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 "NOW!" HAL GAVE THE WORD SUDDENLY. IMMEDIATELY THE TWO 
 
 LADS TOOK TO THEIR HEELS. 
 
 The Bov Allies at Verdun. Page fit.
 
 The Boy Allies 
 At Verdun 
 
 OR 
 
 Saving France from the Enemy 
 By CLAIR W. HAYES 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 "The Boy Allies At Liege" 
 
 "The Boy Allies On the Firing Line" 
 
 "The Boy Allies With the Cossacks" 
 
 "The Boy Allies In the Trenches'* 
 
 "The Boy Allies On the Somme"
 
 Copyright, 191 f 
 By A. L. Burt Company 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES ?T VERDUfc
 
 - 
 
 THE BOY ALLIES AT 
 VERDUN 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE EVE OF VERDUN 
 
 On the twenty-second of February, igiii, aw 
 automobile sped northward along the Frewck ba<tle 
 line that for almost two years had hell back the 
 armies of the German emperor, strive as they 
 would to win their way farther intw the heart of 
 France. For months the opposing forces had 
 battled to a draw from the Nortk Sea to the bound- 
 ary of Switzerland, until now, as the day waned 
 it was almost six o'clock the hands of time drew 
 closer and closer to the hour that was to mark the 
 opening of the most bitter and destructive battle of 
 the war, up to this time. 
 
 It was the eve of the battle of Verdun. 
 
 The occupants of the automobile as it sped north- 
 ward numbered three. In the front seat, alone at 
 the driver's wheel, a young man bent low. He was 
 
 3
 
 4 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 garbed in the uniform of a British lieutenant of 
 cavalry. Close inspection would have revealed the 
 fact that the young man was a youth of some 
 eighteen years, fair and good to look upon. As the 
 machine sped along he kept his eyes glued to the 
 road ahead and did not once turn to join in the 
 conversation of the two occupants on the rear seat. 
 Whether he knew that there was a conversation in 
 progress it is impossible to say, but the rush of 
 wind would have made the conversation unintel- 
 ligible, to say the least. 
 
 This youth on the front seat was Hal Paine, an 
 American. 
 
 The two figures in the rear seat were apparently 
 having a hard time to maintain their places, as they 
 bounced from side to side as the car swerved first 
 one way and then the other, or as it took a flying 
 leap over some object in the road, which even the 
 keen eye of the driver had failed to detect. But in 
 spite of this, even as they bounced, they talked. 
 
 One of the two figures was tall and slender and 
 there was about him an air of youthfulness. He 
 was in fact a second American boy. His name 
 was Chester Crawford, friend and bosom compan- 
 ion of Hal Paine. Like the latter he, too, was 
 attired in the uniform of a British lieutenant of 
 cavalry. 
 
 The second figure in the rear seat was built along 
 different lines. He was short and chunky; also.
 
 AT VERDUN 5 
 
 he was stout. Had he been standing it would have 
 been evident that he was almost as wide as he was 
 long. He had a pleasant face and smiled occa- 
 sionally, though upon each occasion this smile died 
 away in a sickly grin as the car leaped high in the 
 air after striking a particularly large obstruction in 
 the road, or veering crazily to one side as it turned 
 sharply. In each case the grin was succeeded by a 
 gasp for breath. 
 
 The figure was that of Mr. Anthony Stubbs, war 
 correspondent of the New York Gazette, on the 
 firing line in Europe to gather facts for his news- 
 paper. He was attired in a riding suit of khaki. 
 
 Said Mr. Stubbs : 
 
 "Well, we may get there and we may not." 
 
 "Oh, we'll get there all right, Mr. Stubbs !" Ches- 
 ter raised his voice to make himself heard. 
 
 "We're likely to land out here in the ditch," was 
 Stubbs' reply. "The way Hal runs this car, there 
 is no telling what may happen." 
 
 "Not frightened, are you, Mr. Stubbs?" asked 
 Chester, grinning. 
 
 "Frightened?" echoed Stubbs. "Why should I 
 be frightened? We can't be going more than a 
 couple of hundred miles an hour. No, I'm not 
 frightened. I'm what you call scared. Wow !" 
 
 This last ejaculation was drawn from the little 
 man as he was pitched over into Chester's lap by 
 an extra violent lurch of the car. He threw out
 
 6 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 a hand, seeking a hold, and his open palm came in 
 contact with Chester's face. Chester thrust Stubbs 
 away from him. 
 
