his rifle to bear upon the foe in the doorway; but before
he could accomplish his object he fell back inside with a groan. A German
bullet had done its work.

"No more of that!" ordered Captain Leroux, sharply. "I need every man I
have. No need to expose yourselves uselessly."

After that no French head appeared above the window sill farther than was
necessary to aim and fire.

In the basement Chester and his men had had little to do so far. True,
they had been able to pick off a German or two, but their position was
such that they could be of little value at the moment. Their time was to
come later.

On the top floor Hal, because of his position, was better able to command
a view of the open field ahead than Captain Leroux in the room below. The
fire of Hal's men, therefore, was more effective than of the French on
the ground floor.

Below there was a crash as the door splintered beneath the battering
tactics brought into play by the Germans who had gained the shelter of
the house and were able to continue work without molestation. The ten
Frenchmen told off by Captain Leroux to defend the entrance held their
rifles ready, waiting for the first German head to appear in the opening.

But the door was of stout oak, and though it seemed on the point of
giving under each succeeding blow, it still held. Hoarse guttural cries
from without indicated that the Germans were becoming impatient to get at
the French within. Came an extra violent crash and the door suddenly gave
way. Three Germans, who had been leaning against the door, caught off
their balance, were precipitated headlong into the room. It was
unfortunate--for them.

Before they could scramble to their feet, the French had placed them
beyond all hopes of further fighting. Their days of war were over.

But other Germans poured into the door behind them and leaped forward
over the prostrate forms of their comrades. Calmly, the ten French
soldiers, far back against the wall and a little to one side, so as to be
out of direct line of fire from the open doorway, fired into the surging
mass of humanity. And their fire was deadly and effective. In almost less
time than it takes to tell it the doorway was choked with German dead.

It was a gruesome sight and even the French soldiers, used as they were
to such spectacles, shuddered inwardly. It seemed foolhardy for the enemy
to seek entrance to the house through that blocked door. Even the Germans
realized it and