"Well," replied Ralph, "we simply walked in and went to work; that's the influence we had; they couldn't help but take us."
The colonel leaned back in his chair and roared with laughter, in which the boys joined.
"Maybe it wasn't just as bad as that," rejoined Alfred, after the laughter subsided, "but down at Bar-le-Duc the chances of getting in with the flyers were pretty slim, so we just went into the hangars and asked them what there was to do, and we didn't wait for them to tell us, we simply went to work."
"That's a sample of the way we worked also to get into the transportation service,——"
"So you've been in that, too? Tell me about it," said the colonel.
"Down at Amiens we saw them loading up a military truck, and they looked as though they were rather short of help, so we pitched in and helped fill up the van. It happened we were on the van when it started for the front, and that's where we had a lively experience in taking the vans through Devil's Cut," said Ralph.
"Devil's Cut! I've heard about that! But I imagine there isn't any more trouble in that place now," observed the colonel.
"No, indeed! The big drive spoiled Devil's Cut," said Alfred, "and we helped the artillery to do it, and that's why we want another chance in the same direction."
If there is anything more disagreeable than another, it is waiting. Waiting for something, good or bad, is equally discouraging. In their wanderings they had become acquainted with a quaint corporal, formerly of the British navy, and at that time a trainer for the various gun squads at the camp. Daily guns were prepared and hurried to the front, and Walker, the corporal, was always on hand and frequently accompanied the guns as they were sent forward.