hizzing past them.

"Well, they have seen us now," said Hal; then turning to the men: "To
the woods," pointing with his sword to a dense forest on his right.

Rapidly the little body of men disappeared among the trees.

"Up in the trees," ordered Hal, "and pick them off as they come!"

Swiftly the troopers leaped from their horses and climbed up among the
branches. Here all could easily command a view of the oncoming German
horde.

Rapidly the enemy advanced, firing volley after volley as they
approached; then, at a word from Hal, the British poured forth their
answer. And such an answer! Before the aim of these few British
troopers, accounted among the best marksmen in the world, the Teuton
cavalry went down in heaps.

There was a perceptible slackening in the speed of the approaching
horsemen. Then, as the English continued their work, firing with
machine-like precision and deadly accuracy, the Germans came to a
halt.

"What are they stopping for?" cried Chester. "There are enough of them
to overwhelm us!"

"I believe they fear a trap," replied Hal. "They are afraid we are
trying to ambush them with a larger force. We must keep up the
delusion if we expect to get away."

So saying, he ordered the men to the ground, and the little force
advanced to the extreme edge of the woods. So far not a man had been
even wounded, for the Germans, unable to see that their foe had
climbed into the trees, had aimed too low.

From the edge of the woods the British poured several volleys, and
then, as the enemy finally began an advance, they retreated slowly,
firing as they flitted from tree to tree.

Apparently, Hal had rightly guessed the cause of the enemy's
indecision. They advanced slowly and warily; and when they finally
gained the edge of the woods there was not a Briton in sight; but from
further in among the trees the leaden messengers of death still struck
the Germans, and man after man fell in his tracks.

Now the man nearest Chester threw up his arms and with a cry fell to
the ground. The lad made as if to go to his assistance, but Hal stayed
him with a word, and the little body of English continued their
retreat, firing as they went.

Suddenly the pursued emerged from the woods into the open. A distance
of half a mile lay between them and the next clump of trees. In this
half a mile there was nothing that would afford shelter; and the
Germans were approaching nearer every second.

Hal did not hesitate.