CHAPTER V.
THE CHARGE.
For the smallest fraction of a second there was an awesome silence,and then the British swept forward with a rush. Neither the bulletsfrom the thousands of rifles nor the steady fire from the great gunsof the German field batteries checked them.
The infantry covered the open space at a quick trot, and in almostless time than it takes to tell, it was at hand grips with the enemy,who stood braced to receive the shock of the charge.
The impact was terrific. The Germans stood gallantly to their work,encouraged by the shouts of their officers, but they were no match forthe British troops in hand-to-hand fighting.
As the British closed upon them, the Germans poured in one fiercevolley; but they had no time for more. Down went Teutons and Englishin struggling heaps, but the British poured over them and continuedtheir deadly work.
All along the line the Germans gave ground slowly, their enemiespursuing them relentlessly and cutting them down as they retreated.The engagement became a slaughter.
Now Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of the battle, inthe fiercest of the fighting. Sent forward with orders, they foundthemselves in the center of the sudden charge. Neither was minded toturn back, but they managed to single each other out and soon werefighting side by side. Blood streamed from a wound in Hal's cheek,where a German bayonet had pricked him slightly. Chester wasunwounded.
Suddenly Hal found himself engaged with a German officer. With a swiftmove he swept aside his opponent's blade and felled him to the earth.At the same moment a tall German soldier, thinking to deprive the ladof his weapon, brought his rifle down upon Hal's sword.
But the boy's grip was firm and the sword snapped off near the hilt.Quickly Hal sprang forward, and before the German soldier couldrecover himself, the lad cut him down with his broken sword. Then,stooping, he picked up the sword which had fallen from the hands ofthe German officer, and sprang to the aid of Chester, who was fiercelyengaged with two of the enemy, one an officer, the other a trooper.
One swift stroke of the boy's sword and the soldier was laid low. Atthe same instant Chester's sword slipped through his opponent's guardand the latter went to the ground, a deep wound in his side.
"Good work!" Chester found time to pant to Hal, and a second laterboth lads were once more too busy for speech.
Now Chester found himself engaged with a foeman worthy of his steel.The latter, a German lieutenant, was pressing the lad severely. Atsword play the lad was clearly no match for him. Nevertheless Chesterwas giving a good account of himself.
Suddenly his sword was sent spinning from his hand, and as the weaponcame down the point struck a German soldier squarely in the face.Chester's opponent sprang forward, his blade raised for a deaththrust. But even as he thrust Chester dodged and the sword passedharmlessly over his head.
From his stooping position Chester seized the German officer by theknees before he could recover his balance and aim another thrust athim, and, with a quick heave, sent the officer spinning over his head.The German hit the ground with a thud, and as he was about to pickhimself up an English trooper ended his fighting days with a thrust ofhis bayonet.
Chester seized the officer's sword and sprang forward into the thickof the conflict again. Side by side, Hal and Chester advanced with thevictorious British troops, striking, cutting and slashing their waythrough the dense bodies of the enemy.
Suddenly Chester fell to the ground beneath the feet of the strugglingmen. A descending rifle butt had struck him a glancing blow on thehead. Hal, engaged at that moment with another German officer, saw hisfriend's plight, and jumped back.
With his sword he swept aside a German bayonet which at that instantwould have been buried in Chester's prostrate form, but as he did so aheavy blow fell upon the lad's head and he was sent to his knees.Above him, with poised bayonet, stood a German soldier.
Death stared him in the face and the boy realized it. It wasimpossible for him to regain his feet in time to ward off the thrust.Quickly he threw himself to one side, and as he did so the Germantoppled on top of him, lifeless.
Hal scrambled to his feet and saw that the man who had thus saved hislife was none other than Lieutenant Harry Anderson.
"Just in time," said Hal briefly, and turned to where Chester was nowstruggling to his feet; and as the battle raged fiercely about them,unmindful of his own danger, he gave his entire attention to hisfriend.
Chester, shaking his head several times, announced that he was notseriously hurt, and with Lieutenant Anderson by their side they againplunged into the conflict.
But now the German retreat became more rapid. The enemy was unable tostand under the fierce charge of the British and they were giving wayon all sides. The British pursued the foe rapidly and hundreds uponhundreds of the enemy were cut down in their flight.
Unable to keep back the English and retreat orderly, the Germans brokeand fled. The retreat had become a rout. For some distance the Britishpursued them, and then a halt was called.
The losses of the British troops had been extremely heavy, but not sogreat as that of the enemy, who had suffered tremendously.
Now a thunderous roar broke out. The British artillery, unable to beused while the hand to hand fighting was in progress, was in actionagain, shelling the fleeing Germans.
The dead strewed the battlefield, and as Hal, Chester and LieutenantAnderson made their way toward the rear, they were forced to climbover the dead and wounded, many with shattered limbs and maimed forlife. But the Red Cross was at work, and the wounded were being caredfor with the greatest possible haste and gentleness.
"That was some fight, if you ask me," said Hal to Chester, as theycontinued their way to the part of the field where they could seeGeneral French and his staff, Lieutenant Anderson having left them torejoin his own men, from whom he had become separated.
"It was all of that," replied Chester, "and I can't imagine how weescaped with our lives."
"Nor I. It doesn't seem possible that anyone in the midst of suchterrible carnage could live, to say nothing of being only slightlywounded. By the way, are you hurt much, Hal?"
"No; just a scratch on the face and a bump on the head. And you?"
"I was luckier than that, although a German did crack me with hisrifle butt."
"Look at the dead and wounded lying about," said Hal. "It is aterrible thing--this modern warfare."
"It is, indeed," returned Chester, and the two continued on their wayin silence.
General French noticed their approach. The British commander wasstanding as he had stood through the last part of the battle, exposedto the fire of the enemy, calmly smoking a cigarette!