The German advance had continued the day before in spite of the heroic
stand of the French troops. Successive charges by the Teuton hordes had
driven the defenders back along practically the entire front. Here, with
the coming of night, they had taken a brace with the arrival of
reinforcements and had stemmed the tide; but not a man failed to realize
that there would be more desperate work on the morrow.

The French lines now had been pushed back well to the west of the city
of Verdun itself and the civil population of the town had fled. The town
had been swept by the great German guns until hardly one stone remained
upon another. North of the city, the French had been bent back as the
Germans thrust a wedge into the defending lines almost to the foot of
Dead Man's Hill.

This hill was of particular importance to the Germans, for it commanded
the approach on all sides; and now the German Prince had determined upon
its capture. General Petain anticipated the move and acted promptly.

It was toward this point, then, that Hal and Chester found themselves
moving upon the sixth day of the great battle. They bore despatches from
General Petain and each bestrode a high-powered motorcycle, which the
French commander had placed at their disposal. The two lads rode swiftly,
for there was no time to be lost.

Even above the "pop-pop" of their motorcycles could be heard the
terrible roar of the German guns as they were brought to bear on Dead
Man's Hill, paving the way for an infantry advance, which was to come a
few hours later. It was risky business upon which the lads were bent,
for the great shells struck on all sides of them, throwing huge masses
of dirt in the air like giant fountains and digging immense excavations
in the hard ground.

But the lads reached their destination in safety; and here, for the
first time, Hal and Chester were to come in contact with a new method
of fighting.

General Domont, in command at Dead Man's Hill, having read the despatches
the lads carried, announced that they would remain with him during the
day, acting as members of his staff. He ordered Hal forward with
instructions for the troops holding the crest of the hill to the north
and Chester was despatched upon a similar mission to the south.

Hardly had Chester delivered his message when a shout told him the German
infantry was advancing to the attack. The lad glanced around, and as he
did so, a sharp order rang out and a moment later