the party of night-raiders must have resembled the
dead all about them, for no firing followed the illumination of star
shells.

Then, when it was dark again, the party rose and went on. Good luck
attended them thus far, in that they reached the German barbed wire
undiscovered. Then began the ticklish work of cutting it, and in this
there was much danger.

For some of the wire was under great tension, and, when cut, made a
twanging sound like a broken harp or piano string. And this sound
carried far in the silence of that sector. Other sectors were not so
quiet, for firing was going on along both lines of trenches, though
what movement was under way the Motor Boys did not know.

The sound of the wire as it was cut was deadened as much as possible
by having a man hold the strand on either side of the place to be cut.
This helped some, but not always, as the wire twisted itself from the
grips of the soldiers, and sometimes the barbs injured them.

"All cut, Lieutenant," reported Jerry, as the final strand was
severed. The commanding officer had been on watchful patrol while this
was being done.

"Good!" was the low-voiced answer. "Come on, now. Every man with a
grenade in either hand!"

Once more the party went forward. They were past the first German
barbed wire now, but the way was still not completely open, for more
opposing strands were found farther on. However, this was not
unexpected, for often three or more lines of this American invention
were to be found opposing the American forces.

Once more the cutters were called into play, and as the last strand
was severed a dog, somewhere within the Hun lines, barked. Instantly
all in the raiding party crouched down, for a burst of star shells
might follow immediately.

However, the dog must have been believed to be a false alarmist, or
else he was barking at some other disturbance than that caused by the
raiders, for darkness still reigned.

Then, after waiting a moment to make sure all was right, the
lieutenant led his men forward. So far they had not been challenged by
the enemy, but now this immunity was to end, for when they had passed
the final wire barrier and were advancing with tense steps toward the
German dugout, with grenades in readiness, there came a sharp,
guttural order to halt.

It was in the German tongue, as they all knew, and they all realized
that the crucial moment had come.

The lieutenant, seeing a figure in the darkness before him,