be put down as a severe skirmish. 
 
 "They'll get lost in the fog," said Leon. 
 
 "Fog," exclaimed Jacques. "Where is any 
 fog?" 
 
 "Just look out over that field and you'll see it. 
 Why it is rising right up out of the ground." 
 
 "I wish we would have fog." 
 
 "Why do you wish that?" 
 
 "Because I have a scheme," said Jacques mys- 
 teriously. "My father has often told me of some- 
 thing they did in the fog during the Franco-Prus- 
 sian War in 1870. I'd like to try it myself."
 
 216 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "Can you do it alone!" 
 
 "I should say not. It would take about all the 
 men that are here." 
 
 "How are you going to work it then?" 
 
 "I'd have to suggest it to one of the officers 
 and get him to try it." 
 
 "That would be pretty hard, I should think," 
 said Leon. 
 
 "I'm afraid so, but there is never any harm 
 in trying." 
 
 * ' Tell me what it is anyway, ' ' urged Leon. 
 
 "Not at all," smiled Jacques. "If the fog 
 closes in I'll tell you, but not otherwise."
 
 CHAPTER XXin 
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 
 
 IN spite of Leon's entreaties Jacques would 
 not consent to disclose the nature of his 
 scheme. "If the fog closes in very thick 
 I'll tell you," was his answer to every question 
 of his friend. 
 
 "I don't see your point in not telling me," 
 Leon insisted. 
 
 "There is no point at all," replied Jacques. 
 "It is a wild scheme and you'd probably think 
 I was crazy. I want to submit it to our com- 
 mander first and if he is agreeable to trying it, 
 you'll know soon enough." 
 
 "But I want to know now." 
 
 "You're the most persistent person I've ever 
 seen," laughed Jacques. "I warn you once and 
 for all, however, that I shall not tell you what 
 it is unless the fog becomes much denser and un- 
 less our commander thinks well of it." 
 
 "The fog is much thicker already," exclaimed 
 Leon, jumping to his feet and looking about him. 
 
 "Not thick enough, though." 
 
 217
 
 218 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "I'll stick this bayonet into you," threatened 
 Leon, pretending to reach for his gun. 
 
 "You can't even scare me that way," laughed 
 Jacques. "Here comes some food for us anyway, 
 so let's declare an armistice until after luncheon." 
 
 "All right," Leon agreed. "No longer than 
 that, though. ' * 
 
 The coarse plain fare was handed out to the 
 soldiers who did not leave their places in the 
 trenches. Every man was hungry however, for 
 it had been a hard day and the soldiers had worked 
 valiantly. 
 
 "The best meal I ever ate," announced Leon, 
 as he drank his soup and munched the large chunk 
 of black bread which was his portion. 
 
 "It is pretty good, isn't it?" said Jacques. 
 "I didn't realize how hungry I was until I began 
 to eat. I think I could eat forever." 
 
 "I doubt that," said Leon, laughing. "I know 
 I couldn't anyway. This food they give us seems 
 to me to be very filling." 
 
 "It's wholesome too, you may be sure of that." 
 
 "Well, I haven't complained of the cooking 
 yet. So far I am very well satisfied with the 
 board I am getting." 
 
 "You are perfectly suited with this hotel, are 
 you?" Jacques inquired. 
 
 "Yes, I am. That is there is only one thing 
 I want. ' '
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 219 
 
 "My dear sir," exclaimed Jacques, pretending 
 great politeness. "Tell me what it is you wish 
 and I shall be only too happy to accommodate 
 you if it is in my power to do so." 
 
 "Do you mean that?" 
 
 "Of course I do." 
 
 "Very well, then," said Leon quickly. "Tell 
 me what your scheme is." 
 
 "I said if it was in my power to do so I would 
 accommodate you." 
 
 "That is in your power." 
 
 "Let me see," said Jacques, standing up and 
 looking about him. i ' The fog is closing in thicker 
 every minute, isn't it?" 
 
 "It certainly is," Leon agreed. 
 
 "Perhaps the time has come then." 
 
 Before Leon could restrain him Jacques sprang 
 from his place in the trench and made his way 
 quickly to the spot where one of the petty of- 
 ficers was standing. He saluted, spoke a few 
 words to the officer in a low voice who thereupon 
 nodded his head, and Jacques soon disappeared 
 in the fast gathering mist. 
 
 Leon did not know what to make of his friend's 
 peculiar actions. He stood and watched him for 
 several moments until he was out of sight and 
 then resumed his place in the trenches once more, 
 completely mystified. As he sat down the whirr 
 of propellers over his head made him look up in
 
 220 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 time to see the scout aeroplane, which had been 
 sent out some time before, returning. 
 
 "Coming back before they get lost in the fog," 
 thought Leon. 
 