 "I say, Stubbs!" said the lad half angrily. "If 
 you want to jump out of here, all right; but don't 
 try and push me out ahead of you. Keep your 
 hands out of my face." 
 
 "I wasn't trying to push you out," gasped Stubbs. 
 "I was hunting something to hang on to." 
 
 "Well, my face is no strap," declared Chester. 
 
 The automobile slowed down suddenly and a mo- 
 ment later came to a stop at a fork in the road. 
 
 "I'll have to have a look at this chart," Hal 
 called over his shoulder to his companions, as he 
 thrust a hand into a pocket. "Forget which way 
 we head from here." 
 
 "We're headed for the happy hunting grounds no 
 matter which road we take," mumbled Stubbs. 
 
 "Don't croak, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal. "Barring 
 accidents, we'll reach General Petain at Verdun in 
 time to deliver these despatches before it's too late." 
 
 "What I don't understand," said Chester, "is why 
 it is necessary to deliver these despatches by courier. 
 What's the matter with the wire?" 
 
 "I don't know," said Hal, as he returned the 
 chart to his pocket after a quick scrutiny, "unless 
 there is a leak of some kind." 
 
 "Hardly," said Chester. 
 
 Hal shrugged his shoulders as he settled his cap
 
 AT VERDUN . 7 
 
 more firmly on his head and laid a hand on the 
 wheel. 
 
 "You never can tell," he said. 
 
 "Well," said Stubbs, "I don't hey! what're you 
 trying to do, anyhow?" 
 
 For the little man again had been hurled violently 
 against Chester as Hal sent the car forward with 
 a lurch. "Trying to leave me behind ? What ?" 
 
 "Can't be done, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs glared at the lad angrily, but deigned 
 to make no reply. So the big army automobile con- 
 tinued on its way in silence. 
 
 Darkness fell. Hal stopped the car and lighted 
 the lamps. 
 
 "Can't take any chances while going at this 
 speed," he said. 
 
 Stubbs grinned feebly to himself, seemed as if 
 about to speak, then thought better of it and re- 
 mained silent. But he waved a hand in disgust. 
 
 A moment later the car was rushing through the 
 darkness at the speed of an express train ; and while 
 this journey in the night continues it will be well to 
 explain the presence of the three companions in the 
 big army car, how they came there and why, and 
 the nature of the mission upon which they were 
 bound. 
 
 A month before the three had been in the Bal- 
 kans. There the two lads, together with Anthony 
 Stubbs, had gone through many dangerous adven-
 
 8 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 tures, finally reaching Greek soil in the nick of 
 time, with a horde of Bulgarians just behind them. 
 With them had been others Ivan, a Cossack, a 
 third British officer and a young girl. Ivan had 
 elected to join the Anglo-French forces at Salonika ; 
 the other British officer had found his own regi- 
 ment there and the girl, whom it had been the good 
 fortune of the boys to save from the Bulgarians, 
 found friends in the Greek city who had taken her 
 in charge. 
 
 Hal, Chester and Stubbs had embarked on a 
 French battleship, homeward bound. After due 
 time they landed in Marseilles. 
 
 "Now," said Chester, when he once more felt 
 French soil under his feet, "I suppose the thing for 
 us to do is to return to the Italian lines and see if 
 we can learn anything of Uncle John, then return to 
 Rome and to New York." 
 
 Uncle John was the brother of Chester's mother. 
 All had been bound for home when Hal and Chester 
 had become involved in a matter that took them for- 
 ward with the Italian troops. Uncle John had been 
 along to keep them out of mischief, if he could. He 
 hadn't succeeded and had fallen into the hands of 
 the Austrians. The boys had saved him. Later 
 they had been forced to seek refuge in the Balkans, 
 having found it impossible to get back into the Ital- 
 ian lines, and they had lost Uncle John. Their 
 arrival in Marseilles had really been the first step
 
 AT VERDUN 9 
 
 toward a return to Rome, where they intended to 
 try and find their mothers. 
 
 But their plans to return to Rome did not materi- 
 alize. As Hal said : "Luck was with us." 
 
