noon
The day had worn on while they were in the field hospital so that it was now getting well along in the afternoon . Rod knew they would soon have to be thinking of seeking some sort of shelter for the night . He was more particular about this because clouds had come up , and there seemed a chance that rain would follow , as often happens immediately after a great battle has been fought in which there is much cannon firing and consequent concussion of the atmosphere . At noon they had shared the meagre lunch of the noble French army surgeon , who had conceived such an ardent admiration for the trio of young Americans . Josh was already heard saying that he felt as hungry as a tramp who had been walking the railroad ties from early morning ; and hoping that they would be lucky enough to soon strike a house where a meal might be secured . This was what Rod had in mind when ahead of him he discovered signs of a pretty little French village . His hopes mounted higher because from the evidence before them it seemed plain that the retreating Germans had somehow managed to pass around this small place , so that there was a pretty good chance they would find a hospitable woman there , who , after learning that they had been assisting in the field , would be only too proud to cook them a meal , and it might be allow them to sleep in her house .