 He had no idea of what Jacques had been hint- 
 ing at, and he was very curious to know just what 
 was in the mind of the young Frenchman. It 
 was not like Jacques to conceal things in this 
 way. Perhaps it was a silly scheme after all 
 and he did not disclose it for fear of being 
 laughed at. Still, thought Leon, he had rushed 
 off to tell it to their commander so that he could 
 not have considered it such a very foolish idea 
 in spite of his remarks. 
 
 While Leon was revolving these many thoughts 
 in his mind Jacques suddenly reappeared. 
 
 "It's all right," he announced. 
 
 "What's all right?" demanded Leon. 
 
 "My scheme. I have received not only per- 
 mission, but an order to try it." 
 
 "Tell me what it is." 
 
 "I haven't time now. Come along. They're 
 waiting for us. ' ' 
 
 More puzzled than ever Leon followed his com- 
 panion. The fog was now so dense that it was 
 almost impossible to recognize figures at a dis- 
 tance of more than thirty or forty feet. 
 
 Jacques evidently knew just where he wanted 
 to go however, and the two young soldiers soon
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 221 
 
 arrived at their destination. This proved to be 
 the headquarters of their commander. Here was 
 gathered quite a large company of soldiers, at 
 least a hundred, Leon thought. In the thick mist 
 the men appeared almost like ghosts and it was 
 impossible to estimate accurately just how many 
 there were. 
 
 Every man was furnished with a small hatchet, 
 and the word was soon given to march. Leon had 
 remained close beside Jacques all the time, but 
 thus far he had had no chance to question him, 
 and their mission still remained a deep mystery 
 to him. 
 
 They moved slowly forward, marching past 
 their trenches down the hill and on into the small 
 valley. They did not stop here, however, but kept 
 on until they reached a large field, nearly a half 
 mile beyond their lines. ''There's a German 
 regiment about a mile from here," said Jacques 
 finally. 
 
 ''How do you know?" exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "When I was at headquarters that aviator we 
 saw start out a while ago arrived. He reported 
 one of the Baden regiments resting on their arms 
 about a mile and a half away." 
 
 "What are we going to do?" 
 
 "We're after that regiment." 
 
 "With axes?" exclaimed Leon. "Was that 
 your scheme!"
 
 222 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "You'll see in a moment." 
 
 The boys had been conversing in low tones as 
 they walked along, and as Jacques ceased speak- 
 ing the order came to halt. 
 
 The company halted and several of the men 
 were sent to reconnoiter the surrounding country. 
 The rest of the soldiers awaited their return in 
 silence. 
 
 " What's up?" whispered Leon. 
 
 "Ssh," Jacques cautioned. "I can't tell you 
 now." 
 
 No further words were spoken and silence 
 reigned throughout the whole body of men. Most 
 of them were in the same predicament as Leon; 
 they did not know why they were there or what 
 they were expected to do. An air of mystery 
 pervaded the proceedings and if the others were 
 of the same mind as the young American boy they 
 certainly were burning with curiosity. 
 
 The figures of their companions appeared dim 
 and shadowy in the dense fog that drifted in and 
 covered everything with its damp folds. An air 
 of tense excitement pervaded the men which the 
 thick mist and the mystery of their expedition 
 only served to increase. 
 
 Suddenly a stir was felt all along the line. 
 Some one was coming and it proved to be the 
 scouting party returning. Its leader made his
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 223 
 
 report to the commanding officer who turned and 
 addressed a few curt orders to his men. 
 
 The soldiers immediately broke ranks and scat- 
 tered in all directions, while Jacques translated 
 the orders to Leon. All the young American had 
 understood was some word about a tree. 
 
 "We are each to cut three saplings between 
 five and six feet high," he said. 
 
 "Fire-wood to cook dinner with, I suppose," 
 remarked Leon. 
 
 "Don't be sarcastic." 
 
 "I can't help it. I don't like this business of 
 not knowing what I am doing. Everything is so 
 secret it makes me mad." 
 
 "Don't forget this, Leon," said Jacques quietly. 
 "A soldier's duty is to obey his orders and noth- 
 ing else. Suppose it was necessary to explain 
 every move that was made to all the troops. 
 Wouldn't that be a nice state of affairs?" 
 
 "That's all right, too, but you wouldn't tell 
 me what you had in mind and you're not an of- 
 ficer. At least not yet." 
 
 "I didn't feel sure that I had any right to tell 
 you," exclaimed Jacques. "You know I'd tell 
 you anything if I thought it was all right to do 
 so." 
 
 "Don't you trust me?" 
 
 "Of course I do. Please don't say such a
 
 224 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 thing, and you know as well as I do that that 
 was not the reason why I kept silent. ' ' 
 
 1 'I guess I was wrong," said Leon soberly. 
 "It's really none of my business what we are go- 
 ing to do, and I won't make another mistake." 
 
 "I don't want you to have any hard feelings 
 toward me," said Jacques. 
 
