THE CHARGE.
For the smallest fraction of a second there was an awesome silence,
and then the British swept forward with a rush. Neither the bullets
from the thousands of rifles nor the steady fire from the great guns
of the German field batteries checked them.
The infantry covered the open space at a quick trot, and in almost
less time than it takes to tell, it was at hand grips with the enemy,
who stood braced to receive the shock of the charge.
The impact was terrific. The Germans stood gallantly to their work,
encouraged by the shouts of their officers, but they were no match for
the British troops in hand-to-hand fighting.
As the British closed upon them, the Germans poured in one fierce
volley; but they had no time for more. Down went Teutons and English
in struggling heaps, but the British poured over them and continued
their deadly work.
All along the line the Germans gave ground slowly, their enemies
pursuing them relentlessly and cutting them down as they retreated.
The engagement became a slaughter.
Now Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of the battle, in
the fiercest of the fighting. Sent forward with orders, they found
themselves in the center of the sudden charge. Neither was minded to
turn back, but they managed to single each other out and soon were
fighting side by side. Blood streamed from a wound in Hal's cheek,
where a German bayonet had pricked him slightly. Chester was
unwounded.
Suddenly Hal found himself engaged with a German officer. With a swift
move he swept aside his opponent's blade and felled him to the earth.
At the same moment a tall German soldier, thinking to deprive the lad
of his weapon, brought his rifle down upon Hal's sword.
But the boy's grip was firm and the sword snapped off near the hilt.
Quickly Hal sprang forward, and before the German soldier could
recover himself, the lad cut him down with his broken sword. Then,
stooping, he picked up the sword which had fallen from the hands of
the German officer, and sprang to the aid of Chester, who was fiercely
engaged with two of the enemy, one an officer, the other a trooper.
One swift stroke of the boy's sword and the soldier was laid low. At
the same instant Chester's sword slipped through his opponent's guard
and the latter went to the ground, a deep wound in his side.
"Good work!" Chester found time to pant to Hal, and a second later
both lads were once more too busy for speech.
Now Chester found himself engaged with a foeman worthy of his steel.
The latter, a German lieutenant, was pressing the lad severely. At
sword play the lad was clearly no match for him. Nevertheless Chester
was giving a good account of himself.
Suddenly his sword was sent spinning from his hand, and as the weapon
came down the point struck a German soldier squarely in the face.
Chester's opponent sprang forward, his blade raised for a death
thrust. But even as he thrust Chester dodged and the sword passed
harmlessly over his head.
From his stooping position Chester seized the German officer by the
knees before he could recover his balance and aim another thrust at
him, and, with a quick heave, sent the officer spinning over his head.
The German hit the ground with a thud, and as he was about to pick
himself up an English trooper ended his fighting days with a thrust of
his bayonet.
Chester seized the officer's sword and sprang forward into the thick
of the conflict again. Side by side, Hal and Chester advanced with the
victorious British troops, striking, cutting and slashing their way
through the dense bodies of the enemy.
Suddenly Chester fell to the ground beneath the feet of the struggling
men. A descending rifle butt had struck him a glancing blow on the
head. Hal, engaged at that moment with another German officer, saw his
friend's plight, and jumped back.
With his sword he swept aside a German bayonet which at that instant
would have been buried in Chester's prostrate form, but as he did so a
heavy blow fell upon the lad's head and he was sent to his knees.
Above him, with poised bayonet, stood a German soldier.
Death stared him in the face and the boy realized it. It was
impossible for him to regain his feet in time to ward off the thrust.
Quickly he threw himself to one side, and as he did so the German
toppled on top of him, lifeless.
Hal scrambled to his feet and saw that the man who had thus saved his
life was none other than Lieutenant Harry Anderson.
"Just in time," said Hal briefly, and turned to where Chester was now
struggling to his feet; and as the battle raged fiercely about them,
unmindful of his own danger, he gave his entire attention to his
friend.
Chester, shaking his head several times, announced that he was not
seriously hurt, and with Lieutenant Anderson by their side they again
plunged into the conflict.
But now the German retreat became more rapid. The enemy was unable to
stand under the fierce charge of the British and they were giving way
on all sides. The British pursued the foe rapidly and hundreds upon
hundreds of the enemy were cut down in their flight.
Unable to keep back the English and retreat orderly, the Germans broke
and fled. The retreat had become a rout. For some distance the British
pursued them, and then a halt was called.
The losses of the British troops had been extremely heavy, but not so
great as that of the enemy, who had suffered tremendously.
Now a thunderous roar broke out. The British artillery, unable to be
used while the hand to hand fighting was in progress, was in action
again, shelling the fleeing Germans.
The dead strewed the battlefield, and as Hal, Chester and Lieutenant
Anderson made their way toward the rear, they were forced to climb
over the dead and wounded, many with shattered limbs and maimed for
life. But the Red Cross was at work, and the wounded were being cared
for with the greatest possible haste and gentleness.
"That was some fight, if you ask me," said Hal to Chester, as they
continued their way to the part of the field where they could see
General French and his staff, Lieutenant Anderson having left them to
rejoin his own men, from whom he had become separated.
"It was all of that," replied Chester, "and I can't imagine how we
escaped with our lives."
"Nor I. It doesn't seem possible that anyone in the midst of such
terrible carnage could live, to say nothing of being only slightly
wounded. By the way, are you hurt much, Hal?"
"No; just a scratch on the face and a bump on the head. And you?"
"I was luckier than that, although a German did crack me with his
rifle butt."
"Look at the dead and wounded lying about," said Hal. "It is a
terrible thing--this modern warfare."
"It is, indeed," returned Chester, and the two continued on their way
in silence.
General French noticed their approach. The British commander was
standing as he had stood through the last part of the battle, exposed
to the fire of the enemy, calmly smoking a cigarette!