"We shall have to make a dash for it!" he cried. "One more volley,
men, and then run!"

One more death-dealing volley was delivered at close range, and then
the little troop of English turned and fled. But they had traversed
scarcely half the distance when the Germans reached the edge of the
woods, and poured a volley into them.

Hal groaned as men fell on all sides of him. But still those who were
left ran on. At length they reached the friendly shelter of the trees,
but half their number lay behind, either dead or dying.

Once more, screened from the enemy, Hal halted the men.

"We may as well fight it out here," he told them. "We will hold them
off if we can, and if not we must retreat slowly, keeping behind
whatever cover offers."

A faint cheer went up from the handful who were left, and they turned
determinedly to face their foes. They did not waste their fire. As the
Germans came again into view, the British rifles cracked. Their
marksmanship was superb, and rather than face this deadly fire the
enemy halted.

Then began a game of hide and seek, with death the penalty for all who
were seen. The firing was only at intervals now. Wherever a German arm
or leg showed itself, a British rifle sounded and a German was
accounted for.

For almost half an hour the game continued; and it was kept up until
darkness fell. Fearing that it was the intent of the British to lure
them into the hands of a strong force, the Germans did not attempt a
charge, but contented themselves with trying to pick off their foes as
they flitted from one tree to another.

But if the Germans had suffered, so had the English. Of the little
troop of fifty, there now remained, besides Hal and Chester, but ten
men. The two boys seemed to bear charmed lives, for neither had been
struck once. They had exposed themselves to all dangers as well as had
the troopers, but fortunately no German bullets had reached them.

And still the few English fought on. Now that darkness had fallen and
two more men had dropped, Hal ordered those who were left to make a
last dash for life. He sprang from behind the tree which had sheltered
him, and Chester and the few remaining troopers joined him. Then they
turned and sped as rapidly as the darkness would permit in the
direction of their own lines.

Now that the fire of the English had ceased entirely, the Germans
halted, puzzled. It was impossible for their officers to tell whether
the enemy had all been k