 In a little room in a Marseilles restaurant they 
 had overheard a conversation between two men, 
 plainly foreigners, that had resulted in their once 
 more being sent on active service. While they had 
 been unable to gather all the details, they had 
 learned enough to know that the German Crown 
 Prince had laid careful plans for an attack on Ver- 
 dun. They had taken their information to the 
 French commanding officer in Marseilles. The lat- 
 ter had been somewhat skeptical, but Colonel Dere- 
 vaux, an old friend of the boys, had arrived at the 
 psychological moment and vouched for them. 
 
 Immediately the French officer decided that some- 
 thing must be done. The plans of the Germans, so 
 far as he knew, had not been anticipated. For some 
 reason he did not wish to trust the information to 
 the telegraph wires, and the two lads had volun- 
 teered to deliver it in person to General Petain. 
 Their offer had been accepted, which accounts for 
 the fact that we find them upon the last leg of their 
 journey to Verdun at the opening of this story. 
 
 Stubbs had elected to accompany them, for, as he 
 laid, "I've got to get the news." 
 
 The two lads had seen considerable active ser- 
 vice. They had fought with the Belgians at Liege;
 
 10 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 with the British on the Marne; with the Cossacks 
 in Russian Poland and in the Carpathians ; with the 
 Montenegrins and Serbians in the Balkans, and with 
 the Italian troops in the Alps. 
 
 They had been participants in many a hard blow 
 that had been delivered by the Allies. They had 
 won the confidence of Field Marshall John French, 
 commander of the British forces in France until he 
 was succeeded by General Sir Douglas Haig after 
 the battle of the Champagne, and of General Joffre, 
 the French commander-in-chief. 
 
 While they ostensibly were British army officers, 
 their titles were purely honorary, but they held ac- 
 tual lieutenancies in the Belgian army, these hav- 
 ing been bestowed upon them by King Albert in 
 recognition of services accomplished in and around 
 Liege in the early days of the war. 
 
 The boys had been chums since early childhood. 
 They had been brought up together. They attended 
 school together and were inseparable companions. 
 Each spoke German and French fluently, and ser- 
 vice with other armies had given them a knowledge 
 of other tongues. Both were strong and sturdy, 
 crack shots, good with sword and sabre, and par- 
 ticularly handy with their fists. These accomplish- 
 ments had stood them in good stead in many a tight 
 place. But better than all these accomplishments 
 was the additional fact that each was clear-headed, 
 a quick thinker and very resourceful. They de-
 
 AT VERDUN 11 
 
 pended upon brains rather than brawn to pull them 
 through ticklish situations, though they did not hesi- 
 tate to call on the latter force when occasion de- 
 manded. 
 
 Hal, peering ahead by the glare of the searchlight 
 on the large army car, suddenly slowed down; the 
 car stopped. A group of mounted men rode up. 
 Hal stood up and gave a military salute as one of 
 the group advanced ahead of the others. 
 
 "I am from General Durand at Marseilles, sir," 
 he said. "I have important dispatches for General 
 retain." 
 
 The French officer returned the salute. 
 
 "Follow me," he said briefly.
 
 It THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 VERDUN 
 
 Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the 
 gateway to France. By reason of its strategic po- 
 sition, it is absolutely essential that an invading 
 army have possession of Verdun before thought of 
 a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; 
 and it was upon the capture of Paris that the Ger- 
 man emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse 
 of a similar offensive launched in the first days of 
 the war. 
 
 But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson. Verdun 
 must be taken before he ordered his armies upon 
 the French capital ; and so it was that, upon Febru- 
 ary twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince 
 began a determined assault upon the historic French 
 fortress. 
 
 In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun 
 surpassed all other individual events of the war. 
 For six months and more the defenders of the gate- 
 way to France withstood a storm at the fury of 
 which the world stood aghast.
 
 AT VERDUN IS 
 
 Foot by foot, almost inch by inch, the Germans 
 forged ahead with a reckless disregard of their 
 lives, a tenacity and cool courage which was only 
 equalled by the cool determination of the French. 
 Five months after the opening of this great battle, 
 the unofficial estimate of German dead was a half 
 million men. The assailants fought their way to 
 within three miles and a half of the fortress itself, 
 but there they were finally halted. It was then that 
 the tide turned; and though the Germans surged 
 forward day after day in heavy masses they pro- 
 gressed no further. It was the beginning of the 
 end. 
 
