g things was a great deal more impressive than reading
about similar happenings.

By now the French adventurer had managed to get close up to the place
where the terrible offending battery was hidden. Doubtless he could see
much better than the boys at a distance, and knew where it would be
possible to throw his bomb so as to accomplish the maximum of damage.

"He's nearly there, Rod, and oh! I'm scared almost out of my seven
senses for fear they'll get him before he can give that thing a whirl
over. There, see, he's trying to get up on his knees now, though it's a
hard thing for him to do, because he's so weak from loss of blood, I
reckon. Bully boy! now you're going to take a fling, and here's wishing
you the greatest of luck!"

The brave soldier had indeed managed to raise himself part way and with
all his reserve strength hurl the bomb he carried over to where the
battery lay concealed.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE WINNING OF THE RIVER FORD.

Immediately there came a loud crash as the bomb exploded. The exhausted
French soldier had no further strength to sustain him, for the boys saw
him fall over as though he may have died in the climax of his success.

Then came the clear, piercing note of a bugle, like a clarion call. It
was undoubtedly the signal for another attempt to force a passage of the
river, so essential to the success of the French pursuit of the retiring
German armies.

Again did a host of active figures leap into sight from the coverts
where until now they had lain concealed awaiting the success or failure
of the first action. These were no doubt the reserves intended to be
thrown into the breach after some of the others had managed to get
safely across and engaged the enemy forces. Now they were taking the
initiative in pushing across the ford.

As the others had done these men also scattered when charging, so that
no great collective damage might be wrought when the foe started to
fire. They were speedily at the water's edge, and it was then that they
anticipated meeting with that sudden avalanche of flame and smoke, and
the roaring sound of many guns.

Somehow it did not come in the volume expected; in fact, while rifles
and quick-firing guns started to take their toll the one offensive
battery remained singularly silent.

Rod and Josh did not need to be told that the bold Frenchman must in
some way have succeeded in disabling all the units of that battery when
he hurled his bomb over th