roar of guns announcing the arrival of the fragment of the Belgian army
that had escaped from Antwerp.

To-day the girls came ashore with the men of their party, all three
wearing their Red Cross uniforms and caps, and it was almost pathetic to
note the deference with which all those warriors--both bronzed and
fair--removed their caps until the "angels of mercy" had passed them by.

They made the rounds of the hospitals, which were already crowded with
wounded, and Gys stopped at one long enough to assist the French doctor
in a delicate operation. Patsy stood by to watch this surgery, her face
white and drawn, for this was her first experience of the sort; but Maud
and Beth volunteered their services and were so calm and deft that
Doctor Gys was well pleased with them.




CHAPTER VI

LITTLE MAURIE


It was nearly evening when the Americans finally returned to the quay,
close to which the _Arabella_ was moored. As they neared the place a
great military automobile came tearing along, scattering pedestrians
right and left, made a sudden swerve, caught a man who was not agile
enough to escape and sent him spinning along the dock until he fell
headlong, a crumpled heap.