"I hope not," said Chester. "It's true enough that we've had a good time in Europe, such as it is, but how much better it will be when men turn their energies to up-building instead of destroying."
"True," agreed Hal, "and yet we know that until German militarism was destroyed, nothing was safe in this world. The war has been a benefit to mankind."
"From that standpoint, you are right, of course; and still, it would seem that there must be better ways than by wholesale killing. It is a long ways from being pleasant."
"It is indeed. I shall be glad when it is over. I don't believe there will ever be another war."
"Oh, I wouldn't go as far as to say that," said Chester. "I suppose that as long as there are nations, and men think as they do now there will be war. Of course, some day nations will come to observe the Golden Rule, and then wars will cease."
"I heard Colonel O'Neil say the other day," said Hal, "that wars will cease only when men quit thinking war."
"A very apt remark, by Jove!" said Chester.
Further conversation was prevented by the entrance of half a dozen figures, one of them the German delegate who had left the tent a few moments before.
"We will be moving any time you are ready, gentlemen," he said, addressing Hal.
"We are ready now, sir," was the lad's reply.