u could call these angels of mercy!"

"Why, sure enough, I can see the Red Cross on the wagon!" cried Tubby,
evidently pleased by the discovery. "Then that must be an ambulance,
and they're going on the battlefield to help the poor wounded fellows!
Oh! how much I admire them right now. I wish I was worth a continental
as a surgeon, and I'd like to volunteer to help take care of some of the
wounded."

"There are three more ambulances, and they seem to have several nurses
aboard each one," Rob observed, as the procession advanced closer to
where they were located.

"There's a man driving, and I reckon now that may be the surgeon,"
Merritt was saying, as though deeply interested. "How about this, Rob? I
thought nurses only worked in the hospitals back of the lines; but these
seem heading right for the battlefield."

"As a rule they let men bring in the wounded," said Rob. "But sometimes
a nurse is allowed to go about trying to help the poor fellows as best
she can until such time as a stretcher can reach them. Most of them are
parched with thirst, and what they ask for first of all is a drink of
water."

"I might do that much, anyway," Tubby was heard to mutter to himself,
"if only I thought I could stand the terrible sights. You know, seeing
blood always used to make me feel faint-like. But then a scout ought to
overcome that weakness."

Possibly it may have been something in what Tubby said that gave Merritt
his brilliant idea, for he immediately whirled upon the patrol leader,
and exclaimed:

"Rob, why couldn't we ask them to take us along, and let us do what we
can to help? As scouts we know something about taking care of wounds,
you remember. Why, didn't that officer compliment us on the way we
looked after his men, and the German spy they'd captured? Rob, see if we
could do it, won't you? It might be a terrible experience for us; but I
feel like I'd be better satisfied if I could lend a helping hand here."

The first of the three army ambulances had by this time come close to
the boys. Attracted by their khaki uniforms, and possibly their bright
eager faces, the man who was driving held up his team. A woman of
middle-age, garbed as a nurse, jumped to the ground, and approached the
boys. They saw that undoubtedly she must be the one in charge of the Red
Cross detachment.

At sight of the little American flag which Tubby wore on the lapel of
his coat her eyes glistened.

"That is a glorious sight to my eye