"We are from the 14th French Artillery; just came out of the hospital a few weeks ago," said Ralph. "Have you authority to pass the lines?" asked the corporal. "No; we just came over from the field base today; didn't think it was necessary," said Alfred. "I will report," said the orderly, as he turned on his heels and marched alongside the hill to one of the dug-outs. An officer approached; the boys saluted. "From the 14th, I understand," he said. "Any credentials?" he quickly remarked. The boys looked at each other, for they were now conscious of the fact that they did not have the first evidence to sustain the contention that they were members of the 14th. Ralph shook his head. Alfred reached into his pocket and drew out the certificate of the physician, which detailed the wounding, the detention at the hospital, and the discharge. The officer examined the paper with some interest. "We were never regularly enlisted in the artillery, but we helped them out when they had the big drive there a month ago," said Ralph. "It was there we were wounded." "Here is something that may be just as good," said Alfred. "We did belong to the Aviation corps, and got wounded while serving there, too, and here is our discharge, and the other certificate from the hospital." "That looks pretty straight," said the officer. "Come in and you may look around for a half hour. At that time the firing will proceed, and no one is permitted closer than the motor house." "Those guns are the same size as the ones mounted on the dunes at Dunkirk," said Ralph, after a silence, as he glanced under the cover of the first one. "What do you know about the Dunkirk guns?" "We were there nearly a week before we went to Paris," said Alfred. "We had an opportunity to examine them while they were hauling them out of the boats and setting them up," replied Alfred. "Why, that was at the beginning of the war," remarked the officer. "Yes; it was just after they drove us across northern Belgium," said Ralph. "Where were you driven from?" asked the officer, in a surprised voice. "From Antwerp," said Alfred. "So you boys took a hand from the first?" he asked. "Yes, from the very first day, and, I guess, from the first hour," said Ralph, with a smile. "When was that?" asked another officer, who had overheard the remark. "At five o 'clock, on the 3d day of August, 1914," said Alfred in measured tones. "Right you are," responded the officer. As they passed the third giant field piece, the gunners were at setting up exercise,—that is, going through their paces initiating a green squad of recruits in the manoeuvers necessary to load, aim and fire. "That looks natural," said Ralph, "and they do it well, too; but we never had any exercises except with the 75's." "Look at that hill over there; they are pointing straight at it; so it seems to me. Isn't that the hill we saw from the bench marks below?" asked Alfred.