for yet other encounters, notwithstanding that their foes now
had all the points of the play so strongly in their favour.

In their turn Max and Dale told the story of their fight against the
Germans; how they had waged an industrial, but equally open, war upon
them, and had inflicted damage that had had a high moral as well as
material effect. The story was not without its effect even upon men who
understood most the warfare of bullet and bayonet, and Max and his
friend were viewed with an increased respect as men of action as well as
interpreters and guides.

One thing struck Max forcibly in the little band of which he had to all
intents and purposes now become a member, and that was the fine spirit
of discipline and camaraderie among them. Corporal Shaw was the only
non-commissioned officer present, and the French soldiers accepted his
lead as unhesitatingly as their British comrades. All food obtained was
rationed out equally, and turns were taken with the carrying of the
half-dozen rifles.

In spite of the careful and rapid way in which the retreat from the
dangerous neighbourhood of the former haunts of the band was carried
out, it seemed that they were not to escape unscathed. In crossing a
road, little more than a track, about four miles from the railway, they
must have been seen by a German soldier, himself unseen, on the
look-out, for they heard a loud shout of warning, and almost immediately
after the tramping of horses' hoofs as though a body of cavalrymen were
hastily mounting.

"Guns to the rear!" ordered Corporal Shaw curtly, and the six men
carrying rifles, three British and three French, dropped to the rear of
the little party and spread out in open order on either side of the line
of retreat.

"If they're cavalry hadn't we better retreat through the most broken
country we can find?" enquired Max suggestively.

Corporal Shaw nodded and led the way in the direction indicated. The
noise of the pursuing cavalry drew nearer, and the Corporal turned
suddenly to Max: "Do you lead the retreat, lad. You know where we're
bound better than I do. Keep only just in front of the men with the
guns--we're going to give them a fight for their money."

The retreat was being made along a narrow track through rough and broken
country overgrown with short, thick undergrowth. Looking back, Max saw
that the six men with guns had disappeared, and the only men in sight
were the bunch he was himself leading, and three