 "You know I haven't any, and never shall 
 have, ' ' exclaimed Leon impetuously. * ' The whole 
 thing was my fault and I had forgotten that part 
 of what a soldier 's duty is until you reminded me 
 of it just now. I am much obliged to you for 
 telling me, too, and I trust I Ve learned my lesson. 
 I'm glad you told me what you did, for if you 
 hadn't some one else would and he wouldn't be 
 as nice about it either." 
 
 "Here are the saplings," exclaimed Jacques 
 suddenly. 
 
 "Three apiece you said, didn't you?" remarked 
 Leon as he set to work. 
 
 "Yes, three, and we are to be as quiet as pos- 
 sible while we are working too." 
 
 Both boys immediately set to work at their task. 
 Leon felt ashamed of himself in the face of the 
 quiet rebuke his comrade had administered and 
 he made up his mind that never again would he 
 forget himself as he had that day. He realized 
 that curiosity as to orders was not a part of
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 225 
 
 a good soldier's makeup and from now on he was 
 determined to be a good soldier. 
 
 In a very few moments both young boys had 
 cut their allotment of saplings. They were ready 
 to return. 
 
 "You'll see something interesting now," re- 
 marked Jacques as they made their way back to 
 the place where the rest of their company was 
 waiting. 
 
 This was indeed true. When they arrived at 
 their destination every man was busy driving 
 his sapling into the ground. The branches had 
 been trimmed from them and one end sharpened. 
 This was driven into the ground a few inches, 
 so that it stood solidly. 
 
 " About ten feet apart," suggested Jacques. 
 
 "The stakes, you mean?" asked Leon. 
 
 "Yes. Drive them in so they'll stand firmly." 
 
 Puzzled as he was, Leon made no remark but 
 did as he was told. When his three stakes had 
 been planted he and Jacques joined the rest of 
 their company which now was forming some little 
 distance away. When every man was back in his 
 place, a half dozen soldiers with huge bags started 
 out along the many stakes standing all about 
 them. 
 
 "Watch these fellows," whispered Jacques. 
 
 They went rapidly from one stake to another
 
 226 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 and taking soldiers' caps from the bags they car- 
 ried they placed one on the top of each stake. In 
 a very few moments every stake was adorned with 
 one of these pieces of headgear. 
 
 "Why," exclaimed Leon. "In this fog they 
 look like soldiers." 
 
 "That's what they're supposed to look like," 
 said Jacques eagerly. "Do you really think any 
 one would be fooled by them?" 
 
 "I don't see why not." 
 
 "Well, they'll look still more like soldiers in a 
 little while," went on Jacques. "There will be 
 some boughs hung on the stakes to make them 
 look fatter." 
 
 "I'm beginning to see your scheme," said Leon 
 quietly. 
 
 "Of course you are. By this time there is a 
 large force of our troops on each side of us and 
 one from the direction in which we came." 
 
 "And we're to lure the Germans into a trap 
 here, I suppose." 
 
 "Exactly. If we can get that Baden regiment 
 to chase us and lead them back here, there'll be 
 some action, I can tell you. ' ' 
 
 "This was all your scheme, too," exclaimed 
 Leon, looking at his companion in admiration. 
 "You're a wonder, Jacques." 
 
 "Wait and see. The scheme hasn't been suc- 
 cessful yet and anyway it wasn't my scheme. I
 
 JACQUES' SCHEME 227 
 
 told you my father was with a regiment that did 
 exactly the same thing in the Franco-Prussian 
 Wa.." 
 
 A sharp order put an end to all further con- 
 versation between the two young soldiers. The 
 command to march had been given and the com- 
 pany immediately moved. 
 
 ''We're going to try to lure the Germans on 
 now," exclaimed Jacques, in a low voice. ll Let's 
 hope we have good luck. ' ' 
 
 "We always have that." 
 
 As they made their way cautiously forward into 
 the fog, the two boys looked behind them. The 
 field of sticks, every one adorned with a cap, cer- 
 tainly presented the appearance of a body of 
 troops, and as Leon and Jacques saw them 
 through the fog they were startled for a moment 
 themselves as the ghostlike figures nodded in the 
 mist.
 
 H 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A SUCCESSFUL EUSB 
 
 * < Y Y OW near are we to this German regi- 
 ment?" Leon inquired. 
 
 "I've no idea. Our scouts prob- 
 ably have located them, however." 
 
 They marched on in silence for some distance 
 when Leon suddenly turned to Jacques. 
 
 "I just happened to think," he exclaimed. 
 "What is there to prevent us from being shot 
 down along with the Germans? If we are suc- 
 cessful in leading them into our trap I don't see 
 how our troops can tell us apart. ' ' 
 
 Jacques merely laughed at this. "I forgot that 
 you don 't understand French very well, ' ' he said. 
 "Consequently you didn't hear what was said 
 about that." 
 
 "No, of course I didn't." 
 
 "This is what we are to do. Just before we 
 reach the scarecrows on our fake retreat we are 
 to turn off sharply to the left. The Germans 
 won't be able to see us in this fog and they'll 
 keep straight ahead, at least we hope they will." 
 
