"I fancy not," said Jimmy. "I believe they think they have cleaned out this place. It's the safest spot for us with the old man as a silent sentry. Come, fellows, well spend the night here with the dead to guard us." It was said reverently--piously--and there was a strange feeling in the hearts of all the boys as they closed the door on the silent, pathetic figure and stood together in the other room, while the rain beat down on the roof, and dashed against the windows. And so they began their bivouac of the with death as a sentry on guard. CHAPTER XV IN THE BATTLE AGAIN "Well, we've got to be thankful that we had a place to stay all night where we were out of the wet," remarked Jimmy, as he and his chums awoke the next morning in the lonely cottage of the dead Frenchman. "Yes, and we're going to have a good day to travel, too," said Bob. "There's the sun up good and proper, as Tommy Atkins would say." "No telling how long it'll stay up," came from Roger. "Yesterday started in fine, but look what happened before night." "Look what happened!" echoed Jimmy. "I don't believe since we joined the service any more things have happened in any one day. We ought to be thankful we're alive." "Sure we are," said Iggy. "But I thinks me dat he is going to rain!" "Who's he?" asked Franz. "Him!" and Iggy pointed to the sun. "Der wedder I mean. Him will rain before night I feel, for of my foot there is such a pains. Always when it rain going to be is, of my foots there is a pain." "You mean your corn hurts!" asked Bob, with a laugh. He had been rather gloomy the day before, but now he seemed to have recovered his usual good spirits. "Imagine having a corn in these days of battle!" he went on. "He is not what you say--imagitive!" declared the Polish lad earnestly. "He is real, dat pain in mine foots! But I can away from here march quick. It gives me bad dreams," and he looked toward the kitchen where the silent occupant had acted as sentry for them. There had been no disturbance during the night, and if any parties of Germans had passed the lonely farmhouse this was unknown to the boys. Occasionally they heard the sound of distant firing, but now, as the sun rose higher in the heavens, the noises became louder, and, seemingly, nearer. "Must be a big battle going on not far from here," remarked Bob. "I don't believe there's been any let-up in the big battle," came from Jimmy. "The only trouble is that we're being left out!" exclaimed Franz. "I want to get back in the fighting again." "Same here!" murmured Roger. "Let's eat and then well hike. We ought to get back to our lines to-day, sure." "If we have luck," remarked Jimmy. "Well, let's go!" It was not much of a breakfast that the Khaki Boys had, but it was better than nothing. They managed to make a fire in the stove and boiled some coffee they found in a cupboard.