g him along cried out an insulting epithet
and struck Bob across the mouth.

And then the captives were dragged away in the darkness.

CHAPTER XIX

THREE PRISONERS

The two Khaki Boys who had been on listening post duty were at once
disarmed by the Huns, and fairly dragged along in the darkness over
rough ground and among strands of barbed wire that scratched them, and
over stones that bruised them.

Bob had received a cut on the forehead, either from a blow or from a
glancing bullet, and the blood, running down into his eyes, blinded
him temporarily.

"Are you here, Roger?" he managed to gasp, as two burly Germans pulled
him along.

"Yes, old man, I'm here! Say, but this is tough luck!"

Again he was struck and ordered to keep silent.

Back they were hurried toward the German lines, whence had issued the
raiding party that had had such luck as to defeat a small and very
much surprised body of Americans. Perhaps it is not to their credit
to say they were surprised, but the truth must be told. Some one was
negligent, and failed to give the alarm in time.

Mackson and Jones, privates, who had been in the listening post next
to the one where Roger and Bob were stationed, had escaped in the
confusion. Amid the attack and counter-attack, and while the firing
and throwing of hand grenades was hottest, they ran back to the
trenches, calling out word of what had happened.

Jimmy was just coming on duty when the attack of the Germans took
place, and, hearing what Mackson gasped out, cried to him:

"Did you see anything of Bob and Roger?"

"Yes, they're gone!" was the answer.

"Gone? You mean killed?" and Jimmy felt as though his heart would stop
beating.

"No. They put up a good fight, but the Huns were too many for 'em.
Roger and Bob were taken off by the Boches!"

"Captured! Prisoners!" cried Jimmy. For an instant he hardly knew what
to do. The confusion was at its height, and there seemed to be some
demoralization among the Americans at this particular post. But order
was gradually coming out of it. A captain and two lieutenants hurried
up and took charge of matters. A brisk artillery fire was ordered to
sweep the German lines, to prevent, if possible, any further advance
in force. At the same time up and down the trenches and from dugouts
the gallant doughboys poured, ready to take revenge for the attack of
the Huns.

"Come on! Come on!" cried the captain, and with wild cheers and yells
his me