From his stooping position Chester seized the German officer by the knees before he could recover his balance and aim another thrust at him, and, with a quick heave, sent the officer spinning over his head.  The German hit the ground with a thud, and as he was about to pick himself up an English trooper ended his fighting days with a thrust of his bayonet.

Chester seized the officer’s sword and sprang forward into the thick of the conflict again.  Side by side, Hal and Chester advanced with the victorious British troops, striking, cutting and slashing their way through the dense bodies of the enemy.

Suddenly Chester fell to the ground beneath the feet of the struggling men.  A descending rifle butt had struck him a glancing blow on the head.  Hal, engaged at that moment with another German officer, saw his friend’s plight, and jumped back.

With his sword he swept aside a German bayonet which at that instant would have been buried in Chester’s prostrate form, but as he did so a heavy blow fell upon the lad’s head and he was sent to his knees.  Above him, with poised bayonet, stood a German soldier.

Death stared him in the face and the boy realized it.  It was impossible for him to regain his feet in time to ward off the thrust.  Quickly he threw himself to one side, and as he did so the German toppled on top of him, lifeless.

Hal scrambled to his feet and saw that the man who had thus saved his life was none other than Lieutenant Harry Anderson.

“Just in time,” said Hal briefly, and turned to where Chester was now struggling to his feet; and as the battle raged fiercely about them, unmindful of his own danger, he gave his entire attention to his friend.

Chester, shaking his head several times, announced that he was not seriously hurt, and with Lieutenant Anderson by their side they again plunged into the conflict.

But now the German retreat became more rapid.  The enemy was unable to stand under the fierce charge of the British and they were giving way on all sides.  The British pursued the foe rapidly and hundreds upon hundreds of the enemy were cut down in their flight.

Unable to keep back the English and retreat orderly, the Germans broke and fled.  The retreat had become a rout.  For some distance the British pursued them, and then a halt was called.

The losses of the British troops had been extremely heavy, but not so great as that of the enemy, who had suffered tremendously.

Now a thunderous roar broke out.  The British artillery, unable to be used while the hand to hand fighting was in progress, was in action again, shelling the fleeing Germans.

The dead strewed the battlefield, and as Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson made their way toward the rear, they were forced to climb over the dead and wounded, many with shattered limbs and maimed for life.  But the Red Cross was at work, and the wounded were being cared for with the greatest possible haste and gentleness.