g for the second man. When
they start up the steps with him, you pop into the back of the
ambulance."

"Why, Charlie!" she murmured in utter amazement.

"Are you going to do as you are told?" he demanded with much apparent
fierceness.

"But the third man? You have another wounded man inside."

The stretcher-bearers slid the second convalescent out of the ambulance.

"Now!" whispered Charlie. "Do as you are told."

Half understanding, yet still much puzzled, the girl went around to the
rear of the ambulance. It was half dark within, but she saw the man
lying on the third stretcher, the one overhead, put out a hand and
beckon her. She could see nothing of his face, his head was so much
bandaged. One arm seemed strapped to his side, too.

The engine of the car began to purr. Charlie clashed the clutch. Ruth
jumped upon the step, and then crept into the covered vehicle. The car
leaped ahead.

She heard Jennie Stone exclaim in utter amazement:

"Well, what _do_ you think of that? What did I tell you, Helen? She
is actually running away."

In half a minute the ambulance was out of the courtyard and the dust of
the village street wan rising behind it, as Charlie Bragg swung the car
into high gear.

This was adventure, indeed!

CHAPTER XX

ON THE RAW EDGE OF NO MAN'S LAND

"Sit down, Mademoiselle," said a low voice. "There is a cushion
yonder. Make no sound--at least, not until we are out of the village."

Ruth could only gasp. There was light enough under the ambulance roof
for her to see the speaker creep down from the swinging stretcher. He
moved very carefully, but his bandages were evidently camouflage.

The jouncing of the automobile made her uncomfortable. Charlie Bragg
was driving at his usual reckless pace. Ruth did not even laugh over
the surprise of Helen and Jennie at her departure. She was too deeply
interested in the actions of the man with her in the ambulance.

He was unwinding the bandage that strapped his left arm to his side
and, with gravity, removed the splints that had evidently been put in
place by a professional hand.

His arm, however, was as well and strong as Ruth's own. She saw that
he wore a familiar, patched, blue smock, baggy trousers, and wooden
shoes. He began to look like the mysterious Nicko, the chocolate
vender!

Then he unwrapped his head. There were yards of the gauze and padding.
To believe his first appearance once might have thought th