it, favored them, or else the Germans were wretched shots,
which last, in a measure, is known to be true.

At any rate, Bob and the Salvation Army man met and Bob took charge of
one of the baskets of doughnuts. That, too, was to be expected.

"Come on--run for it!" yelled the stout lad. "This place is getting
hot!"

And indeed it was, for all about their feet were little spurts of
earth, showing where the bullets were striking. And together they ran
on toward the war-worn, weary figures of the men in the shallow
trenches. Straight to where he had left his comrades Bob led the brave
man, and they were received with a cheer.

Though it was desperately against all orders and discipline for Bob to
do what he had done, not an officer rebuked him. And then the "fried
holes" were quickly handed out to the fortunate ones in that section
of the line, the officers refusing any, so that the weary men might
have some little refreshment.

"Halves only--each man only take a half!" cried Ned, when he saw how
many men there were and how few--in spite of the two big baskets--the
doughnuts were.

Bob looked a trifle crestfallen, but he agreed with a smile, and to
his eternal credit be it said that when he broke the one doughnut he
saved for himself, and it came apart in two unequal pieces, he gave
the larger section to a comrade on his right.

"Bravo, Chunky!" said Jerry softly, as he observed.

And then, as if in horrible contrast to this peaceful scene, the
battle began again.

"Forward!" came the orders, and the three chums, with their comrades,
sprang from their shelter.

And as Bob left the shallow hole he had dug for himself to see what
became of the Salvation Army man, he saw him roll gently over on his
side, a little hole in his forehead showing where death had entered
from one of the hundreds of bullets that were now sweeping down among
the troops. But there was a smile on his lips.

And there died a very brave and gallant gentleman.

Burst and roar and rumble and thunder and shriek and yell and cry and
sob succeeded, accompanied and overlapped one another. The battle was
on again in all its horrid fury.

Forward rushed the troops, freshened by their rest, with more
ammunition of death. Forward they rushed, driving the Germans back,
out of the trenches improvised by the Huns. Forward they rushed while
the American guns lifted the barrage to protect them, and the German
cannon crashed out their answer.

On they