The deathly silence was shattered by this sound, and Hal’s enemy turned suddenly to confront this unexpected assailant.  But, before he could bring his rifle to bear, Hal was upon him.

The man did succeed in raising his rifle above his head, and he now attempted to bring it down on the lad’s head.  But Hal was too quick for him.  Stepping in close, he struck his opponent a stinging blow in the face, and at the same time seized the rifle barrel with his other hand.

As the man staggered back, Hal wrenched fiercely on the rifle, and the weapon came away in his hand.  But the man was not badly hurt by the force of Hal’s blow, and he suddenly dropped his hand to his belt.  A moment later and the naked blade of a knife gleamed in the night.

Hal saw his enemy’s move and sprang back.  But the man was after him in an instant, his knife raised to strike.  They were too close together for Hal to bring the rifle to bear upon his enemy, and, realizing that he probably was no match for his opponent, the lad suddenly turned and ran.

But it was not Hal’s intention to run very far from his enemy.  He was not that kind of a boy.  His idea was to get far enough ahead of the man so that he might turn and shoot him.  But as he ran he felt a gust of air pass his ear, and he heard the sound of something whizzing by him.

The German, realizing the boy’s purpose, and also that he could not overtake him, had hurled his knife.  Hal also realized this the moment the knife sped by him, and stopped suddenly in his tracks.

In spite of the fact that his assailant had attempted to murder him, Hal could not find it in his heart to kill him in cold blood.  Therefore, even as he turned, he raised the rifle high above his head, and, holding it tightly by the barrel, rushed upon his enemy.

In vain the man threw up his hands to ward off the blow.  The force behind it was too great.  Hal, wheeling half around as he swung, brought the heavy butt of the rifle against the side of the German’s head with a crack.  The man dropped limp at the boy’s feet.

Hal lowered his rifle, and stood for a moment over his fallen enemy, wiping his brow.  Then he stooped over and relieved him of his other weapons, two automatic Colts.  These he slipped in his pocket, and once more turned his face toward the spot where Chester lay, unaware of the terrible fight that had just occurred.

Hal whistled softly—­the whistle of the old days in America—­and, listening, heard Chester whistle softly in return.

Believing now that everything was safe, Hal left his fallen enemy behind, and started toward the spot where Chester was rising to his feet.

Hardly had he traversed half the distance, when there was another shot, and Hal saw Chester, who was advancing to meet him, topple to the ground.

Hal turned in the direction of the flash of the rifle, and, scarcely taking time to aim with his newly-acquired automatic, fired.  His effort was rewarded with a howl of pain, but, as the lad started to run to where his fallen friend lay, there was another shot, and Hal felt a bullet whiz by his head.