“We’re not all as quick-witted as you are, Dave,” remarked Buster. “We may be willing enough to do a thing, but while we are thinking about it you jump in and do it.”
“You’ve said it, Buster,” added Shadow. “It’s the quick-thinking and quick-acting fellow who is going to get in the lead in this war, every time.”
Shadow and Phil had something to tell Dave which further interested the young sergeant. This was to the effect that they had had a chance some time before to visit the place where Dave had once located a hidden German ammunition dump. The two young engineers had made a long search in that vicinity for Dave’s missing watch. They had found the wrist-band to which the timepiece had been attached, but the watch itself had been missing.
“Well, that proves one thing,” said Dave. “I certainly lost the watch in that vicinity. And if it wasn’t in the band it must have either been smashed by the explosion or otherwise some person must have picked it up.”
Of course Dave had to write home concerning his medal, and he took the occasion to send a long communication to Jessie, mentioning what Nat Poole had told him concerning Gebauer. He added that he hoped the girl would not suffer because of any rumor that might have been circulated in their home town.
“Well, we have orders to get on the march again to-morrow morning,” announced one of the sergeants to Dave two days later, following a quiet Sunday, which Dave had spent in resting and in attending services at a nearby Y. M. C. A. hut. At the services he had listened to a good, straightforward sermon on the duties of a soldier, and there had followed a number of the familiar religious songs in which the entire congregation of engineers and others had joined heartily.
“I suppose we’re going up to the front again?” remarked Dave.
“More than likely. Although I haven’t any very definite information.”
“Did they say whether it would be trench work or road work?”
“Trench work, I imagine; although I’m not sure.”