yours yet," said Chester. "If I mistake not,
the Germans are returning to the attack. I hear the sounds of firing
from above."

Chester was right. The Germans again had advanced to the charge.

Above, Hal and Captain Leroux were issuing orders to their men for what
each believed would be the final effort. Should this attack be repulsed,
both had some slight hopes that they would not be compelled to face
another--that French reinforcements would arrive before the Germans could
advance again. But, also, neither was sure in his own mind that the
approaching attack of the foe could be beaten off.

And this time the Germans seemed to be advancing in even greater numbers
than before.

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!" came the spatter of German bullets
against the side of the house; and occasionally a bullet struck home and
left no sound, unless it was the sound of a man toppling over backwards
to the floor, or a man as he clapped his hand to his head. The rifle
bombardment was having its effect.

The sharp crack of French rifles answered the challenge of the Germans,
though, because of the fact that the ranks of the defenders had been
sadly depleted, their weapons spoke not so often. But when they did
speak, men fell; for, at this crucial stage of the battle, they were
making every shot count.

But this time, it seemed, the Germans were not to be denied. Men as
well as officers understood the slowness of the French fire. The
Germans were flushed with the spirit of victory, despite the fact that
the field on all sides of the farmhouse was covered with their own dead
and dying. The German soldiers realized, as did their officers, that
the end of the courageous defense was near. Another effort and the
farmhouse would be theirs.

For some reason, in spite of the fact that the German troops appeared to
be making fair progress, their advance was suddenly stayed. At some
distance they halted and continued to pepper the house with rifle
bullets, doing little damage at that distance.

Horses dashed suddenly into view, dragging behind them a rapid-fire gun.

Hal guessed the answer.

"That's to mow us down when we try to run," he told himself. "Well--"

He broke off and shrugged his shoulders.

Now the Germans came on again, the rapid-fire gun covering their
advance. A moment later the side of the farmhouse resembled a sieve, it
was so full of holes. For a man to stick his head out the window meant
instant death.