THE WINNING OF THE RIVER FORD.
Immediately there came a loud crash as the bomb exploded. The exhausted
French soldier had no further strength to sustain him, for the boys saw
him fall over as though he may have died in the climax of his success.
Then came the clear, piercing note of a bugle, like a clarion call. It
was undoubtedly the signal for another attempt to force a passage of the
river, so essential to the success of the French pursuit of the retiring
German armies.
Again did a host of active figures leap into sight from the coverts
where until now they had lain concealed awaiting the success or failure
of the first action. These were no doubt the reserves intended to be
thrown into the breach after some of the others had managed to get
safely across and engaged the enemy forces. Now they were taking the
initiative in pushing across the ford.
As the others had done these men also scattered when charging, so that
no great collective damage might be wrought when the foe started to
fire. They were speedily at the water's edge, and it was then that they
anticipated meeting with that sudden avalanche of flame and smoke, and
the roaring sound of many guns.
Somehow it did not come in the volume expected; in fact, while rifles
and quick-firing guns started to take their toll the one offensive
battery remained singularly silent.
Rod and Josh did not need to be told that the bold Frenchman must in
some way have succeeded in disabling all the units of that battery when
he hurled his bomb over the redoubt. Perhaps that terrific crash may
have been an ammunition supply exploding and scattering the guns right
and left.
No matter what the cause the battery was as still as death, a fact that
must have filled the anxious heart of the French commander-in-chief with
a fierce joy; for its presence there intact promised to make all his
work of no avail, despite the unrivaled valor of his men.
This time the story was to be quite different, it seemed. Some of the
leaders in that mad rush were already almost over, and here, there,
everywhere they were trying to shoot back as they found a chance to
glimpse an enemy hidden amidst the bushes on the bank of the river.
Josh could hardly contain himself. He jumped up and down "like a flea,"
as Hanky Panky afterwards explained it in his peculiar fashion. Indeed,
to hear Josh letting out shrieks and cries one would have imagined the
whole battle of the Marne ford had been staged for his particular
benefit, and that he was enjoying the lively scene with all his heart.
Now some of the Frenchmen were crawling up the bank. They found shelter,
such as it was, and immediately began to make good use of their guns,
aiming so as to cut down those who were rattling the quick-firing
weapons not far away.
More and more came up out of the depths, some of them wounded it was
true, but with undiminished ardor hurrying on. With the climax of their
ambition at hand and an opportunity for a fight at close quarters with
the hated enemy granted to them, why should they mind such a small thing
as a bullet in the shoulder, or it might be a leg that dragged as they
walked?
The fire and enthusiasm that filled their hearts prevented them from
falling out of the line. Some in fact would not know they had been
injured until it was all over but the cheering, and a weakness began to
overcome them, with the excitement on which they had been living having
passed away.
Josh was waving his hat wildly now. Despite the noise and confusion he
shouted out his views. In so doing he gave the "escape valve" something
to do, and likely enough worked no harm.
"And to think it's all owing to the work of that one brave fellow!" was
the burden of his outcries.
"I'm taking off my hat to _him_ right now. I salute him, living or
dead! His family will be proud of him when they learn what a grand thing
he really did. Talk to me about the Cross of the Legion of Honor; why,
that man ought to be made a general--if he lives!"
The Germans had by no means given up, even when they realized that after
all the French had won the passage of the ford. They had been given the
task of defending the crossing with their lives, and showed the
customary German disregard for death in staying after all was lost.
But more and more French were getting over now. They came from every
quarter, all filled with ardor and a desire to get in the fight over
there. The guns too were being brought closer to the river, so that the
retreating Germans might be shelled warmly as they left the scene of
their stubborn combat.
How they splashed across that shallow place in the stream Rod would
never forget. Some, getting off the main ford, found themselves in water
breast-high; others actually had to swim for it, holding their guns
above their heads so that they might not get wet and refuse to continue
the good work of chasing off the Germans.
It was an inspiring sight--of course only to those who favored the
French, for to the enemy it must have proven a most discouraging one--to
see those men wild to cross to where the engagement was being fought to
a finish. Each one, as soon as he could set foot on solid ground, lost
no time in starting up the bank and adding his quota to the force of the
assailants.
And not one single shot had come from that important battery which, more
than any other contributing cause, had brought about the first disaster
to the French. There could be no question but what that one unknown
private soldier, perhaps now dead, had saved the day for his side.
Luckily none of the Germans seemed to have paid any attention to the
little assemblage of three figures in faded khaki on that slight rise of
ground. At least no annoying shell had fallen near them, nor did the
boys at any time catch the irritating whine of a whimpering leaden
missile hastening past close to their ears. All of which pleased Rod
very much, for he certainly felt no desire to mingle in such terrible
scenes as had been spread before them of late.
