Tish went on calmly, "you will have a
number of grenades. If only we could repair that machine gun!" she
reflected. "I dare say I can salvage an automatic rifle or two," she
finished; "though large-sized firecrackers would do. The real thing is
to make a noise."

"We might get some paper bags and burst them," suggested Mr. Burton;
"and if you feel that music would add to the martial effect I can play
fairly well on a comb."

It was perhaps nine o'clock when we reached the crest of the hill, and
had Tish not thoughtfully brought her wire cutters along I do not
believe we would have succeeded in reaching headquarters. We got there
finally, however, and it was in a cellar and--though I do not care to
reflect on our gallant army--not as tidy as it should have been. Mr.
Burton having remained behind temporarily the three of us made our way
to the entrance, and Tish was almost bayoneted by a sentry there, who
was nervous because of a number of shells falling in the vicinity.

"Take that thing away!" she said with superb scorn, pointing to the
bayonet. "I don't want a hole in the only uniform I've got, young man.
Watch your head, Lizzie!"

"The saints protect us!" said the sentry. "Women! Three women!"

Tish and I went down the muddy incline into the cellar, and two officers
who were sitting there playing cribbage looked at us and then stood up
with a surprised expression.

Tish had assumed a most lofty attitude, and picking out the general with
an unfailing eye she saluted and said: "Only the most urgent matters
would excuse my intrusion, sir. I----"

Unfortunately at that moment Aggie slipped and slid into the room feet
first in a sitting posture. She brought up rather dazed against the
table, and for a moment both officers were too surprised to offer her
any assistance. Tish and I picked her up, and she fell to sneezing
violently, so that it was some time before the conversation was resumed.
It was the general who resumed it.

"This is very flattering," he said in a cold voice, "but if you ladies
will explain how you got here I'll make it interesting for somebody."

Suddenly the colonel who was with him said: "Suffering Crimus! It can't
be! And yet--it certainly is!"

We looked at him, and it was the colonel who had been so interested in
Charlie Sands at the training camp. We all shook hands with him, and he
offered us chairs, and said to the general: "These are the ladies I have
told you about, sir, with the ne