"Beth must be in the next hollow，"said Uncle John as sheovertook him，and his voice betrayed his nervous tension."I do wish you girls would not be so reckless."Yes；they found her in the next hollow，where several men were grouped about her.She was dressing the shattereda hand of a soldier，while two or three others were patiently awaiting her services.Just beside her a sweet—faced Sister of Mercy was bending over a dying man，comforting him with her prayers.Over the ridge of sand could be heard the "ping"of small arms mingled with the hoarse roar of machine guns.Another great shout—long and enthusiastic—was borne to their ears.
"That is good，"said a tall man standing in the group aboutBeth；"I think，from the sound，we have captured their guns.""I'm sure of it，your Majesty，"replied the one whomBeth was attending."There；that will do for the present.I thank you.And now，let us get forward."As they ran toward the firing Uncle John exclaimed："His Majesty！I wonder who they are？""That，"said a private soldier，an accent of pride in his voice，"is our Albert.""The king？""Yes，monsieur；he is the tall one.The other is General Mays.I'm sure we have driven the Germans back，and that is lucky，for before our charge they had come too close for comfort.""The king gave me a ring，"said Beth，displaying it."Heseemed glad I was here to help his soldiers，but warned me to keep further away from the line.King Albert speaks English perfectly and told me he loves America better than any other country except his own.""He has traveled in your country，"explained the soldier.
"But then，our Albert has traveled everywhere—before he was king."Betwixta them Maud and Beth quickly applied first aid to the others in the group and then Uncle John said：
"Let us take the king's advice and get back to the ambulance.We left only Patsy and Dr.Gys there and I'm sure you girls will be needed."On their return they came upon a man sitting in a hollow and calmly leaning against a bank of sand，smoking a cigarette.He wore a gray uniform.
"Ah，a German！"exclaimed Maud.She ran up to himand asked："Are you hurt？"He glanced at her uniform，nodded，and pointed to his left foot.It had nearly all been torn away below the ankle.A handkerchief was twisted about the leg，forming a rude tourniquet just above the wound，and this had served to stay the flow of blood.
"Run quickly for the stretcher，"said Maud to Uncle John.
"I will stay with him until your return."
Without a word he hurried away，Beth following.Theyfound，on reaching the ambulance，that Maurie and Jones had been busy.Five of the swinging beds were already occupied.
"Save the other one，"said Beth."Maud has found aGerman."Then she hurried to assist Patsy，as the two doctors had their hands full.
Jones and Maurie started away with the stretcher，UncleJohn guiding them to the dunes where Maud was waiting，and presently they had the wounded German comfortably laid in the last bed.
"Now，then，back to the ship，"said Gys."We have inour care two lives，at least，that can only be saved by prompt operations."Maurie got into the driver's seat."Careful，now！"cautioned Jones，beside him.
"Of course，"replied the Belgian，starting the motor；"there are many sores inside.But if they get a jolt，now and then，it will serve to remind them that they are suffering for their country."He began to back up，for the sand ahead was too deep for a turn，and the way he managed the huge car along that narrow ridge aroused the admiration of Ajo，who alone was able to witness the marvelous performance.Slowly，with many turns，they backed to the road，where Maurie swung the ambulance around and then stopped with a jerk that drewseveral groansa from the interior of the car.
"What's wrong？"asked Mr.Merrick，sticking his head from a window.
"We nearly ran over a man，"answered Jones，climbingdown from his seat."Our front wheels are right against him，but Maurie stopped in time."Lying flat upon his face，diagonallya across the roadway，was the form of a man in the blue—and—red uniform of the Belgian army.Maurie backed the ambulance a yard or so as Maud sprang out and knelt beside the prostrateb form.
The firing，which had lulled for a few minutes，suddenlyredoubled in fury.There rose a wild，exultant shout，gradually drawing nearer.
"Quick！"shouted Gys，trembling and wringing his hands.
"The Germans are charging.Drive on，man—drive on！"But Maurie never moved.
"The Germans are charging，sure enough，"he answered，as the line of retreating Belgians became visible."But they must stop here，for we've blocked the road."All eyes but those of Maud were now turned upon the fray，which was practically a hand to hand conflict.Nearer and nearer came the confused mass of warriors and then，scarce a hundred yards away，it halted and the Belgians stood firm.
"He isn't dead，"said Maud，coming to the car."Help me to put him inside.""There is no room，"protested Gys.
The girl looked at him scornfully."We will make room，"she replied.
A bullet shattered a pane of glass just beside the crouching doctor，but passed on through an open window without injuring anyone.In fact，bullets were singing around them with a freedom that made others than Dr.Gys nervous.It was chubby little Uncle John who helped Jones carry the wounded man to the ambulance，where they managed to stretch him upon the floor.This arrangement sent Patsy to the front seat outside，with Maurie and Ajo，although her uncle strongly protested that she had no right to expose her precious life so wantonlya.
There was little time for argument，however.Even as thegirl was climbing to her seat the line of Belgians broke and came pouring toward them.Maurie was prompt in starting the car and the next moment the ambulance was rolling swiftly along the smooth highway in the direction of Dunkirk and the sounds of fray grew faint behind them.