 228
 
 A SUCCESSFUL EUSE 229 
 
 "Well, how are we going to tell when we our- 
 selves are close to the scarecrows ! ' ' 
 
 " Don't worry about that. We will have men 
 posted to warn us." 
 
 "All right, then," said Leon. "Now that 
 everything is provided for I am anxious to start 
 the fun. Bring on your Germans!" 
 
 "You'll see them soon enough, and it will be a 
 ticklish piece of work too, I can tell you. We'd 
 better not talk any more either or we may get 
 in trouble." 
 
 On through the fog they went. Now and again 
 a halt was called, while a few men were sent ahead 
 to see if they were approaching the Germans. 
 Upon receiving a report that they had not yet 
 come within striking distance, the order was 
 given to proceed once more. This occurred sev- 
 eral times and on every new occasion additional 
 caution was exercised. Evidently it was ex- 
 pected that the Germans would be encountered at 
 any moment now. 
 
 Only a small proportion of the French were 
 armed with rifles. These soldiers took the front 
 rank and were to fire a few volleys into the ranks 
 of the Germans when they should come within 
 range. The rest of the men were merely to show 
 themselves and give the impression that their 
 forces were considerable. The number of men 
 sent on the expedition was believed to be sum-
 
 230 WITH JOFFBE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 ciently large to tempt the Germans into pursuing 
 them. 
 
 After each volley it was planned that the French 
 should retreat a few yards into the fog. The 
 idea was to expose themselves as little as possible, 
 but continually to draw on the enemy. 
 
 "This will be our last stop before the fun be- 
 gins, I think," whispered Jacques when they had 
 halted for at least the sixth time. 
 
 "I hope so," answered Leon. "I'm beginning 
 to get nervous and I wish something would hap- 
 pen." 
 
 "Here we go," exclaimed Jacques as the word 
 came to advance. 
 
 In open formation the French slowly moved 
 forward. Their line was spread over consider- 
 able ground and every man was left more or less 
 to his own devices. At a time like this it was 
 almost impossible to maintain any regular forma- 
 tion. The orders had been issued and the men 
 were expected to follow them to the best of their 
 ability. 
 
 Slowly and cautiously they crept forward. The 
 game they were playing was a dangerous one and 
 great caution was necessary. Leon and Jacques 
 had kept side by side and they both saw the Ger- 
 mans at the same moment. A dark mass sud- 
 denly loomed' up through the mist in front of 
 them, and the two boys immediately stopped.
 
 A SUCCESSFUL RUSE 231 
 
 Their companions had also seen the Germans. 
 The soldiers that had guns fired into the midst 
 of the regiment halted there before them, and 
 then all the French immediately retreated. Not 
 so far, however, as to lose sight of their foes 
 who returned their fire at once. 
 
 Sharp commands could be heard as they were 
 issued by the German officers. The pursuit of 
 the French who had dared to fire on them was 
 started with no loss of time. It was evidently the 
 opinion of the German officers that a considerable 
 force of the French had blundered upon them in 
 the fog and they were determined to waste no 
 time in joining battle. 
 
 Neither Leon nor Jacques was armed except 
 for their automatic revolvers, but they played 
 their part well. After each volley they turned 
 and ran rapidly in the direction whence they had 
 come and continued until they were out of sight 
 of the Germans. Then they stopped and waited 
 with the rest of their company until the oncoming 
 Germans once more appeared. Then the same 
 maneuver was repeated. 
 
 That the ruse was working successfully was 
 made plain by the fact that the Germans still 
 pursued them. They fired many shots on their 
 part also, but as far as Leon or Jacques could tell 
 none of their own men had been struck. It was 
 also likely that the French bullets had done slight
 
 232 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 damage. In so dense a fog it was out of the 
 question to shoot accurately, unless one knew the 
 range. The reserve troops waiting on the three 
 sides of the dummy army in the rear, had obtained 
 the range, however, and if they should ever get 
 an opportunity to shoot, they would unquestion- 
 ably cause a great deal of havoc. 
 
 "It's working like a charm, Jacques," ex- 
 claimed Leon excitedly, as they halted after one 
 of their short retreats. 
 
 "So far it is," replied Jacques. "I hope I 
 live to see it end successfully." 
 
 As he finished speaking a bullet whined past 
 them, making its way directly between the two 
 young soldiers. They both ducked involuntarily, 
 though they knew that of course the bullet must 
 have already passed them or they could not have 
 heard it. 
 
 "Whew, that was close!" exclaimed Jacques. 
 
 "Too close for comfort I should say," replied 
 Leon. "I wouldn't mind it so much if we only 
 had a couple of rifles and could return the compli- 
 ment." 
 
 "We have our pistols." 
 
 1 ' It would only be a waste of ammunition to fire 
 them." 
 
