April 7, 2025 • 9 mins
During WWI, three college friends join the military and find themselves in the trenches, battling spies, subs, and sabotage in the Brighton Boys’ thrilling radio service adventures. Discover hundreds of ad-free audiobooks, soothing sounds for sleep and meditation, and more—unwind and learn at www.adfreebooks.com!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Recording by Tom Clifton. The Brighton Boys in the Radio
Service by James R. Driscoll, Chapter nineteen, turning the tables
to Jerry laying their half frozen, stiff in every joint,
and scarcely daring to move for fear of making some
sound that might not only divulge his presence and result
(00:20):
in his own capture, but also prevent the escape of Slim.
It seemed that never did it take men so long
to eat a meal, and as they ate, his own
appetite became ravenous. The cruelest punishment of all was to
lie there, half starved, and hear them vulgarly smacking their
lips over the warmed up remains of a chicken, undoubtedly
(00:41):
filched from a countryside barnyard. But at last, after what
seemed to Jerry to have been hours of feasting, they
did finish with a derisive laugh. The German lieutenant gathered
all the bones from every other tin plate and shoved
them with mock courtesy towards Slim. The latter was biting
his tip, and his courage, increased by knowing that his
(01:02):
friend was close by. Refused to get angry, he merely
waved the plate aside. Their stomachs filled, the Germans almost
immediately begin to think about sleep. In truth, they all
looked as though they had been up most of the
night before, as probably they had. One of them, a
mere youth, certainly not yet out of his teens, and
(01:22):
the youngest in the party, yawned. The lieutenant saw it, and,
in a fit of apparently unreasonable anger, said, in his
own native tongue, so you want to serve, notice that
you desire to sleep very well. You shall do sentinel
duty and all night, and mind that you do not sleep.
A pitiful look came over the boy's face, but without
a word, he saluted and departed to the circle with
(01:43):
outer shadows to take up his long and tedious vigil.
Jerry felt genuinely sorry for him, but he sincerely hoped
that the officer would not change his mind or relent.
He knew that the youth could not possibly stay awake
the whole night through. Half an hour later, the other
four Germans were conducting a spirited rivalry in snoring, and Slim,
(02:05):
also to all appearances, was fast asleep, not daring to move.
Jerry kept his eyes constantly upon the young sentry frequently.
He yawned once or twice. He stopped uncertainly before a
stump and seemed about to sit down, and then started
on again about its mountainous beat. But his step was wavering,
his eyes were heavy, and Jerry knew it was only
(02:27):
a question of time, of comparatively short time, when nature
would conquer and the Sentinel too would sleep. Had he
been able to bring himself to it, he could have
shot the sentry and killed the others as they slept,
before they could even have reached their weapons. But he
could not do that better. The other way, he told himself,
even though it carried a greater risk, And finally his
(02:51):
own vigil was rewarded. The Sentinel placed two or three
more pieces of wood upon the fire, stood for a
few moments within its genial warmth, looked dully at the
other soundly sleeping, and then crossed to the stump and
sat down. His rifle was on the ground beside him.
His elbows rested upon his knees and his chin in
his hands. Presently his eyelids drooped and closed his head,
(03:15):
and then his whole body sagged forward. He awakened with
a start and changed his place to another cream or
within the shadows. There he was able to lean back
in a more comfortable position, and soon his heavy, even
breathing assured Jerry that nature had indeed won softly, without
so much as a sound. He rose to his hands
(03:36):
and knees. He cossed a pebble which hit Slim upon
the hand. The latter turned his head ever so slightly
and gazed fixedly in Jerry's direction. Finally, his decided wing
indicated that he had made out the form of his friend.
Still upon all fours and feeling every inch of the way,
Jerry retraced his steps over the ledge. Quietly, he slid
(03:56):
down to the lower level and took a wide circle
about the little camp, finally closing in nearer to where
the sleeping Sentry sat. Deftly and silently, he pulled the
ladder's gun from where it lay beside him. This he
carried over to near where the horses were corralled. Slim
was watching his every move, but awaited Jerry's signal before
he stirred. Jerry then returned, and, ever so gently that
(04:19):
the Sentry never made a movement, lifted his loaded revolver
from its holster. With this he tiptoed to Slim, placed
the weapon in his hand, and with a gesture, bade
him to rise. They were now masters of the situation,
but Jerry did not want to take any chances. Two
of the Germans lying in such a position that he
could get the revolvers. Also, they did not carry rifles.
