The Commandant smiled as he continued: "I take it that you are Americans?"
"Yes, Captain; you are right," replied Ralph. "We joined the Belgian army at Liege, and fought the enemy all the way to Antwerp, and we had some pretty hot times, too."
This speech was applauded heartily, while a young man sprang forward, held out his hand and said: "And here's United States, too."
"We are not with the army now," said Alfred, recovering; "we hope to go to Paris, if it is possible to get there."
"The chances for that are not very good at present," observed the Commandant, "but in the meantime, if you are not attached, you must put up with us."
"Thank you for the offer," said Ralph eagerly. "We want to get into the flying service; that will just suit us."
"I am afraid that the army provisions would not permit you to join," said the officer, and all noted the expressions of disappointment that indicated the boys' feelings at this announcement.
"Then I suppose we'll have to force our way in, just as we did in Belgium," said Alfred.
This was greeted with a sally of laughter. The boys had made a hit with the corps, and they accepted the offer of quarters for their accommodation in the firm belief that something would turn up to assist them in their desires.
Boys are really at a disadvantage sometimes. This story, as well as many others, shows that they are capable of doing things as well as men, and that they can do some things better than most men; but in military matters the service seems to have been made for grown-up people on the principle that war is too barbarous a thing for young men until they are twenty years of age.