The boys needed no second bidding, and their belts were very snug when they had finished.
“By the way,” confided the sergeant, “Colonel Bainbridge has taken a heap of interest in you youngsters. His son, I heard, lost his life in one of those flying machines.”
“Yes, we were the ones that told him about it. He’s sure a grand man,” added Billy.
“Well,” continued the sergeant, “there are some of us going to work around toward Lille and the River Lys region to assist in extension of the Allies’ line there. If Colonel Bainbridge commands the movement, between ‘you and I and the gate-post,’ yours truly wants to go ’long.”
“So do we!” The boys spoke as one.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BOYS UNDER FIRE.
Colonel Bainbridge did command, and Sergeant Scott, Billy Barry and Henri Trouville went along.
“I wish they would let us ride Bon Ami.”
Billy had noted the handsome horse they had captured prancing along carrying a heavyweight cavalryman, while Henri and himself were perched beside a teamster on the front seat of a supply wagon.