The Boy Scouts on the Trail

rench boy, so typical of his race, he was ready

well? You can und

lonel," ans

ficer turne

h-one of our al

ar began, as it seemed to him, his nationality and his mixed blood. He

America. But I think-ah, yes, I believe that you Americans

r France, colonel," said Frank,

n. I shall tell you things that no one else is to know. You,

my col

to the English headquarters. Where it is t

d concealed their surprise. They had sup

portant that we will not trust them to the telephone, to the telegraph, to the field wireless. They are reports of the most confidential nature, ha

them said

ust not think; or, if one does, one must think of all things that may happen. So you will wear your ordinary clothes. You have one day, two days, three, if necessary, to find the

bles and still th

em, and they will all look alike. And if the Germans find you are only boys moved by the curiosity of boys to see battlefields, they will not hurt you. I do not believe they will even hold you. Probably they will not even take your marbles away from

are coming, my colonel?" said He

hat he is to give a word to his officer-Mezieres. That will insure your being taken to headquarters. Everywhere, all throu

ri. "We will change into our ordinary clothes and

enier smi

fighting on their chosen ground. We shall wait until we are ready. This is not 1870 when armies were thrown away rather than retreat to ground where the chances of victory were even, at the worst

to be evacuate

e of you. It will not be for long that Amiens shall be deserted. We shall return. But whether I shall be

went to make their pre

e coming to Amiens, your mother must go

to persuade her to go. But will s

ake it up

culty in persuading her, they found that M

s," she told them. "They will need nurses there, and

re is work for us to do. You

whatever way you can, for France needs even the boys now. Remember, Henri, that somewhere your mother is serving too, and she expects he

member," s

of Boy Scouts, and, keeping not even their new badges of which they

be able to stick to them, but we can save a lot of time on ou

ght about the bicycles, too. Even if we lose t

n't act as if you knew too much. Don't let the Germans see how you really feel ab

at you mean. Come on

not slow in taking the hint. They were gathering such things as they could carry with them, and all those with anything of real value, and with a place to take it, were preparing to get away before the coming of the Germans. The

very much

ffering of women and children. Where is the glory of war of which history tells? I want to s

e all this is going on, Russia is advancing too. The Austrians have been well beaten all along their front already. Soo

. But the Russians

into Prussia means that Germany can spare so many troops less for the war on t

ushed us back everywhere-that they are all over Belgium, a

ocked up in Metz. Now the armies of France are still in the field. And I say that Germany is beaten because her one chance in this war was to destroy F

feel better when we turn and fight,

elay. Every day is as important as a battle. Russia moves slowly, but when she is ful

now we are out of the town. We

countryside looked more peaceful, except that at every bridge they passed now was a sentry, usually a man of the rese

nd let them pass. But when they came to the railroad line leading from Amiens to Arras, which they had to cross, it was different. Their crossin

ations, which he received gravely, stu

he said. "You have a word

said Henri

keep an eye open. There were

er

y were in Arras yesterday. Some stayed with

had said that some of the Uhlans had stayed. They lay beside the road, in their greenish gray uniforms. They were