Hal approached and saluted.
"My compliments to Colonel English," continued General Rhodes, "and
order him to assume command of the First, Second, Third and Tenth
regiments and make a detour toward Pouilly. Inform him that I will make
a greater show of force to the south, and have him close in on the enemy
from the east. I am informed that the German positions there have been
weakened. We may catch the enemy in a trap. That is all."
Hal saluted, swung on his heel and departed hastily. Outside, he sprang
into a small army automobile, which was among a number of other cars
standing idle pending necessity of use by dispatch bearers, and soon was
speeding through the darkness.
Half an hour later he was received by Colonel English, who heard his
orders in silence.
"Inform the general that I shall move at once," said the colonel.
Hal saluted and returned to headquarters.
Already, without waiting to hear the result of Hal's mission, General
Rhodes had given orders for a more rapid advance all along the line.
The clear notes of many bugles sounded from various parts of the field.
Regimental commanders gave necessary instructions to their subordinates
and the advance of the American forces gained in momentum.
Half an hour later Hal found himself on the road again bearing
instructions to Colonel English. He overtook the colonel two miles from
where he had found him last. The colonel was riding along in the midst
of his men, in a large army automobile. He motioned Hal to a seat beside
him.
"I am instructed to go with you, sir," said Hal, "and carry back word of
any imminent danger."
"Very well," said the colonel. "Make yourself at home."
From time to time Colonel English summoned aides whom he dispatched to
other parts of the field with instructions. Suddenly he turned to Hal.
"It strikes me," he said, "that the general is risking a whole lot on
this move. If the enemy is in greater strength at Pouilly than we
suppose, our position will be critical."
"I would imagine that the general's information is authentic," returned
Hal. "Otherwise he would not have ordered you to Pouilly."
"You are probably right," said Colonel English; "but at the same time I
have a feeling that all is not well."
Hal shrugged his shoulders, a movement that was not discernable to
Colonel English in the darkness.
"Well," the lad said, "we'll let the boches know we are there at all
events."
"Right," agreed Colonel English.
There was silence after that except for the plodding feet of the
infantry and the noise of the horses that composed the single troop of
cavalry with the expedition. Also, the sharp crack of machine guns in
other parts of the field and the voices of the distant big guns could be
heard.
"According to my calculations," said Colonel English to Hal an hour
later, "we should now be within three miles of Pouilly. I shall order a
halt here and make a reconnaisance."
He did so; and the troops sat there in the darkness for perhaps an hour
while a young lieutenant and ten men went ahead to get the lay of the
land.
"All quiet ahead, sir," the lieutenant reported on his return. "I went
as close to the enemy as I dared. He apparently is expecting no attack
from this direction. The village should be captured with ease by a
surprise assault."
"You were not, of course, able to ascertain the approximate strength of
the enemy, lieutenant?"
"No, sir; I dared not approach too close."
"Very good, lieutenant."
The young officer saluted and returned to his station.
"Well," said Colonel English to Hal, "it seems that my fears were
groundless. We'll go forward."
Silently the Americans crept along the dark road--or as silently as it
is possible for a mass of men and horses to creep. Machine guns were
dragged along as silently as possible, and the few field pieces that
were the main reliance of the little force also were hauled with extreme
caution.
Less than a half a mile from the village itself, Colonel English swung
his field pieces into position to cover the advance of his men. It was
not his intention to alarm the enemy by opening a bombardment of the
village, but he overlooked nothing that would protect his men.
Under cover of the silent guns, which were ready for action at a
moment's notice, the Americans crept forward. A short distance ahead
Hal could see here and there a faint light, which indicated that the
whole village was not asleep. Also, the lad knew, German sentinels were
on guard; and there was little possibility that the Americans could
enter the town without discovery.
"By Jove!" the lad muttered to himself. "I don't like to sit back here
while all this is going on."
He turned to Colonel English.
"Colonel," he said, "I wonder if you will permit me to take a hand in
the attack? I assure you that I am no novice at the game."
The colonel considered the point a moment.
"All right," he said at last, "but mind that you do not expose yourself
needlessly. You must remember that General Rhodes looks to you for a
report on the pending engagement. Here, I'll give you instructions for
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, of the Fourth regiment. That will enable
you to get into the midst of things. You may remain with the regiment
as long as you see fit, remembering only that I wish you to report to me
an hour after daylight."
