"Then we fellows will find work to do，"he replied."But it is better to fight than to eat our hearts out by watching and waiting.We're the reserves，you know，and we've hardly smelled powder yet."After conversing with several of the soldiers and civilians—the latter being mostly too unnerved to talk coherently—the Americans made their way back to the quay with heavy hearts.They threaded lanes filled with sobbing women，many of whom had frightened children clinging to their skirts，passed groups of old men and boys who were visibly trembling with trepidation and stood aside for ranks of brisk soldiery who marched with an alertness that was in strong contrast with the terrified attitude of the citizens.There was war in the air—fierce，relentless war in every word and action they encountered—and it had the effect of depressing the newcomers.
That night an earnest conference was held aboard the Arabella.
"As I understand it，here is the gist of the situation，"began Ajo."The line of battle along the Aisne is stationary—for the present，at least.Both sides are firmly entrenched and it's going to be a long，hard fight.Antwerp is being bombarded，and although it's a powerful fortress，the general opinion is that it can't hold out for long.If it falls，there will be a rush of Germans down this coast，first to capture Dunkirk，a few miles above here，and then Calais itself.""In other words，"continued Uncle John，"this is likely to be the most important battleground for the next few weeks.Now，the question to decide is this：Shall we disembark our ambulances and run them across to Arras，beginning our work behind the French trenchesa，or go on to Dunkirk，where we are likely to plunge into the thickest of the war？We're not fighters，you know，but noncombatantsb，bent on an errand of mercy.There are wounded everywhere."They considered this for a long time without reaching a decision，for there were some in the party to argue on either side of the question.Uncle John continued to favor the trenches，as the safest position for his girls to work；but the girls themselves，realizing little of the dangers to be encountered，preferred to follow the fortunes of the Belgians.
"They've been so brave and noble，these people of Belgium，"said Beth，"that I would take more pleasure in helping them than any other branch of the allied armies.""But，my dear，there's a mere handful of them left，"protested her uncle."I'm told that at Dunkirk there is still a remnant of the Belgian army—very badly equipped—but most of the remaining force is with King Albert in Antwerp.If the place falls they will either be made prisoners by the Germans or they may escape into Holland，where their fighting days will be ended for the rest of the war.However，there is no need to decide this important question to—night.To—morrow I am to seethe French commandant and I will get his advice."The interview with the French commandant of Calais，which was readily accorded the Americans，proved very unsatisfactory.The general had just received reports that Antwerp was in flames and the greater part of the city already demolished by the huge forty—two—centimetre guns of the Germans.The fate of King Albert's army was worrying him exceedingly and he was therefore in little mood for conversation.
The American consul could do little to assist them.After the matter was explained to him，he said：
"I advise you to wait a few days for your decision.Perhaps a day—an hour—will change the whole angle of the war.Strange portentsa are in the air；no one knows what will happen next.Come to me，from time to time，and I will give you all the information I secure."Dr.Gys had accompanied Jones and Mr.Merrick into Calais to—day，and while he had little to say during the various interviews his observations were shrewd and comprehensive.When they returned to the deck of the Arabella，Gys said to the girls：
"There is nothing worth while for us to do here.The only wounded I saw were a few Frenchmen parading their bandaged heads and hands for the admiration of the women.The hospitals are well organized and quite full，it is true，but I'm told thatno more wounded are being sent here.The Sisters of Mercy and the regular French Red Cross force seem very competent to handle the situation，and there are two government hospital ships already anchored in this port.We would only be butting ina to offer our services.But down the line，from Arras south，there is real war in the trenches and many are fallingevery day.Arras is less than fifty miles from here—a two orthree hours'run for our ambulances—and we could bring the wounded here and care for them as we originally intended.""Fifty miles is a long distance for a wounded man to travel，"objected Maud.
"True，"said the doctor，"but the roads are excellent.""Remember those swinging cots，"said Ajo.
"We might try it，"said Patsy，anxious to be doing something."Couldn't we start to—morrow for Arras，Uncle？""It occurs to me that we must first find a chauffeur，"answered Mr.Merrick，"and from my impressions of the inhabitants of Calais，that will prove a difficult task.""Why？""Every man jack of 'em is scared stiff，"said Ajo，with a laugh."But we might ask the commandant to recommend someone.The old boy seems friendly enough."The next day，however，brought important news fromAntwerp.The city had surrendered，the Belgian army had made good its escape and was now retreating toward Ostend，aclosely followed by the enemy.
