lung himself to the ground right up against the
barrier. Here, for the moment, he was safe, for the lads could not get
at him without leaning over the barrier and thus exposing themselves to
the fire of the others.

A second Austrian leaped to his feet and dashed forward. This time,
however, Hal did not hurry, and picked the man off with ease. Hardly had
his weapon spoken, when a shot from below went whizzing by his head. Hal
tumbled back to safety rapidly.

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "We'll have to get that fellow away from
there. He almost got me that time."

"Yes; but how?" demanded Chester.

Hal considered the situation for some moments in silence. Then he passed
one of his two revolvers to Chester.

"You blaze away as rapidly as you can at the Austrians with those two
guns," he said. "Never mind whether you see anything to shoot at or not.
Just shoot when I give the word. That'll keep those fellows under cover.
I'll attend to this one."

"What are you going to do?" asked Chester.

"I'm going over after him!" said Hal grimly.

"But he is liable to kill you!" exclaimed Chester in alarm.

"If I don't get him," said Hal quietly, "he is sure to kill us both
before long. Here goes!"

At the moment that he sprang to the top of the barrier, Chester opened
upon the Austrians with both weapons. The man on the opposite side of
the barrier was taken by surprise by Hal's sudden action. Hal toppled
over upon him without warning. With a startled cry the Austrian raised
his weapon to fire, but Hal was too quick for him.

His revolver, less than a foot from the man's head, spoke sharply. Hal
waited long enough to see that the work had been well done, then rose to
his feet, placed his hand upon the barrier, and, amid a hail of bullets
from the other Austrians, vaulted back to safety.

"I got him!" he told Chester quietly, as he turned and emptied his own
revolver at the enemy, who seemed on the point of rushing forward.

Quickly Chester reloaded his own revolvers, and it was well that he did
so, for the enemy seemed to be manifesting a desire to come forward to
the attack, apparently believing that the lads were out of ammunition.

The lads had now accounted for eight of the enemy, but they were not so
foolish as to believe that the Austrians would remain in their present
position and be picked off one at a time.

"They'll make a rush soon!" declared Chester.

"Well," replied Hal, "when they do we'll be ready fo