"Very well, sir," said Hal.
He leaped lightly from the colonel's automobile, appropriated a horse
from a trooper who stood near and dashed forward in the darkness.
Colonel Johnson's force was some distance ahead, and it was perhaps
fifteen minutes later that Hal came up with him. He gave the
instructions that Colonel English had confided in him, and then said:
"Colonel, if you don't mind I'll stay with you through this battle."
Colonel Johnson would have protested, but Hal continued with a smile:
"I have the permission of Colonel English, sir. I hope that I may be of
some assistance to you. Do not hesitate to call upon me for any piece of
work that you may wish accomplished."
Colonel Johnson shrugged.
"Help yourself," he said, "and don't worry. If I've need of your
services you may be sure I won't hesitate to ask for them."
The march continued in silence.
Suddenly the sound that Hal had been expecting came. It was the blast
of a great gun, close at hand. The advance of the Americans had been
discovered. Colonel English took his decision instantly.
"Charge!" he cried.
The Americans went forward with a wild yell.
*CHAPTER IX*
*THE BATTLE*
A volley of rifle fire met the first rush of the Americans. Sleepy-eyed
Germans, aroused from their slumber by the sound of the warning gun,
poured from their shelter and rushed forward through the streets of the
village. Hastily machine guns were wheeled into position, and a
veritable rain of bullets swept the ranks of the charging columns in
khaki.
But the Americans did not falter. These men of the Forty-second
division upheld the traditions of the American army. True, they had
been under fire before and it was not to be expected that they would
falter; but well might a man have faltered in the face of the terrible
fire poured in upon them. Each man bent to his work with a determination
that boded ill for the foe. Some dashed forward with wild yells, others
smiled quietly to themselves, while still others joked with their
nearest neighbors. Here and there men dropped in their tracks, to rise
no more, but others leaped over the bodies and dashed ahead.
So close had the Americans approached the village before being
discovered, that the enemy ranks had not time to form. What machine
guns had been brought into play by the Germans were widely scattered and
did not have the effect that would have been possible had the Americans
given the enemy more time.
American machine guns also began to rattle and Germans began to fall.
The opposing forces were too close for the enemy to use his heavy
artillery, nor could Colonel Johnson use his own field pieces for the
same reason.
Undismayed by the withering enemy fire, the Americans continued their
charge and soon the fighting became hand-to-hand. Wild cries and
imprecations arose above the sounds of firing, and the clash of cold
steel became audible in all sections of the field.
The Germans withstood the first shock of the American charge, but they
could not withstand the second. They faltered momentarily, but under
the commands of their officers for a moment braced again. But when the
Yankees hurled themselves upon the wall of human flesh the third time,
the German line wavered along its entire length, then broke.
Groups of the enemy threw down their arms and raised their hands in
token of surrender. These were quickly passed to the rear, for the men
in front were too busy to be occupied with prisoners. Others of the
enemy turned and ran. Here and there, however, groups of the foe
gathered, determined to resist the Americans to the last.
Against these small batches of the enemy, groups of American soldiers
dashed. Again the fighting became fast and furious, and in this
fighting the Americans sustained their heaviest losses.
Hal found himself close to Colonel Johnson, who had advanced in the
midst of his men. A German officer raised his revolver and aimed at
Colonel Johnson. Hal, who had been about to discharge his own revolver
at a big German soldier who was pressing him closely, turned his weapon
and fired in time to drop the man who otherwise must surely have killed
the American colonel.
Colonel Johnson at the same moment had perceived his danger and he
realized instantly that Hal had saved his life at the imminent risk of
losing his own. Colonel Johnson was a brave man, and he recognized
bravery in another. He sprang to Hal's side and with his sword laid low
the man who then held Hal at his mercy.
Hal acknowledged this assistance with a smile; he had no time for more.
The Germans were pressing too close for that.
Colonel Johnson cleared a space about him with his flashing sword. Hal
emptied his revolver into the ranks of the enemy, then drew his own
sword. Standing side by side, Hal and Colonel Johnson beat off the
Germans who tried to pierce their guards. Nevertheless, their
predicament was extremely critical, and it is doubtless if they would
have come through alive had not half a dozen soldiers, seeing their
peril, dashed forward and scattered the Germans who surrounded them.
