Part 15 (1/2)

This hat Rod had in ns of a pretty little French village His hopes her because fro Gered to pass around this sood chance they would find a hospitable wo in the field, would be only too proud to cook theht be allow the to occupy a shed, or even a dog-kennel so long as it didn't have a French poodle occupant,” Hanky Panky had solemnly said, when they talked this over at the last crossroads, as they stopped a short ti created quite a little furore in the village, for being off the ood people here had as yet not learned onderful success General Joffre waswith in his attempt to force the stubborn enemy back toward the Rhine country

The boys were soon surrounded by a throng of wo of very old le able-bodied one to join the colors and defend the capital

Rod was kept busy telling sos that had happenedso long, bringing terror to the faithful hearts of the good people How they shouted and even embraced each other as they learned whatto their army One and all they were now positive that their wonderful coive up the pursuit until he actually dictated terms of peace before the walls of Berlin itself

When Rod modestly ry they immediately received a dozen offers of accoed to the they wanted

Rod, however, used a little discretion He did not in the first place want to be separated from his chums, and thisthem all

In the end he selected for their hostess a ed wo to their wants without robbing herself The three motorcycles were stacked in the yard close by, where they continued to attract the attention of every boy, big or se

Rod was not in the least afraid to leave them He knew full well that there was not any chance of thetampered with; for those French boys seemed well behaved He wondered ould happen over at his home town of Garland, where such fellows as Oscar Griffin, Gid Collins and their like loved to play all ardless of other people's feelings

Comfortably seated inside the house Rod and his chu whiffs of the food that was being prepared for their consumption as the odors crept in from the kitchen; and Josh several ti to stand that sort of thinghi on where the three ht, and had already ht into the house; because while the good people of the village lers fro the” when they found it so convenient

It was just at this -room to sit down at the bountiful feast provided, that, without the least warning, a bo the to their feet they looked at each other in sudden anxiety

”What are they yelling about, Rod?” begged Hanky Panky

”They say the Uhlans are co down on us, and are already close to the place!” was the startling declaration of the one who understood French

CHAPTER XVII

BEHIND THE BARRICADE

”Such tough luck, and just when supper was going to be called, too!”

groaned Josh, though possibly he did notthe first natural feeling of bitter disappointment that beset hi, and rapid action as well NoUhlans proved to be only a s terror to the hearts of the French, while theirtoward the Aisne, they would be in nue, where only woed men were to be found

He also knew that the three fine motorcycles owned by himself and chums would be either confiscated or destroyed by the German cavalrymen

Uhlans have always been accredited with bold and reckless deeds whenever engaged in warfare in the ene papers, too, upon the boys, and ht even take it in their hands to treat them as spies

”Get busy, felloe must fetch our machines indoors and close shop to keep the enemy out, if we can!” hat Rod called, as he hastened to run from the room

Just then a bell tinkled somewhere near by, apparently to suret of Josh they were hardly in a condition to respond to the alluring call

Each of the a heavy machine These they stacked in a room, after which the outer door was shut and secured in the best way possible, though not before a number of people had crowded in with thereatest excitement prevailed Children cried, woes hoain, just as they had done when Rod and his friends hit the place with their buzzing motorcycles