nds for the poor fellows who are
in the fight. Why, with all those big shells bursting, and the shrapnel
too, that you spoke about, Rob, right now I reckon there are just
hundreds of them wanting to be attended to."

"That's true enough, Tubby, the more the pity," replied Rob.

"What's this coming up behind us?" called out Merritt, as loud cheers,
together with the rattle of wheels and the pounding of many horses'
hoofs, were heard on the road they had used on the previous night.

"Oh! they're going to bombard the village; and now we'll get it!" gasped
Tubby.

"It looks like a battery coming from the direction of Antwerp, and
hurrying to get in action!" Rob ventured to say, as he discovered that
those who were seated on the horses and on the gun caissons wore the
Belgian uniforms.

"Just what it is, Rob," added Merritt excitedly. "They hear the sound of
the guns ahead, and are crazy to get there. Look at them whip the
horses, would you! And how the animals run! They smell the smoke of
burnt powder, and it's fairly set them all wild!"

It was indeed a stirring sight to see that battery come tearing along
straight through the little village, and heading directly toward the
place where the flashing and roaring of battle seemed fiercest.

The men were all keyed up to a pitch of excitement that made them forget
they were about to face danger and death. They shouted as they swept
past, and the poor villagers, filled with a momentary enthusiasm, sent
back answering cries.

Such enthusiasm is always contagious. Why, even peace-loving Tubby
seemed to be infected with some of it. His eyes glowed, and his breath
came in short puffs, as he watched the guns and caissons go whirling
along until men, horses and all had vanished down the road in a cloud
of dust.

"Some of those brave fellows will never come back again, I'm afraid,"
said Tubby sadly.

"It begins to look as if the artillery arm was going to be everything in
this war," Rob remarked, as though the sight of those bursting shells
impressed him.

"But what do you suppose all that bombardment means?" Merritt asked.

"I can only give a guess," the patrol leader replied. "From all I've
read I get the idea that before the Germans order a charge of their
infantry they pour in a heavy bombardment from every big gun they can
get in line. That makes it so hot in the trenches that the enemy has to
keep under cover. Then the infantry manages to get a good start before
t