“Here’s plenty more for us to do, fellows,” suggested Rod, as they reached the canvas shelter tent, where the procession of stretchers was beginning to arrive, each with its sad burden.
“I’m willing to help all I can,” said Hanky Panky, trying to look as though he could stand anything after what he had passed through.
Indeed there was need of assistance. Two other field hospitals had already been established not far away, since the subjects were many times more numerous now that Germans as well as French were beginning to be brought in for treatment. And a steady string of ambulances and motor lorries would soon start to taking the wounded in the direction of Paris, where they could be better attended to.
So for at least two hours the three brave-hearted American boys stood up to the work to which none of them were accustomed. They certainly, in that space of time, earned the everlasting gratitude of the nation whose sons they assisted in their time of need.
Rod was interested in several Germans who had been taken prisoners, slightly wounded. He entered into conversation with one of them, and managed to learn more of the other side of the contention than he had known before.
Finally even the willing Josh was heard to declare that he had about reached the limit of his endurance, while Hanky Panky looked ready to drop.
“We’ve got to get away from here, Rod,” Josh was saying; “after all we’re only boys, and this is a terrible experience for us. Our chum is nearly done up; and as for myself I admit that I’m getting shaky.”
Rod himself had to confess that they ought to be making a move. The worst of the bringing in of the wounded was over by now, and besides, more attendants were on hand to look after things.
“That’s all right, boys,” he assured his chums, “we’ve done our level best to be of some help to our friends, the French; and now it’s only fair we should start in looking after our own affairs again.”
“I’ve noticed you talking with a number of men besides our surgeon friend, Rod; have you picked up any sort of information that’d be of use to us?” demanded the other shrewdly, guessing what their leader must have had in mind.