re hove into sight in the early morning light countless
numbers of German infantrymen at a charge. They had discovered the fact
that the French held the farmhouse, and although their officers had no
means of ascertaining the French strength at that point, they realized
that it must be won before there could be a general advance. So they
ordered the charge.

"Here they come, sir," said Hal, quietly.

Captain Leroux dashed down the stairs without making reply.

"Let them come close, men," ordered Hal, "and when I give the word let
them have it for all you're worth. Make every shot count."

His words were greeted with a cheer. Each man was in position. Each man's
finger was on the trigger. A moment of silence and then Hal ordered:

"Fire!"

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIGHT

The front of the farmhouse broke into a sheet of flame.

At almost the same moment, Captain Leroux on the floor below, and Chester
in the basement, gave the command to fire and the first line of
approaching Germans seemed to crumple up.

But the men behind came on.

Again and again effective volleys were fired from the farmhouse; but
despite their heavy losses and urged on by commands of their
officers, the Germans pressed forward until they were at the very
side of the house.

As they approached they fired volley after volley at the windows behind
which the defenders stood calmly; and the French had not gone unscathed.

In the basement, where Chester was in command, no German bullet had gone
so far, but Hal had lost three men and Captain Leroux five. As quickly as
these fell others took their places at the windows and continued to fire
steadily into the German ranks.

Came a heavy battering at the front door. A force of Germans had reached
this point in spite of the fire of the French and now were attempting to
batter it down. Without exposing themselves too recklessly the French
could not reach this party of Germans with rifle fire.

Captain Leroux quickly told off ten men to guard the entrance the moment
the door should give beneath the kicks and blows of the enemy.

"Ten men should be as good as a hundred there," he explained. "Pick them
off as they rush through. Aim carefully and make every shot count."

He turned back to the work of directing the fire from the windows.

The battering at the door continued. One of the defenders, thinking to
dispose of a member of the enemy in such close proximity, stuck his head
out and brought