They continued in silence until the outskirts of Verdun were reached.
“Gee! there’s something goin’ on in town,” declared Sammy.
The sound of pealing bells and stirring music reached their ears. They quickened their step. Cheering and shouts sounded above the music.
A bearded poilu came tearing out of a ruined house, waving a bottle over his head.
“A BEARDED POILU CAME TEARING OUT OF A RUINED HOUSE, WAVING A BOTTLE OVER HIS HEAD”
“Finee! La guerre finee!” he shouted, and offered them the bottle. They drank and shouted back:
“Oui. Finee. Hurrah!”
The grizzled poilu and the two Americans sallied down the narrow street to locate the music. Progress became difficult after the trio reached one of the main streets. Soldiers—for there were very few civilians residing in the battered remnants of Verdun—piled out of every doorway and alley, most of them singing and shouting. Finally, after stopping to drink the success of the armistice with at least ten different parties of poilus and Yanks, Jimmy, Sammy, and their new friend found themselves in the square where a parade was forming.
A hastily organized band crashed out the stirring music of “Quand Madelon.” The mob cheered itself into action and started off behind the band. Flags, mostly American, waved above the surging crowds. Another band, half American and half French, swung into the square playing the “Marseillaise.” Then “The Star-Spangled Banner” brought a thunderous volley of applause.