recreation house, in reality a YMCA hut, or le Foyer du Soldat as it
was called. It was where the airmen went when not on duty to read
the papers, write letters and buy chocolate.

"What's up now?" asked Jack, as he and his chum looked toward the
cheering squad of aviators and their assistants.

"Give it up. Let's go over and find out."

They broke into a run as the cheering continued, and then they saw
hats being thrown into the air and men capering about with every
evidence of joy.

"We must have won a big battle!" cried Jack.

"Seems so," agreed Tom. "Hi there! what is it?" he asked in French
of a fellow aviator.

"What is it? You ask me what? Ah, joy of my life! It is you who
ought to know first! It is you who should give thanks! Ah!"

"Yes, that's all right, old man," returned Jack in English. "We'll
give thanks right as soon as we know what it is; but we aren't
mind readers, you know, and there are so many things to guess at
that there's no use in wasting the time. Tell us, like a good
chap!" he begged in French, for he saw the puzzled look on the face
of the aviator Tom had addressed.

"It is the best news ever!" was the answer. "The first of your
brave countrymen have arrived to help us drive the Boche from