!"

"I guess I have," replied Hal feebly. "But anyhow it's an escape. Did you
deliver the letter to General Givet?"

"Yes."

At this juncture, a nurse approached.

"You must go now," she told Chester. "Your friend must have perfect quiet
for the remainder of the day."

"All right," replied Chester, and then turning to Hal:

"Well, good-by, old man. I'll be here the first thing in the morning."

"Good-by," replied Hal. "Now, don't you worry about me. I shall be
all right."

Chester made his way from the hospital.

"By George!" he muttered, as he walked down the street. "I wish it had
been me that was wounded instead of good old Hal. It's certainly tough on
him, but he sure does bear up bravely."

As Chester continued down the street, he was brought to a sudden halt by
the sound of firing from the outskirts of the city; and a moment later a
mounted officer dashed through the street, shouting:

"The Germans! The Germans are approaching!"

People along the street took up the cry and the air was filled with the
sound of startled voices:

"The Germans! The Germans!"

Dashing squadrons of cavalry swept through the streets on their way to
the front; people jumped out of the way as the artillery was hurried by;
and then came columns upon columns of infantry on a quick run.

It was plainly evident that an attack by the Germans had not been
anticipated; but now that the enemy was close at hand, everything
possible was being done for the defense of the city.

Chester hurried in the wake of the troops, and, as he did so, the first
screaming shell burst over his head. He was hurled to the ground, but
escaped injury. The crowds that had thronged the streets a moment before
vanished as if by magic.

The flying shells now screamed incessantly overhead. From the front
came the deafening roar of many guns, and the crash of thousands
upon thousands of rifles. Suddenly the screams of many voices rose,
as a building, not far from where Chester stood, was blown into a
million pieces.

For a moment Chester was awe-stricken and stood still.

"This is terrible!" he muttered to himself. "Terrible!"

He was struck by a sudden thought.

"Suppose one of those shells should strike the hospital?" he said to
himself. "What would happen then? What would happen to Hal?"

Turning, he hurried back in the direction from which he had come. Was it
a premonition, or what?

As he turned the corner and the hospital came into view, a