(04:42):
This he accomplished after having stationed Slim in the shadows
at such point of vantage that he could cover all
the boshes should they awaken. One of the additional guns
he gave to Slim, the other he kept himself. Thus
doubly armed, they stepped over to the sleeping Sentry, and
while Slim pointed his two guns at the the others
to prevent any hostilities upon their part should they arise.
(05:03):
Jerry shook and awaken the bewildered Sentry as he faced
the two revolvers, and the changed situation suddenly dawned upon them.
The young's Germans expression was pathetic. Apparently he was too
stunned to speak a word. Jerry motioned him to take
position just behind the sleepers, which he did, with Slim
standing behind him, and their four revolvers pointed menacingly at
(05:24):
the Germans. Jerry kicked the lieutenant upon the sole of
the boot. The latter aroused angrily and was about to
give vent to his feelings when he looked into the
barrels of the automatics. His exclamation was one of complete chagrin.
Slim stepped over and extracted his revolver, which he dropped
in his own pocket. By the same process, the other
arm Bosh, was awakened, and in the same way he
(05:47):
was disarmed. Then with his foot, Jerry jet the remaining
two back to consciousness. You are our prisoners, Jerry informed
them in their own language. One hostile move from any
of you and you'll be Shoting them into pairs and
purposely leaving the sentinel as the single one of the
party and in the lead, Jerry ordered them to walk
where the horses were tethered. He made two of the
(06:09):
men put saddles and bridles upon the animals, and then
compelled them to mount. As they were paired, the Lieutenant
and one of his men upon one of the horses,
two others upon another, and the sentry alone upon another,
but carrying a good supply of rations, while Slim and
he each had an animal to carry themselves. The wireless
and other paraphernalia when they should pick that up. Thus,
(06:30):
with hardly a dozen words having been spoken, they came
through the ravine and at forced speed, struck out across
the level ground towards the mountain from which Jerry and
Slim had come that morning. You, the lieutenant, hissed between
his teeth at the sentinel as they came side by side.
What were you doing? When the second American arrived asleep, eh,
I came up behind him. He never had a chance,
(06:51):
for I did not make a sound, Jerry interposed in
German before the young boss could even make an involuntary admission.
As they approached the base of the mountain they had
parted from Lieutenant Mackinson, Joe and Frank early that day,
the moon reached its zenith and its beams reflected upon
the white ground, making the night almost as light as day.
Two hours later they were upon the identical spot from
(07:13):
which they had wireless headquarters in the morning. It was
midnight now, as two of the Germans, working on Jerry's
orders while Slim kept a weather eye on the others,
set up the pack set. Jerry worked the key half
dozen times and then got an almost immediate response The
first query after identified himself was this is Joe, where
are you? I just got back to where he left
(07:34):
you this morning. Jerry ticked off into the air, bringing
in a German lieutenant and four of his men as
prisoners should arrive by daylight as we have horses. Great
was Joe's response, have letter from Brighton and fine news
will make your report, and the pack set was put
back in his compartment case and pared off as before.
The journey was resumed, say said Jerry, as they urged
(07:56):
their horses down the side of the mountain leading to
fatherly level ground all the way. Tom, I'm hungry enough
to eat dog meat, but I guess we can hold
out now and to reach our lines. Yes, I suppose so,
Slim answered, but how'd you like to have some sausages
and plumb pudding? And don't pleaded Jerry that idea is
too much. My stomach is accusing me of gross carelessness. Now,
(08:19):
wonder what's in that letter from Brighton? And who wrote it?
Said some glad to change his subject and forgot his
own hunger. Can't imagine. But my own curiosity has been
to whether the fine news Joe mentioned comes from there
or refers to something at headquarters, and so sore, tired
and hungry, but happy with all they continued on. The
moon waned and set, and tradition proved itself. It became
(08:43):
darkest just before dawn. Wait, said Jerry, just at the
stage of the journey, and he jumped from his horse
to recover something he had seen the German lieutenant drop.
It proved to be a packet of papers bearing the
official German seal. Aha, Jerry cried, riding up the officer
and thrusting the documents for him. So you thought to
get rid of may Well, we'll just take these long
(09:04):
headquarters too, They may contain something of interest to our commanders. Yes,
the lieutenant gave an ugly, menacing grunt, but refused to
say a word. Daylight came and with a clear view
of the American lines. A quarter hour later, they saw
two horsemen coming toward them. Slim examined them carefully with
his glasses. The lieutenant and Frankie announced, guess Joe was
(09:26):
still on duty, And Joe was. He was just relating
to the commander of the American forces in France. Orders
forwarded from London, and they were the greatest importance to
the three boys from Brighton, end of chapter nineteen
Recording by Tom Clifton. The Brighton Boys in the Radio
Service by James R. Driscoll, Chapter nineteen, turning the tables
to Jerry laying their half frozen, stiff in every joint,
and scarcely daring to move for fear of making some
sound that might not only divulge his presence and result
(00:20):
in his own capture, but also prevent the escape of Slim.
