The Boy Scouts Afoot in France

iver Schelde at last, and la

gain on solid ground, after that long trip over

e you'll find her much improved, and ready to start for the good old United States, where peace hang

we can get some sort of vehicle let's head for the Institution. I'm in a cold sweat for fear s

ly believe you've been thinking of your mother every hour we spent trying our best to get through Belgium, w

only mother I've got. But please look for a vehicle, Thad, or yo

cause most horses and cars have been seized by the Belgian military authorities.

and had battered campaign hats on their heads, which facts told louder than words could hav

ader who may be making their acquaintance for the first time, let it be set down that t

name of Stedman, a lanky chap in the bargain, had "Conrad" tacked to his address; but never when in the society of hi

with Cranford Troop of Boy Scouts; and the enterprising town in

st. Perhaps the most remarkable of all their exploits had come to them during this summer upon finding themselves in Germany when the Great War suddenly broke out, and th

: It had come about that Mrs. Hawtree, being ill, was recommended to go to Antwerp and stop for a season at a famous Sanitarium, where celebrated physi

on instead. As Bumpus was usually an "easy mark" on account of his good nature, it was arranged that hi

n city on the Upper Rhine they chartered a boat, aboard which they began to descend the wonderfully beautiful river

ilitary machine pouring troops over the Belgian border by tens and hundreds of thousands, thinking t

d rattletrap of a car, for fear a good one might be taken from them, they sta

land instead, and then coming around by way of the North Sea. So here they were, safe at last a

s the fact that he was at the head of the Silver Fox Patrol, and indeed often served as scout-ma

ame to a knowledge of woodcraft and an acquaintance with the denizens of the wilderness in

s, though it must be admitted that he took more pride in his ability to s

s a remarkably good judgment with various kinds of food and ways i

f a driver, since they had made up their minds not to scorn any sort of

found themselves keenly interested in all they saw. Antwerp under war conditions was quite a different city from the rather quiet, staid place

s as their carriage was drawn hastily aside to allow a battery of field-pieces to pass by with a whirl. These were possibly heading for the front, where the Belgians still hero

all they knew the boys may have been looking on the King of the Belgians himself, though it was more probable t

us. "I kind-a hate to get away from here while things are booming this way. It's a chance in a life-time to see what war means. I seem to feel something strange stirring within

cucumber salad you had aboard the steamer for supper last night.

f course Bumpus had nothing more to say; though his face again assumed that

omehow it struck Thad as though there was lacking considerable of the bustle he had noticed when there before. He fell

ubtedly a subordinate. Bumpus hastened to push forward, and they saw him talking with this party, who evidently was able to comprehend and speak E

that the stout, red-cheeked boy was the party he claimed to be, had produced a letter, whic

arting toward them, still gripping his letter and looking pretty pale. "What's hit you, Bum

er has gone to Paris with the head doctor, most of the staff