"Yes, indeed; we need you and many more willing ones like you." "What shall we do?" asked Alfred. The surgeon drew a pad from his pocket, wrote a few words on it, handed it to the boys, and said: "Present this to the officer yonder." The officer indicated received the slip, while directing the disposition of a wounded soldier, glanced at it hurriedly, then looked at the boys. "Ah, want to get on duty? We can accommodate you; there, put those stretchers in the van. One of you can take this to the supply van," he said. Ralph seized the paper, and looked about. "The van with the flag on it," explained the officer. Ralph rushed across the intervening space, and presented the paper to a Red Cross nurse, who smiled sweetly as she glanced at the paper, and looked inquiringly at Ralph. She then turned, seized three packages, and handed them to Ralph, while he thanked her and quickly rushed away. The packages were stored in the van, water was supplied to the containers in the vehicle, and the moment the last article was on board, the van started. The boys were both within, as well as three men and a surgeon. They had heard no orders, but knew they were bound for the battlefield. There was no talking indulged in. The men were too intently engaged in listening to the din of the conflict, and watching the soldiers moving to and fro. "Has there been much of a fight?" asked Ralph. "They have been at it all morning," said one of the men. Then, glancing at the boys, he continued: "But this is a bad place for you youngsters." "I am afraid you will regret it before you return. The scenes are awful," continued the man. "We know what it is," said Alfred. "We saw the worst kind of fighting in Belgium." [Illustration: _French and German Flags_] "We were with the English in the battle east of Soissons, and had some experience there," said Ralph. "Aren't you English?" asked the surgeon. "Oh, no; we're Americans," replied Alfred. At this point a lieutenant rode up alongside, and shouted: "There has been a tough scrap at the mill; we have driven the Germans back; take this road down to the river; you will find plenty of poor fellows there who will need you." The French had made a terrific charge at this point, and many were lying dead, where the van slowed down, so as to give the surgeon and helpers an opportunity to pick out the wounded cases. Wherever there was a movement in a prone figure the men stopped and made an examination. In some cases the wounds were hurriedly dressed, and the victim's position rendered comfortable. In other cases the surgeon motioned to the helpers, who quickly brought the stretchers, and carried the wounded into the van.