r his intentions, Dave thought best to offer no remonstrance.

With senses keenly alert the two boys watched closely the actions of
the group of officers and soldiers about them.

Their stay in this place would be short, for it would not take long to
change engines and have the troops moving westward again. A second
section of the train was following closely. The boys knew that no time
would be lost by those in charge of the movement of troop trains.

Therefore they were especially anxious to discover some means of
escape, if possible. None, it seemed, presented itself.

Hedged round by a ring of soldiers who were fully armed, the boys could
see others at a short distance patrolling the station grounds. An open
space of some considerable area was occupied just now by small groups
of soldiers who had left the train by permission and were walking about
for exercise. Electric lights were mounted on poles to give
illumination to the grounds.

The Kaiser and his party again resumed their interrupted progress
toward the rear of the train, leaving an officer with the boys.

"What are they waiting for, Jimmie?" asked Dave, peering about.

"Search me," replied the red-headed lad. "They've got the engine
coupled on, I guess, and I'm ready to go."

"Do you mean to go all the way to Verdun?" asked Dave anxiously.

"Not on your photograph done in oils," responded Jimmie with more vigor
than elegance. "We shake this bunch as soon as a chance comes!"

"Right-o!" was Dave's rejoinder. "That's what I say, you know."

"I don't know where the other boys have gone by this time, but it's a
cinch that they won't stray far from the line of railroad if their
gasoline holds out. If we can drop off between stops we can signal
them and maybe they'll find us. It ought to be easy."

"You jolly well keep up your spirit," said Dave admiringly. "I rather
think, don't you know, that I'm fortunate in finding you boys. It'll
be something to remember when I get back home."

"Thanks," returned Jimmie. "It's a good thing we can say the same. It
isn't often we meet up with fellows as full of grit as you."

"I haven't done anything at all yet," replied Dave modestly. "In fact,
I only made a bally mess of what I attempted. But you wait--"

"Listen!" commanded Jimmie, interrupting what Dave was about to say.

"I'm listening, don't you know," replied Dave.

"What do you hear?" asked The Wolf, with his head on one side.

"Why, b