t the captain's horse went down, but, with a quick movement
of his arm, guarding his head from a saber stroke, the young Frenchman
seized the bridle of a riderless animal, and with a single movement swung
himself to the back of his new charger. In another moment he was once
more in the middle of the fighting, dealing out death on every hand.

The Germans gave way, slowly at first, then faster; and at length they
turned and fled. As they did so, the guns from the fort poured a hail of
lead into them, mowing them down as they retreated. The Belgian cavalry
retired to the support of the fort. The German charge had failed!

And now messages filtered in from other parts of the field. The
Belgians had been successful all along the line, with the exception of
one point, which had permitted the Germans to enter the city of Liege.
The losses of the Germans had been appalling; those of the Belgians
comparatively light.

"Can the Belgians fight?" asked Hal, when the Germans had withdrawn. "Can
they fight? Well--"

His silence was more expressive than words.

"It's too bad we were unable to take part in the battle," declared
Chester. "It certainly gives me a restless feeling to sit here and look
on while others are doing all the fighting."

"It does make a fellow feel a little queer," Hal replied. "But, supposing
we had been in that charge--where would we be now?"

Chester shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps here, and then again--perhaps, some place else," he answered.
"Who knows?"

"Neither you nor I, surely," replied Hal. "But think of the dead and
dying on the field out there. War is a terrible thing!"

"It is," declared Chester; "and the more I see of it the more I realize
that fact. But come. Let us see if we can find the captain."

It was almost an hour later before they accidentally ran across him, and
the young Frenchman carried his arm in a sling.

"It looks as though I am likely to be on the hospital list for a few
days," said the captain, smilingly.

"It's a wonder to me your name is not on the death list," replied
Chester.

"Indeed it is," agreed Hal. "We watched you through a glass from the
fort. Your action was magnificent. France can well be proud of you.
Believe me, you will not remain a captain long."

"As for that," replied the young Frenchman, "I have just learned that I
have been recommended for promotion."

The boys congratulated him, but he waved them aside laughingly.

"It is no more than y