G.

Quickly the captain formed and outlined a plan. Then, gathering his
men behind him at the door, he prepared for a sortie. Among the troops
were a few engineers, the captain ascertained upon inquiry, and these
he placed at the extreme rear of the little body.

When all was ready, the captain opened the doors and stepped out. Hal
and Chester were right behind him. It was very dark, and, as there was
no light in the house, Germans who were on guard, being a considerable
distance back to avoid the fire of the British defenders, did not at
first make out the forms flitting silently from the house.

Half the little troop had emerged before a single rifle shot, followed
by a volley, gave notice that they had been discovered. Then, at a
word from Captain Anderson, the British charged right at their enemy.

Not a shot was fired until they were at close quarters, in spite of
the fact that the German fire was not ineffective. Then, as the men
spread out in a long line, they blazed forth their answer, and, hard
upon this, charged with the bayonet.

Apparently the Germans had not prepared for such a move on the part of
the enemy, for they gave ground rapidly. The skirmish was brief, with
success to the British.

The Germans in flight, Captain Anderson, Hal and Chester soon found
the Viviers road, and led their men along at double time. The two
miles were covered quickly, and finally the three could make out in
the darkness what appeared to be a factory. Closer approach showed
that this what it was.

"Must be a temporary affair," said Captain Anderson, in a low voice.
"And what are those objects nearby?"

Hal peered through the darkness.

"Look like armored automobiles to me," he said.

"And so they are," declared Chester. "And there must be twenty of
them. Seems to me an act of providence must have put them there. We
couldn't want anything better to escape in."

"You are right," declared the captain.

The captain now divided his men into three forces, one of which he
commanded, the other two being led by Hal and Chester.

The first column approached to within fifty yards of the automobiles
before being discovered. Then the cry of a German sentry rang out.

At the word of command, the British opened fire, and again charged
with fixed bayonets. But the German guard was strong, and evidently
had been on the alert against a possible surprise.

A rapid-fire gun stationed near the automobiles opened fire. The first