This gave the two a breathing space, of which they took advantage.
But the fighting was far from ended yet--the Germans were far from
beaten. In the rear of the line which had broken and fled under the
American attack, other lines had formed and now dashed forward. Colonel
English, taking in the situation at a glance, ordered support to the
assistance of the hard-pressed men under Colonel Johnson.
The reinforcements came forward with a rush and met the new German line
with a crash. The hand-to-hand fighting that ensued was terrific, but
after five minutes of give and take, the Germans again retired.
American machine guns were swung about hastily to cover the retreating
foe and wreaked terrific havoc among the enemy. The retreat became a
rout. The Germans turned and fled.
Victory, it appeared, was with the Americans.
But Colonel English had no mind to allow the enemy to rest. His
instructions had been to capture the village of Pouilly, and he would
not rest content until he had accomplished that feat. Accordingly, he
ordered another advance.
The Americans dashed forward with the same recklessness that has always
characterized the charge of the American fighting man. In vain German
officers sought to bring some semblance of order out of the confusion
that reigned in the enemy ranks. The effort was vain. Young
lieutenants stood in the path of the retreating men and beat them with
the flat of their swords, but they could not stay the rout. Others
fired their revolvers point-blank into the faces of their own men, but
even these heroic measures failed to have the desired result.
The Germans were beaten and they knew it.
So it was just as the first faint streak of dawn appeared in the eastern
sky that the Americans set foot in the village of Pouilly.
And still the fighting was not ended.
Scores of German soldiers, under command of subordinate officers,
barricaded themselves in the houses that lined the streets and poured a
hail of bullets upon the Americans as they passed. The Yankees suffered
severely under this fire.
"We can't stand for this," said Colonel Johnson suddenly to Hal. "The
enemy is doing too much damage."
"Drag up a couple of big guns and destroy the houses," said Hal briefly.
"Good!" said Colonel Johnson. "Lieutenant Bennings!"
A young officer approached and saluted.
"Take twenty men and enough guns to destroy the houses that line this
street," said the colonel. "Also, you will report while the battle lasts
to Major Paine, here."
The lieutenant saluted and hurried away.
"Major," said Colonel Johnson to Hal, "I will detail you to see that the
sniping from the houses is stopped."
Hal saluted.
"I'll stop it, sir," he promised.
"Very well. Don't let me detain you longer."
Hal strode away to where the young lieutenant and a score of men were
wheeling two big field pieces into position.
"Hurry, men," he cried. "We've no time to lose."
Meantime, because of the heavy execution by the enemy from inside the
houses, the Americans had sought what shelter they could find in
doorways and around corners. This situation, Hal knew, could not be
allowed to exist, for it would give the demoralized enemy time to
recover their scattered wits and to reform. Therefore, the houses must
be cleared of snipers immediately.
From the first house in the block where Hal found himself, the snipers
seemed to be more active than in any other. Hal determined to give this
house his attention first.
He sighted the gun himself, then gave the command to fire.
"Boom!"
The voice of the big gun rose high above the rattle of machine gun and
rifle fire.
"Crash!"
Almost simultaneously with the sound of the gun the heavy explosive
missile reached its mark.
There was another resounding crash as the missile exploded after
reaching its mark. Bricks, timber and other debris flew high in the air
and descended in a shower.
The sniping from the first house ceased, for the simple reason that
there was no first house any longer. It had been destroyed.
"I hope that will be enough," Hal muttered. "I don't like this wanton
destruction of property. It reminds me too much of the Germans
themselves. If those fellows in the other houses are wise they'll cease
firing now."
But in this Hal was doomed to disappointment. Snipers in the other
houses continued as active as before, apparently unimpressed by the fate
that had befallen their comrades.
"Well, if you must have it you must," Hal muttered.
Quickly he gave the necessary orders and the guns were wheeled into
position. This time, however, they were not aimed at a single house,
for Hal decided that it was unwise to waste more time. He determined to
give the enemy a lesson they would not forget.
Accordingly, two houses were covered at once.
"Boom! Boom!"
"Crash! Crash!"
So closely together that they sounded almost as one were the detonations
of the guns and the effect as they found their marks.
