The two lads saluted and took their departure.  They found Captain Lee, and with him were soon at the head of the little band of men who had volunteered to hold the bridge at Meaux against the whole German army, if necessary.

It was still dark, and it was a quiet little band that advanced through the British lines to take up their positions at the extreme front.  A long range artillery duel was still in progress in spite of the darkness, but little damage was being done by either side.

Having retreated beyond Meaux, the Germans had unlimbered their artillery again and the British were replying.  The little band of English, with Hal and Chester in lead, advanced to the edge of the bridge described by General French, and there took up their positions.

The bridge was very narrow, hardly wide enough for five men to walk abreast.  On the British end the approach curved, making it impossible for one coming from the other direction to see what was at the other end.  It was indeed a strategic point for defense.  The river was high and thus precluded any attempt to ford it.

All night long the little band of men lay at the bridge, ready for battle on a moment’s notice.  All night long the shells of both the Germans and British flew screaming overhead; but none dropped near them.

With the first faint glow of the approaching day the little band of British were awake.  At Hal’s suggestion they cut down trees, and dragged them to the end of the bridge, forming a barricade.  Behind this they lay down.

It was almost noon before the man stationed to watch the approach to the bridge dropped quickly over the barricade and reported: 

“They are coming!”

“All right,” replied Hal.  “We’re ready for ’em!”

Under Hal’s direction, a single line of rifles, twenty-five in all, appeared through the cracks of the barricade.  The others had been divided into three bodies—­each containing twenty-five men—­each body directly behind the others.  These were instructed to fill up the gaps made by the German fire.  Thus, as each man in the front rank fell, his place would immediately be filled by another, the second by the third, the third by the fourth, so providing twenty-five men fell the front line would be still intact, although the fourth line would have disappeared.

Hal and Chester took their places just in the rear of the first line, where they could see what was going on and direct the fighting.

“Do not fire until they come into sight around the turn,” Capt.  Lee instructed his men.  “Then mow them down, and make every shot count!”

Joking and humming to themselves, the men prepared for action.  The first line poked their rifles through the barricade and lay down behind them.  All was in readiness to repulse the attack.

Suddenly the first Germans appeared around the turn in the bridge, marching five abreast.

“Fire!” cried the captain, and the British rifles broke into flame.