As Hal looked a sheet of flame sprang up.  It was plain to the lad in an instant that the enemy had set the wooden structure afire.

“But why?” he muttered to himself.

The answer was not long coming.

From the barn, through a crack between the boards, issued a cloud of smoke, and even above the yells of the dancing Germans Hal made out the report of a revolver.  One of the Germans stopped his antics and toppled to the ground to rise no more.

“Great Scott!” cried Hal aloud.  “They are burning him up!”

Jerking his horse about, he dashed back to his men and again placed himself at their head.  Chester ranged himself alongside.

In a few brief words Hal explained what he had seen, and then cried to his men: 

“Forward!  Charge!”

At a gallop the British covered the distance to the clearing, and then dashed toward the enemy as fast as their horses could go.  As the sound of galloping hoofs was borne to the ears of the enemy, they stopped their dancing about the barn and fell into line to beat back the British.

The first line threw themselves to the ground.  The second line fell to their knees, their rifles pointing over their prostrate comrades, while above them protruded the weapons of the third line, standing erect.

At a shouted word of command from Hal the British cavalry scattered, and bore down on the enemy from three directions.  Here and there a rider dropped to the ground as a German bullet found its mark; but in spite of these losses and the withering German fire, the rest dashed on.

Right up to the muzzles of the German rifles the British charged, and leaning over their horses did terrible havoc among the enemy with downward sweeps of their heavy swords.  They rode their horses right in among them, the hoofs of the chargers trampling the foe to death.  Some sprang to their feet and darted toward the rear, only to encounter the British troopers who had ridden around behind them.

The engagement was short and decisive.  Soon the majority of the Germans lay dead upon the ground, and at a cry of “Surrender!” from Chester, the rest now threw down their arms.

But the British had not escaped without great loss.  Exposed to the fire of the enemy as they had charged upon the solid triple line of rifles, many had fallen.  Less than half the original troop now remained, and of these at least half were wounded, though none seriously.

During the fight the flames that had enveloped the barn had gained great headway and were now raging fiercely.  Hal looked quickly about for some sign of the man whom he knew had been within.  He believed that the man must have come forth, when he was aware that assistance was at hand, for he realized that to remain in the burning structure would have probably meant death.

But in the troop he saw no sign of a stranger; nor had Chester nor any of the men seen anyone leave the barn.