“Look there!” exclaimed Jack. “The very last caisson has pulled up right in front of us you might say. Something gone a little wrong with a part of the harness, most likely. I wonder if our pass from the general would get us a seat on that ammunition cart!”
“Try it, Jack!” advised his chum eagerly. “I’m not so struck on this walking that I’d refuse a chance to ride on any kind of vehicle. Besides, it’ll take us to the front all the sooner, you know.”
There were three men with the caisson that had stopped on the road. Two of them were hurriedly fixing the harness so that it would work easier. The third Jack saw must be a non-commissioned officer, perhaps a corporal, who could afford to sit there and order the others what to do.
Stepping quickly up, Jack held out his paper.
“This is signed by your general, sir,” he said rapidly, for fear the halt would be discontinued before he had found his chance to make good.
“It’s altogether unusual, I know, but we are anxious to get forward, and would like to be allowed to sit on the chest at the back while you push ahead.”
“Utterly impossible, boy!” exclaimed the other, but about the same time he took in what the commanding general had written, and his eyes opened wide as he hastened to add. “Why, I hardly know what my duty is. By this document I am commanded to assist you two boys in every way possible, no matter whether it is against general orders or not. Jump up and hold on, then, for we will have to move rapidly in order to overtake the rest of the battery!”
Jack hastily put the paper safely away. He would not like to lose that valuable document for a great deal, since it must stand as their sponsor in the hunt for Frank Bradford. Hardly had he and Amos secured a seat on the ammunition chest than the two gunners hustled into their places. Then the horses were started on a furious gallop.
The two boys would never forget that wild ride over the rutty roads beyond Ypres, where in places German shells had torn deep holes that had later been filled up after a certain fashion. They had more or less difficulty in holding on, for the caisson jumped frightfully when passing over these ruts and holes. The whip was not spared, and the steaming horses did their best to overtake the balance of the field battery.
