CHAPTER VI
TO THE FRONT
There was real news to be gleaned from these unfortunates who came intothe station at Amiens soon after the boys took their places there withsome of the other scouts of the troop. Women, children and old men--nota young man was among them, of course--they poured from the freight carsthat in the main they occupied. And they were willing to talk; more thanwilling, indeed. They told of how the Germans had come. First the Uhlansriding through, stern and silent, willing to leave the inhabitantsalone, as a rule, if they themselves were let alone. Then the infantry,rolling along in great grey masses. And with them came the spoiling ofthe countryside.
"They took everything--food, wine, everything our army had not had,"said one woman to Frank and Henri, as she walked through the streetswith them. Frank was carrying her baby for her. "They left us withnothing! And then they burned all the houses in my street because, theysaid, there must be clear space for their guns to fire!"
It was a simple matter to distribute these poor refugees. The town ofAmiens had troubles of its own but it forgot them now, and set itselfdoggedly to work the relief of the far more acute distress of those fromthe countryside to the north and east. Always the stories of those whohad fled before the German hosts were the same.
"The Germans haven't got an army!" cried Henri, bitterly. "It's a warmachine they send against us! They do not fight like men, but likerailroad trains!"
They were learning more in this task of escorting the refugees than allthe bulletins had been able to tell them. No censors could close themouths of these poor people, and they were not only willing totalk--they craved listeners.
"It makes it easier to bear what we have suffered when we know thatothers know what the Germans have done," said the woman with the baby."We women--we gave our husbands, and those who had sons gave their sons.Now we have given all to France. Let the men win back enough for us tolive--that is all that we ask."
They did not know the meaning of the military movements they had seen.Indeed, they had not seen military movements in the strict sense of theword. All they knew was that soldiers, first in one uniform, then inanother, had passed through their villages, first going north and east,then south and west. They had heard firing, dim and in the distance atfirst, but coming always nearer. Then the tide of battle had rolled by.That was all they knew.
But to boys who from the beginning of the war had followed every move onthe great chessboard of the struggle, these things meant knowledge forwhich the editors of newspapers would have given fortunes. In Paris theyhad had a great map, and every day they had shifted the tiny flags thatshowed where the troops were. They had flags for each of the allies andfor the Austrians and Germans at first. Later they had become moreparticular. They had worked out as well as they could the differentarmies, even to the army corps, and had marked their flags accordingly.And so this exact knowledge of where troops of particular commands hadbeen, made it possible for them, when there was time for them to gohome, to make changes in the positions of the little flags that dottedtheir map.
When they had finished doing that they looked at one another.
"The French and the English are retreating," said Henri, soberly. "Youwere right, Frank. They fought on the line of Mons to Charleroi inBelgium, and then they began running away."
"Not exactly that, either," said Frank. "Look here--look at the map,Henri. There is Paris. There is a great army there under GeneralGallieni. There are enormous fortifications. That is the great base.There is this line with three fortresses--Rheims, La Fere, Laon, withother forts between them. That backed the centre when the French armyretired from the border. But there is another army on the left of thatline--because, if the Germans get around the left, behind that line offortresses, they could be surrounded."
"But they could be defended--"
"Yes, as Bazaine defended Metz--until he was starved out," said Frank.He was beginning to be excited. "I think I see what may happen, Harry.The German right is moving out, always--far out, toward the sea. Itwants to get around our left, and cut it off. If it gets between ourleft and Paris, there will be a disaster--another Sedan, perhaps. Thatis why there is a retreat. It is necessary. We are not ready to fightyet. But wait!"
"Wait! Wait? Is that the thing for French soldiers to do? That is nothow Napoleon won his battles! He struck--and he struck first!"
"Never until he was sure of victory."
"But if they keep on retreating, they will be south of here! The Germanscan take Amiens, if they like!" exclaimed Harry in much alarm.
"What of it? It will be sad for Amiens, but it will do the Germans nogood. Amiens has no strategic value. Less than Rheims or Laon--and weknow now that the Germans have them both, though that has not been inthe bulletins."
"Then why are troops going south? The troops from here?"
