We'll carry him back later," he said. Then, stifling his own feelings
he cried: "Come on!"

Grimly his men followed.

On in the darkness they stumbled, now scarcely seeing where they were
going, and again blinded by fierce lights. Their ears were deafened by
the rattle and bang and roar of big and little guns.

"Why don't you call out?" suggested one of the remaining men in
Jimmy's small command. "Maybe Bob and Roger could hear you and answer.
Then you'd know where they are."

"Good idea! I will!" shouted Jimmy. He had to yell just then, for a
burst of artillery fire from the German lines, answering the guns of
the Americans, drowned all ordinary talk.

Then, when it was comparatively quiet again, Jimmy cried:

"Bob! Roger! Where are you? We're coming to the rescue!"

"Americans over this way!" was shouted in answer. "Over to your
right!"

Whether or not this was either Bob or Roger, Jimmy could not tell. But
the words were English, though immediately afterward could be heard
guttural German voices.

"That's funny!" said one of Jimmy's men. "I thought the main fighting
was over to our left. Now they tell us to go to our right."

"Well, we'll take a chance," said Jimmy.

He turned and was about to lead his small command in that direction
when they were subjected to a fierce burst of fire. There was no time
to drop and escape it, though Jimmy called to the men to lie flat as
soon as he realized that a machine gun was aimed in their direction.
For two of his men there was never any more need of orders. They were
instantly killed, and one was so wounded that he could not move.
This only left Jimmy and two men. But the sergeant had no thought of
turning back.

"Will you stick?" he asked, when the sudden spurt of machine bullets
was over.

"Go ahead!" was the grim reply.

They had hardly taken a dozen paces when from the ground all about
them dark forms suddenly arose, and from what were afterward found to
be shell holes, and the remains of trenches, other forms leaped. There
were commands in German, and, in less time than it takes to tell it,
Jimmy and his two companions were seized by several German soldiers,
their arms taken away, and, after being beaten and kicked, they were
rushed over toward the Hun lines. Dazed, wounded and sick at heart,
Jimmy could hardly understand what had happened. Then it was borne to
him that he and his rescue party--or what was left of it--had been the
victim of a trick. They