“Well, she’s down, anyhow,” said Chester.  “That’s some relief.”

“And here come the Serbians,” said Hal.

A handsome body of men, these Serbian cavalrymen, as they charged straight across the open field into the very jaws of death.  Men fell on all sides, but those who were left did not pause.  The command had gone forth that the Bulgarian guns must be silenced and the Serbians went about the work as coolly as though they had been on dress parade.

But it appeared a few moments later that the battle was not to be between horsemen and artillery, but rather between cavalry and cavalry.

From the Bulgarian lines now issued a large body of horsemen; and they came toward the Serbians at a swift gallop, their officers riding in front with swords flashing and urging their men on with words of encouragement.

The Serbian cavalry, at a command, halted and braced to receive the shock.

“Great Scott!  What did they stop for!” exclaimed Hal.  “They are giving the other fellows, all the advantage when they come together.”

“Looks like bad generalship to me,” Chester agreed.

Now, at a command from their officer, the Serbians resumed their charge; but the damage had been done and when the long lines of opposing horsemen came together the very impetus of the Bulgarian charge carried them through.  The Serbians reeled, staggered and their line broke.

The Bulgarian horse plowed in among them, cutting, slashing and stabbing.  Individually, the Serbians fought as bravely as their foe, but in spite of the desperate work the Bulgarian cavalry retained its cohesion and pushed steadily on.

The fighting was terrible to behold.  Revolvers were brought into play and their sharp crack, crack could be heard above the sound of the trampling horses and yelling men.  It became apparent to the onlookers that the Serbians were getting the worst of the encounter.

Casting his eye toward the main Serbian line, Hal gave a short cheer.  A long, dense line of infantry was moving out to the support of the cavalry.  Slowly they came at first, then faster and still faster as the men broke into a run.  An imposing sight, indeed, and one to stir the blood.  The Serbian cavalry, at a command, fell back upon the infantry, which separated into two sections to permit of the cavalry passing through the center.  Then the infantry closed in again.

But the Bulgarian cavalry, with victory apparently within its grasp, had no intention of giving up now.  With utter recklessness they charged the Serbian infantry, dying bravely before the rifles and upon the bayonets of their enemy when they chanced to escape the rifle fire.

The Serbian line held like a stone wall.

Then the Bulgarian cavalry drew off.  A cheer, which arose from the Serbian line, was quickly checked as the giant batteries of the Bulgarians opened upon the unprotected Serbian line.  The Serbians wavered, broke and fled.