 "Perhaps you're right. Here they come again, 
 anyway. ' ' 
 
 The shadowy forms of the Germans once more
 
 A SUCCESSFUL RUSE 233 
 
 appeared, advancing through the mist. A volley 
 was fired by the French and then as before they all 
 turned and ran. Bullets whistled over their 
 heads and the spiteful bark of the German guns 
 sounded over the field. 
 
 "The Germans are using more guns than they 
 were," exclaimed Leon. 
 
 "I think they are. The whole regiment must 
 be after us now." 
 
 "We must be getting near home, too, I should 
 think." 
 
 "It seems so, but it is hard to tell in this fog." 
 
 "Let's hope we are going in the right direction 
 anyway. ' ' 
 
 "We're all right enough on that score, I'm 
 sure, ' ' said Jacques confidently. 
 
 Again the Germans appeared. Again the 
 French fired a volley and once more they turned 
 and ran. They had covered only a few paces, 
 when they encountered the sentries posted near 
 the army of scarecrows. 
 
 "This way, Leon! This way!" shouted 
 Jacques. 
 
 "Go ahead, I'll follow right behind you," re- 
 sponded Leon, and veering sharply to their left 
 the two young soldiers ran at top speed for their 
 lives. To have remained where they were would 
 have meant almost certain death, for on three 
 sides of the field were hundreds of French rifles
 
 234 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 and at least a score of machine guns. All were 
 trained upon the very spot which the two boys 
 were fast leaving behind them in their mad flight. 
 
 "Run, Leon, run!" panted Jacques. 
 
 "I'm running all right," gasped Leon, who was 
 only a stride behind his friend. On all sides of 
 them were other men of their force, every man 
 putting forth his best efforts to cover the ground 
 as rapidly as possible. It was a strange sight 
 to see all these ghostly figures fleeing through the 
 mist and Leon could not help comparing the 
 scene with the start of a gigantic cross-country 
 race. This was a race for life, however. At any 
 moment the French guns might open fire and woe 
 to any man caught in that deadly rain of lead. 
 
 Suddenly Jacques stumbled. His foot had 
 caught in a bramble and before he could regain 
 his balance he plunged forward and fell prone on 
 his face. Leon, only a step behind, was unable 
 to change his course in time to save himself and 
 he too fell headlong over the prostrate body of 
 his young companion. 
 
 Both were slightly stunned for a moment and 
 before they could recover themselves and start 
 again the battle began. From all sides came the 
 spit of the rifles and the rattle of machine guns. 
 While they were at least seventy-five yards dis- 
 tant from the scarecrows, the two young soldiers
 
 A SUCCESSFUL RUSE 235 
 
 were still between the battle lines and their plight 
 was a serious one. 
 
 " Quick, Jacques! Come over here!" ex- 
 claimed Leon. He had discovered a huge boulder 
 near at hand and in the shelter of this great rock 
 the two boys took refuge. 
 
 "We're in for it now," panted Jacques as he 
 scrambled to a place alongside his companion. 
 "What a fool I was to trip that way." 
 
 "Never mind that, Jacques. You couldn't help 
 it." 
 
 "It was so clumsy of me, though." 
 
 "Forget about it and listen to those guns. 
 We'd better give thanks that we are where we 
 are and not where that German regiment is just 
 now." 
 
 "I wonder if they're in the trap." 
 
 "There's no doubt of it," said Leon confidently. 
 "Just as we got on our feet again I heard them 
 cheer. They had evidently caught sight of the 
 scarecrows, mistaken them for our soldiers and 
 started to charge. I suppose that when they 
 cheered that was the signal for our men to open 
 fire." 
 
 "Poor fellows, I feel sort of sorry for them 
 now. Just think, it was my suggestion that 
 brought them to their destruction, too." 
 
 "This is war, Jacques," exclaimed Leon.
 
 236 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 1 'How many times have you reminded me of that 
 fact? You did your duty and you'll probably be 
 promoted. ' ' 
 
 "What nonsense," said Jacques quickly. He 
 disliked to hear himself praised and immediately 
 changed the subject. "Listen to our guns," he 
 cried. "There won't be a single German left 
 in a few moments if it keeps up at this rate." 
 
 "They're returning the fire, all right," said 
 Leon. "Look there." 
 
 He pointed as he spoke to a furrow in the soft 
 earth not four feet from where they were sitting. 
 A shot had struck that spot and plowed up the 
 ground for a distance of almost a foot. 
 
 "That was coming our way, too," exclaimed 
 Jacques. 
 
 "It certainly was, and I don't like this seat very 
 much either." 
 
 "Where can we go? We are at least safe from 
 our own guns here and they would be more likely 
 to hit us than the Germans." 
 
 "I know it," said Leon ruefully. "I realize 
 that we can't move, but that doesn't make me 
 like our position any better." 
 
