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

tood side by side behind a barricade of logs where they had just repelled

, as he reloaded his rifle whi

ough to wipe the perspiration from his face. "It seems that when our division has

ght place. While the great drive had not yet begun, the enemy was carrying on a nibbli

guns to dominate the valley beyond. They had made several attacks previously which had been driven back; but on the morning in question the assaults had been particularly ferocious and

ated the detachment in the woods from their main divisions. It was necessary that American reinforcements should be sent at once, fo

n in which the defenders were placed, but these had evidently been killed or capt

things so gentle should have to serve the harsh purposes of war. But human lives were at stake, and one of the birds was quickly selected, and a message tied on it se

but this quickly changed to a groan when the bird was seen to fal

lly urgent, for the enemy had been reinforced and the attacks were growing

st time the enemy came on they had reached the breastworks and had been beaten back with savage ba

p if they want to find any o

ed Bart, "but they'll find, too, that

rd," said Frank. "Perhaps

rt, and with new hope the desperate defenders buckled down to thei

e. And then, above the roar of battle, came a rousing American cheer, and into the woo

of their lives. A withering rifle fire ploughed their ranks, and then the American boys leaped over the barricade and chased the enemy back to

ed Billy as, utterly exhausted, he thre

the besieged British at Lucknow felt when they hea

aid Frank, "and don't forget, bo

d the Army Boys found themselves on the banks of a small ri

yards wide. Desultory firing was carried on, but the sector at the time was comparatively quiet, as both armies were engrossed in their preparations for the great battle that was impending. It was the lull be

rhaps the hundredth time, for their missing comrad

ourned Bart. "I won

some German camp, I supp

s you thought it would," said Bart. "You felt s

't work miracles. He may have been so placed that it simply wasn't possible to make a break. But one thing you can

ur optimism," sa

the other side of the r

ere making insulting gestures and holding up h

notice they're not quite so gay when

th irritation. "I'd like to cram

mouthful," l

m yet," said B

ng 'yet,'" suggested Fr

ed at him

u mean?" qu

up your sleeve

nk. "I don't know whether it's any goo

t," demanded

mans in that detachment just opposite us. What would be the matter with

shout met th

exclaim

thusiastic, practical difficul

et across?" aske

at's big enough," said Billy. "In fa

That looks as though it would carry almost a dozen anyway. We won't need any more than that to n

oing to get the b

k. "I'll attend to that. Give me

rporal has to say abou

ith interest. It was a

for fight," he grinned. "I'll put it

s he knew the value of such exploits in keeping

m across the river and get the boat. On the American side Wilson with eight men would be in waiting. They would embark

lid into the water as noiselessly as a