ns
would be in the enemy's hands.

"Quick, Bart! Come along, Billy and Tom!" shouted Frank, as he rushed
toward the guns.

His chums were on his heels in an instant. Quick as a flash, the guns
were aimed, and streams of bullets cut the front ranks of the attacking
force to ribbons. Volley after volley followed, until the guns were so
hot that the hands of the young soldiers were blistered.

But the hardest part of their work was done, for now fresh guns had
been brought into position and the flank was strengthened beyond the
power of the enemy to break. Frank's quick thought and instant action
had averted what might have been a calamity that would have decided the
fortune of the day.

"Good work, old man!" panted Bart, when in a momentary lull he could
gain breath enough to speak.

"Yours as well as mine!" gasped Frank, as he dashed the perspiration
from his forehead. "If you fellows hadn't been right on the job, I
couldn't have done anything worth while."

Regular crews had now been assigned to take their places, and resuming
their positions in the ranks the young soldiers plunged once more into
the hand-to-hand work at which they were masters.

The issue was no longer in doubt. The scale had turned against the
Germans and they were retreating. But they went back stubbornly,
giving ground only inch by inch, and in certain scattered groups the
fighting was as furious as ever.

As far as might be, they kept together, but as the swirl of the battle
tore them apart, Tom and Billy were lost sight of by Bart and Frank,
who were laying about them right and left among the enemy.

A sharp exclamation from Bart caused Frank to turn his eyes toward him
for a second.

"Hurt, Bart?" he queried anxiously.

"Bullet ridged my shoulder," responded Bart. "Doesn't amount to
anything, though. Look out, Frank!" he yelled, his voice rising almost
to a scream. Frank turned to see two burly Germans bearing down upon
him with fixed bayonets.

Bart sought to engage one of them, but was caught up in a mass of
combatants and Frank was left to meet the onset alone.

Quick as a cat, he sidestepped one of them, and putting out his foot
tripped him as he plunged past. He went down with a crash, and his
rifle flew from his hands.

The remaining German made a savage lunge, but Frank deftly caught the
blade upon his own, and the next instant they were engaged in a deadly
bayonet duel.

It was fierce but also brief. A thr