 The firing kept up incessantly. The Germans 
 had replied strongly to it at first, but little by 
 little their resistance weakened. Evidently they 
 had become bewildered when they discovered the 
 trap into which they had been led. Then too the
 
 A SUCCESSFUL RUSE 237 
 
 rain of bullets poured into their midst out of the 
 fog must have further added to their confusion. 
 The best of discipline and the very stoutest of 
 hearts might well fail under such circumstances. 
 
 "Our men don't seem to be easing up any, do 
 they?" said Leon after a few moments in which 
 he and Jacques sat in silence, huddled up close to 
 their protecting boulder. 
 
 "Not much. I guess they want to do the job 
 up right." 
 
 "But they can't see what they're shooting at." 
 
 "They don't need to. "With all those machine 
 guns they can sweep practically every inch of the 
 ground and a man wouldn't stand a ghost of a 
 show to escape alive." 
 
 "Thank goodness for this big rock is all I can 
 say," ejaculated Leon. 
 
 "I should say so. Listen to that!" 
 
 On the opposite side of their stone refuge could 
 be heard the patter of bullets striking hard and 
 fast. This continued for a moment while the 
 two young soldiers crouched lower and lower in 
 an effort to make themselves as inconspicuous 
 as possible. The hail of lead could next be heard 
 playing over the ground nearby. The earth flew 
 up in tiny clouds and the bullets striking the 
 leaves and bushes, sounded like the patter of 
 heavy hailstones during a summer shower. 
 
 "Tell them to fire somewhere else, Jacques,"
 
 238 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 exclaimed Leon. "It makes me nervous to have 
 
 them so near to us." 
 "They can't hit us," said Jacques confidently. 
 
 "They're just making sure that they aren't going 
 
 to miss any one. It would be too bad if any of 
 
 the Germans should be slighted." 
 "I wish we could see what is going on." 
 "Well, I'm glad the Germans can't see us." 
 "That's true, but by this time I guess they 
 
 wouldn't do us very much damage." 
 
 "No, I should say not," agreed Jacques. 
 
 "Don't I feel a little breeze blowing now? If I 
 
 do this fog will go away and we'll be able to see 
 
 what has happened here in front of us." 
 
 "Yes, I think there is a breeze," said Leon. 
 
 "We should be able to get back to our lines in a 
 
 few moments if it only keeps up."
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 THE breeze freshened, and, as it blew over 
 the battlefield, the fog slowly lifted. 
 Little by little the mist cleared away and 
 presently it became possible to distinguish objects 
 at a considerable distance. 
 
 Firing on the part of the Germans had almost 
 ceased. Now and again the sound of rifle shots 
 was heard, coming from the place that the army 
 of scarecrows had occupied, but the shots were 
 few and far between. The French guns too were 
 practically silent. 
 
 "The fight is over, I guess," exclaimed Leon at 
 last. 
 
 "So it seems. I'd like to see what has become 
 of that German regiment, though," replied 
 Jacques. "I wonder if many escaped." 
 
 "I don't see how they could escape. Anyway, 
 we'll be able to see in a few moments now. I 
 wonder who it is that is doing the firing down 
 there." 
 
 "There can't be many of them." 
 
 239
 
 240 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "No, indeed, but I don't see how it is that any 
 one would stay there if he was alive and could 
 walk." 
 
 "How could they get away?" demanded 
 Jacques. 
 
 ' * We held them on only three sides. They could 
 retreat the way they came." 
 
 "No, they couldn't either. As soon as the fir- 
 ing began, we sent troops to close up that gap 
 too. They were caught in a complete trap." 
 
 "A pretty good scheme of yours, Jacques, I 
 should say," exclaimed Leon. "Look," he added 
 quickly. "There are the men who are doing all 
 the shooting." 
 
 The fog suddenly swept clear the field where 
 once the German regiment had stood. And what 
 a sight it was that greeted the gaze of the two 
 young soldiers crouched behind the boulder. The 
 ground seemed to be literally covered with the 
 bodies of the dead and wounded. The entire regi- 
 ment practically had been annihilated. 
 
 Apparently only five of the Germans were left. 
 They lay prone on their stomachs, and as rapidly 
 as they could load their rifles they used them to 
 show their defiance of their French foes. The 
 five men went coolly about their task, and, formed 
 in a circle, they presented a bold front to their 
 opponents on every side. 
 
 "What a sight!" exclaimed Leon. "There are
 
 CONCLUSION 241 
 
 certainly five brave men left on that field. Did 
 you ever see anything like that?" 
 
 "I never did," replied Jacques. 
 
 "Look there," said Leon. "Our men are giv- 
 ing them a cheer. ' ' 
 
 Sure enough the French soldiers, always ready 
 to admire and applaud bravery, in a great cheer 
 were voicing their regard for the five brave 
 Germans. The French firing had entirely 
 ceased, and as the cheer rang out over the blood- 
 stained battlefield, the five Germans rose to their 
 feet. They held up their hands in token of sur- 
 render, and once more they were loudly cheered. 
 
