recall was sounded just in time to see a single form
that had been struggling with a knot of the enemy crash to the ground.
Hal gave a loud cry, which was stifled by his gas helmet, for he felt
sure that it was Chester.
It was at that moment the German bugle sounded the recall.
Hal dashed toward the spot where Chester had fallen. A score of enemy
troops, perceiving his approach, stayed their retreat and offered him
battle. Hal was nothing loath. He dashed toward them at top speed.
Other French troops, seeing one of their numbers dashing forward, and
perceiving his peril, jumped to the rescue. Still more Germans turned and
more French dashed forward. For a moment it seemed that the struggle
would be renewed in spite of the order for a German recall.
Hal dashed among the foe with sword flashing aloft. Right and left he
slashed and the Germans gave way before his fury. Then they closed in.
Almost at the same moment the French troops came to his assistance.
Again the recall was sounded from the German rear. The few of the foe
who apparently had Hal at their mercy heeded this second call
reluctantly. They drew off slowly, opening upon the advancing French
with their rifles as they did so. The French returned the fire and the
Germans retreated faster.
Apparently it was not the plan of General Domont to follow up the
retreating Germans, for there came no order for a charge. Instead, the
French commander apparently was satisfied with having broken down the
German attack. He had no intention of sacrificing more of his men in a
useless pursuit that would bring them again under the mouths of the big
German guns.
Quickly Hal bent over Chester. The latter had fallen with his face on the
ground, and this fact undoubtedly had saved his life. He was unconscious
and his nose was buried in the dirt. He had almost suffocated, but this
fact had saved him from the poisonous gases. Hal stripped the gas helmet
from a dead French soldier and slipped it over Chester's head. Then he
lifted his chum from the ground and started toward the rear, supporting
the unconscious figure as well as he could.
Several French troopers ran to his assistance. Hal lowered Chester to the
ground and put both hands under his chum's head. He motioned one of the
French soldiers to take Chester's feet, and in this manner they carried
Chester from the danger zone.
Hal did not rest easily until after a French surgeon had pronounced
Chester little the wor
|