ened and gnarled stumps high in the air. And with the stumps were
mingled poor, twisted human bodies.

For one terrible moment Jimmy feared for Franz and Iggy, whom he had
last noted almost at the very spot where the shell exploded. His heart
turned faint within him. But it was no time to falter. One must not
halt nor turn back even though one's own brother were torn to pieces.
Forward was the word in that grim and terrible fighting. Forward to
your own death, perhaps, to the death of those you held most dear!
Forward to insure life and happiness for those who would come after!
Such was the sacred duty!

And then, to his great relief, Jimmy heard a voice he knew well
exclaim:

"Ach! Him was one big whizz-bang, yes!"

"You said it, Iggy!" shouted Franz, and Jimmy saw his two comrades
emerge from the smoke and dust cloud, and rush forward. They had
just escaped death by the shell, which sent into eternity six beloved
bunkies of the 509th.

"Well, they're alive yet!" grimly mused Jimmy, as he fired and
crouched down. A look to the right showed him Roger and Bob doing the
same thing. So far the five Brothers had suffered no harm.

But the battle was only beginning. The German big guns had not yet
opened in force to reply to the challenge of the American heavy
artillery. So far the barrage had, in a great measure, protected our
lads. Now they were to move forward again. The guns at the rear
were elevated, to send the bursting shrapnel further into the German
ranks--to prevent them from rushing at the advancing American troops.

And now was a critical time, for even in spite of the barrage some
parties of Huns, in bomb-proofs, might suddenly arise and confront the
Americans. There was a chance for close fighting.

But it did not come. That part of No Man's Land over which Jimmy and
his chums were advancing, leaping from shell crater to mud hole, and
from one slimy pool to another, seemed to have been cleared of Huns.

Once again came the explosion of a comparatively large shell, and
again, hurled aloft in a shower of stones and dirt, went the bodies of
a half score of Americans. The Germans were taking frightful toll.

"This way! This way!" suddenly ordered the lieutenant. "Into the
woods!"

Jimmy saw a large grove of trees on his left. He turned toward them,
and he noted that Franz and Iggy were ahead of him, while Bob and
Roger came in the rear.

And, just as they reached the somewhat sheltering woods, there