Army Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German DriveRandall, Homer
History
Army Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German Drive
Randall, Homer
United States. Army -- Juvenile fiction; World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile fiction
"Just the man," commented the general. "I want you," he continued,
addressing Frank, "to carry a message for me to the British commander
on our right. Our division has lost touch with him and the field
telephone is not working. Probably it has been cut by the enemy. The
message is most important and I want you to make all the speed you can.
Go and get ready now and report to your captain, who will hand you the
papers. He will have a machine ready for you. That is all."
Frank hurried back and made his preparations, which were brief. While
he worked he told his eager companions of the errand with which he had
been entrusted.
"Wish I were going with you," remarked Bart.
"Same here," said Billy.
"That would be dandy," agreed Frank.
He shook hands with them and hurried away to the captain's quarters,
where he found that officer waiting for him with the papers.
"There's no answer," he said, as he handed them over. "When you've
delivered the papers your work is done. Good luck."
Frank thrust the papers in his pocket after receiving full directions
as to his route. The motorcycle was standing at the door. It was a
powerful machine of the latest make and everything about it suggested
strength and speed. He noticed that there was a saddle in the rear and
a thought came to him.
"I see that this machine will carry double," he said. "Would you mind
if I took a companion with me? The machine will carry two as swiftly
as it will one. Then, too, if one of us were hurt or shot the other
one could still go on with the message."
"An excellent idea," said the captain after pondering a moment. "Get
him, but make haste."
Frank rushed back to his chums.
"Which one of you wants to go with me?" he asked breathlessly.
"I do," they yelled in chorus.
"Sorry," laughed Frank, "but there's only room for one. Toss a coin."
The luck favored Bart, much to Billy's disappointment. In a jiffy
Frank and Bart had bidden Billy good-by, jumped to their places, and
with a leap the powerful machine darted off.
The night was clear, and as soon as they were away from the camp Frank
had no trouble in finding the road that he had been ordered to take.
It was a good one in ordinary times, but now it had been torn by shells
from the German guns in many places and care had to be taken to avoid a
spill. The shaded light threw its rays a considerable distance ahead,
but they were going at a speed that did not leave them much time to
avoid obstacles even after they were detected.
The road swung around in a wide semi-circle and led through a number of
French villages. These the Army Boys found in great confusion. The
approach of the Huns was a terrible threat to the towns that might fall
into German hands. What the enemy had done in the occupied parts of
France and Belgium had given warning of what any other places they
might capture would have to expect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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