Well, the end was in sight, for when the French field batteries began to
let go it could be easily guessed that they were sending their
compliments after that remnant of the enemy now sullenly retreating, and
always with faces toward the foe.
Then came the shrill blast of bugles. This undoubtedly told the French
soldiers that victory had fallen to their portion, and that the winning
of the Marne ford was an accomplished fact.
Loud arose the huzzas of the survivors. Succor for the injured would
quickly follow, since no pursuit was expected to be organized. The work
to which they had been assigned was now accomplished, and against
difficulties that might have frustrated all their efforts only for the
one gallant man who made victory possible.
Rod and his chums cheered with the rest. They seemed somehow to feel
that their hearts beat in full sympathy for those Frenchmen who were
standing up in defense of their native land.
Josh, more demonstrative than either of his companions, went so far as
to actually throw his arms around Hanky Panky and give him such a
bear-like hug that the other's eyes almost popped from his head and his
breath came in gasps.
"Let up on that sort of business, can't you, Josh!" he managed to cry
indignantly as he broke away from the other's detaining clutch; "what do
you take me for anyway? Must think you're doing one of the new fangled
fox-trot hesitation dances. I've got feelings, I'd have you know; and my
ribs are brittle bones in the bargain, not hoop-iron. Go hunt up a tree
if you must exercise yourself on something. I object!"
Standing there on the rise of ground they could see the first of the
French light batteries crossing the ford, the horses prancing, but
forced to drag the guns through the shallow water. Later on heavier
artillery would also be coming up to follow the fleeing German army,
when the full importance of this ford would be better understood. No
wonder the tactics of delay upon which the Germans were working had
forced them to defend such a spot to the limit.
"What are we going to do next, Rod?" asked Josh, when they had stood and
watched these events taking place for some little time.
"We'll have to hold off until they get things in ship-shape again,"
replied the other; "you see there are the wounded to attend to, the dead
to gather and bury, it may be, as well as a lot of other matters to be
looked after. They'll be in no hurry to chase after the enemy, I
imagine. Their one object was to carry this crossing, and that they've
done."
"But at a terrible cost to them," sighed Hanky Panky, as he saw the
injured being carried to a central point, where doubtless the field
surgeons would be on hand, ready to give them first attention; besides,
there had been scores upon scores carried down the river whose fate
could only be guessed at.
"That's always what war means, I'm afraid," remarked Rod, not that he
himself was getting hardened by seeing such sights, but because he had a
broader vision than Hanky Panky, and could anticipate what would follow
when two hostile forces came in contact at close quarters.
"If that was Andre's regiment that went in at the first," observed Josh
gloomily, "I'm mighty much afraid we're going to have all our trouble
for our pains; because they were almost wiped out. Andre is pretty sure
to have been among those who were in the water when that battery got in
its heavy work, and--well, the current carried away many a gallant
fellow, never to give him up again."
"Oh! it's hardly as bad as that, Josh," remonstrated Rod; "a good many
managed to get back again, either wounded or whole. If we're lucky we
may find Andre among that lot. We'll hope to, anyway; and our business
will then soon be over."
"Well, for one I hope and pray we're able to turn our backs on this
thing before another sun sets," said Hanky Panky, with such a sad look
on his face that Rod was quite sorry they had been tempted to follow up
this adventure.
Still, they had risked their lives in a good cause, and if only that
little French woman Jeanne and her family could be provided for in the
future, despite the schemings of Jules Baggott, he for one would not
feel tempted to complain on account of perils undergone and risks taken.
"Most of the French have crossed over by now, you notice, Rod," observed
Josh, when some time had crept past, and he could hardly restrain his
customary impatience any longer.
"And that means you think we should be getting a move on too?" laughed
the other, trying to raise the drooping spirits of Hanky Panky by an
assumption of levity which truth to tell Rod was himself far from
feeling.
"Well, it seems like we must make the crossing some way or other, and
while one of those gun caissons we see coming along is going to get over
why not find out if they'd let us climb aboard? It'll save us from
getting our feet wet even if it did nothing else."
"That isn't a bad idea, Josh," commented Rod, "and it might be just as
well to try it out. These Frenchmen are pretty accommodating, and
they'll like as not take us for British boys, as has happened so many
times before."
Another troop accompanied by a battery had come up and was starting to
reach the northern side of the Marne, so as to presently continue the
chase after the retreating enemy. It was to the ammunition caissons
belonging to this battery that Josh had referred.
The boys hurried forward now. No one thought to question their right to
be present. Perhaps this was because of their looks, or the khaki suits
they wore, which would be taken for British uniforms. Indeed, quite a
number of those who were seated on gun carriage or ammunition chest
waved to them in the hearty and friendly fashion known to soldiers after
a victory has thrilled their blood, making them light-hearted and gay.