“Don’t,” said Stubbs.  “Take my advice and do anything else.  Look at me now, I’m a fair example.  Here I’ve been in this business for fifteen years, and what has it got me, eh?  I’ll tell you.  It’s got me a chance to get out and get shot so that people over in the good old U.S.A. can read, with their morning cup of coffee, what is going on in this benighted land.  And what do I get for it?  Nothing.”

“And still, the excitement,” said Chester.

“Excitement?” echoed Stubbs.  “Now I ask you, what do I want with excitement?  I can get all the excitement I want right back in New York.  This is a long way to come looking for excitement.”

“Well, perhaps so,” Chester admitted, “but when you get back home you will be able to tell people who want to know, more about this war than they could read in the Gazette.”

“So I can,” Stubbs agreed, “but I wouldn’t if these two by four censors didn’t stick to their jobs so closely.”

The little man slapped on his hat and stalked from the tent, calling over his shoulder: 

“Come on.”

Chester followed him.

Outside, Stubbs made a straight line for the first line troops.

“If you want to find out anything, you have got to get right where it is,” he declared.  “I could stay back here and ask questions, but I want to see things for myself.”

Chester offered no objections.

Suddenly the camp seemed to spring to life.  Bugles blew shrilly, men came pouring out of the tents to form into ranks.  Officers darted hither and thither, shouting hoarse commands.  For a moment all seemed to be confusion, but a moment later, in response to sharp commands, all became quiet and orderly.

“Something up,” said Chester.

Stubbs nodded.

“An advance, I imagine,” he said.  “We’ll see.”

He approached a gruff-looking officer of forbidding aspect and addressed him in French.

“Where to?” he asked.

“To the attack,” was the reply.

At the same moment a bugle rang out.  Others took it up.  It was the command to advance.

CHAPTER XVI.

An engagement.

Right, left, front and rear of where Stubbs and Chester stood the troops began to move.  In front they could make out the heavy guns being dragged forward, officers dashing about and gesticulating excitedly, but order reigning in the midst of apparent confusion.

From the rear now dashed a squadron of cavalry, a handsome appearing body of men.  A second squadron came into sight and disappeared ahead, to be followed a moment later by a third.  Other squadrons passed in rapid succession.

Chester and Stubbs kept their positions.

Half an hour passed and still the mounted horsemen swept by.  Then came the infantry.  Column upon column came swinging along at a dog trot, their officers urging them on.  They moved silently and swiftly, apparently all ready for the terrible business in hand.