There was a terrific roar that echoed and re-echoed through the passageway, a howl of pain and then silence.  For a moment Hal waited, for he did not wish to be caught napping.  Then he slowly made his way forward.  Presently he came in contact with a man’s body.  It was the enemy.

Propping himself up behind the dead man, Hal felt more comfortable.

“It will be daylight soon,” he said to himself, “and they can’t get in here without me seeing them.  And one man here is as good as a hundred.”

Raising his voice, Hal shouted: 

“Are you all right, Chester?”

“All right,” came back the answer.  “One man tried to get in here, but I got him,” for all the time that Hal had been engaged Chester had been having troubles of his own.

After Hal had left him, Chester, seeking to ascertain the exact position of the Germans at his end of the cave, and, if possible, their number, had ventured too close to the opening.

A German, walking past at that moment, struck a match to light a cigarette, and Chester’s form was clearly outlined in the glare of it.  With a hoarse guttural exclamation the German dropped his match and cigarette and brought his rifle to bear.

But before he could press the trigger Chester had disappeared in the darkness of the cave.  Evidently believing that the lad would flee from him, the German, sprawling upon hands and knees, gave chase.

Chester, well back in the cave, judged his pursuer’s distance by the sounds of his awkward movements.  He waited until the German got well within the cave, then raised his automatic and quickly fired twice.

The sound of the explosion was so great that even Chester himself was frightened.  This was the shot that Hal had heard as he grappled with his opponent.

Fearing a trap, Chester did not move for several moments, keeping his revolver aimed steadily.  But then, as there was no sound from the German, Chester slowly moved forward.

His outstretched hand touched a soft object, and his exploring fingers sought out the German’s face.

“He’ll do no more fighting,” was Chester’s only comment.

Relieving the German of his arms and ammunition, Chester sat down to await the approach of the others, who he was certain must have heard the sound of the shot.

And they were not slow in coming.  Suddenly the flame of a match appeared in the opening, and taking quick aim Chester let fly with his automatic.

There came a groan of pain from the opening to the cave, but the exact result of his shot Chester could not determine.  The light had disappeared and the cave was again in darkness.  Hal, at his end of the cave, having serious business of his own to attend to, had not heard this last shot.

And now Chester stretched himself out on the ground to ward off any further attack.  He was brought suddenly to a sitting posture again by the sound of a shot from Hal’s end of the cave.