It had been arranged that the Germans should withdraw keeping a certain number of miles ahead of the advancing American troops. For the sake of avoiding any unfortunate clashes, this distance was enough as a rule to keep the opposing forces out of sight of each other, but at times, when the American forces mounted a hill, they could see in the distance a long line of German soldiers wending their way in the direction of the Rhine. “Not the kind of home trip that they expected to make,” grinned Tom. “They thought that they’d strut into Germany with our scalps hanging to their belts.” “Don’t worry,” laughed Frank. “I’ll bet right now they’re telling each other that they really licked us. They’re the greatest self-kidders in existence. Their minds are cross-eyed. They never see anything straight. You see if when those fellows reach Germany the people don’t come out to meet them as conquering heroes. It’s a great system. You win when you lose.” “They remind me of the story of the fellow who boasted that he had kept the other fellow down by firmly inserting his nose between his adversary’s teeth,” chuckled Billy. “But look at these fellows coming along the road in rags. By Jove, they’re Americans too!” “They’re prisoners, let loose by the Germans!” exclaimed Frank. “And look at their faces! They’re nothing but skin and bones! That’s what the Germans have done to them.” The poor fellows in question were gathered in at once and given food and medical attention. They had harrowing tales to tell of their experiences in German prison pens, of hunger and brutality and abuse that made the blood of their hearers boil. “And to think of the way we fattened up the prisoners that were in our hands!” exclaimed Tom bitterly. “When I look at these poor fellows it makes me sorry the war is over. I’d like to get just one more crack at the Huns.” The men had been turned out without food or sufficient clothing that morning or the day before to find their way back to their lines as best they might. They were met in increasing numbers as the lines advanced and it was lucky for the Germans that the army that looked on these sights did not have the fixing of the terms of the peace treaty in their hands. They camped that night in a little village from which the Germans had withdrawn only a little while before. The inhabitants were all out in the streets to meet them with tears of joy running down their faces as they welcomed their deliverers. For four years they had been under the harsh and pitiless rule of the invaders, and their joy now bordered on frenzy. They had drawn out from their hiding places the French flags that they had treasured through all that four years of slavery and now they waved from every window.