Army Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German Drive

f the exhausting labors of the day. They rolled and tossed restlessly in t

, ready to stand by them to his last breath. He had been beside them in many a tight scrape a

ad not yet been found among the dead. If he were a prisoner he might escape. They had all been

hem and assumed all sorts of fantastic attitudes in

indulge in private griefs. The fight was on,

tire with heavy loss. Not only had they failed to drive the Americans from their positions, but they had been driven back and f

the captured positions. Infantry actions ceased, though the big guns,

work was done, the three friends found thems

t, as he sprawled at his ease

ht," observed Billy, as he tied up his li

it was hard to wake out of their dream," chuckled Frank. "I wonder if t

" returned Bart. "They've had to

ing of the big drive that the Huns hav

yesterday and today was probably to pinch us out of the salient we're holding. That would straighten ou

said Billy. "They say that our boys are coming ov

," replied Bart. "And they'll sure be

y well, thank you. By the way, Frank," he went on with a grin, "are yo

I was calling a Heinie a jackass. And at that same minute

out that you left in the s

t wonder if he was rather chilly during the night,

e sentry who got the hot end of the poker. I wond

to tell the truth, I don't think he's done much thinkin

gave him a headache anyw

"I'm going to take a look for it. It was just over near that

the welter of debris and after a

ratched upon the butt. "Same old trusty and as good as ever. It's saved my life many a t

a moment, carefully cleaned and rel

the right of the Americans and their uniform was a familiar sight, so that the boys only gave the group a passing glance.

g the hand

"This is a great pleasure! I didn't

olonel, his face beaming. "I need not say how glad I alw

se would have done," r

your commander you've been doing similar things ever since. I just he

ith me," re

e favors the brave.' But I'll spare your blushes and come down to something that will probably i

" answered Frank. "

r his face. "I received a letter from Andre day before yester

Frank. "No doubt it will get to me before long. Perhaps your bro

is testimony in part before he was called into service, but he had not been cross-examined. Andre seems to feel sure that he can extract information from

is trouble in our behalf," said Frank warmly.

ed the colonel with a wave of the hand. "By th

lied Frank, "and happy-that is as happy as she

ould be happy to have so brave a son. Please remember me to her w

ells, I see," remarked Billy,

about my mother's property," explained Frank. "Queer that it ha

lly. "Tom handed them to me just before

ad a letter for you. But you weren't around at the time and he stuck it into his pocket. Then the boches came swinging at us, and

he colonel's brother and ask him to send me a duplicate of the letter. Poor T

aid Billy and

ong the dead or wounded as far as we've been able to find. But I'l

hen he had his blood up. He must have got knocked o

" said Billy sadly. "From all I hear there are plenty

s," said Frank bitterly. "Look at the German prisoners we saw working on the roads that time we went away on furlough. Plenty of food, kind tr

r. In a few months the men are little more than skeletons. They work them sixteen or eighteen hours a day in all kinds of weather. They set dogs on them a

he Germans Huns," snapped

nk, "but it's ro