g, and the moving of the men along the
trenches to the posts assigned to them. Each squad of men was in
charge of an officer, commissioned or noncommissioned, and in Jerry's
squad were Ned and Bob.

"Go over the top with a rush when you get the signal, which will be
three whistles after the barrage has ceased," were the instructions,
and Ned, Bob, and Jerry, with their comrades, prepared to do this.

There was a period of tense waiting and then, with a suddenness that
shook their nerves and bodies, as well as the whole earth about them,
the big guns opened fire.

That the Germans were taken by surprise was evident by the failure to
answer. For perhaps five minutes it seemed as though a thousand of the
most terrific of thunder storms had been condensed into one.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the firing ceased. The "zero hour"
had arrived.

Three shrill whistles, repeated from many points, sounded on the now
silent but quivering air. Not a German gun had yet awakened.

"Over the top!" came the cry, and the friends, with thousands of other
brave lads, scrambled up the ladders from the trenches and started
toward the German lines.

CHAPTER XVII

"FRIED HOLES"

Ned, Bob, and Jerry were stationed in a sector which was alternately
defending the lines against the Germans and attacking them in that
part of the country where the trend of the war eventually led up to
the terrific battles of St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. But, up to
this time, no one had guessed that the whole nature of the war would
be so quickly changed with the advent of the Americans, nor was it
suspected what terrible fighting would have to be undertaken by our
boys; though, of course, they were ready for the worst.

So that the battle in which the Motor Boys and their comrades were now
about to engage was merely what was termed a local engagement.

Nevertheless, it meant everything--life and death--to those engaged in
it, though there was never a thought of death in the hearts of any of
the brave men who went over the top as the big guns ceased thundering
and the shrill whistles gave the signal.

"Come on, boys!" yelled Jerry, as he led Bob and Ned forward,
followed by the others in the particular squad of which Jerry had
charge. "Come on!"

"Yi! Yi! Yip!" screamed a young giant from the South, as he leaped
ahead of some of his chums to the side of Jerry. "Show the Fritzies
how we fight!"

And together he and Jerry rushed