"Now," said Ned, as the three were again dressed, "what shall be the menu of the morning? With this glorious sun peeping over the tops of the hills to the eastward of us we ought to have a fine breakfast. The weather looks mighty fine."
"Yes," agreed Jack, "but it don't sound very fine. I thought I heard a rumble of thunder just now. Did you hear it?"
"No," replied Ned, "I can't say I did. Was it thunder?"
"Sounded like it," declared Jack. "There it goes again!"
"That don't sound like thunder exactly," said Harry. "I wonder what it can be. I thought it was a wagon passing a bridge."
Ned's face went rather pale as he faced his comrades.
"Boys," he stated, "I believe that must be the sound of cannon firing we hear. It is coming more regularly now!"
"Then we're pretty close to Verdun," was Harry's rejoinder.
"Yes, that's my idea, too," said Ned. "Let's get breakfast and be prepared for whatever may happen. We don't know what may come along so close to the lines as we are now, and we must not be napping."
"I'll get a bucket of water from the brook," volunteered Jack, "while you and Harry make ready the fire and get out the provisions."