othing left to destroy, except at intervals
where a small fort still stood and breathed defiance to the enemy.

But the German guns served one purpose. They afforded protection for the
infantry as it advanced to the attack. Only when the Germans advanced
close enough to come to hand grips with the French did the big guns
become silent.

But now came the turning of the tide.

From far back the French threw out reinforcements to the hard pressed men
in front. Huge new field guns were brought up. Great masses of
ammunition, which the French had been storing up for just such a chance,
were rushed to the front. Soon the French guns were speaking as loudly
and as often as the great German 42-centimetres themselves.

The first work of the new French offensive was to clear the Germans from
Dead Man's Hill, Hill No. 320 and Hill No. 304. These battles, among the
fiercest of all history, however, were really little more than
skirmishes, when the entire movement was taken into consideration.
Terrible though they were, after all they were nothing more than small
parts of the great battle of Verdun itself.

From Dead Man's Hill and the other two elevations captured by the French,
the Germans now were pushed clear back to the banks of the river Meuse;
and then they were driven beyond. Thiaumont farm, where Hal and Chester
had seen hard fighting, came once more beneath the French tricolor; and
the German eagle went back farther still.

There was little or no rest for the men in the trenches on either side.
Out would rush the Germans from their trenches in a grand attack upon the
trenches of the French. Hand-to-hand fighting would ensue. Perhaps the
Germans would be driven back. If they were they would make a new effort
an hour or so later.

Perhaps the French would give way and the Germans would occupy the
trenches. A short time later the French would re-form under the very
rifles of the enemy, and, by a grand charge, oust the Germans from their
newly won positions. Then came the work of concentrating and fortifying
the trenches all over again.

It was terrible work, these days before Verdun.

Hal and Chester played no small part in the advance of the French army.
More than once they were despatched upon important missions; and their
fortune had been of the best. Not once had they failed to accomplish a
piece of work entrusted to them. General Petain began to look upon them
as among his best men. Many a piece of work that, a