Stubbs scrambled to his feet.

“Where are you going?” he demanded in some anxiety.

“After the Germans,” replied Hal.  “We are attacking them from two sides.  Come on!”

Stubbs drew back.

“We’ll all be killed!” he exclaimed.

“Never mind that,” said Hal impatiently.  “Are you coming with me or are you going to stay here?”

“Alone?”

“Yes, alone.”

“Oh, I’ll go,” said Stubbs mournfully, “but I know I’ll never get back to America alive.  The New York Gazette is about to lose its best man.”

Still mumbling to himself he followed Hal.

The British under Hal and Captain Anderson broke from their shelter and crossed the road to the enemy’s side on a dead run, their smoking rifles dealing out death on every hand as they advanced.

When Hal’s men had attacked, Chester found it unnecessary to retreat, as he had figured upon doing, and the rain of hail continued to pour upon the enemy from all sides.

The British gradually closed on the enemy, fewer now by half than they had been a few moments ago, until the circle had narrowed to within a few yards of the enemy.

In spite of the semi-darkness the aim of the British cavalrymen had been remarkable, and wherever and whenever a German showed himself, in nine cases out of ten he fell to rise no more.  The losses of the British had been heavy, but not so great as those of the foe.

Now, at a command from Hal, the fire of the British ceased.  Then the lad, raising his voice to its highest pitch, shouted: 

“Surrender!”

CHAPTER VIII.

The mission successful.

“Never!” came back the reply of the German officer in command.

Hal, who had stepped slightly from the shelter of a big tree, jumped back quickly as a bullet lifted his cap from his head.

“Too bad,” he said quietly.  “I would have avoided further loss of life.  However, if they will have it, give it to them, men.”

The fight had raged, at intervals, all during the night.  Now the first faint signs of dawn appeared and a little while later it became light.

From his shelter Hal took in the situation about him.  Here and there dead bodies strewed the woods, Germans and British alike.  Wounded men also lay upon the ground.

Hal now decided that the battle had lasted long enough.  With a cry to his men he dashed suddenly forward, the troopers following close behind.  Chester, at his end of the field, perceiving this movement, also led his handful of men forward.

Some fell, as they dashed into the very face of the German fire, but the bulk of the British reached their goal, where, outnumbering the Germans now, they soon disposed of them.  When all were down but a mere handful, a German lieutenant, the sole surviving officer, threw down his revolver and raised his hands in token of surrender.