The proposition met with instant acclaim, and without further debate the boys streamed off to the canteen where were sold the delicacies that made a special appeal to the soldiers after the regulation “chow.” They found the place crowded, but there was always room for more, and they squeezed their way in and demanded that the man behind the counter “shake a mean foot” and place before them the required “eats.” This was done, and big chunks of pie disappeared in magical fashion. “Wow!” exclaimed Billy, with a deep sigh of satisfaction. “If I ever get back home again, I’m going to enter myself in a pie-eating contest. I’ll probably become champion of the world, but even if I’m not, it will be an awful lot of fun trying.” “The rest of us would run you a pretty good race,” grinned Tom. “You think so, eh?” Billy came back at him. “All right, I’ll challenge you all as soon as we get back to the States and may the best man win.” “The loser of course to pay the bill,” laughed Bart. “Agreed,” replied Billy, “and now just to keep in training I’ll take another piece of that pie. Shoot it over, waiter, and make it snappy.” At last even Billy’s voracious appetite was satisfied. “Come along now, you cormorant,” said Tom. “You know we’ve got that appointment in Coblenz this afternoon and we haven’t got any too much time.” “Are you fellows going across the river this afternoon?” asked Frank in some surprise. “Why, yes,” said Tom, with a slight tinge of embarrassment. “Don’t you want to come along?” Frank looked from Tom to Billy and a light broke in upon him. “Not I,” he laughed. “I’m next to you fellows. Trot along and give my regards to Helen and Alice. I didn’t know the family had reached Coblenz yet. But trust you fellows to find that out.” Billy and Tom smiled a little sheepishly. “They got there yesterday,” Billy explained. “Bless you, my children, bless you,” said Frank mockingly. “Run along now and don’t keep the girls waiting. But all the same, fellows,” he added more seriously, “don’t get in too deep until you know that they’re loyal to the old U. S. A.” “I’d stake my life on it,” replied Billy warmly. “No doubt,” laughed Frank, “but just now, old man, you may not be a very good judge. Only be careful, that’s all.” Two days later there was a grand review of the Army of Occupation. General Pershing himself had come to Coblenz for that purpose and the marching and countermarching of that great array of troops on a plain outside the city was a magnificent spectacle.