"I wonder why they are loading up that truck?" asked Ralph, as they glanced at several power machines close by. "Those boxes are going to the front, I am sure." "Want any help!" asked Alfred. "That's always welcome," said one of the men. "All right, then," said Alfred, "here goes. Which boxes do you want first?" They had already learned that there is nothing so welcome in the busy front as willingness to lend a hand. It is the open sesame to friendship and advancement. "Where are you bound?" asked Ralph, as they marched to and fro. "Right up to the front. These things must reach the 14th battery before night," was the reply. Each of these trucks carried two tons of provisions, loads greatly in excess of the weights for which they were built, but that was of no consequence. The fighters must have something to eat, whatever happened. When the last boxes were piled up the boys remained on the truck, and the driver, nodding at them pleasantly, threw in the clutch and speeded out the road to the east. "How long have you been at this business?" asked Ralph. "Three months," was the reply. "How do you like the job?" asked Alfred. "I like anything that will help the boys at the front," was the reply. "Is this your regular business?" asked Ralph. "Well, no, not exactly," he replied. "I didn't have any regular business before the war, but when it came along I went back into the army, and I would be there now if the Boches hadn't permanently lamed me; you see I can't quite get my right leg to straighten out. But it's all right; we saved France at the Marne, and I'd give the other leg to give them another such a licking as they got there." "Let me relieve you," said Alfred after the second hour. "Why, yes; an offer like that would be acceptable," he replied, as he rose from his seat. In all their conversation the man had the aspect of a true gentleman, and he was certainly out of his element, in that menial position. Later the boys learned from the assistant on the truck that Loree was the son of a nobleman, and after having been invalided he insisted on taking his place in the capacity where he might be most useful. "Why, you would be surprised, just as I am and have been ever since this war began, to find how many of the young men of the noble families of France are doing this kind of work, after they have been rendered unfit for duty in the ranks," said their companion to Ralph, as they were seated on the rear of the van. "How often do you make these trips?" asked Ralph. "Twice a day, if we can get across the Devil's Cut without interruption," was the answer. "What do you mean by the Devil's Cut?" asked Ralph. "Well, we have a stretch of about two kilometers that's like going through hell fire. The Germans have had the range of that road for a month. When we get through that we are all right, and sometimes they let us pass without shelling; but not often," was the answer.