 The Germans advanced confidently. The destruc- 
 tion of the fortress presented no hard problem to 
 them. The utter worthlessness of similarly forti- 
 fied positions had been proven in the earlier days 
 of the war in the destruction of Louvain, Liege, 
 Brussels and Antwerp, the latter the most strongly 
 fortified city in the world, with the exception of 
 Paris itself. The huge 42-centimetre guns of the 
 Germans had battered them to pieces in little or no 
 time at all. 
 
 It was with the knowledge of the effectiveness 
 of these great guns that the Crown Prince opened 
 the battle of Verdun. The fortress of Verdun and 
 the outlying fortifications, it was believed, would be 
 shattered with little effort. With these facts in 
 mind, the German Crown Prince opened with his
 
 14 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 big guns, first upon the fortresses guarding Ver- 
 dun itself. 
 
 These approaches shattered, the Crown Prince 
 ordered his infantry and cavalry to the attack. But 
 where the onrushing Germans, according to the rea- 
 soning of the Crown Prince, should have found no 
 resistance, they encountered strenuous opposition. 
 Abandoning the outlying artificial fortifications, the 
 French had thrown up huge earthworks and from 
 behind these received the German attacks coolly. 
 
 Against these great earthworks the heavy guns 
 of the attacking forces availed little. The force of 
 even the great 42-centimetres was not great enough 
 to penetrate the loosely built mounds of earth be- 
 hind which the French reposed. The great shells 
 struck the fresh earth, were embedded there and did 
 no harm. The French general staff had realized 
 the uselessness of fortresses as soon as had the Ger- 
 mans. 
 
 Therefore, while the Germans were able to de- 
 stroy forts and fortresses at will, almost, it availed 
 them little. The defenders were secure behind their 
 breastworks of earth. True, German guns dropped 
 huge shells in the trenches, a veritable rain of 
 death, but the gaps in the defending lines were 
 filled promptly. 
 
 There remained naught for the Germans but to 
 try and carry the trenches, under the support of 
 their artillery.
 
 AT VERDUN 15 
 
 Day after day the Crown Prince launched assault 
 after assault. The French met them bravely. But 
 the Germans were not to be denied ; and urged on by 
 the Crown Prince, and often by the presence upon 
 the firing line of the German emperor himself, they 
 continued the herculean task without regard to loss 
 of life. 
 
 Gradually the French were forced back. Hand- 
 to-hand fighting for possession of the greatest stra- 
 tegical positions, fought daily, for a time resulted 
 in advantage to neither side. Among the chief ob- 
 jectives of the German attack were two particularly 
 important positions Hill No 304 (so called to dis- 
 tinguish it from numerous other elevated positions) 
 and Le Mort Homme (Dead Man's Hill). This 
 name, which was fated to become historic, was 
 gained only after days and days of constant hand- 
 to-hand fighting and is now recalled as one of the 
 bloodiest battlefields of the titanic struggle. 
 
 General Henri Phillip Petain, in direct command 
 of the French operations at Verdun, endeared him- 
 self to the hearts of all his countrymen by his gal- 
 lant conduct of the defense. While the decision of 
 General Joffre, the French commander-in-chief, to 
 give ground before the German attacks rather than 
 to sacrifice his men in a useless defense of the 
 fortresses, was criticized at first by the people, the 
 resulting value of this move was soon apparent and 
 censure turned to praise.
 
 16 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 While the heaviest assaults of the Germans were 
 launched in the immediate vicinity of Verdun itself, 
 the great battle line stretched far to the north and 
 to the south. When it appeared at one time that 
 the French must be hurled back, General Sir Doug- 
 las Haig, the British commander-in-chief, weakened 
 his own lines to the far north to take over a portion 
 of the ground just to his right and thus relieved the 
 French situation at Verdun somewhat. 
 
 General Petain thus was enabled to shorten his 
 own lines, and from that moment, with few excep- 
 tions, the French stood firm. 
 
 It seemed that the Germans, beaten off time after 
 time as they were, must Hfoon abandon the attempt 
 to break the French lines at Verdun; but each re- 
 pulse brought a new assault mightier than before. 
 The Germans raced across the open ground under 
 a veritable hail of lead. They fell by hundreds and 
 thousands, but what few survived hurled them- 
 selves against the barbed wire entanglements of the 
 French or into the trenches, there to die upon the 
 points of the foes' bayonets, or to be shot down as 
 they tumbled over the breastworks. 
 
 The German general staff drew heavily from its 
 forces on the east front and added these new 
 legions to the already large army occupied before 
 Verdun; but the result was always the same. So 
 far they could progress and no farther. 
 
