column of men was literally annihilated, Captain Anderson himself
going to the ground with a severe wound in his chest. Not one of the
troopers reached the automobile.

Seeing what had happened to the first column, Hal and Chester were
more wary. They approached from two directions, and, before the
machine-gun could be turned upon them, were at hand grips with the
enemy.

A squad of men hurled themselves upon the German gunners, and this
weapon spoke no more. Then the British advanced upon the aviators, who
stood near to guard their machines.

Both sides were fighting in small groups, and at once began a fierce
interchange of shots at a distance of fifteen yards. The airmen, who
were crouching along the edge of the road, answered the British fire
with great bravery and vigor.

While this fighting was in progress, the detachments of engineers,
which had been in the extreme rear of the British columns, armed with
improvised tools, hurled themselves upon the aeroplanes. With sure
blows from their rifle butts, and whatever other implements they
could lay hands on nearby, they destroyed the motors, the gasoline
reservoirs and the running gear of the German machines.

At this moment one of the armored automobiles burst into flames. A
fierce red glare shot high into the air, lighting up the scene of
carnage with great brilliancy.

While the little column commanded by Chester now withdrew a short
distance, the lad having ordered this in the hope that he might
find Captain Anderson still alive, Hal, with the comparatively few
remaining men, advanced to one of the armored automobiles, in which
stood a German officer, directing his men.

The officer opened fire on these few British with an automatic
revolver. Two men fell. Hal felt a bullet graze his arm, but not
before he had discharged his own weapon against the chest of his
opponent, who fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

A second German, whom Hal had not noticed in the machine before,
brought his rifle butt down over Hal's head. But the lad's quick eye
had seen the descending weapon, and his upraised arm warded off the
blow. His left arm, however, fell to his side numb, and he stumbled
and fell to the ground.

He was up in a moment, and sprang upon the German, one arm still
hanging by his side, and his revolver gone. The German brought his
rifle to bear, but, stepping quickly forward, the lad struck up the
weapon, even as the German pressed the trigger.

Wit