“It’s a long way to Tipperary. 
  It’s a long way to go;
It’s a long way to Tipperary,
  To the sweetest girl I know. 
Good-by, Piccadilly,
  Farewell, Leicester square. 
It’s a long, long way to Tipperary,
  But my heart’s right there!”

Liege had fallen before the invading German hosts, though several of the forts still held out; Louvain had been captured and its beautiful buildings burned to the ground.  Brussels had been invested by the Teutons.  In Alsace-Lorraine the French had been forced to relinquish the spoils won in the first days of the war.  General Pau, after a stubborn resistance, had fallen back, and General Joffre, commander-in-chief of the French army, also had been forced to retire.

So close to Paris were the Germans now that the seat of government, the day before this story opens, had been removed to Bordeaux.  Homes and other buildings in the French capital were being razed, so that the great French guns in the city could sweep the approach to the town unobstructed.  Paris, the most strongly fortified city in the world, was being prepared to withstand a siege.

And still the Germans came on.  Several of the enemy’s war aviators flew over Paris and dropped bombs in the streets.  This occurred upon several days, and then the French airmen put an end to these daring sky fighters.  After this, no more bombs were dropped on Paris.

But as the Allies fell back, it was always the few British troops that time and again checked the Germans.  The morale of the English was excellent.

In a final desperate charge, a small body of British cavalry had succeeded in driving back the German vanguard, while the main body of English retired still further.  Then this little body of men returned, their number much smaller than when they had charged.

For some time now there had been no sign of the enemy, and Hal and Chester, with a small squad, had been sent toward the enemy’s line to reconnoiter.  It was while on this reconnaissance that they had been attacked by the Germans in force.

Slowly the two lads and the eight men, all that was left of the fifty who had gone forth, continued their retreat.  They had gone forth on horses; they were returning afoot.  Their mounts were in the hands of the enemy.  From the rear, in the darkness, still came the sounds of firing.

“Evidently they have not given up the pursuit,” said Hal.

“No; and they are probably mounted.  Let’s turn off into this little woods,” replied Chester.

They did so, and followed by the remaining eight troopers continued on their way.

As they came to the edge of the woods, Hal, who was slightly in advance, stopped suddenly, and raised a warning hand.  The little party halted.

“What’s the matter?” asked Chester in a whisper.

“Germans!” replied Hal briefly.

Chester approached closer and peered over his friend’s shoulder.  Less than three hundred yards ahead he could dimly make out moving forms.