It seemed that never did it take men so long
to eat a meal, and as they ate, his own
appetite became ravenous. The cruelest punishment of all was to
lie there, half starved, and hear them vulgarly smacking their
lips over the warmed up remains of a chicken, undoubtedly
(00:41):
filched from a countryside barnyard. But at last, after what
seemed to Jerry to have been hours of feasting, they
did finish with a derisive laugh. The German lieutenant gathered
all the bones from every other tin plate and shoved
them with mock courtesy towards Slim. The latter was biting
his tip, and his courage, increased by knowing that his
(01:02):
friend was close by. Refused to get angry, he merely
waved the plate aside. Their stomachs filled, the Germans almost
immediately begin to think about sleep. In truth, they all
looked as though they had been up most of the
night before, as probably they had. One of them, a
mere youth, certainly not yet out of his teens, and
(01:22):
the youngest in the party, yawned. The lieutenant saw it, and,
in a fit of apparently unreasonable anger, said, in his
own native tongue, so you want to serve, notice that
you desire to sleep very well. You shall do sentinel
duty and all night, and mind that you do not sleep.
A pitiful look came over the boy's face, but without
a word, he saluted and departed to the circle with
(01:43):
outer shadows to take up his long and tedious vigil.
Jerry felt genuinely sorry for him, but he sincerely hoped
that the officer would not change his mind or relent.
He knew that the youth could not possibly stay awake
the whole night through. Half an hour later, the other
four Germans were conducting a spirited rivalry in snoring, and Slim,
(02:05):
also to all appearances, was fast asleep, not daring to move.
Jerry kept his eyes constantly upon the young sentry frequently.
He yawned once or twice. He stopped uncertainly before a
stump and seemed about to sit down, and then started
on again about its mountainous beat. But his step was wavering,
his eyes were heavy, and Jerry knew it was only
(02:27):
a question of time, of comparatively short time, when nature
would conquer and the Sentinel too would sleep. Had he
been able to bring himself to it, he could have
shot the sentry and killed the others as they slept,
before they could even have reached their weapons. But he
could not do that better. The other way, he told himself,
even though it carried a greater risk, And finally his
(02:51):
own vigil was rewarded. The Sentinel placed two or three
more pieces of wood upon the fire, stood for a
few moments within its genial warmth, looked dully at the
other soundly sleeping, and then crossed to the stump and
sat down. His rifle was on the ground beside him.
His elbows rested upon his knees and his chin in
his hands. Presently his eyelids drooped and closed his head,
(03:15):
and then his whole body sagged forward. He awakened with
a start and changed his place to another cream or
within the shadows. There he was able to lean back
in a more comfortable position, and soon his heavy, even
breathing assured Jerry that nature had indeed won softly, without
so much as a sound. He rose to his hands
(03:36):
and knees. He cossed a pebble which hit Slim upon
the hand. The latter turned his head ever so slightly
and gazed fixedly in Jerry's direction. Finally, his decided wing
indicated that he had made out the form of his friend.
Still upon all fours and feeling every inch of the way,
Jerry retraced his steps over the ledge. Quietly, he slid
(03:56):
down to the lower level and took a wide circle
about the little camp, finally closing in nearer to where
the sleeping Sentry sat. Deftly and silently, he pulled the
ladder's gun from where it lay beside him. This he
carried over to near where the horses were corralled. Slim
was watching his every move, but awaited Jerry's signal before
he stirred. Jerry then returned, and, ever so gently that
(04:19):
the Sentry never made a movement, lifted his loaded revolver
from its holster. With this he tiptoed to Slim, placed
the weapon in his hand, and with a gesture, bade
him to rise. They were now masters of the situation,
but Jerry did not want to take any chances. Two
of the Germans lying in such a position that he
could get the revolvers. Also, they did not carry rifles.
(04:42):
This he accomplished after having stationed Slim in the shadows
at such point of vantage that he could cover all
the boshes should they awaken. One of the additional guns
he gave to Slim, the other he kept himself. Thus
doubly armed, they stepped over to the sleeping Sentry, and
while Slim pointed his two guns at the the others
to prevent any hostilities upon their part should they arise.