Again there was a shower of debris.
Without waiting to see what effect this destruction would have upon the
Germans who occupied the houses, Hal ordered the guns turned on other
homes.
Again the big guns spoke, and again the mass of bricks, mortar and wood
descended and covered the streets.
"I guess that will do 'em," muttered Hal, as he waited for the smoke to
clear away.
The lad was right.
No longer did the snipers fire from the windows and the American troops,
which had temporarily sought shelter in doorways and around corners,
poured out again, their advance, thanks to Hal and his men, thus being
made more simple.
A few moments later Colonel Johnson came up to Hal.
"You did a good job, Major," he said quietly. "I guess we'll have no
more trouble with them."
"Then the town is ours?" asked Hal eagerly.
"It is indeed," replied Colonel Johnson.
"Then I'll have to leave you, sir," said Hal. "Colonel English ordered
me to report to him immediately after daylight."
*CHAPTER X*
*THE ADVANCE CONTINUES*
Hal found Colonel English just beyond the town, receiving the reports of
his subordinates. He greeted Hal with a nod, and asked:
"What is the latest news, Major?"
"The town is ours, sir," replied Hal quietly. "Colonel Johnson has just
informed me of the fact."
Colonel English got to his feet.
"Good," he exclaimed. "I was certain Colonel Johnson was the man for
the job. Now if you will wait half an hour, Major, until I have talked
with Colonel Johnson, I will ask you to carry my report back to General
Rhodes."
"Very well, sir," replied Hal.
Colonel English got into his automobile and was whirled away to the
village, where he consulted for perhaps ten minutes with Colonel
Johnson. Then he returned to where he had left Hal, and still sitting
in his car, wrote his report briefly. This he passed to Hal.
"I want to say," he said, "that Colonel Johnson has informed me that it
was really you who made possible the capture of the village; also that
you saved his life in the midst of battle earlier in the day."
"Well, he saved mine, too, sir," muttered Hal, flushing slightly.
"It's all in a day's work, Major, I know that," said Colonel English.
"At the same time, I have seen fit to mention your name in my report to
General Rhodes."
"Thank you, sir," said Hal.
"And I hope," Colonel English continued, "that I may have the pleasure
of being associated with you further before this war has come to an
end."
"Thank you, sir," said Hal again.
Colonel English extended a hand, which Hal grasped.
"Good luck," said the colonel.
"The same to you, sir. By the way, sir, may I have a car in which to
make my return trip?"
"Of course," exclaimed the colonel. "I was thoughtless not to have
provided it before now. Lieutenant Smith!"
A young officer approached.
"A car for Major Paine, Lieutenant, at once."
Ten minutes later the machine was at Hal's disposal.
"Do you want a driver?" asked Colonel English.
"Guess I can handle it myself, sir," replied Hal, taking the wheel.
"Good-bye, sir."
A moment later he was speeding along the road which he had covered the
night before.
Less than two hours later, Hal reported to General Rhodes in the
latter's quarters, which had been established a mile closer to Sedan
than when Hal had left his general the night before.
"You have done well," said General Rhodes, after reading Colonel
English's report. "Colonel English speaks well of you here. It shall
be my pleasure to include your name in my next report to the
commander-in-chief."
And all that Hal could say was:
"Thank you, sir."
"Now," said General Rhodes, "you shall be free for the remainder of the
day. Your friend, Major Crawford, is at this minute with General
Duncan, but he should be back within a few hours. I shall have quarters
placed at your disposal immediately and my advice is that you turn in
for the day."
"I believe I could stand a little sleep, thank you, sir," said Hal with
a grin. "I shall follow your advice at once."
"Very well. And report to me this evening at 6 o'clock."
"Yes, sir."
General Rhodes summoned an orderly, whom he directed to find quarters
for Hal and to show Chester to them when the latter returned from his
mission. Then Hal saluted the general and followed the orderly.
Fifteen minutes later he was fast asleep.
Hal did not know when Chester returned, but when the lad opened his eyes
he saw Chester sleeping on a cot across the room. Hal dressed quickly,
then aroused his chum.
"Hello," said Chester.
"Why didn't you wake me when you came in?" demanded Hal.
"Because I thought you were entitled to a little rest," replied Chester.
