Army Boys in the French Trenches | Page 5

pleasant, though somewhat amusing, was the fact that Nick Rabig also
had been drafted and had to go to Camp Boone, though most
unwillingly.
How the regiment sailed to France for intensive training behind the
firing lines; how their transport narrowly escaped being sunk by a
submarine and how the tables were turned; the singular chance by
which Frank met a French colonel and heard encouraging news about
his mother's property; how he thoroughly "trimmed" Rabig in a boxing
bout; how the Camport boys took part in the capture of a Zeppelin; how
the old Thirty-seventh finally reached the trenches; Frank's daring
exploit when caught in the swirl of a German charge; these and other
exciting adventures are told in the first book of this Series, entitled:
"Army Boys in France; Or, From Training Camp to the Trenches."

"Do you remember what that airship captain said the day we bagged
him?" chuckled Billy.
"About it being impossible for Americans to get to France?" asked Bart.
"You bet I do. I'll never forget that boob. I wonder if he still believes
it."
"He'd sing a different tune if he were here to-day," observed Tom.
"I don't know," laughed Frank. "The German skull is pretty thick. Still
you can get something through it once in a while if you keep on
hammering."
"I guess these fellows haven't any doubts about our being here,"
observed Billy.
"They've had pretty good evidence of it," confirmed Tom, as he
watched the enemy captives standing about in dejected groups, waiting
to be sent to the rear.
One thing that struck the boys forcibly was the disparity of age between
the prisoners. There was an unusual proportion of men beyond middle
life and of youngsters still in their teens.

"Grandpas and kids," blurted out Tom.
"The Kaiser's robbing the cradle and the grave," commented Billy.
"Germany's getting pretty near to the limit of her man power, I guess."
"That's true of France and England, too," observed Frank thoughtfully.
"They lost the flower of their troops in the early fighting and they all
have to do a great deal of combing to keep their ranks full."
"And that's where America has the Indian sign on the Huns," jubilated
Bart "We'll have our best against her second best."
"We'll trim her good and proper," predicted Frank. "Even at her best,
we'd down her in the end. But don't let's kid ourselves. She's full of
fight yet, and will take a lot of beating. And there are plenty of huskies
in her ranks yet. Look at that big brute over there. He looks as though
he could lift an ox."
He pointed to a massively built German corporal, who was evidently
mad with rage at his capture. He was gesticulating wildly to his fellow
prisoners and fairly sputtering in the attempt to relieve his feelings.
"Seems to be rather peeved," grinned Tom.
"I can't catch on to what he's saying," laughed Bart. "But I'll bet he
could give points to a New York truckman or the mate of a Mississippi
steamboat. They'd turn green with envy if they could understand him."
"He's frothing at the mouth," chuckled Billy. "I'd hate to have him bite
me just now. I'd get hydrophobia sure."
There was no time for further comment. The officers had had to give
the men a short breathing spell, for all were spent with their
tremendous exertions. But now after the brief rest, all was bustle and
hurry.
"The Huns will be back for more," predicted Frank, as he and his
friends were set to work changing the sandbags from the side of the
trench that had faced the Americans to the other side that looked
toward the German third line.
"They must be hard to please if they haven't had enough for one
morning," growled Tom.
"They're gluttons for punishment," remarked Bart. "The first-line trench
is junk from the mine explosion, but they won't give this second one up
without making one mighty effort to get it back."
The young soldiers were working feverishly to organize the captured
position, when their corporal, Wilson, summoned them out and they

scrambled forth promptly and stood at attention.
"Fall in to take back the prisoners," he ordered.
A look of disappointment came over their faces and Wilson's eyes
twinkled when he saw it.
"Haven't you had enough fighting yet?" he demanded. "Well, I feel that
way myself, but orders are orders. Come along."
"Hard luck," muttered Frank in a low tone to Bart, as they obeyed the
command.
"We'll miss some lovely fighting," agreed Bart.
"I was just getting warmed up," mourned Billy.
"Don't worry," advised Tom. "We'll be sent back after we get these
fellows to headquarters, and we'll have a chance to get another crack at
them."
The prisoners, having