n.

"We would be glad, sir," said Hal, "if you would put us to work."

The officer glanced at them keenly.

"Officers, I perceive," he said. "Your names, please?"

The boys gave them.

"Good," said the Frenchman. "Lieutenant Paine, you shall take charge of
the second floor. Lieutenant Crawford, you will command in the basement.
I have orders to hold this position, come what may."

"Very good, sir."

The two boys saluted.

"To your posts, then!"

Hal dashed upstairs and Chester descended quickly below.

Hal gazed quickly about the front room upstairs as he entered it.
There were three windows. It was the only room facing east. There were
two other rooms on the floor, and Hal quickly posted men at the
windows of each.

In the basement Chester found that the only two windows fronted east. He
had not much to guard. He gazed upon the men under his command and
quickly selected five.

"The rest of you go upstairs," he commanded. "Six of us will be enough
here. The hard fighting will be done above, if it is done at all."

The five men selected nodded their approval of the boys' understanding of
the situation. They could see he was young in years, but from the way in
which he issued orders they realized that he was old in experience.

A moment later the French officer in command came downstairs. He
approached Chester.

"In the excitement," he said, "I forgot to tell you my name. I am Captain
Leroux. I came down to see if you are all ready."

"All ready, sir," said Chester, saluting.

"Good!" The officer took his departure.

On the first floor he attended to several important details in the matter
of placing his men to best advantage and then ascended to where Hal was
in command. He gave his name to the latter and commended the manner in
which Hal had stationed his men.

"Very good, Lieutenant Paine," he said. "I see that I may depend
upon you."

"And upon my friend below, sir," replied Hal; "and upon the men
with me here."

The soldiers gave a cheer at these words and Hal knew that they would
fight to the last.

Captain Leroux peered from the window.

"Not in sight yet," he muttered. He turned again to Hal. "Two hours,
Lieutenant," he said.

"We'll hold 'em, sir," was Hal's quiet response. "We'll hold them if it
can be done."

"My instructions," returned the captain, "are that they must be held."

"Very well, sir. Then they shall be held."

Hal saluted and turned to the window.

And now the