they heard
far down Broadway the throbbing of drums.

"Listen, Ethel," cried Jane. "The Pipes!"

"The Pipes!" echoed Ethel in great excitement. "The Kilties!"

Above the roll and rattle of the drums they caught those high,
heart-thrilling sounds which for nearly two hundred years have been
heard on every famous British battlefield, and which have ever led
Scotland's sons down the path of blood and death to imperishable glory.

A young Ninetieth officer, intent on seeing that the way was kept clear
for the soldiers, came striding out of the armoury.

"Oh, there's Frank Smart," said Ethel. "I wish he would see us."

As if in answer to her wish, Smart turned about and saw them in the
crowd. Immediately he came to them.

"I didn't know you were a soldier, Frank," said Jane, greeting him with
a radiant smile.

"I had almost forgotten it myself," said Frank. "But I was at church
yesterday and I went home and looked up my uniform and here I am."

"You are not going across, Frank, are you?" said Ethel.

"If I can. There is very strong competition between both officers and
men. I have been paying little attention to soldiering for a year or so;
I have been much too busy. But now things are different. If I can make
it, I guess I will go."

"Oh, Frank, YOU don't need to go, said Ethel. I mean there are heaps of
men all over Canada wanting to go. Why should YOU go?"

"The question a fellow must ask himself is rather why should he stay,"
replied the young officer. "Don't you think so, Jane?"

"Yes," said Jane, drawing in her breath sharply but smiling at him.

"Do you want to go in?" asked Frank.

"Oh, do let's go in," said Ethel.

But Jane shrank back. "I don't like to go through all those men," she
said, "though I should like greatly to see Kellerman," she added. "I
wonder if I could see him."

"Kellerman?"

"Yes, he's Jane's special, you know," said Ethel. "They ran close
together for the German prize, you remember. You don't know him? A
little Jew chap."

"No, I don't know him," said Smart. "But you can certainly see him if
you wish. Just come with me; I will get you in. But first I have got to
see that this way is kept clear for the Highlanders."

"Oh, let's wait to see them come up," said Ethel.

"Well, then, stand here," said Frank. "There may be a crush, but if you
don't mind that we will follow right after them. Here they come. Great
lads, aren't they?"

"And they have their big feather bonnets