vailable, the men managed, by dint of
much persuasion from the iron bars and their bayonets, to get the nuts
to turn. Two rails were in time entirely removed and carried across the
line and laid endwise in a ditch, where they promptly sank out of sight
in the muddy ooze.

In the meantime the flank guards had not been idle. The shout of the
sentry first attacked had given the alarm to his comrades on either
side, and one had started immediately to his aid. The other remained
where he was, but levelled his rifle at Shaw and his men as they sprang
on to the line. Both were promptly shot down and their rifles and
cartridges as promptly secured.

By this time the alarm was fairly general. Several shots had been fired,
and the line guards up and down the track had come to the conclusion
that a serious attack on the line was in progress. Instead of rushing in
ones and twos to the point of attack, they now waited until some
half-dozen men had collected before advancing. Even these bodies were
easily disposed of by the flank guards posted by Shaw. They were well
concealed, and, as the Germans came up, opened a heavy fire upon them at
close range. Most of the latter dropped at once, and the survivors fled,
only too glad to get away in safety with their lives.

Max and Dale had assisted in the removal of the rails and their deposit
in the muddy ditch. This accomplished, Max, who viewed the whole affair
with some misgiving, stood aside and took no part in the further attacks
already in progress on the rails.

"You look glum, Max," remarked Dale in a rallying tone, as he
straightened his back. He himself looked far from glum. His face was
flushed, his eyes sparkled, and he bore himself as though at the height
of enjoyment. "Don't you like raiding the railway?"

"Not this way," replied Max with decision. "What's the good of it? It
won't take half an hour to repair, and, coming after that other affair,
will mean half the cavalry in the Ardennes stirring on our tracks."

"Who cares?" retorted Dale recklessly. "I----What's the matter?"

"Hark! A train I think. Let's get to the top of this bit of rising
ground and see what happens. The driver can't come steaming through with
all that firing going on yonder."

The two friends climbed upon the little hill and up into the lower
branches of a large tree. The view thus obtained was a wide one, and
showed them much. In the distance a train was approaching. It was
slowing up as they wa