r 'em. We can shoot
straighter than they can while they are on the run. We should be able to
pick off two more each before they get here."

"We'll have a try at it," said Chester simply.

It was plainly evident that the Austrians were preparing for a move of
some kind. Suddenly, at a given signal, all twelve of the foe still
alive, sprang to their feet and made a concerted rush toward the
barrier.

"Here they come!" cried Hal. "Steady now!"

CHAPTER XXIII.

IN THE NICK OF TIME.

Hal, at the right of the barrier, confined his attention to that side of
the road, leaving Chester to deal with the enemy rushing forward on the
left. Three times the weapon of each lad spoke, and at each shot an
Austrian fell to the ground. Firing coolly and deliberately at such
close quarters, a miss was absolutely impossible.

But the lads did not have time to fire again. The enemy was at the
barrier; but, instead of hurling themselves over it, as both lads had
expected they would, they dropped to the ground on the opposite side of
the big rocks, and there they remained.

It was indeed a peculiar situation--the enemies less than six feet
apart, separated only by a few rocks. Still the Austrians, in spite of
their losses, outnumbered the lads three to one.

Now the rocks of the barrier began to move inward toward the lads.

"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "They are trying to push these rocks over
on us. If they tumble this barrier over, we can't hope to account for
all six of them."

The lads braced themselves against the rocks; but the strength of the
two was not as great as the strength of the six. Such a contest could
have but one ending. The boys realized this as well as did their foes.

"Well," said Hal calmly, "it looks as though they had us. All ready for
a last stand, Chester?"

"All ready," replied Chester calmly.

"When I say jump," instructed Hal, "leap backward!"

Chester nodded in understanding of this plan.

"Now!" cried Hal. "Jump!"

Both lads leaped quickly backward, and as they did so, the
barrier--freed of their supporting shoulders--tumbled inward, while the
six Austrians sprawled on the ground. For a moment the lads had the
advantage and they made the best of it.

Hal's revolver spoke and one Austrian straightened out in the act of
rising. Chester accounted for another, and then both lads sprang in
close upon the foe, thus precluding the use of the foe's firearms.

Hal, grappling with two of t