 A squad of soldiers made their way out from 
 the French lines, the Germans surrendered their 
 arms and were led back as prisoners. 
 
 Then the Bed Cross workers immediately pre- 
 pared to do all in their power for the sufferers on 
 the field. Ambulances were brought up and the 
 doctors and surgeons set to work to administer the 
 first aid to the injured. 
 
 1 1 Let 's move ! ' ' said Jacques suddenly. He and 
 Leon had been sitting as if stunned while they 
 watched the proceedings in front of them. The 
 full realization of the terrible punishment in- 
 flicted on the German regiment had not dawned 
 on them at first. 
 
 "Yes," agreed Leon soberly. "Let's move." 
 
 They arose to their feet and looked about them.
 
 242 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 A hundred yards away were their own lines and 
 toward these they walked, leaving the vivil pic- 
 ture of destruction and war behind them. As they 
 neared the trenches they were hailed by their com- 
 panions who expressed great surprise at seeing 
 them come from that direction. 
 
 "I meant to look at that boulder," said Leon 
 suddenly. "I wanted to see what damage those 
 bullets did to the other side of it." 
 
 "I looked at it," said Jacques. "All I can say 
 is that it was a lucky thing for us that we were 
 not in the way of that gun." 
 
 "Did they do very much to the boulder?" 
 
 "Not such a great deal. They were only 
 machine gun bullets." 
 
 "They would be enough to fix us though, I 
 guess," said Leon quietly. 
 
 "If you don't think so, just look behind you 
 and see what they did to the Germans. They 
 ought to convince you soon." 
 
 "I don't need to be convinced, thanks." 
 
 They arrived at the trenches and received a 
 hearty welcome. Great curiosity was expressed 
 by their fellow soldiers as to how they happened 
 to be where they were. When the circumstances 
 were related by Jacques there was many a laugh, 
 and many exclamations at the luck of the two boys 
 in happening to find themselves so near a shelter. 
 
 "I'm getting so I almost count on being lucky
 
 CONCLUSION 243 
 
 now," said Leon some time later when he and 
 Jacques were talking over their experiences. 
 
 "I almost expect it myself," laughed Jacques. 
 "You know I always protested that it was wrong 
 for you to talk about our luck the way you did, 
 but I am beginning to think there may be some- 
 thing in it after all." 
 
 The two boys were lying on their blankets in 
 their tent. They had been ordered to withdraw 
 from the trenches, while fresh troops took their 
 places just as they themselves had relieved others 
 a short time before. Both young soldiers were 
 in need of rest and the chance to enjoy a few 
 hours of it had been most welcome to them. At 
 the same time they did not wish to leave the 
 trenches. Something about the battle line, its 
 dangers and excitements appealed to them 
 strongly and as soon as they should be rested they 
 were aware that they would be eager once more 
 to take their places at the front. 
 
 They were now preparing to turn in and rest 
 for a few hours, and as boys often do before go- 
 ing to sleep they were talking over the events of 
 the day. 
 
 "We've certainly given it to the Germans hard 
 the last two days," said Jacques exultantly. "A 
 few more days like these and we'll have them on 
 the run." 
 
 "Don't forget this, though," warned Leon.
 
 244 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 "This battle line is at least two hundred miles 
 long and things may have turned out the other 
 way 'round in many of the places where fighting 
 is going on. ' ' 
 
 " That's very true," agreed Jacques, "but let 
 me tell you one thing. The Germans are beaten 
 right now." 
 
 "That's a pretty strong statement." 
 
 "I know it is, and I guess I've made it to you 
 before too. Just the same I believe that last week 
 when the French and English crumpled up Gen- 
 eral von Kluck's army and drove it back from 
 Paris, that meant final victory for the Allies. It 
 will be some time coming but it will get here all 
 right." 
 
 "Let's hope so anyway. Not that I mind fight- 
 ing, for I don't a bit. In fact I rather like it, 
 but as long as I am enlisted on the side of the 
 Allies I naturally want to see them win." 
 
 "I wonder what people in America think of this 
 war," said Jacques. 
 
 "I too would like to know. You see I haven't 
 heard a word from any of my family since I first 
 enlisted, 'way back in the early part of last 
 month." 
 
 "Where do you think your brother is?" 
 
 ' ' I haven 't the least idea. You know I left him 
 in England last July, and I haven't heard from 
 him since. ' '
 
 CONCLUSION 245 
 
 "You wrote him, though?" 
 
 ' ' Oh, yes, ' ' said Leon. * ' Of course I wrote him 
 and my family too, just as soon as I enlisted. 
 I'm not sure that they have received my letters 
 though, and I'm very sure that I have received 
 none from them. ' ' 
 
 "But how could you!" 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "Why," said Jacques, "they probahly have no 
 idea where you are even if they do know you 
 have enlisted. How could they send a letter to 
 you?" 
 
 "I never really thought of that," laughed Leon. 
 "I'd feel better if I was sure they knew where I 
 am. They wouldn't worry so much." 
 
