belonged.
If fortune favored them, and they discovered the French reservist still
in the land of the living, doubtless it could soon be arranged as they
planned.

As on the previous afternoon, they soon found themselves on the road
along which the retreating German army had passed. Everywhere they could
see marks of this flight, for such it really was, despite the order with
which the retrograde movement had been conducted. In places the roadside
was glutted with cast-off articles, such as had better be disposed of if
haste and mobility were to be considered.

As a rule these had been rendered useless before being abandoned, in
order to prevent them from becoming valuable to the enemy. It was a
sight worth seeing; and no wonder such of the country people whom the
boys came upon, examining this "made in Germany" material, had broad
smiles on their faces, since it spoke eloquently of the near panic that
must have existed in the army of Von Kluck, before they would thus
abandon so much of their resources.

A score of interesting things engaged their attention as they slowly
made their way along. Obstacles were frequently met with, but cleverly
avoided by these expert riders. Many times Rod called a temporary halt
in order to speak with some peasant who chanced to look more than
ordinarily intelligent, and, he imagined, able to give him information.

They also came upon various detachments of the French army. Some were
engaged in caring for wounded comrades who could not be taken to the
rear as yet on account of the glut of injured and the lack of vehicles
of transportation; though many such were to be seen on their way to
Paris with loads of groaning humanity.

Then fresh artillery was to be found going to the front, the horses
snorting as though they already scented the battle smoke, the men
sitting there on gun carriage and caisson, grim and eager, though none
could say if he might be so fortunate as to see the sun set when that
dreadful day reached its close.

Other big vans there were carrying fresh ammunition to the guns that
were so noisily punctuating the morning atmosphere with their clamor.
French powder and shot had never been sent forth on a mission more in
keeping with the hearts of the people. A million hands would willingly
toil day by day making fresh supplies, if only it could win for them
another such fight as this glorious victory over the German invaders on
the banks of the Marne.

There came a