The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen

greeted on all sides. The appearance of the boys

nuine American boys, who were with the Belgians in

asked one of the men, a

declared, and we just pitched in a

any battles?"

en, or so," a

s!" shout

o get here?" asked th

the Belgians, from

roduce the boys, and they were gratified to

achine, which was approaching in an erratic manner. It seemed to dart

matter with Le C

y feet from the earth the machine righted itself, and swooped upward, then, with a vicious plunge, it went down and s

aviator. Before they reached the scene, two men

he matter?"

gs," said Tom. "That tells th

ight?" shouted

rought him down," replied Le Clere, a dari

One of the planes was tilted up at an angle, and was uninjured, but it

nting to the bullet marks. The body of the machine was wrecked, and the fuselage a ma

o with the machin

nother out of it in

ubaix," said Le Clere. "They have already reac

med as though their trip to Paris would be interru

it to Mons?"

miles south

e town which we saw before

ack," continued Tom. "We are going to move south i

them an hour's flight, and it was now four o'clock. They had heard about taking observations, while on the grounds at Lille, and they busied themselves in trying to d

have been aloft half of that time. Now, on returning, the novelty had worn off, and they were so much interested that

aid Ralph. "Tom was going for an

t in fun, I suppo

kindness for the great treat, and they inquired whether they could not be of some servi

to do about the hangar, and the first thing to learn is how the machines are built, and how

ant to learn," said Al

to go to Paris to meet

"but we can come back. I'm sur

o go to Paris-that is, if you can

to reach Paris. Immediately after landing, they started for

hungry in my l

w why?" ans

dn't get anything to eat at

rant, and from that point they soon reached the post office, only to be

re father is?

e want to or not," suggested Ralph. "Let

cupying every coach, motor wagon and bus that was in sight, and that ther

the army, don'

iers, and tell them we mu

ted by an attendant. In a few moments they were ushered in, and saw at least a score or more soldiers and off

said an officer,

We are Americans, and are trying to reach Paris, and we wanted t

o say that we cannot provide for any one

y," said Ralph. "We were messenger

e flying corps, but father exp

ning to them, he passed out of the room, the boys foll

permit for these boys to ride

, they received a card, which stated that the Army transport service permitted them to ride on a

morning, and get him to assign you to a train number, as the

on," said Ralph. "It is b

after considerable search, they finally found a room, and after discussing

d Ralph. "We ought to see Tom this m

o get an assignment. But this was not an easy matter. They waited for

I will try to make a reservation for you tomorrow. C

viation field,

as nearly noon when the grounds were reached. There seemed to be a change in the place. The hangars were empty, and no machines visible. A score of

ph regretfully. "I wish we

to the hospital,

ant Winston has been removed to the hospital at Dunkirk, and will leave

you before he left. If you are going to Englan

ow, and we are sorry not to be a

t there was no room. They lingered about, but it appeared to be a hopeless task. Four tracks ran by the station office, and these were constantly filled with empty cars, then l

h stopped. Turning to Alfred, he said: "W

?" aske

we waiting for that fellow at the statio

ered Alfred. "Is this train going south?" he asked, addressin

it is," was th

ard," sa

entered the compartment. The occupants glanced at them for a m

be directed to this tra

to that ourselv

or them to make up their minds when we ought to

, and it was not long before the occupants of the adjoining compartments joined in the song. It was a jolly crowd, but no one seemed to know where they wer

ime they were pushed around on the various sidings for an hour, and it was a relief to

et some sleep. They dozed and dozed, as most people are liable to do in uncomfortabl

men; form

l have to get out,

can't be Paris,

well it isn't,

g off the running board, and looked at the

e?" asked Ralph, address

a steady run, though, for abo

; this isn't much of a hill we are on, but the Germans and French fought

er, and asked: "How far

fully a hundred mi

train was even then backing toward the city, they marched alongside of the column. The tramp was across open fiel

recognized from their previous experiences. The most emphatic voices were those of the drivers, who were piloting the horses drawing the artillery an

pick-axes. Trenches were being formed. They were cheered by the workers, but there was no halting. On they went over level

and looked around. "We are waiting for

e right, as he espied a group of horsemen. "Form y

: "File to the righ

mand the men began to unload shovels and picks. This began to look like busin

lend a hand?"

e can," answ

e Alfred tried to edge his way in. Their earnestness attracted the officer in charge, and he smiled, and nodd

nth of training in England these men had been instructed how to go about the business of making trenches, and it was wonderful to see how quickly the f

of the main trench. These were formed in zig-zag fashion, the object being to form shelter sections al