“With the bayonet!  Charge!”

CHAPTER V.

The charge.

For the smallest fraction of a second there was an awesome silence, and then the British swept forward with a rush.  Neither the bullets from the thousands of rifles nor the steady fire from the great guns of the German field batteries checked them.

The infantry covered the open space at a quick trot, and in almost less time than it takes to tell, it was at hand grips with the enemy, who stood braced to receive the shock of the charge.

The impact was terrific.  The Germans stood gallantly to their work, encouraged by the shouts of their officers, but they were no match for the British troops in hand-to-hand fighting.

As the British closed upon them, the Germans poured in one fierce volley; but they had no time for more.  Down went Teutons and English in struggling heaps, but the British poured over them and continued their deadly work.

All along the line the Germans gave ground slowly, their enemies pursuing them relentlessly and cutting them down as they retreated.  The engagement became a slaughter.

Now Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of the battle, in the fiercest of the fighting.  Sent forward with orders, they found themselves in the center of the sudden charge.  Neither was minded to turn back, but they managed to single each other out and soon were fighting side by side.  Blood streamed from a wound in Hal’s cheek, where a German bayonet had pricked him slightly.  Chester was unwounded.

Suddenly Hal found himself engaged with a German officer.  With a swift move he swept aside his opponent’s blade and felled him to the earth.  At the same moment a tall German soldier, thinking to deprive the lad of his weapon, brought his rifle down upon Hal’s sword.

But the boy’s grip was firm and the sword snapped off near the hilt.  Quickly Hal sprang forward, and before the German soldier could recover himself, the lad cut him down with his broken sword.  Then, stooping, he picked up the sword which had fallen from the hands of the German officer, and sprang to the aid of Chester, who was fiercely engaged with two of the enemy, one an officer, the other a trooper.

One swift stroke of the boy’s sword and the soldier was laid low.  At the same instant Chester’s sword slipped through his opponent’s guard and the latter went to the ground, a deep wound in his side.

“Good work!” Chester found time to pant to Hal, and a second later both lads were once more too busy for speech.

Now Chester found himself engaged with a foeman worthy of his steel.  The latter, a German lieutenant, was pressing the lad severely.  At sword play the lad was clearly no match for him.  Nevertheless Chester was giving a good account of himself.

Suddenly his sword was sent spinning from his hand, and as the weapon came down the point struck a German soldier squarely in the face.  Chester’s opponent sprang forward, his blade raised for a death thrust.  But even as he thrust Chester dodged and the sword passed harmlessly over his head.