 After almost five months of defensive tactics,
 
 AT VERDUN 17 
 
 General Petain began to launch assaults of his own. 
 At first the Germans put these down with regular- 
 ity, but at last the effort began to tell. The French 
 made headway. Much of the lost ground was re- 
 covered. The French moved forward a bit day by 
 day, occupied new positions and consolidated them. 
 It was terrible work, but the French persevered. 
 
 Around Hill No. 304 and Dead Man's Hill the 
 fighting was especially severe. There men died by 
 the hundreds and by the thousands that one of the 
 opposing armies might advance a few yards. Gains 
 even were counted by feet almost by inches. Gain 
 of a few yards was accounted a day's work well 
 done. 
 
 Not once did the French troops falter under fire ; 
 nor did the Germans, for that matter. Never was 
 there greater bravery, loyalty and devotion. Called 
 upon for tasks that seemed well nigh impossible, the 
 men did not hesitate. They met death in such num- 
 bers as death was never met before. 
 
 Almost daily, after the French had taken a brace 
 three and a half miles from Verdun, it seemed that 
 the Crown Prince must give up the effort. It ap- 
 peared incomprehensible that the useless sacrifice of 
 men could continue. But the attempt was not given 
 up; rather, it was pressed with greater vigor each 
 succeeding day. 
 
 But, after five months, the fury of the German 
 assaults gradually lessened. They were not deliv*
 
 18 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 ered with the same effectiveness as before. The great 
 guns continued to rage, scattering death over the 
 field for miles, but the massed attacks of infantry, 
 and cavalry charges, became more uncommon. 
 
 Then came a day when the Germans failed to 
 attack at all. For more than twenty-four hours 
 there was a lull. Weeks passed with the Germans 
 launching only occasional drives. The same held 
 good for the French. It appeared that each side was 
 content to rest on its laurels, biding the time when 
 a grand assault could be delivered with some degree 
 of effectiveness. 
 
 The fighting was intermittent. It came spas- 
 modically. Each side had fought itself out and had 
 paused for breath. What advantage there had been, 
 all things considered, rested with French arms. The 
 losses on both sides, in killed and wounded, had 
 been enormous almost beyond comprehension. The 
 number of prisoners taken by the French was large. 
 Many French troops also had been captured, but not 
 so many as Germans. Also, the French having been 
 the defenders for the most part, they had suffered 
 less in killed and wounded than had the foe. 
 
 This, then, was the result of the battle of Ver- 
 dun six months after it had begun. There had been 
 no decisive victory. Each side retained its po- 
 sitions, but each was ready to strike whenever the 
 opportune moment presented itself. 
 
 Even while the fighting at Verdun was at its
 
 AT VERDUN 19 
 
 height there came the whisper of a grand offensive 
 to be launched by the Allies. The whisper became 
 louder as the days passed. There was more talk 
 of Roumania and Greece throwing their armies to 
 the support of the Allies, thus forming a steel 
 cordon around the Central powers and their smaller 
 allies, Bulgaria and Turkey, and forcing the Ger- 
 mans to shorten their lines. In the eastern war 
 theater the Russians again were on the advance and 
 were pushing the Germans and Austrians hard, 
 threatening for a second time to invade Galicia and 
 the plains of Hungary. It began to appear that the 
 end was in sight. 
 
 Italy, too, had launched a new offensive with 
 Trieste as the objective and the driving power of 
 the Italian troops was beginning to tell. It began 
 to appear that the Central powers must before long 
 be placed upon the defensive in all war zones. 
 
 The world waited impatiently for the opening of 
 the grand allied offensive that, it was expected, 
 would be delivered simultaneously on all fronts. It 
 was felt that it would not be long coming. There 
 was talk of a new great field gun perfected by Great 
 Britain a gun that would be more effective than 
 the German 42-centimetres but so far it had come 
 to play no part in the struggle. 
 
 But of all battles, land or sea, that had been 
 fought in the greatest war of history, the battle of 
 Verdun stood head and shoulders as the most in>
 
 20 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 portant. It was the greatest and bloodiest struggle 
 of all time, up to that period. 
 
