ken any part in the war,
was throwing all her great weight on their side for the sake of the
_Entente Cordiale_, and for the sake of our honour.

A few hours later Bob found himself in Paris. Several of the trains
had gone by another route, but both Bob and Captain Pringle, with many
others, were ordered to Paris. Here they stayed one day, and then went
on to the front.

Although he had often heard how the British soldier was loved in Paris,
Bob had no conception of the truth until he got there. The attention
which he and Captain Pringle received was embarrassing. Wherever they
went they were watched and followed, while remarks of the most
complimentary nature were made about them. Even in the restaurant
where they went for dinner a number of Frenchmen entered with them, and
insisted on paying for their repast.

"No, no, messieurs," they exclaimed, when Bob protested; "but you are
our guests. You come as our friends, you come to help us to fight our
battles. Your visit must cost you nothing. _Vive l'Angleterre!_"

Both men and women vied with each other in courteous acts. They
insisted on shaking hands again and again, they plied them with
cigarettes, while Bob was very much confused by two elderly dames, both
of whom insisted on kissing him on both cheeks.

"What would you?" they cried. "We are each old enough to be your
mother. Besides--ah, the good God knows what is in our hearts; have we
not sons fifty miles away, fighting for France? We shall win,
monsieur! Do you not think so? With such gallant men as you to help
us we cannot fail. The Germans are pigs, devils; but we have driven
them back, back! Soon they will be out of France."

In the streets it was sometimes difficult for them to get along. On
every hand people came up and insisted on shaking hands. But few of
them could speak English, and they imagined that Bob was just as
ignorant of French.

Again and again they received slaps on the back, while cries of "Good
old Sport!" reached them.

Indeed, this was the popular form of salutation. It was nearly all the
English many of them knew, and appearing to believe that this was the
British form of salutation, they indulged in it freely.

At length their duties in Paris were at an end, and then Bob, with a
strange feeling at heart, mounted a train which was to take him to
within a short distance of the line of battle.

They had not long left the French capital, before Bob realised tha