At the word of command, the British opened fire, and again charged with fixed bayonets.  But the German guard was strong, and evidently had been on the alert against a possible surprise.

A rapid-fire gun stationed near the automobiles opened fire.  The first column of men was literally annihilated, Captain Anderson himself going to the ground with a severe wound in his chest.  Not one of the troopers reached the automobile.

Seeing what had happened to the first column, Hal and Chester were more wary.  They approached from two directions, and, before the machine-gun could be turned upon them, were at hand grips with the enemy.

A squad of men hurled themselves upon the German gunners, and this weapon spoke no more.  Then the British advanced upon the aviators, who stood near to guard their machines.

Both sides were fighting in small groups, and at once began a fierce interchange of shots at a distance of fifteen yards.  The airmen, who were crouching along the edge of the road, answered the British fire with great bravery and vigor.

While this fighting was in progress, the detachments of engineers, which had been in the extreme rear of the British columns, armed with improvised tools, hurled themselves upon the aeroplanes.  With sure blows from their rifle butts, and whatever other implements they could lay hands on nearby, they destroyed the motors, the gasoline reservoirs and the running gear of the German machines.

At this moment one of the armored automobiles burst into flames.  A fierce red glare shot high into the air, lighting up the scene of carnage with great brilliancy.

While the little column commanded by Chester now withdrew a short distance, the lad having ordered this in the hope that he might find Captain Anderson still alive, Hal, with the comparatively few remaining men, advanced to one of the armored automobiles, in which stood a German officer, directing his men.

The officer opened fire on these few British with an automatic revolver.  Two men fell.  Hal felt a bullet graze his arm, but not before he had discharged his own weapon against the chest of his opponent, who fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

A second German, whom Hal had not noticed in the machine before, brought his rifle-butt down over Hal’s head.  But the lad’s quick eye had seen the descending weapon, and his upraised arm warded off the blow.  His left arm, however, fell to his side numb, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

He was up in a moment, and sprang upon the German, one arm still hanging by his side, and his revolver gone.  The German brought his rifle to bear, but, stepping quickly forward, the lad struck up the weapon, even as the German pressed the trigger.

With a quick leap Hal was in the automobile, and was grappling with the German trooper.  The German, unable to use his rifle at such close quarters, struck out with his fist.  Hal dodged and his opponent drew back with a cry of pain.  His fist had struck the steel side of the car, and his arm was now useless.