caught me, and burn my house. I wouldn't call them brutes and
barbarians for doing it."

"But why? Isn't it war to attack the enemy?"

"Yes, if soldiers do it. Soldiers ought to fight soldiers. If women
and men who aren't in uniform fight, they must expect to be attacked
themselves. Listen, Arthur! If our soldiers were in Germany they'd
have to do just what the Germans are doing here, to protect themselves.
They'd have to frighten the people into playing fair, if it couldn't be
done any other way. It isn't fair to hide and shoot a man who isn't
expecting it, is it? At any rate, those are the laws of war. France
and Belgium have agreed to them, and bound themselves by them, just as
the Germans have done. So we can't complain if the Germans stick to
the rules. Don't do anything foolish now. The Germans may be here any
minute, if they're as close to us as these people say."

"I'll do whatever you say, Paul," Arthur agreed, finally. "But it
doesn't seem sensible to me."

"It is sensible and right, believe me," said Paul, earnestly. "And I
think we'll stay here, Arthur, for a little while, anyway. I believe
there'll be a chance for us to do some good work here. If we can keep
these poor people from acting so that the Germans will destroy their
village it will be a good thing, won't it?"

"Ye--es, I suppose so. Yes, I can see that, Paul. Even if I think
it's all wrong, I can see that the Germans are too strong. They can do
whatever they like, whether it's right or not."

"That's one way to look at it," said Paul. "That's one of the things I
hope to try to make them understand--that they'd better submit to
injustice than lose their homes. Might makes right, though the Germans
have a good excuse for acting in the way they do."

"Still I don't see what good we can expect to do, Paul. These people
here don't know us, and I don't believe they'll pay any attention to
anything we say," deep doubt written on his face.

"I think perhaps they will, Arthur. You see, we're in uniform and I'm
hoping that they don't know anything about the Boy Scouts here. They
may think our uniform means that we're connected with the army in some
fashion, and respect it."

"I didn't think of that! I say, that would be rather good fun,
wouldn't it?"

"Look!" said Paul, suddenly. "That's just what I was afraid of!"

A dozen men, in ill assorted and badly fitting uniforms, were coming
from the inn that was the dominatin