ore dangerous mustard variety. In fact, the Germans used their
yellow-cross and their green-cross gases alternately against the
sector where the Cresville chums were. But prompt use of the
protective masks prevented any casualties.

So, as has been said, when the three chums were resting in the dugout,
wondering what their next duty would be, an officer came in, and, when
he had returned the salutes, he said:

"Volunteers are wanted for a raiding party to-night. There's a German
dugout not far away, and the commander thinks we have a good chance to
get some prisoners and thus learn a thing or two about what Fritz is
up to in this section. There's also a chance, as I needn't mention,
that none of us will come back. Now then, who wants to go?"

There was a moment of hesitation, and then, to the credit of the young
soldiers, every one stepped forward.

"Um!" mused the officer. "I can't use you all. Thank you, just the
same. Now let's see," and he proceeded to pick out his squad.

To their delight Ned, Bob and Jerry were selected, and at once began
to prepare for the dangerous mission. None of them gave more than a
passing thought to the reflection that all might safely return or none
of them come back.

CHAPTER XII

BOB IS MISSING

Careful preparations had been made for this night raid. It was the
constant effort of both sides, during the period of trench fighting,
to get possession of facts which would allow successful attacks to be
carried out later. And to do this it was needful to get close to the
enemy's line. By so doing, certain things might be overheard in the
talk among the soldiers, or (for the results of the listening were
uncertain) better still, was the capture of prisoners. Once they were
taken back of the lines, questioned and searched, much of value might
be obtained.

This, as a matter of fact, worked much better for the Americans than
it did for the Germans. If the Huns did succeed in capturing, during a
raid, some of our boys, they got little information from them about
the units with which the boys of Uncle Sam were connected. Nor did the
Huns learn much as to the strength of the forces opposed to them,
except, perhaps, in the way of exaggeration.

"The American captive is more inclined to utter the equivalent of
'nothing doing,'" remarked Jerry, one day when discussing the matter.

On the other hand, the German prisoners captured, almost invariably,
were glad that their fate had t