The Boy Scouts Afoot in France

oat steady in the current by means of his push-pole, while with his com

' aim. Knowing that it would be simple madness to attempt a further advance in the face of such a raking fire, the Germans had done the o

ders; in fact, the shoe was on the other foot now, and the

of his characteristic sayings as he applauded the fine wo

"there's some one swimming

g. Say, this is something like it now. It makes a heap of difference whose ox is gored, they tell us. And mebbe those Uhlan lancers don't feel so stuck

laimed Bumpus, whose face had as

e riders would appear on the bank, determined to get even with the boys in the boat, under the

the first to jump ashore. He immediately began to draw the bow of the flat-bottom boat up on the little shelving bea

y considered that it was useless to expend any more valuable ammunition on such a scattered detachment on the enem

er. He shook himself much after the manner of a big dog after a swim, and then came

e Frenchman, which act caused him to smile with pleasure. Then the little party started along the roa

ndly fashion. The one in command exchanged a few sentences with the driver. Thad, listening, had reason to believe that he was com

xplain who they were and how they happened to be there. It was f

aptain, if we were allowed to ride on one of the caissons

d one that under normal conditions could not very well be granted. But after a brief period of consider

u on a couple of the caissons. You must be good friends to France to be made a target for Uhlan guns. Yes, after all,

gh they looked on Thad and his three chums as allies. Possibly this came of their having shared dang

nger a charge also secured a lift, for it turned out there was another seat vacant on a gun; and the fact that one of

he fact that their progress was in a southerly direction. From this he knew that by degrees the battery would manage to swin

nstead of allowing themselves to be tempted to follow along the course of the French army. Bumpus, if given the opportunity, might have taken

uld not resist the yearning to try and see more of the tremendous historical events that were transpiring on those battlefields

aking of history came but once in a life-time, and they would be silly t

ed along to the new location of the fast-moving field battery, evide

adventures, should be dragged into their midst. Thad tried to salve his conscience by telling himself that they might run across a chance whereby they could make themselves useful in some capacity, perhaps by assisting

fairly shatter the surrounding atmosphere each time they were fired. The enormous missiles

ial eyes in the shape of powerful field-glasses; and besides, there were several aeroplanes darting back and forth above in the blu

inted station, where an attack was expected, and scores of field guns would be needed to mow down

n excuse when compared with the wonderful concrete creations that later on became such a part of warfare along the Aisne. Behind these ridges of earth the sold

aissons. Perhaps they were taken for English lads, as had happened more than once before, and in some fashi

so that he hardly had need to discover the captain making moti

as though pleased. It had been a regular nightmare for a time for the fat boy, clinging desperately to some frail support along

as one they sent an answering signal. They never set eyes on him, or any of his comrades again; and if they actually survived the horrors of the amazing Battle of the Marne the fact remained a mystery to Thad and his comrades.

e and demand to know who they were and by what right they were at the front, when all boys of their age should be far in the rear. He was also prepared to do anything that

man camp they would very likely have been under a volley of gruff questions as to the reason of their presence; bu

evitable advance of the German army corps threatening the capital from the northwest. The air at all times throbbed with these mighty sh

them, which was one comfort. In good time, no doubt, an officer would bustle up and proceed to ply them with questions. Thad hoped he could satisfy the demands that would be made upon them. Bumpus, on his part, was secretly wi

en movement further along, where the soldiers hastened to fa

ed him at least a colonel. He had made up his mind just what to say in order not t

such a decidedly military air about him, also looked very severe. And that other party at his side, who was doing consider

s copied by his mates. To the astonishment of them all, at a word of command from the officer, two soldiers stepped forwar

shock. It was spoken by the man in the company of

py