desperately to push out
into the river. But Frank leaped at the bow of one boat and held it,
while Bart and Billy with their comrades did the same to others.

In a few minutes the fight was over. It had been a hot one while it
lasted. Several of the Americans had been killed and quite a number
wounded, but their loss had been largely exceeded by that of the enemy.
Not a boat got back, and all who had not been killed remained as
prisoners in American hands.

While the action was in progress, another fleet of equal size had
started out. This had been designed to reinforce the first party if it
had succeeded in gaining a footing. But the utter collapse of the
first effort had taught the enemy that the bank was too strongly held
and they stopped in midstream and rowed back.

"Even a Heinie can see through a milestone when there's a hole in it,"
commented Billy, as he watched the enemy retreating.

"It's a pity they don't keep on," said Bart. "I'm just getting my
blood up."

"First bit of marine fighting we've done yet," laughed Frank. "We can
say now that we belong to both branches of the service."

"All we need now is a fight in the air to make the thing complete,"
said Bart, "and we came pretty near to that, too, when we were with
Dick that time in his bombing machine."

With their boat plan thwarted, the German commanders now centered all
their attention on the bridge. One or two surprise attacks at night
were detected and driven back, but the enemy did not give up.

At dusk on the day following the fight in the stream they made the
great attack. True to their tactics, they apparently took no account
of the lives of their men. The taking of the bridge was bound to
result in tremendous slaughter. Every foot of it was swept by the
American guns. But the enemy leaders had determined that the bridge
must be taken, no matter how high a price they paid for the taking. It
was easier for the leaders to reach this conclusion since it was the
men who would pay the price rather than themselves.

A tremendous artillery fire paved the way for the operation. Then,
just as twilight was gathering, a strong body of enemy troops, marching
in heavy columns, attempted to storm the bridge.

Beyond the first ranks could be seen other columns standing in reserve.
The great climax was approaching. The German command at that point had
determined to stake everything on one throw.

On they came to the death awaiting the