achine-gun nest there may hold up the advance. Maybe it
is holding it up. We've got to clean out the red mill!"

"We're with you!" cried Jimmy and the others.

And, as he spoke and the others cheered their assents, there came
another burst of fierce fire from the machine-guns hidden in the old
red mill. But there was too much elevation and the bullets, this time,
flew harmlessly over the backs of the Yanks.

"Now for it!" cried the lieutenant. "They may have to put in a fresh
belt of cartridges, or the guns may have heated or jammed. We'll take
a chance. We'll make three lines of five each. I'll lead one, and
there'll be six in that. Blaise, you take four men, and Simpson, you
take four. We'll spread out--fan shape--and don't stand upright--run
crouching. Now, Blaise and Simpson, pick your men, and give me the
word when you're ready."

Of course Jimmy picked his four Brothers, and they crawled up behind
him, ready for the word. Sergeant Simpson, a brave but somewhat
reckless lad, had four of his own choosing, and there were five who
crawled over to line up behind the lieutenant.

"All ready?" asked the officer. "Ready," answered Jimmy, and the other
leader gave a like reply.

"Then come on, and may we all live to get there!" cried the gallant
officer.

He arose to a crouching position and started to run toward the red
mill, followed by Jimmy and his four, and Simpson and his quartette.
And, as they rushed on, the automatic guns cut loose again.

The dust in the grain field rose in little spurts as the bullets
struck, and the rattle of the spiteful machine-gun made a chorus with
the snapping and popping of the American rifles. For Jimmy and the
others fired from the hip as they ran.

They could not hope to do much execution on the German gunners,
protected as the latter were by the old mill. But some chance bullet,
entering through crack or crevice, might end the activity of one or
more of the Hun crews. It was the only thing to do, however, until
they could come to hand grips--to cold steel--with the hidden Boches.

"Come on! Come on!" cried the lieutenant.

"Come on! Come on!" echoed Jimmy and Simpson.

They were nearing the red mill now. They could see no one in it, but
the sight of two windows, on either side of the big, open door, seemed
to give evidence of the location of the machine-guns. Smokeless powder
was being used, but there was a thin film of smoke, for all of that,
and this smoke floated fro