ce?"

"'It will unless the Germans decide to surrender between now and the day
set," Tom answered grimly, "and I hardly believe they'll do that. It's a
going to be some fight!"

"Glad of it!" cried Jack. "Now we've got something to live for!" As
if he and Tom did not risk their lives every day to make life in the
civilized world something worth living for.

"Well, we must be getting back!" exclaimed Tom, as he looked at his
watch. "All leaves will be stopped in a few days--just before we start
preparations for the big battle. If we can we'll see you once more
before then."

"And afterward?" inquired Nellie, softly and pleadingly.

"Yes, and afterward, too!" exclaimed Tom. "And we'll bring Harry back
with us. Now good-bye!"

It was a more solemn farewell than the friends had taken in some time,
for all felt the impending events, and Tom and Jack talked but little
during the return trip from Paris to their headquarters.

What Tom had said about the big battle was strictly true. It had been
decided in high quarters that it was time the newly arrived American
soldiers showed what they could do. That they could fight fiercely and
well was not a question, it was only a matter of getting them
familiar with the different conditions to be met with on the European
battlefields, against a ruthless foe.

Tom and Jack had a chance for one more hasty, flying visit to Paris, and
then all leave was withdrawn, and there began in and about the American
camp such a period of tense and intensive work as bore out what Tom had
said. The big battle was impending.

Great stores were accumulated of rations and munitions. Great guns were
brought up into position and skillfully camouflaged. Machine guns in
great numbers were prepared and a number of aeroplanes were brought from
other sectors and made ready for the flying fight.

"How are your plans coming on?" asked Jack of Tom, at the close of a day
when it seemed that every one's nerves were on edge from the strain of
preparing.

"All right," was the answer. "I've spoken to a number of the boys, and
they're with me. You know we're pretty much 'on our own,' when we're
flying, and I think that we can drop the bombs and make a descent long
enough to pick up Harry and other refugees if we break open the prison."

"But suppose we land, stall the engines and the Germans surround us?"

"That mustn't happen," said Tom. "We won't stall the engines for one
thing. We'll just have to drop d