CHAPTER IV.
THE GERMAN RETREAT BEGUN.
Hal and Chester stood for some minutes grasping their friend by thehand.
"Major, eh," ejaculated Hal. "I'm glad to hear that!"
"So am I," declared Chester. "I am sure no one deserved promotion morethan you."
"Thanks," laughed the major.
"Tell us," said Hal, "what are you doing here? I thought you were withthe Southern army."
"I am; but I carried dispatches to General French, and if I mistakenot, they are important ones. I believe that plans have been broughtto a head and that we shall take the offensive soon."
"Good!" cried Chester. "We have been retreating long enough."
"But," Hal protested, "we can hardly advance in the face of such odds;we must have reinforcements."
"Well," said Major Derevaux, "strong reinforcements already arearriving, and I believe that the advance will be general along ourwhole line."
"That will mean severe fighting," said Chester.
"Indeed it will," replied the major. "It will mean fighting such asthe world has never heard of before. It will mean death for thousandsupon thousands. But the Germans must be pushed back."
"And the Kaiser will find that he is not to have things all his ownway," said Hal.
"Exactly," returned the major. "But I must leave you now, boys. I mustreturn to my own regiment at once. Good luck to you!"
"Good luck!" exclaimed the boys as the major turned on his heel andstrode rapidly away.
The two lads returned to their own quarters and gave themselves up torest. So completely were they worn out that it was dark when theyagain opened their eyes; and they probably would not have done so thenhad not the clear notes of a bugle awakened them.
Rushing into the open, the lads saw that on all sides the troops wereready to move--whether forward or backward they could not tell as yet.It was evident, however, that something was afoot.
Hal and Chester made their way to the side of General French andjoined the members of his staff. The gallant British commander wassitting his horse quietly, his staff grouped about him. Occasionallyone went dashing away with some order, as the general gave a laconiccommand.
The boys had hardly taken their places when General French saidquietly:
"Order a general advance!"
A moment later and the small though mighty host of Britain was inmotion, and a loud cheer rang out on the still night air as the troopsperceived that they were going forward--that the retreat had ended.
Swiftly and silently the army advanced. Ahead could be heard thecrack, crack of rifle fire, indicating that the outposts were engagedwith the enemy. Also, from the distance, could be heard the booming ofthe great German guns, and as the English advanced still further menbegan to fall before the deadly German artillery fire.
But the British did not falter; they plodded on as steadily as before.Then, after two hours of rapid marching, came the sudden command tohalt. A moment later and a squadron of British cavalry came into view,retreating before a large force of Germans.
Just in front of the infantry the cavalry halted, and turned theirfaces toward the enemy. The advance of the British so far had not beendiscovered; but as the pursuing Germans came into view, the command tofire rang out.
There was a deafening crash as the British infantry hurled theirmessengers of death into the compact ranks of the foe; and under thisdeadly fire the British cavalry dashed forward. Before the Germanscould recover from their surprise the English horsemen were uponthem, striking, cutting, slashing.
It was deadly and terrible work and the English did not go unscathed.But struggling thus, hand to hand, the Germans were no match for theEnglish. Now there came from behind the Germans a large force ofinfantry on the run, and before these reinforcements the Britishcavalry was forced to retire.
All this was happening right before the eyes of Hal and Chester, inthe very center of the British line. On the right and left theengagement was of the same fierce kind, and the deafening crashes ofrifles and artillery on either side gave conclusive evidence that theBritish were engaged with the enemy all along their entire front.
Still the German cavalry pursued the British cavalry in the center.Then General French turned suddenly to Hal:
"Tell General Mayo to advance in force!" he commanded.
The general turned to Chester:
"Ask General Samson to bring his artillery into instant action!"
The two lads dashed away on their respective missions; and almostimmediately the results of these two commands were apparent.
As the German infantry advanced in the wake of their cavalry, theBritish came to sudden life. Flame burst out from all along thecenter and the Germans recoiled. Volley after volley was poured intothe wavering ranks of the enemy, and they turned to flee.
A supporting column was rushed hurriedly to their assistance, and asthey advanced the British artillery opened fire. Great holes were cutin the advancing German line, but their advance was unchecked. Fromtheir rear reinforcements were coming continually.
The fire of the British artillery and infantry was deadly. Men fell bythe hundreds, were mowed down like chaff before the wind by theaccuracy of the British fire. In the English ranks men also weredropping on all sides, but the gaps were filled up immediately and theBritish, singing and cheering, continued their advance.
The roar of battle could be heard for miles around, but the menengaged in the conflict were unconscious of it. They had but one senseleft--that of sight--and their rifles continued to deal out death.
At length the German advance was checked, and then they began to fallback.
There was a rousing cheer from the English, and the advance was morerapid than before. The retreating Germans halted, turned to face theEnglish, made a last desperate stand, then fled in disorder.
But as the English broke into a run to pursue their advantage stillcloser, they were met with a hail of bullets from a large force of theenemy's infantry which at that moment advanced, in support of theircomrades, close enough to come into action.
The English reeled for a moment under this terrible fire, but they didnot waver. Support was hurried to them. It was time for prompt action.
General French took in the situation at a glance and gave a quickcommand. A moment later the voices of the different officers rang outalong the British line:
"With the bayonet! Charge!"