eye ahead. For perhaps five minutes they rode along without incident;
then suddenly Hal, without even a word to Chester, "opened her up"
again.

Once more the huge locomotive jumped forward.

"What's the matter now?" cried Chester, springing to Hal's side.

"Matter!" shouted Hal. "Look ahead."

Chester peered out, and drew his head back with an exclamation.

"More Germans, eh!" he muttered, and then shouted. "You do the driving
and I'll keep her hot."

"Good!" Hal called back, never taking his eyes from the road ahead.

Apparently the Germans were unconscious of the approach of the
locomotive, for they did not even glance in its direction. Troopers
stood beside either side of the track, and several groups were
standing between the rails.

Closer and closer the engine approached, and still they did not move.
A moment later and the great steel monster was upon them. There was a
sudden shout, but it was too late--for some, at any rate.

The great locomotive caught them as they attempted to jump from the
track, and hurled them in all directions. Hal and Chester ducked low
inside the cab, and it was well that they did so; for, as the engine
shot past, hundreds of bullets sped through the cab, and hundreds more
flattened themselves against the steel-protected sides. It was close
work, and no mistake.

"Whew!" breathed Chester, after they had safely run the gauntlet of
the German fire and Hal had once more reduced the speed of the
locomotive. "That was close."

"Too close for comfort," Hal agreed.

"I wonder how many we killed back there," said Chester.

"I don't know, but I am sure it was enough. It seemed to be their
lives or ours."

"It's only a few more gone to the Happy Hunting Ground in a mistaken
cause," said Chester slowly. "But, as you say, it was either they or
us. There was nothing else we could do."

"No," said Hal, "there wasn't; but, just the same, it gave me a cold
chill as they went flying through the air. It was terrible."

Both lads were silent for a time, as the locomotive continued on its
way. It was getting dusk now, and Hal was forced to reduce the speed
of the engine even more. They went slowly along, both lads keeping a
wary eye ahead for Germans.

Darkness came on, and still they rode along. Their speed was little
better than a walk, and it was well that Hal had decided to
discontinue his reckless driving.

From ahead, a sudden red glare went up to the sky, followed almost
inst