 "No," laughed Jacques, "I suppose they 
 wouldn't worry at all. If they only knew what 
 you'd been doing I guess they'd think you were 
 just as safe as you would be in your own bed. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, well, it can't be helped now anyway. I 
 wouldn't be a bit surprised if Earl himself had 
 enlisted. ' ' 
 
 "Earl is your brother, isn't he?" 
 
 "Yes, and he's just as apt to turn up here any 
 time as not. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see 
 him arrive here at " 
 
 Before he could finish the sentence the flap of 
 the tent was lifted and a man's arm appeared, 
 thrust through the opening.
 
 246 WITH JOFFEE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 Leon caught his breath and stared at the en- 
 trance to the tent with wide open eyes. Could it 
 be possible that his prediction was coming true 
 and that his twin brother Earl had really arrived? 
 It seemed odd anyway, that just as he was speak- 
 ing of such a thing some one should come to their 
 tent. His suspicions proved to be unfounded, 
 however. 
 
 The owner of the arm was an orderly with a 
 letter for Jacques. He handed it to the young 
 soldier and then withdrew. 
 
 ' ' Whew ! ' ' exclaimed Leon. * * That fellow gave 
 me a bad start. For a few seconds I felt sure 
 that Earl had arrived here. What's your letter, 
 Jacques ? ' ' 
 
 Jacques made no reply. He was reading his 
 letter and was so deeply interested in its contents 
 that he did not even hear his friend's question. 
 
 "I suppose we're ordered away somewhere," 
 exclaimed Leon. "Oh, well, I don't care if we 
 are, as long as we aren't sent to East Prussia or 
 Poland or some place like that. It's too cold 
 over there in the winter time." 
 
 Jacques made no response, but merely handed 
 his missive to Leon without any comment. The 
 young Frenchman's face was wreathed in smiles, 
 however. 
 
 Leon looked at the letter. "I can't read that, 
 Jacques," he said. "It's all in French and I
 
 CONCLUSION 247 
 
 could only make out half of what it says. Trans- 
 late it into English and read it out loud to me." 
 
 Jacques laughed. "Are you sure you want to 
 hear it ! " he asked. 
 
 "How do I know? I don't know what is in 
 it" 
 
 "All right," said Jacques, "here goes. It is 
 sent from Staff Headquarters, wherever they are. 
 The name of the place is censored. Here's the 
 rest of it, 'Privates Jacques Dineau and Leon 
 Platt, attached to the 106th regiment, Fifteenth 
 Army Corps of the army of the Republic of 
 France, have this day been awarded the medal of 
 honor for distinguished service and for bravery 
 on the field of battle.' It is signed 'Joffre.' " 
 
 "Don't fool me," warned Leon. "You'll re- 
 gret it if you do." 
 
 "I'm not fooling you," exclaimed Jacques. "I 
 read you exactly what was in the letter. What 
 do you think of it?" 
 
 "Is it really true?" 
 
 "Of course it is." 
 
 With a wild whoop of joy Leon sprang to his 
 feet and waved his hands about his head. At 
 least he tried to do these things, but the very 
 cramped quarters which he and Jacques occupied 
 prevented him from fully expressing his feelings. 
 At length he subsided and resumed his place on 
 the floor.
 
 248 WITH JOFFRE ON THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 " That's the greatest piece of news I ever had," 
 he panted. 
 
 "It's pretty nice, isn't it?" said Jacques. 
 
 "Pretty nice!" exclaimed Leon. "Pretty* 
 nice! Well, I should say so. You know," he 
 added. "I'd like to quit the army right now 
 and just pin that medal on my chest and walk 
 around and let people envy me my good luck." 
 
 * ' But we won't quit the army, ' ' said Jacques. 
 
 "No, I guess not, but I'd like to on that ac- 
 count. ' ' 
 
 "You're not serious, are you?" 
 
 "No, of course I'm not. I wouldn't stop now 
 if I had a chance. ' ' 
 
 "That's the way to talk, Leon!" exclaimed 
 Jacques, heartily. "For a moment I thought you 
 were serious." 
 
 "I should say not. I was only joking when I 
 said I wanted to. There are two things I do 
 want, though." 
 
 "What are they?" 
 
 "One thing is sleep." 
 
 "I want some of that myself. What is the 
 other?" 
 
 "The other is to get back in the trenches as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 "We'll be there again to-morrow, I hope. 
 Let's get some sleep now anyway." 
 
 The two young soldiers stretched themselves
 
 CONCLUSION 249 
 
 on their blankets and made ready to enjoy a well 
 deserved rest. 
 
 " Good-night, Leon," said Jacques. 
 
 " Good-night," responded Leon. 
 
 In a remarkably short time the only sound to 
 be heard within the tent was the regular breath- 
 ing of two, tired, but proud young soldiers of the 
 army of France. 
 
 THE END
 
 THE BIG WAR SERIES 
 
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