"We don't know where they are going, Henri. They start south but perhapsthey turn, and go to re-enforce the centre. Don't you suppose ourgenerals have their plans, too? You spoke of Napoleon. Don't youremember the march to Moscow? How the Russians retreated, always, anddrew him on? And what happened then, when they were ready to fight?"
Frank had awakened a memory terrible for any Frenchman. But there was nomore time for argument. The telephone rang out sharply and Henri went toanswer it. M. Marron was on the wire. When Henri returned his eyes wereshining.
"We are wanted. Perhaps it is for real work," he said, happily. "Hewanted to know if we could both speak English--if I could, that is. Noneof the other scouts can do that, he says, and so we are to report atonce. Oh, I wonder what can be wanted?"
"Well, the best way to find out is to go and see," said Frank,practically.
M. Marron was ready for them when they reached him. He was no longer inhis khaki scoutmaster's garb, but in his uniform of captain of the line.
"You are to report to Colonel Menier," he said, briefly. "I do not knowwhat service is required of you. I can only say to you, do your best. Myorders have come. I join my regiment to-day. From this moment the troopof Boy Scouts of Amiens has no organization, until such time as it canbe restored. Each scout must act for himself, taking his orders wheneverit is possible from officers of the army. When he has no such orders hemust use his own best judgment. Before you report to Colonel Menier youare to wait here--I intend to address all the scouts of the troop."
They had not long to wait before the other scouts arrived. At the sightof the scoutmaster in his uniform they cheered him heartily.
"Scouts!" he said, speaking in French, when all were there. "I leave younow, for the fatherland has called me to its service in ways differentfrom those to which I have been assigned so far. I leave you free toyour own devices. But you are free only in name. You are bound by yourscout oath, by your scout law. You are bound by those principles ofhonor which the scouts teach and enforce. Never forget them!
"While you are still boys, before it is time for France to call you tothe army, the enemy thunders at our gates. In our millions we have risento repel them, to drive the iron heel of the invader from France, Francethe beautiful, the loved of all! It is for you, as for all who areworthy of the name of Frenchmen, to help in that great work, to makesacrifices, to do your part.
"But your part gives you no right to fight. You are to bear no arms.That does not mean you have no service to render to your native land;that France does not ask anything of you. She asks much; she expectsmuch from the Boy Scouts.
"It may be you can do most by quietly filling the place made vacant inyour home--made vacant by father or older brother gone to serve in theranks. It may be your privilege to aid in caring for the wounded as theycome back to their homes from the scene of conflict. It may be you willfind a place to help on the battlefields. But wherever you are, whateveryou do, remember that Scouts are ever faithful, ever loyal, ever true tothe trust reposed in them.
"It is cowardly to shirk a duty. Perform your part in the struggle asbecomes true Scouts--as becomes men who have been born and reared in
ourfair France.
"Mark my word well. So, if I am spared to return to you, after the war,I shall meet all of you again, and I shall be able to grasp the hand ofeach one of you, and say: 'Well done! You have deserved well, you ofFrance and of the Boy Scouts Francais!'"
His sword flashed from his scabbard, and he held it stiffly to thesalute. Then sheathing it, he turned and stamped from the room. He wentwith a high head and a happy heart to the service of the land heloved--as millions of Frenchmen had gone or would go.
There was silence when he had gone. Quietly the scouts melted away tothe tasks they had in hand. The words of their departing leader had madea great impression on them. Nor had his reminder of what they should andshould not do against the Germans been unnecessary.
"I suppose he must be right," said Henri, a little wistfully. "I shallobey. But I had hoped that I might have a shot at a few Germans! Frank,I have practiced so often with my rifle! I have killed hawks andrabbits--"
"Let's find Colonel Menier," said Frank. "We can hurt the Germans farmore, I expect, by obeying orders than by killing a few. It is not thekilling of a few men that will settle this war, Henri! War is bad--waris terrible. Let us not make it worse."
Then they went to the barracks, inquiring, as they had been told to do,for Colonel Menier. Soon they were brought to him, a busy, tired lookingofficer of the staff. He eyed them keenly.
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