he mill it can easily be seen that if the boys
were not exactly surrounded it was so near that perilous situation as
to be what is called a distinction without a difference.

For a moment, after they had comprehended the situation to which Jimmy
had called their attention, they were all silent. Then Iggy caused
another laugh by remarking.

"Well, I eat me now. I haf some of my rations and I hear where is
water running yet. Always in our countries where is a mill is water.
Of a dryness I am, and water is good for of a dryness."

"That's the truest thing you've said in a long while!" cried Jimmy,
clapping his chum on the back. "Fellows, we'd better eat and drink
while we can. We have our emergency rations, and, as Iggy says, there
must be water where there's a mill. It isn't a wind one and there's no
steam or electricity here yet. Let's get ready for a siege."

"Do you really think they know we're here?" asked Bob, and he pointed
out toward the advancing German army.

"To be perfectly frank, I don't," said Jimmy. "I think the situation
is just this--but let's go get washed up a bit, and then we can eat
and talk. I'm as dry as a bone, and this--well this place isn't just
the most inviting," and he could not repress a shudder as he looked
at the death and devastation all about them. The bodies of the killed
Germans were sprawled in all positions, some even resting on the guns.
Then, too, there were bodies of the companions of the five Brothers.
As Jimmy said, it was no place to eat and talk.

They found where the mill stream came down the flume to turn the
wheel, and there they washed and drank, and then, finding a room where
the miller had evidently lived, they sat down to make what meal they
could. And as they ate the Germans advanced down the hills to occupy
the valley in which was located the old red mill.

"Now let's hear your opinion, Blazes," called Bob.

They all seemed instinctively to turn to Jimmy as a leader now. Nor
was this the first time.

"Well, I think we've seen the last of some Germans and the first of
others," he began.

"Sounds like a puzzle," commented Bob.

"It may turn out to be before we get through with it," was Jimmy's
grim reply. "But here's the situation as I see it. You know we
started, some days ago, to drive back the Huns. To a certain extent
we succeeded. Then came a lull, and that ended when they launched an
attack to-day--an attack with the gas as a preface.

"We did our bes