 And it was in this battle that Hal and Chester, 
 with the friend Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent, 
 and other friends, old and new, were to play im- 
 portant roles. While each realized, as the three 
 made their way to General Petain behind the French 
 officer who had interrupted their wild automobile 
 ride, that an important engagement was about to be 
 fought, neither had, of course, means of knowing 
 that they were to take part in one of the greatest 
 of all battles. 
 
 It was with the satisfaction that they had arrived 
 in time to prevent a surprise attack that they made 
 their way to General Petain's quarters. But, as it 
 transpired, they had arrived a trifle too late. For 
 even as they reached the general's tent the German 
 guns spoke.
 
 AT VERDUN 21 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 GENERAL PETAIN 
 
 To the soldier the voice of the great guns speaks 
 plainly. Their ears accustomed to 7 the various forms 
 of bombardments, Hal and Chester realized as well 
 as the rest that this was no mere resumption of an 
 artillery duel. It was not a single salvo from a 
 single German position that had been fired. The 
 great guns boomed from north and south ; and con- 
 tinued to boom. 
 
 The officer who was conducting the three friends 
 to the headquarters of General Petain turned and 
 called a single word overhis shoulder : 
 
 "Hurry!" 
 
 He broke into a run and the others did likewise. 
 A short turn or two and they brought up before a 
 tent somewhat larger than the rest. This the lads 
 knew was General Petain's field headquarters. 
 
 Even as the French officer approached the en- 
 trance, the general himself rushed from the tent, 
 followed by members of his staff. The officer who 
 had conducted the lads there accosted him.
 
 22 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Sir," he said, "despatch bearers from General 
 Durand at Marseilles." 
 
 General Petain waved them aside. 
 
 "I've no time for them now," he said, and made 
 as if to move on. 
 
 Hal stepped forward. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "the despatches we carry have to 
 do with the impending action." 
 
 General Petain stopped suddenly and eyed the 
 lad keenly. Then he said abruptly : 
 
 "Come with me." 
 
 He led the way into the tent, and Hal, Chester 
 and Stubbs followed him. The general seated him- 
 self at a desk at a far end of the tent and de- 
 manded : 
 
 "The despatches." 
 
 Hal produced several documents, which he passed 
 to the general. The latter broke the seals quickly 
 and read. Then suddenly he sprang to his feet and 
 dashed outside. The lads could hear him delivering 
 sharp orders to members of his staff. A moment 
 later his voice became inaudible. 
 
 After fifteen minutes' waiting, Chester grew fid- 
 gety. 
 
 "Wonder where he went?" he said. 
 
 "Don't know," returned Hal with a shrug. 
 
 "Let's go out and see what's going on," said 
 Stubbs, and moved toward the exit. 
 
 "Hold on," said Hal. "We're ,-nder Genera!
 
 AT VERDUN 23 
 
 Petain's orders now. We had better remain here 
 until he returns." 
 
 "You and Chester may be," said Stubbs, "but 
 I'm not. I'm going out and have a look around." 
 
 "Better stick around, Stubbs," said Chester 
 grimly. "If they find you wandering about you're 
 liable to be put under arrest. You can't go snoop- 
 ing around without permission, you know." 
 
 "Snooping!" repeated Stubbs. "Snooping! Who's 
 going snooping? I want to find out what's going 
 on." 
 
 "Same thing," said Chester. 
 
 The little man was offended. 
 
 "Call it snooping when I go out hunting news for 
 my paper ?" he asked. 
 
 "It's snooping when you go sticking your nose 
 into other people's business," declared Chester. 
 
 "This is my business," exclaimed Stubbs. 
 
 "Oh, no, it's not. It's just a plain case " 
 
 "I tell you it is my business, It's the business of 
 the New York Gazette. The people in the United 
 States want to know what is going on over here." 
 
 "I'm afraid General Petain wouldn't agree with 
 you, Stubbs," interposed Hal. "He doesn't care 
 what the people in the United States want. All he 
 cares about right now is to lick the Germans." 
 
 "Well, maybe you're right," Stubbs admitted, "but 
 just the same I want you fellows to know that hunt- 
 ing news is not snooping."
 
 24 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Stubbs," said Chester, "I've got to give you 
 credit. In my opinion you're a first class snooper." 
 
 "What ?" exclaimed the little man, fairly dancing 
 with rage. "Snooper? Me a snooper? What do 
 you mean?" 
 
 "Of course you are," replied Chester; "and a 
 good one. Why, I can remember once or twice that 
 if you hadn't been a good snooper Hal and I 
 wouldn't be here now. Remember?" 
 
