The Boy Scouts on the Trail

the window, wide open as it had been all night, and looked out. Not far away, in a small park, one of those for which the city of Amiens is famous, they saw an arr

nt an officer came out, the scout saluted, and his salute was returned as stiffly and gravely as it had been given. The

s vastly

et's get dressed, Frank. I see

the others are at work," said Frank. "Wh

i, his brow knitted. "They don't look like reserve troops.

tin family ever since Henri could remember, was ready to give them their breakfast. In a time when many

a time for those who can possibly afford it to engage more servants, rat

n the Red Cross hospital to which she had been assigned, was not yet up. She had greeted the two boys on their arriv

d old Marie. "A fine lady like her dres

ring term of the French for the little red-trousered soldiers who form th

ely. "I shall perhaps be a piou-piou

ficer, will you no

, those who govern us and write books and plays, and paint pictures, and make fine s

ut," grumbled Marie. "Your father told me himself, when

e in the park come from?" aske

ldiers have been in Amiens than I knew were in the world! We had some English-strange, mad men, who wore d

that some had crossed the channel, and had landed in France. How many had come no one knew except those who would not tell. All that was announced was that England had sent help to her al

slipped around to the kitchen. Henri and Frank both laughed, for they surprised half a dozen blushing, awkward inf

ith his regiment, or he would speak, so I speak

ts number, and Henri ex

" he cried. "You were fighting in Lorraine! We

e! The lost province! For the first time in forty-four years it saw French uniforms. For the first time since 1870 it was free from the Germans. The people sang and cheered as we went into the villages. T

you c

even our officers, I can

at to fight better somewhere

ens? There are no

week ago-they are pouring toward the border-perhaps they have passe

again. That is what we want. In Alsace there were no battles.

then! May you beat

ou a pretzel from Berlin when we come

n, Frank and

ch soldiers I've read about,"

ank, I begin to think you were right. If they give up the fight i

It may be only

. Listen! Can you hea

est. But Frank listene

et," h

imed Henri. "I did not mean that!

back through the fertile fields of Champagne, where bullets were tearing the laden grapevines to pieces. The Uhlans were riding along the coast. Forced back by the defeat of the

as there, listening to reports and giving orders when they arrived. They had provided themselves the night before with uniforms, a

out law?" he ask

they re

y the ten points of the scout law. And now that war has come, you are to obey all orders from officers of the army as you would those of your scoutmaster. If I go-and that may be to-day-you

nch the scout oath, and

ed badges on their sleeves. "Wear this alw

ers in the scout sal

ny other scouts, to see how they perform their work. When you have done t

did errands of one sort and another. After a brief rest f

of twenty-five, with two scouts to a party, until all are cared for. The owners of the houses on your list have agreed to give these poor people food and shelter until they

ted, and