esh wound and until it grew more painful he could
still fight.

"Where are the Germans?" asked Uncle John. "I haven't seen one yet."

As he spoke a great cheer rose from a thousand throats. The line before
them wavered an instant and then rushed forward and disappeared in the
smoke of battle.

"Is it a charge, do you think?" asked Maud, as they stood peering into
the haze.

"I--I don't know," he stammered. "This is so--so bewildering--that it
all seems like a dream. Where's Beth?"

"I don't know."

"Are you looking for a young lady--a nurse?" asked a voice beside them.
"She's over yonder," he swung one arm toward the distant sand dunes. The
other was in a sling. "She has just given me first aid and sent me to
the rear--God bless her!" Then he trailed on, a British Tommy Atkins,
while with one accord Maud and Uncle John moved in the direction he had
indicated.

"She mustn't be so reckless," said Beth's uncle, nervously. "It's bad
enough back here, but every step nearer the firing line doubles the
danger."

"I do not agree with you, sir," answered Maud quietly. "A man was killed
not two paces from me, a little while ago."

He shuddered and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief,
but made no reply. They climbed another line of dunes and in the hollow
beyond came upon several fallen soldiers, one of whom was moaning with
pain. Maud ran to kneel beside him and in a twinkling had her hypodermic
needle in his arm.

"Bear it bravely," she said in French. "The pain will stop in a few
minutes and then I'll come and look after you."

He nodded gratefully, still moaning, and she hurried to rejoin Mr.
Merrick.

"Beth must be in the next hollow," said Uncle John as she overtook him,
and his voice betrayed his nervous tension. "I do wish you girls would
not be so reckless."

Yes; they found her in the next hollow, where several men were grouped
about her. She was dressing the shattered hand of a soldier, while two
or three others were patiently awaiting her services. Just beside her a
sweet-faced Sister of Mercy was bending over a dying man, comforting him
with her prayers. Over the ridge of sand could be heard the "ping" of
small arms mingled with the hoarse roar of machine guns. Another great
shout--long and enthusiastic--was borne to their ears.

"That is good," said a tall man standing in the group about Beth; "I
think, from the sound, we have captured their guns."

"I'm sure of it, your Majesty