 "Well, yes," said Stubbs, somewhat mollified, 
 "but I don't know whether that's what you meant 
 or not." 
 
 "Why, Stubbs," said Chester, "what else could I 
 have meant?" 
 
 Stubbs looked at Chester coldly ; then turned and 
 walked to the far end of the tent. 
 
 "Now see what you've done, Chester," said Hal, 
 in a whisper meant for Stubbs to overhear. "You've 
 made him mad." 
 
 Stubbs whirled about angrily. 
 
 "You bet you've made me mad," he declared. 
 "You can bet, too, that I won't ever do any more 
 snooping on behalf of either of you. The next time 
 you get in trouble you'll have to depend on someone 
 besides Anthony Stubbs to get you out of it." 
 
 "See," said Hal. "I told you not to do it, Chester. 
 He's liable to let us both get killed. He " 
 
 Stubbs could stand no more. He turned on his 
 heel and made his way from the tent. But even as
 
 AT VERDUN 25 
 
 he would have moved away he became involved in 
 more trouble. 
 
 With head down and not looking where he was 
 going, he collided with another figure and was 
 oushed violently backwards. Stubbs looked up 
 angrily and was about to say something when he 
 glanced at the other. It was General Petain. The 
 latter spoke before Stubbs could apologize. 
 
 "What's the matter with you?" he demanded. 
 "Can't you see where you're going? What were 
 you doing in my tent, anyhow? Who are you? 
 What's your business here?" 
 
 The questions came so fast that Stubbs was con- 
 fused. 
 
 "I why I " he stuttered. 
 
 "Come inside here," said the general. 
 
 He stretched forth a hand, seized Stubbs by the 
 collar and pushed him in the tent. Stubbs, caught 
 off his balance, went stumbling and almost fell into 
 Hal's arms. General Petain entered the tent imme- 
 diately behind him. 
 
 When his eyes fell upon Hal and Chester he gave 
 a start of surprise. Evidently he had forgotten all 
 about them. Then he remembered. 
 
 "So you're still here?" he said. "I had forgot- 
 ten all about you." 
 
 "We are awaiting your orders, sir," said Hal. 
 
 *T don't know as I have any for you," was the 
 reply. "I have taken what precautions I can. Had
 
 26 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 you arrived a day earlier it might have been dif- 
 ferent. I would have had more time." 
 
 "We came as fast as we could, sir," said Chester. 
 
 "I've no doubt of that," said the general. "Your 
 information is of great value, of course. I suppose 
 you will return to Marseilles ?" 
 
 "We had rather remain here a while, sir," said 
 Hal. 
 
 "So," said the general. "It's fighting you want, 
 eh ? Well, I guess I can accommodate you. I prob- 
 ably shall need every man I can get hold of. I 
 shall attach you to my staff temporarily. But tell 
 me, who is this man here ?" He pointed to Stubbs. 
 
 "War correspondent," replied Hal briefly. 
 
 "What?" roared the general, "and in my tent! 
 I'll have him courtmartialed !" 
 
 Stubbs quailed visibly. 
 
 "A war correspondent, eh," continued the gen- 
 eral, "and walking about within my lines as free as 
 air. He may be a spy. I'll have him shot." 
 
 "Look here, general," said Stubbs, "I " 
 
 "Silence !" thundered General Petain. He turned 
 to Hal. Your name, sir?" 
 
 "Paine, sir." 
 
 "A lieutenant, I see." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 General Petain turned to Chester. 
 
 "And your name?" 
 
 "Lieutenant Crawford, sir." ^
 
 AT VERDUN 27 
 
 "Good. I'll turn this man over to you. You may 
 do as you please with him. I see he is a friend 
 of yours." 
 
 "Yes, sir," returned Hal. "He's a good friend 
 of ours, sir. He's rendered us several valuable ser- 
 vices. Also, sir, he is to be trusted. He will seek 
 to send out no information which you desire sup- 
 pressed." 
 
 "I never heard of one like that," said the general. 
 
 "He's the only one in captivity, sir. His name is 
 Stubbs, sir, of the New York Gazette." 
 
 "His name will be Mudd, sir, if he doesn't con- 
 duct himself properly while within my lines," de- 
 clared General Petain. "Take him with you. Find 
 Lieutenant Maussapant and tell him to find quar- 
 ters for you. Report to me at midnight. I prob- 
 ably shall have work for you." 
 
