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152 midnight, when, too tired out to go another step, the battalion was stopped by the commander. The French detachment, consisting of six hundred men, likewise halted. But the Japanese would not stop, and went off with their steady, tripping step, in a manner to astonish everybody.

"By Jove, I believe they could march for a week without stopping," was Captain Banner's comment. "They seem to be all bone and muscle."

"And they live on little but rice, too," added Gilbert. "It certainly is wonderful what they can endure."

The Frenchmen were glad enough to have the Americans at hand, and the two camps were pitched side by side. The foreigners were from the south of France, and were mostly the sons of farmers or grapegrowers.

"We are bound to meet all kinds of people here," said Gilbert. He was much interested in the Frenchmen, and was sorry he could not converse with them. Here and there a conversation was held, but it was soon discovered that the supply of French on one side and of English on the other was decidedly limited.