“Well,” continued the would-be comforter, “vessels have started out before this and never arrived at their destination.  Take the Lusitania for instance.  More than ever are the Hun submersibles on the job these critical days, for their commanders know they’ve almost got to their last gasp.”

“No such luck for me, I’m afraid, Tom,” sighed the other, quickly adding:  “And for that matter I wouldn’t want to profit at the expense of the lives of others.  So I hope the French boat gets safely past the closed zone, no matter what it costs me personally.  But it galls me to feel how helpless I am.  If my hands were tied this minute I couldn’t be worse off.”

“Are you sure cabling would do no good, if we could manage to send an urgent message?”

“Nothing will do except my presence there in person before Randolph can present himself, thanks to our uncle’s foolish will that puts a premium on rascality.  Yes, it’s a bitter pill I have to swallow.  I’d do anything under the sun if only I could hope to beat that scheming cousin out!  But it’s useless; so I’ll just have to grin and bear it.”

“I wish I had any suggestion to offer,” remarked Tom; “but to tell the truth I don’t see what you can do but wait and see what happens.  We’ve got our applications for leave in, and some influential friends pulling wires to help us through.  Something may turn up at the last minute.”

“It’s mighty fine of you to say that, though I know you’re only trying to keep me from discouragement.”

“See who’s coming, will you?” suddenly ejaculated Tom.

Even before he looked the other could give a shrewd guess as to the identity of the person approaching, for Tom seemed unduly pleased.

“It’s Nellie, as sure as anything,” muttered Jack.  “I wonder what’s brought her over here.  You don’t imagine anything could have happened to Bessie or Mrs. Gleason—­the Huns haven’t been trying to bomb any ‘Y’ huts or hospitals lately, have they, Tom?”

“Not that I’ve heard,” came the ready answer.  “And besides, I had the pleasure of chatting with Nellie for a whole hour this morning.  You see I got a bit anxious about you; was afraid you’d neglected to step over and get those cuts attended to as you’d promised; so to make sure I wandered across.”

“Of course you did!” jeered Jack.  “And if that excuse hadn’t held water there were plenty more shots in the locker!  But never mind; here’s Nellie hurrying toward us.  Doesn’t she look rather serious, Tom?”

“We’ll soon know what’s in the wind,” was the answer, as the pretty Red Cross nurse hastened to join the two boys.

“You didn’t expect to see me again so soon, I imagine, Tom,” she said as she came up, trying to catch her breath at the same time, for she had evidently hurried.

“No, I must say I didn’t dream I’d have that pleasure, Nellie,” replied the air pilot, as he took her hand in his and squeezed it.  “But something unusual must have brought you all the way over here, I imagine.”