The Boy Scouts on the Trail

men, children and old men-not a young man was among them, of course-they poured from the freight cars that in the main they occupied. And they were willing to talk; more than willing,

great grey masses. And with them c

walked through the streets with them. Frank was carrying her baby for her. "They left us with nothing! And the

rgot them now, and set itself doggedly to work the relief of the far more acute distress of those from the cou

terly. "It's a war machine they send against us! Th

ulletins had been able to tell them. No censors could close the mouths of the

ne," said the woman with the baby. "We women-we gave our husbands, and those who had sons gave their son

ll they knew was that soldiers, first in one uniform, then in another, had passed through their villages, first going north and east, then south and w

hifted the tiny flags that showed where the troops were. They had flags for each of the allies and for the Austrians and Germans at first. Later they had become more particular. They had worked out as well as they could the different armies, even to the army cor

ed doing that they l

erly. "You were right, Frank. They fought on the line of Mon

ons. That is the great base. There is this line with three fortresses-Rheims, La Fere, Laon, with other forts between them. That backed the centre when the French army retir

could be

German right is moving out, always-far out, toward the sea. It wants to get around our left, and cut it off. If it gets between our left and Pa

oldiers to do? That is not how Napoleon won

he was sure

south of here! The Germans can take Amiens,

. Amiens has no strategic value. Less than Rheims or Laon-and we know now

ps going south? Th

e. Don't you suppose our generals have their plans, too? You spoke of Napoleon. Don't you remember the march to Mo

re time for argument. The telephone rang out sharply and Henri went to answ

if we could both speak English-if I could, that is. None of the other scouts can

nd out is to go and see,"

im. He was no longer in his khaki scoutmaster's

From this moment the troop of Boy Scouts of Amiens has no organization, until such time as it can be restored. Each scout must act for himself, taking his orders whenever it is possible from

couts arrived. At the sight of the scoutmast

ferent from those to which I have been assigned so far. I leave you free to your own devices. But you are free only in name. You are boun

ns we have risen to repel them, to drive the iron heel of the invader from France, France the beautiful, the loved of all! It i

s not mean you have no service to render to your native land; that France doe

ay be your privilege to aid in caring for the wounded as they come back to their homes from the scene of conflict. It may be you will find a place to he

in the struggle as becomes true Scouts-as becomes m

all of you again, and I shall be able to grasp the hand of each one of you, and say

hing it, he turned and stamped from the room. He went with a high head and a happy he

in hand. The words of their departing leader had made a great impression on them. Nor had

bey. But I had hoped that I might have a shot at a few Germans! Frank, I

t, by obeying orders than by killing a few. It is not the killing of a few men that

ld to do, for Colonel Menier. Soon they were brought to him, a