It is getting on my
nerves."

"This quiet life I suppose you mean?" laughed Leon sarcastically.

"Exactly."

"I don't call that very quiet," exclaimed Leon as one of the German's
huge shells sped over their heads with the roar and rattle of an
express train. They could hear it explode several miles away with a
sound as if some one had dropped a large plank upon a pile of lumber.

"But we're not doing anything," objected Dubois.

"We're alive anyway," said Earl. "That's something."

"But why don't they launch a great big offensive and drive these
Germans out of our country?" demanded Dubois. "Just sitting here in
the trenches is not going to free France."

"Remember this, Dubois," Jacques reminded his impulsive countryman.
"It takes thousands of guns and millions of shells to make the kind of
an attack you are talking about."

"Haven't we got them?"

"Not yet, I'm afraid. General Joffre won't send his men out until he
has sufficient backing for them either."

"Well if we haven't got enough guns and ammunition," persisted Dubois,
"why don't we hurry up and get them?"

"It takes time," smiled Leon. "You can't build factories and teach
people how to manufacture powder and shells over night, you know."

"Germany seems to have enough," said Dubois.

"Yes," agreed Leon, "but they have been preparing for this war for a
long time. Russia, France and England were caught napping."

"What would they have done if it had not been for the United States?"
demanded Earl breaking into the conversation. "We've sent millions of
dollars' worth of stuff to the Allies."

"Tell me about that," exclaimed Dubois. "Is America sending supplies
to Germany too?"

"Practically none, I guess," said Earl.

"But why not? Is it neutral for a country to sell to one side and not
to the other?"

"America would sell to Germany just the same as to Russia, France, and
England," said Earl. "The trouble is that Germany can't get the stuff
into her country."

"Because of the English fleet?"

"Exactly. The English fleet has swept the German navy off the ocean.
The only place left for them is the Baltic."

"That's wonderful, isn't it?" exclaimed Dubois.

"Yes, it is, and most people don't give England half the credit she
deserves for that. Just because her fleet doesn't fight a battle every
day and do a lot of grandstand work people think it isn't doing
anything important. In my opinion it has won the biggest victory of
th