"The same as I am now, although I notice you were not as considerate as
I was."
"The only reason I aroused you," said Hal, "was because I thought you
might possibly have been ordered to report to the general this evening.
"And so I have," returned Chester. "What time is it?"
"Five o'clock."
"Whew! Then I'll have to hurry. I had no idea it was so late. I'm to
report at 6 o'clock."
"Same here," said Hal. "But where have you been, Chester?"
"Carried dispatches to General Duncan. Seems that there is some fresh
plan afoot that General Rhodes expects will take us into Sedan within a
few days. I don't know what it is, though. Now, where have you been
and what have you been doing?"
Hal explained as briefly as possible while Chester hurried into his
clothes.
"So you have been fighting again, eh?" said Chester when Hal had
concluded. "What would your mother say?"
Hal grinned.
"About the same that yours would, I guess," he replied. "But hurry, I
feel like a bite to eat before I report to the general."
"Same here. I'll be with you in a jiffy."
Chester was true to his word, and the two sauntered forth five minutes
later. After they had rounded up what Chester called a feast at one of
the mess tents, they strolled toward the general's quarters.
As they walked along, they saw a familiar figure come dashing toward
them.
"By George!" said Hal, "it's Stubbs. Now I wonder what he can be in
such an all-fired hurry; about."
"We'll stop him and see," said Chester briefly.
The lads stepped forward and accosted Stubbs, who seemed to have no idea
of stopping for a word with them.
"What's the hurry, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Chester.
Stubbs waved them away.
"Don't bother me," he explained, "I'm busy."
"But--" began Hal.
"I said I'm busy," declared Stubbs. "Can't you see I'm in a hurry?"
"Well, all right, if that's the way you feel about it," said Chester.
Stubbs seemed as if about to pass on, then hesitated.
"I'll tell you," he said. "I am in an awful hurry, but I've time to
tell you the news if you promise to keep it to yourself."
"I promise," said Chester. "Let's have it, Mr. Stubbs."
"Austria has sued for peace," said Stubbs briefly.
"What!" said Hal. "Again?"
Stubbs glared at the lad.
"I tell you Austria has sued for peace," he said, emphasizing each word.
"This time there is no doubt about it. I have it straight."
Chester's heart beat high.
"By Jove! I hope you're right, Mr. Stubbs," he exclaimed, "but I'm
afraid to believe it."
"You needn't be," declared Stubbs. "It's perfectly true, this time."
"And I suppose you're hurrying off to flash the news to The New York
Gazette?" asked Hal.
"Exactly," said Stubbs.
"Don't let us detain you, then," said Hal. "But if I were you, Mr.
Stubbs, I'd go rather easy on that stuff. You know if you flashed a
report like that and it wasn't true, you'd probably have to hunt a new
job."
"I don't flash reports I know are not true," said Stubbs.
"Well," said Hal, "what I'd like to know is how you have gained your
information when no one else seems to know anything about it?"
"In the newspaper game," said Stubbs, "a man learns to provide his news
sources. I provided mine for this very thing some time ago. Now I have
been justified."
"All right," said Hal. "I don't want to argue with you about it, but
all the same I'd go easy."
"I tell you I've got the dope," declared Stubbs.
"Then you'd better hurry along and file it to The Gazette," Chester put
in.
"By Jove, I will!" said Stubbs. "And after this, you'll get no more
information from me. But remember your promises. Not a word about
this."
"Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester. "We're as mum as a couple of
oysters."
"Then me for the cable wire," said Stubbs. He turned and hurried off.
"You know, Hal," said Chester, "it would be quite a feather in the
little man's cap if he could get something like that ahead of every
other newspaper in America."
"I should imagine it would," Hal agreed, "but I'm afraid he's all wrong.
At the same time, however, I hope he's right."
"Same here. And by the way, speaking of Stubbs and his efforts, there
is only one other thing, to my mind, that would be greater luck for
him."
"And that?" asked Hal.
"That would be to get first word to his paper of the ending of war."
"By Jove! That would be something to talk about," Hal agreed.
"I should say so. But come, we have delayed long enough. It lacks only
a few minutes of six o'clock, and we're due in General Rhodes' quarters
at that hour, you know."
"Didn't think I had forgotten it, did you?" demanded Hal.