there was a strange feeling in
the hearts of all the boys as they closed the door on the silent,
pathetic figure and stood together in the other room, while the rain
beat down on the roof, and dashed against the windows.

And so they began their bivouac of the with death as a sentry on
guard.

CHAPTER XV

IN THE BATTLE AGAIN

"Well, we've got to be thankful that we had a place to stay all night
where we were out of the wet," remarked Jimmy, as he and his chums
awoke the next morning in the lonely cottage of the dead Frenchman.

"Yes, and we're going to have a good day to travel, too," said Bob.
"There's the sun up good and proper, as Tommy Atkins would say."

"No telling how long it'll stay up," came from Roger. "Yesterday
started in fine, but look what happened before night."

"Look what happened!" echoed Jimmy. "I don't believe since we joined
the service any more things have happened in any one day. We ought to
be thankful we're alive."

"Sure we are," said Iggy. "But I thinks me dat he is going to rain!"

"Who's he?" asked Franz.

"Him!" and Iggy pointed to the sun. "Der wedder I mean. Him will rain
before night I feel, for of my foot there is such a pains. Always when
it rain going to be is, of my foots there is a pain."

"You mean your corn hurts!" asked Bob, with a laugh. He had been
rather gloomy the day before, but now he seemed to have recovered his
usual good spirits. "Imagine having a corn in these days of battle!"
he went on.

"He is not what you say--imagitive!" declared the Polish lad
earnestly. "He is real, dat pain in mine foots! But I can away from
here march quick. It gives me bad dreams," and he looked toward the
kitchen where the silent occupant had acted as sentry for them.

There had been no disturbance during the night, and if any parties of
Germans had passed the lonely farmhouse this was unknown to the boys.
Occasionally they heard the sound of distant firing, but now, as
the sun rose higher in the heavens, the noises became louder, and,
seemingly, nearer.

"Must be a big battle going on not far from here," remarked Bob.

"I don't believe there's been any let-up in the big battle," came from
Jimmy.

"The only trouble is that we're being left out!" exclaimed Franz. "I
want to get back in the fighting again."

"Same here!" murmured Roger. "Let's eat and then well hike. We ought
to get back to our lines to-day, sure."

"If we have luck," remarked Jimmy. "Well, let's