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

of Frank in a bayonet duel with two Germans. He was trying desperately to get to his friend's side and hel

ar under guard of a squad of German soldiers. He reeled and would have fallen had he not been supported by some of his other companions in misfortu

clearer. His face felt wet and sticky, and putting his

from the weakness he felt and the way his hair was matted and his face smeared. But the blood had congealed now and

halted at a big barn where the prisoners were

it would have been hard to stomach the piece of dry bread and watery soup that was given him as his portion. S

hods, to say nothing of a former brief experience,

gh the fight? He was glad at any rate that they were not with him now. Better dead

be sure, it was too much to expect to escape by way of the sky as he had before. Lightning seldom strikes twice in the same place. But there might be other ways-there

m. His head was still a little giddy but his appetite was returning. Still he

ook on the young soldier's face. "Take what's given you, even if it isn't fit

woeful prophecy and Tom, though with many in

ng in fairly good condition when, a little later, he w

ered or rather was pushed into his presence he compressed his beetling b

e of swagger or bravado when Tom faced his inquisitor. But there was self-respect and quiet reso

recise way so that an interpreter was disp

name?" the lie

told

nation

eri

ficer

," he said contemptuously. "You are

aid n

egiment?" the o

was no

d the lieutenant impatient

tell," ans

n you wi

use to

growing red in the face. "That

ept q

ment of inward debate

manders' plans, as

rmans," returne

s face becam

eant. Tell me if you know anything of their tactics, wh

," replied To

plenty of

y, glad to tell what could do no harm and w

have the American

wered Tom, "and they're coming over at t

e very ready to give me more information th

t he chuckled inwardly at the

of this young American who faced him so undauntedly. Perhaps other prisoners would prove mo

l find that it is not wise to try to thwart the will of a G

, who had been standin

aviest," he commanded. "It doesn't matter what happens to him. If his own people

oor. Then he took him back to the barn and a whispered c

n into the woods close behind the German lines. Of course this was a flagrant breach of all the laws

had sunk, for he realized that the officer's purpose was to sign his death warrant. The chances of being killed by the American shells was very great. And then the significan

in a squalid prison camp. His health stood less chance of being undermined. As to the s

amp he would have practically none at all. His limbs would have to be free in order to do the work demanded of him. And

felling trees to make corduroy roads over which guns and supplies

eer physical torture. He was hounded on unceasingly under the jibes and threats of his brutal guards. N

n, and he kept on doggedly, his brain alert, his eyes wid

night his opp