we had the rations in the back room," commented Roger, "Else
we'd go hungry."

"We may yet," returned Jimmy, grimly.

"What do you mean!" asked Bob, anxiously.

"Well, I don't believe that was a chance shot," went on the young
sergeant. "If they see the mill still standing they may try another,
and that may take off the roof. And then----"

"Whoa! Hold on a minute! A little at a time!" protested Bob. "This is
enough. Don't give us any more."

"We've got to know where we're at!" declared Jimmy, and there was a
new quality to his voice. "If this mill is within range of the German
guns, and, unquestionably, it is, we've got to get out."

"Or go down cellar," added Roger.

"I don't believe any cellar, unless it was double bomb proof, would be
safe if another shell like that came over," said Franz.

"Was it a German shell or one of ours?" asked Bob. "That would be
interesting to know. I don't suppose, though," he went on, "that it
really makes much difference, after you're dead, whether you're killed
by an enemy shell, or by one fired in mistake by one of your friends.
At the same time if the American guns have come up it may mean that
the Germans will have to retreat and we'll be safe."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," declared Jimmy. "It will mean
a big battle, anyhow, if the Americans and some of the French and
British have come up. And that may mean we'll have a chance to join
our friends. But, in the meantime, maybe we can tell whether that was
a Hun shell, sent to blow this mill off the earth, or whether it was
from the good old United States."

Cautiously they advanced across the floor, toward what had been the
front of the mill. Caution was necessary, for with the collapse of the
front wall and part of the sides, the floor supports were weakened.

"No telling where that shell landed," declared Bob. "It's buried deep,
and about ten tons of mortar and bricks are on top of it. If we had
seen it coming----"

"Look out--duck!" suddenly yelled Franz, as he grabbed Jimmy, who was
nearest him and darted toward the rear of the structure.

"What's the matter?" cried Bob.

"Another shell coming!" shouted Franz, and, even as he spoke there was
that horrid screeching sound. "Duck!"

Together they ran to the farthest corner of the old mill. Whether it
would have been better to have tried to get out none of them stopped
to think. They were in a panic.

And then came the explosion, but so distant that it