Oh, we'll help
him all right!"

[Illustration: THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS WERE CROWDING ON BOARD.
_Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line._ _Page 57_]

The journey of the boys to the "Atlantic Seaport," as Hoboken and New
York, as well as other well-known cities, were called in the
newspapers during the war, was not eventful. Their train was one of
many hundreds rushing troops to the transports, and in due time Ned,
Bob and Jerry found themselves getting off at a big dock in Hoboken
and going aboard a transport--a former German liner, her machinery
rebuilt after the ship's German crew had done their best to disable
it.

"Well, we're here!" announced Jerry, as he eased his pack from his
shoulders to the deck, an example followed by Ned and Bob.

"Yes, we're here, and we'll soon be--there!" and Ned nodded in the
direction of France--or where he thought it was.

Somewhere a band was playing. Thousands of soldiers were crowding on
board, and there would be more thousands after them--a stream that
would not end until Prussianism had been dealt its death-blow.

There was a period of seeming chaos while the troops were getting
settled and disposing of their baggage. Then the three chums had a
chance to look about them, and proceeding to the stern of the vessel
they glanced across the Hudson to New York, where the towering
buildings showed dimly through a harbor haze.

"Wonder when we'll see them again," remarked Jerry, in a low voice.

Neither of his chums answered. They were thinking, though.

Late that afternoon the preparation and bustle seemed redoubled. More
soldiers and a number of officers came aboard, and then, suddenly,
after bugles had blared and bells had clanged, there was a tremor
through the big transport.

"We're off!" cried Bob.

"For France!" added Ned.

"And I'm glad to be with you!" said a voice behind Jerry, who,
turning, beheld Professor Snodgrass.

CHAPTER VIII

THE TRAINING CAMP

My readers may well guess that Ned, Bob and Jerry were glad to see the
scientist. He was like part of their "own folks," and though they had
many friends among their army chums, and though they liked, and were
liked, by their officers, our three heroes felt that with Professor
Snodgrass along it was like taking part of Cresville aboard with
them.

"So you got here all right, did you?" asked Ned with a smile, as he
and the others shook hands with the scientist.

"Yes, I'm here; and I wish we were acro