The Boy Scouts on the Trail

ing to spend the

oolmate, Frank Barnes, son of a French mother and an American father. Frank's name was really Francois; his mother had that much to do with his naming. But he was a typical American boy, none

coming over a little later, and I think we'll go to Switzerland." His face cloud

with the quick sympathy of his race. "Bu

very busy man, you know, and it's hard for him to get away just any

ys, he spoke English perfectly and with practically no trace of an accent. "To spend

horror with which his friend heard of the notion

o. I live not so far away-not so very far. At Amiens. You have heard of it? Oh, we w

e Boy Scout movement from England, just as words like rosbif, football, and le sport had been adopted into the language. But

in a moment. "I didn't mean to

. We began by calling the Boy Scouts Eclaireurs Francais, but General Baden-Powell didn't like it, so we made the change. Really, we're a good deal

ut then I came over here, and I didn't know there wer

could join with me, couldn't you? You're going

at I had French blood in me, you see. My French grandfather was killed by the Germans at Gravelotte-he was

they remember the days of 1870. "The Germans-yes, they beat us then. We were not ready-we were badly led. But

s.

rassburg? How it is always draped

es

provinces of ours! They shall be French again in name, too. Strassburg shall guard the Rhine for us again-Me

omes again," said F

ill never rest content while we are strong. They thought they had crushed us forever in 1870-but France was too great for them to crush! They made us pay a thousand million francs-they thought we should take years and

said Frank, still soberly. "But

s among them. We do not want to fight, but we are not afraid. When the time comes, as it is sure to come, we shall be ready. B

ead master says I can, I will most g

ri.' Oh, there will be plenty for us to do, too. We shall take long walks and play tennis and rid

as a small one but it numbered among its pupils several English and American boys, whose parents wanted them for one r

s. Your uncle has written to me that he will be here about the tenth or fif

le M. Donnet tho

n a little troubled about you, Barnes. If all were well

ys, have you read in the newspapers of

oked st

. "There's always trouble,

is more danger than usual but I have heard things, from friends

w minutes before when he had talked of how Fran

ay be war, sir?" he asked

" He struck his hand suddenly on his desk. "But this I feel-that when war comes it will be like the stroke of lightning from a clear sky! When there is much talk, there is never war. When it comes it will be because the diplomats will not ha

excited as they

felt something, that is still a secr

"What is to come must come. But you are coming home with me, Frank. We know

I get so tired of living in school or in hotels all the time! It w