The next day came a message from Camp Huxwell. The fathers of the Rovers, as well as many of their friends, were to depart immediately for Hoboken, there to take one of the big transports for France. Of course, the boys, as well as their sisters and their mothers, went to see Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover off.
“The best of luck to you, Dad!” cried Jack, when the time came for parting. “I hope you make a good record for yourselves.”
“You can rest assured, Son, we will do our best,” answered Dick Rover.
Then there were numerous handshakes, the waving of handkerchiefs, and while the girls and the women were trying hard to smile and to keep back the tears, the soldiers departed on the train.
“Gee, I wish I was going along!” sighed Fred. But this, of course, could not be, for all the boys were much too young to join the army.
By leaving Camp Barlight that day the Rovers had missed one of the important baseball games, but for this they did not care. They tried to join in the festivities that evening, but it was a failure. Their thoughts were with their fathers. Would they come back from the war in safety?
“All we can do is to hope for the best,” remarked Randy; and there the matter was allowed to rest.
Of course, the boys were eager for news concerning the Browns and the Martells, and also the Germans who had been captured, and they eagerly devoured every shred of information that came their way.
“Well, one thing is certain—we are well rid of Slugger and Nappy and their fathers,” remarked Jack.
“Yes, and I guess we are rid of Gabe Werner, too,” returned Fred. “He seems to have dropped out entirely.”