And you remember at the battle of the
Somme how the gun crews were chained to their cannon so that they
couldn't run away. You'll notice that we don't use chains or revolvers
for that purpose in the American army."

"I heard Captain Baker tell the colonel the other day that what he
needed was a brake instead of a spur in handling his bunch of
doughboys," chuckled Tom.

"Quit your chinning," commanded Frank suddenly. "Here they come! Now
will you boobs tell me that my eyesight's no good?"

"You win," agreed Bart, as a sharp word of command came down the line.
"They're coming for fair!"

From the thick woods beyond, a huge force of enemy troops were coming,
marching shoulder to shoulder as stiffly and precisely as though they
were on parade or were passing in review before the Kaiser himself.

Their artillery, which had been keeping up a steady fire, now redoubled
in volume, and a protecting barrage was laid down, in the shelter of
which they steadily advanced.

But now the American guns opened up with a roar that shook the ground.
The guns were served with the precision that has made American gunnery
the envy of the world, and great gaps were torn in the dense masses of
the enemy troops. But the lanes filled up instantly, and with hardly a
moment of faltering the advance continued.

As the troops drew nearer, it could be seen that all the men were clad
in brand-new uniforms as though for a festive occasion.

"Getting ready to celebrate in advance," murmured Bart. "They must
feel pretty sure of themselves."

"Just Prussian bluff," growled Tom. "They think it will brace up
Fritz, and that we'll think it's all over but the shouting and lighting
out for home."

"They'll have to take those uniforms to the tailors when we get through
with them," muttered Billy, as he took a tighter grasp on the stock of
his rifle.

"They'll do well enough for shrouds," added Frank grimly.

The advancing troops were now not more than a hundred yards away, and
though their losses had been severe there were so many left that it was
evident it would come to a hand-to-hand fight. The enemy cannon had
torn big rents in the barbed wire entanglements that stretched before
the American position so that it would be possible to get through.

Now the American machine guns began sputtering, and their shrill treble
blended with the deep bass of the heavier field guns. A moment more,
and from the rifles of the American infantry a with