ht be possible.

Of course, Ned, Bob and Jerry did not have very much time to
themselves during the day, and some of their nights were occupied. But
fate was kind to them, and they had several dances with the girls, and
also went to "shows" at the local Y. M. C. A., as well as entertaining
the girls by escorting them about the cantonment.

Meanwhile, Professor Snodgrass received permission to loose his pet
snake, Ticula, in certain restricted areas, so that he might observe
her feeding habits in the open.

"But I cannot stay here very long," he told the boys. "I must soon
begin to prepare for my trip to Europe. I simply must make an attempt
to find those two girls."

"And we'll help you!" declared Jerry. "Just wait a few days more. I
think our orders to go across are coming."

And come the orders did. The day before the three home-town girls were
to return to Cresville orders came for the larger part of the soldiers
at Camp Dixton to leave for France.

"Hurray!" cried Ned, Bob and Jerry, as they saw the orders posted.
"Now we'll get a whack at the Germans!"

"And I'm going, too!" declared Andy Rush. "I'll go if I have to leave
as a stowaway! I've simply got to fight--get me a gun--let me go in an
aeroplane--I want action--got to do something--can't keep
still--Hurray for Uncle Sam!"

"Say, you'll burst a blood vessel if you aren't careful!" cautioned
Ned. "Better go slow, Andy."

But Andy Rush was not the lad for that, and he hurried about the camp,
more excited than ever, seeking for a chance to go abroad.

Ned, Bob and Jerry, with thousands of their chums, were to go to
Hoboken, New Jersey, there to go aboard a transport and be escorted
to France. By a stroke of good luck, and by pulling some official, or
scientific wires, Professor Snodgrass received permission to go on the
same vessel. He hurriedly sent his pet snake to a museum to be cared
for until his return, mailed his specimens of _ameba_ to a scientific
friend to be made into microscopical slides, and then, having fitted
himself out with as many specimen boxes and other paraphernalia as he
was permitted to take, announced that he was ready for his dual
mission--the seeking out of the two girls that he might apprise them
of their good fortune and to undertake the study of the effect of war
noises on crickets and katydids.

The final drills, bayonet practices, hikes and other camp activities
were held, and then the order came to break camp. Profess