uterments, the neighing of horses, and the hoarse singing of various
regiments--all these things came floating on the breeze to the ears of
the three lads, as they lay there in the afternoon sunshine and watched.

"They seem particularly fond of certain tunes," remarked Tubby, "and I
know one is the German national air, 'The Watch on the Rhine,' because
we've sung it many a time in the school at Hampton. What's that other
they roar out, Rob?"

"I think it's a popular patriotic German air, called _Deutschland ueber
Alles_, which means, of course, 'Germany Over All'," Rob obligingly
replied.

"Oh! well, every country's sons believe they ought to have the first
place in the sun; and I reckon we Americans have done a heap of
boasting that way," Merritt remarked, which seemed to be about what
Tubby thought, too.

So they lay there until the camp was entirely deserted. Never would
those three scouts forget the spectacle to which they had been treated
that day.

It was now along toward the middle of the afternoon. Far off in the
distance somewhere, an action was certainly going on, for the grumble of
heavy cannonading came almost constantly to their ears.

"Chances are," said Rob, as they prepared to vacate their refuge and
once more push onward, "there's a fierce battle in progress, and this
corps has received orders to get on the firing line. That would account
for the way the troops were singing. Their business is to fight, and
most of them are only happy when they can smell burnt powder, hear the
crash of bursting shrapnel, and the heavy boom of big shells."

"We've seen one battle," observed Tubby with a shudder, "and for myself
I'm not hankering after a second experience."

"I suppose in time we'd get used to such terrible things," Rob pursued
in a reflective way, "for even the fellow who nearly swoons away in his
first fight, they say, becomes a regular fire-eater after a while; but,
so far as I'm concerned, I'll be a happy boy when I see good old
peaceful Long Island again, with its sandy beaches, and the familiar
things we love."

"We all will, Rob," remarked Tubby fervently, a yearning expression
coming over his rosy face, as in imagination he again saw the home
folks, and sat down to a table that fairly groaned with the good things
he doted on.

"Yes, after I've carried out my mission I'll be just as glad to start
back as either of you fellows," Merritt assured them.

The last of the Germans had disapp