"We can take care of ourselves."
"I know that," his father assented. "Do you want to go very much?"
"We certainly do," cried Bob and Hugh in one breath.
"Well," said Mr. Cook, "I'm proud of you for wanting to help, and under the circumstances I don't see how I can refuse."
"That's great!" cried Bob enthusiastically.
"It won't all be fun by a good deal," his father warned him.
"We know that, but we're ready to do anything that comes along."
The two boys were much excited at the prospect of the guard duty. It seemed to them that at last they had been recognized as capable of aiding in the defense of their country. Perhaps if they had known what awaited them they would not have been quite so enthusiastic.