soldiers who had not yet
been under hostile fire, felt their nerves a bit unsteady for some
time.

But the veterans, of whom there were many, appeared to take it as a
matter of course. It had happened before, they said, and probably
would again.

"But that's what we came here for--war," remarked Jerry, as he and his
chums finished their breakfast--no very elaborate meal, and one to
which little time was given. "We've got to take our chances."

Up and down the line, on either side of the sector where the three
chums were to receive their baptism of fire, already begun, could be
heard dull booming. It was the firing of heavy guns, and might
indicate an attack in progress or one being repelled by either side.
Here the Allied and German lines were close together, in some places
the front-line trenches being less than six hundred feet apart.
Between was the famed and terrible No Man's Land.

"I wonder if Professor Snodgrass will ever get up as far as this,"
mused Ned, as they prepared to go back to their quarters and begin the
day's business.

"The firing wouldn't keep him away, if he thought he could find some
bugs," answered Jerry. "And if he wants to ascertain the effect of
noises on crickets all he has to do is to bring the crickets here. We
can supply the noise."

"I should say so!" agreed Bob. "It's getting worse, too! Listen to
that!"

Indeed, with the broadening of day the noise of the big and small guns
increased. Whether a great battle was impending or merely local
engagements, the boys had no means of knowing.

The position to which they had been brought, and where they would
spend about a week, holding the front and supporting line trenches,
until relieved by a new command, ran up and over a little wooded hill.
From this vantage point, which had more than once been stormed in vain
by the Germans, could be seen the country beyond No Man's Land--a
portion of France held by the enemy. And in the brief glimpse the
Motor Boys had of it, smoke-covered and stabbed with flashes of fire
here and there as it was, they saw something of what war meant.

"The professor is going to have some job on his hands if he expects to
find any young ladies on the other side of that," and Ned waved his
hand to indicate the terrain possessed by the Huns.

"Oh, we can get through if we attack in force," declared Bob. "And
maybe that's why they brought us up--there may be going to be an
attack."

"We'll have to get through--