asing.

John knew that the loss among the French must be great, and he knew,
too, that when the huge machine struck them they would be shattered. He
wondered that the French leader did not order the retreat, but while he
was wondering a trumpet suddenly sounded a shrill clear note audible
amid the roar of the great guns, and he saw Captain Colton beckon to the
Strangers.

John knew they were going into battle, but he felt relief because their
long waiting was over. His senses had become dulled to danger. He felt
the surge and sweep of tremendous conflict, and relief came with action.

As they stood up he obtained a better view of the field. The Germans
were yet nearer now, and, seen through the blazing light of the cannon,
they were magnified and increased. Although yet too distant in the
center, the flanks were near enough to open fire with the rifles, and
their crash in scores of thousands was added to the tremendous roar of
the cannon fire.

Captain Colton beckoned again to the Strangers, and joining a heavy
infantry force they crept out toward the right, and then among the
trees. John divined at once their mission. They were to support and save
the French field batteries which had gone into the wood and which had
done so much damage to the German army.

They could not mistake their destination. The flash and crash came from
a point directly in front of them, and the whole forest was lighted up
by the blaze of the guns. Farther to their right John heard the heavy
tramp of horsemen in thousands. There he knew were the Uhlans, circling
to cut off the French guns.

The wood opened out, leaving wide clear spaces, and then John saw the
countless helmets of the Uhlans, as they charged with a deep-throated
German roar. It seemed that they were to be ridden into the earth, but
he found himself kneeling with the others and firing his rifle as fast
as he could pull trigger into the charging mass.

John felt like a man sending bullet after bullet into some huge wild
beast, seeking to devour. For the moment the Uhlans were blended into
one mass, a single entity. He had a vision of the wild faces of men, of
the huge red eyes of horse, and of their open slavering mouths,
disclosing rows of cruel white teeth. It was those white teeth that he
saw clearest, and often he fired at the horses rather than their riders.

Nearer came the Uhlans. The earth resounded with their tread. The cruel
white teeth of the horses flashed almo