urther back, and their hopes of taking Paris received an apparently
fatal blow.

"Josh, you can never again say that you haven't seen a real battle,"
remarked Rod, as they made their way back toward the shelter where the
almost exhausted surgeon, aided by his assistants, would now have to
start in afresh with the incoming of another batch of cases needing
immediate attention.

"I'm satisfied," replied Josh in a suppressed manner; "and between us
both, Rod, I want to own up that I hope I'll never have another chance
to look on such a terrible sight; though remember, I wouldn't have
missed it for a whole lot."

CHAPTER XVI.

A SUDDEN SURPRISE.

Although the three lads had already performed an amount of labor that
would have considerably astonished their home folks, could they have
witnessed it, and filled them all with pride in the bargain, they were
not yet through, it seemed.

"Here's plenty more for us to do, fellows," suggested Rod, as they
reached the canvas shelter tent, where the procession of stretchers was
beginning to arrive, each with its sad burden.

"I'm willing to help all I can," said Hanky Panky, trying to look as
though he could stand anything after what he had passed through.

Indeed there was need of assistance. Two other field hospitals had
already been established not far away, since the subjects were many
times more numerous now that Germans as well as French were beginning to
be brought in for treatment. And a steady string of ambulances and motor
lorries would soon start to taking the wounded in the direction of
Paris, where they could be better attended to.

So for at least two hours the three brave-hearted American boys stood up
to the work to which none of them were accustomed. They certainly, in
that space of time, earned the everlasting gratitude of the nation whose
sons they assisted in their time of need.

Rod was interested in several Germans who had been taken prisoners,
slightly wounded. He entered into conversation with one of them, and
managed to learn more of the other side of the contention than he had
known before.

Finally even the willing Josh was heard to declare that he had about
reached the limit of his endurance, while Hanky Panky looked ready to
drop.

"We've got to get away from here, Rod," Josh was saying; "after all
we're only boys, and this is a terrible experience for us. Our chum is
nearly done up; and as for myself I admit that I'm getting shaky.