(05:03):
Jerry shook and awaken the bewildered Sentry as he faced
the two revolvers, and the changed situation suddenly dawned upon them.
The young's Germans expression was pathetic. Apparently he was too
stunned to speak a word. Jerry motioned him to take
position just behind the sleepers, which he did, with Slim
standing behind him, and their four revolvers pointed menacingly at
(05:24):
the Germans. Jerry kicked the lieutenant upon the sole of
the boot. The latter aroused angrily and was about to
give vent to his feelings when he looked into the
barrels of the automatics. His exclamation was one of complete chagrin.
Slim stepped over and extracted his revolver, which he dropped
in his own pocket. By the same process, the other
arm Bosh, was awakened, and in the same way he
(05:47):
was disarmed. Then with his foot, Jerry jet the remaining
two back to consciousness. You are our prisoners, Jerry informed
them in their own language. One hostile move from any
of you and you'll be Shoting them into pairs and
purposely leaving the sentinel as the single one of the
party and in the lead, Jerry ordered them to walk
where the horses were tethered. He made two of the
(06:09):
men put saddles and bridles upon the animals, and then
compelled them to mount. As they were paired, the Lieutenant
and one of his men upon one of the horses,
two others upon another, and the sentry alone upon another,
but carrying a good supply of rations, while Slim and
he each had an animal to carry themselves. The wireless
and other paraphernalia when they should pick that up. Thus,
(06:30):
with hardly a dozen words having been spoken, they came
through the ravine and at forced speed, struck out across
the level ground towards the mountain from which Jerry and
Slim had come that morning. You, the lieutenant, hissed between
his teeth at the sentinel as they came side by side.
What were you doing? When the second American arrived asleep, eh,
I came up behind him. He never had a chance,
(06:51):
for I did not make a sound, Jerry interposed in
German before the young boss could even make an involuntary admission.
As they approached the base of the mountain they had
parted from Lieutenant Mackinson, Joe and Frank early that day,
the moon reached its zenith and its beams reflected upon
the white ground, making the night almost as light as day.
Two hours later they were upon the identical spot from
(07:13):
which they had wireless headquarters in the morning. It was
midnight now, as two of the Germans, working on Jerry's
orders while Slim kept a weather eye on the others,
set up the pack set. Jerry worked the key half
dozen times and then got an almost immediate response The
first query after identified himself was this is Joe, where
are you? I just got back to where he left
(07:34):
you this morning. Jerry ticked off into the air, bringing
in a German lieutenant and four of his men as
prisoners should arrive by daylight as we have horses. Great
was Joe's response, have letter from Brighton and fine news
will make your report, and the pack set was put
back in his compartment case and pared off as before.
The journey was resumed, say said Jerry, as they urged
(07:56):
their horses down the side of the mountain leading to
fatherly level ground all the way. Tom, I'm hungry enough
to eat dog meat, but I guess we can hold
out now and to reach our lines. Yes, I suppose so,
Slim answered, but how'd you like to have some sausages
and plumb pudding? And don't pleaded Jerry that idea is
too much. My stomach is accusing me of gross carelessness. Now,
(08:19):
wonder what's in that letter from Brighton? And who wrote it?
Said some glad to change his subject and forgot his
own hunger. Can't imagine. But my own curiosity has been
to whether the fine news Joe mentioned comes from there
or refers to something at headquarters, and so sore, tired
and hungry, but happy with all they continued on. The
moon waned and set, and tradition proved itself. It became
(08:43):
darkest just before dawn. Wait, said Jerry, just at the
stage of the journey, and he jumped from his horse
to recover something he had seen the German lieutenant drop.
It proved to be a packet of papers bearing the
official German seal. Aha, Jerry cried, riding up the officer
and thrusting the documents for him. So you thought to
get rid of may Well, we'll just take these long
(09:04):
headquarters too, They may contain something of interest to our commanders. Yes,
the lieutenant gave an ugly, menacing grunt, but refused to
say a word. Daylight came and with a clear view
of the American lines. A quarter hour later, they saw
two horsemen coming toward them. Slim examined them carefully with
his glasses. The lieutenant and Frankie announced, guess Joe was
(09:26):
still on duty, And Joe was. He was just relating
to the commander of the American forces in France. Orders
forwarded from London, and they were the greatest importance to
the three boys from Brighton, end of chapter nineteen
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