, Max went back to bring along the rest of the men.

To his consternation he found them on the move, the last files
disappearing from the wood in the direction of the German frontier post,
two men only being left behind in charge of the prisoners. Running after
them, Max caught up the rearmost men, and was told that they were about
to attack the Germans and root them out. Much hurt and angered at this
sudden reckless move, Max ran forward to the front of the column and
accosted Corporal Shaw.

"What is this, Corporal?" he cried. "It was to be my business to get you
over the frontier. I don't agree with your attacking the Germans here."

"That's all right, sir," replied Shaw, still pressing on. "We know what
we're about. We've reconnoitred the place, and can clear out the whole
lot without turning a hair. Come along, lad, and lend a hand."

"No, Shaw, I'm not going to have this. I've breached the wire a few
yards away yonder and put the sentry out of action. All we have to do is
to walk through and we are safe. This mad attack right on the frontier
will----"

"No, no; our fellows will be disappointed if they don't get one more
fling at the Germans!" cried Shaw, pressing on as though anxious to get
away from Max's protests. "It'll all be over in----"

At this moment the German sentry in front of the building which housed
the frontier guard caught sight of dark shadows approaching. He
challenged, and almost simultaneously brought his rifle up to his
shoulder.

There was a flash and a report, and one of the men just behind Max gave
a gasp and staggered. He recovered himself, however, and with the rest
of the band charged madly down upon the sentry and the guard, who were
now rapidly tumbling out of the entrance of the building, rifle in hand.

The fight that ensued was to Max the most desperate he had ever seen.
The French and British soldiers, after all their discomforts and
privations and the terrible sights they had witnessed, were burning with
the desire to get to close quarters with the Germans and to try
conclusions with them. Like a whirlwind they flung themselves upon the
hated foe, and, scarcely firing a shot, stabbed and bayoneted with wild
and desperate energy.

The Germans who had poured outside the building were cut down in a
remarkably short space of time, and, without a pause, the men dashed
into the passage and up the stairs, every man striving to be the first
to close with the enemy. Against such