illed, or whether the silence heralded the
approach of a larger force. Their indecision undoubtedly saved the
lives of Hal and Chester and the eight troopers, for had the Germans
advanced they would have experienced little difficulty in killing or
capturing them.

Silently but swiftly the ten forms dashed through the woods, and when
at length they once more emerged into the open country they were
completely exhausted.

"Well, I guess we are safe, what is left of us, at any rate," said
Chester as they halted to take a much needed rest. "It's terrible to
think of those poor fellows we left behind."

"It is, indeed," replied Hal; "but I don't think they would complain.
The British soldier is not that kind."

"You are right," agreed Chester. "And each accounted for more than one
of his country's foes before he went down. Were you hit, Hal?"

"No. Were you?"

"No. But come, we had better be pushing on again."

With the loss of their comrades still preying upon their minds, the
little troop continued on its way; and while they are hurrying onward
we shall take time to introduce Hal and Chester more fully to those
who have not met them before, and to relate how it came about that
they were serving in such an important capacity with the British army
in France.

CHAPTER II.

TWO YOUNG LIEUTENANTS.

Sturdy American lads, young though they were, Hal Paine and Chester
Crawford had, when this story opens, already seen considerable
military service. Each had received his baptism of fire during the
heroic defense of the Belgian city of Liege, which had held out for
days against the overwhelming horde of Teutons.

In Berlin with Hal's mother when the war broke out, they had been
separated from her and left behind. With Captain Raoul Derevaux, a
gallant French officer, and Lieutenant Harry Anderson of the British
army, they finally succeeded in making their way, after many desperate
experiences and daring adventures, over the Belgian frontier, as told
in the first book of this series, entitled "The Boy Allies at Liege."
They had reached Liege in time to take an active part in the defense
of that city.

In escaping from Germany, each had done his full share of fighting and
each had been wounded. They had finally reached Brussels, where they
remained some time, while Hal's wound healed sufficiently to continue
his homeward journey. As the result of their heroic actions, the
Belgian commander at Liege had mentioned