Army Boys on German Soil: Our Doughboys Quelling the MobsRandall, Homer
General
Army Boys on German Soil: Our Doughboys Quelling the Mobs
Randall, Homer
World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile fiction
"He was with us when we attacked this house," said Billy. "I
remember he was right alongside of me when we bumped that door,
and we landed on the floor together when it gave way. But that's
the last I remember of seeing him."
Neither of the others had any later recollection of their friend's
presence.
"He may be downstairs wounded," said Frank. "Come on, fellows,
we've got to find him," and forgetful of military discipline in
their anxiety over their friend, the three comrades dashed through
the door leading into the building.
"We'll all go down," said the sergeant. "Some of our fellows have
taken the last count, but others are only wounded, and we want to
get them to a hospital just as soon as we can."
Frank, Bart, and Billy made a frantic search of the building, but
found no trace of their missing friend.
"He may have been badly wounded but have been able to make his way
to the street where he would be picked up and taken to a
hospital," speculated Frank. "Or it's possible that he has been
captured," he added. "As soon as we have reported back to
headquarters with our detachment, we'll try to get permission to
make a search of the hospitals and see if we can't find him
there."
There was little else they could do, so with heavy hearts they
rejoined their companions who had rigged rude stretchers for two
of their wounded comrades and were making ready to march back to
headquarters.
The sergeant knew of the attachment existing between the four
friends, and sympathized with the grief of the three remaining
over the loss of their comrade.
"The chances are," he said, "that Bradford has been captured by
the rioters, and the military police will find out where he is and
get hold of him. Remember that an American soldier takes a lot of
killing before he's actually dead."
But the boys marched in gloomy silence, and their hearts were sad
for their friend.
The rioting had been effectually quelled, and the streets were
once more quiet. The little party soon reached their headquarters,
where the sergeant made his report. The boys could hardly control
their impatience until the time came when they were off duty. They
immediately secured permission to make inquiries at the hospitals
which were taking care of the casualties sustained during the
rioting. There were three of these, and each of the boys went to a
different one, agreeing to meet in a designated place as soon as
they had completed their inquiries. An hour later they assembled
as they had agreed, only to learn that so far their search had
been fruitless.
"The only thing left for us to do," said Frank, "is to go back to
the barracks, where maybe by this time they will have posted a
list of the casualties. If Tom's name is not there well be pretty
sure that he's been captured, and it will be up to us to try to
find him."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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