ed to the
onlookers the reality of a desperate race of life and death.

Close to the nearer edge of the gully stood a solitary figure, that of
Corporal Noll Terry, who had had charge of the men laying the tree trunk
across the gully.

Noll still stood by, watching, ready to be at hand if anything happened.
One other man watched, though from a considerable distance.

This man was Private Hinkey, who alone knew the secret of his willing
industry since reaching this camp.

Hinkey, unseen by others, had managed treacherously to "fix" the log in
a manner that had defied detection.

[Illustration: Sergeant Hal's Forward Wheel Struck the Log.]

"There'll be an end to the sergeant kid, in two seconds more!" gloated
the rascal.

Sergeant's Hal's forward wheel struck the log, throwing full weight upon
it. There was a snapping crackle, then a shriek from thousands.

For the log had snapped in two, and Sergeant Hal Overton, thrown head
downward, was on his way to a broken neck at the bottom of the gully.

CHAPTER XIII

CHASING A SPEEDING DESERTER

INSTEAD of one, there were two flying bodies headed toward the gully's
bottom. Corporal Noll Terry, standing there, had heard the ominous
crackle of snapping wood.

If there is one thing that a soldier is taught above another, it is to
think and move swiftly at a critical moment.

Noll saw the tree trunk sag downward, in just the fraction of a second
ere it broke.

Nor did Corporal Terry wait to see more.

With his eyes on his bunkie, Terry made a prompt leap downward.

He had the advantage of landing on his feet. He was jarred, but there
was no time to stop to think of that.

At a bound he was far enough forward, his arms outstretched, to swing
hold of head-downward Hal Overton.

The impact might have been too much. Sergeant Hal might even yet have
landed on his head. But, as he threw him arms around Hal, Corporal Terry
threw himself over backward.

He fell with a thump, but was shaken up--no bones broken.

Sergeant Hal landed on top of his bunkie unhurt.

In an instant they separated, each leaping to his feet.

The falling halves of the tree trunk had fallen perilously close to the
boyish non-coms., yet by a stroke of good fortune neither of the
comrades had been struck.

"Thank you, old bunkie! The best ever!" glowed Hal, as without a
backward look he raced to pick up his wheel. "Hurt?"

"Not a bit," gasped Noll, his wind jarred out of him for the