, "what were you doing in the road
in the first place?"

"Why," muttered the little man, somewhat confused, "I was seeking to make
out the number of the enemy so that I might tell you whether we were
strong enough to defeat them."

"That's all right; I just wanted to know."

Mr. Stubbs peered out from behind the tree, and as he did so a
German bullet went whizzing by. Mr. Stubbs hurriedly threw himself
upon the ground.

"What's the matter?" demanded Chester, although he knew well enough.

"A slight illness," replied Mr. Stubbs. "I am somewhat faint. I fear I
overexerted myself in my struggle with the wild cats."

He lay there behind the tree, stretched out at full length. Nor could he
be induced to get to his feet.

Slowly the last half of a moon arose, giving a little light but making
the shadows deeper.

Bullets whistled through the trees at regular intervals now, and wherever
a man exposed himself the German sharpshooters ran him quickly back to
cover or shot him down.

But the British, excellent marksmen that they were, in spite of their
losses were having the better of the encounter. Wherever a German arm or
leg was exposed, there a British bullet struck. Consequently the firing
soon became desultory and then ceased altogether.

Taking advantage of this lull, Chester made a dash, and succeeded in
reaching a tree behind which Hal and Captain Anderson had taken shelter.

"What are we going to do?" he demanded. "Surely we can't stay here
much longer."

"Well, what shall we do?" demanded Hal. "At the first break the Germans
will shoot us down."

"We must do something," replied Chester. "Wait a moment"--as Hal turned
away--"I have an idea."

"What is it?" demanded Hal.

"Yes, let's have it," said Captain Anderson.

"Well, why can't a few of us--say ten men--crawl toward the rear, and,
when out of sight, make a detour and catch the Germans from the rear?
Those who are left here will fire only at intervals, so that when we open
from the rear the enemy will believe that the major part of our men are
there. Naturally they will present their strongest front there. Then you
can take them by surprise from this side."

"By Jove!" ejaculated Captain Anderson. "That's not a half-bad idea."

"It's a good idea," said Hal. "It shall be acted upon at once. Now, who
shall go and who shall stay here?"

"Well," said Chester, "as it was I who suggested the plan, I guess
I am the one to head those who go. Detail t