 The lads saluted and made their way from the 
 tent. Stubbs followed them. Chester glanced at 
 his watch. 
 
 "Great Scott !" he ejaculated. "I had no idea it 
 was so late." 
 
 "How late ?" asked Chester. 
 
 "Ten-thirty." 
 
 "Nor I," said Chester. "Where do you suppose 
 we are going to find Maussapant?" 
 
 "You've got me. However, here comes a young 
 officer ; we'll ask him." 
 
 Hal did so.
 
 28 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "That is my name," was the young man's smiling 
 response. 
 
 "Then we're in luck," said Hal. "General Petain 
 requests that you find quarters for me." 
 
 "As it happens," said the young Frenchman, "two 
 of my brother officers have been transferred and I 
 can ask you to bunk with me." 
 
 "How about Stubbs ?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Stubbs?" 
 
 "Yes ; our friend here, a war correspondent." 
 
 "Oh, I guess we can find room for him. Come 
 with me." 
 
 The three friends followed the young French- 
 man and presently were installed in a large, com- 
 fortable tent. 
 
 "Turn in whenever you're ready," said the French- 
 man. 
 
 "We must report to the general at midnight," 
 was Hal's reply. 
 
 "What's up?" 
 
 "You've got me," said Hal. "Hope it's some- 
 thing good, though." 
 
 "Probably is, or he wouldn't want you at that 
 hour." 
 
 "Well," said Stubbs at this point, "you boys can 
 do what you please. I'm going to get a little sleep." 
 
 "All right," said Chester. "If we shouldn't be 
 around in the morning, don't worry. We'll turn up 
 sooner or later."
 
 AT VERDUN 29 
 
 Stubbs nodded and made ready for bed. 
 
 At five minutes to twelve o'clock, Hal and Ches- 
 ter started for the headquarters of General Petain. 
 
 "Here's where we get busy again, old man," said 
 Chester.
 
 80 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE BATTLE OPENS 
 
 For forty-eight hours the greatest of modern 
 artillery duels had raged incessantly. German guns 
 swept the French positions in all sections of the 
 Verdun region. Fortresses protecting the approach 
 to the city of Verdun had been shattered. The 
 Germans had hurled two and three shells to each 
 one by the French. 
 
 But after the first day the French had entrenched 
 themselves behind their earth breastworks, hastily 
 dug and thrown up, and now remained secure. Into 
 these the German guns now poured their fire. The 
 defenders were ready for the first attack by in- 
 fantry, which it was realized would come soon. 
 
 And it came even sooner than was expected. 
 
 Hal, with a despatch for the officer in command 
 of the first line troops just to the north of Verdun, 
 was about to return when there came a sudden 
 shout : 
 
 "Here they come!" 
 
 Hal turned quickly.
 
 AT VERDUN 31 
 
 There, perhaps half a mile away, stretched out 
 a long thin line, barely visible through the dense 
 cloud of smoke that overhung the ground. Hal 
 took in the situation instantly. The German in- 
 fantry was advancing to the charge under artillery 
 support. 
 
 Behind the first long line stretched out a second 
 and beyond that a third and a fourth and many 
 more. They advanced slowly in the face of a rain 
 of lead turned on them by the men in the trenches. 
 Men fell to the right and to the left, Hal could see, 
 but the gaps were filled instantly and the long lines 
 pressed forward. 
 
 Now they were within three hundred yards and 
 the heavy German guns became silent. The advance 
 low must be made without further artillery support, 
 for the German batteries could not fire without immi- 
 nent danger of shooting down their own men. 
 
 The Germans broke into a run. 
 
 From behind the French earthworks was poured 
 a hail of lead, but it did not serve to check the 
 approaching foe. On to the breastworks they came 
 and clambered up. Behind the first line came many 
 more and they swarmed upon the defenders like 
 bees in a hive. 
 
 Bayonet met bayonet and revolvers cracked. Men 
 struggled with their bare hands. Friend and foe 
 went down together, struggling to the last. On the 
 right and on the left, though Hal could not see these
 
 82 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 actions, similar scenes were being enacted. The 
 Germans had made their initial advance upon a front 
 of almost fifteen miles. 
 
 A bugle sounded. 
 
 French reinforcements were rushed forward to 
 aid the hard-pressed men in the first line trenches. 
 More Germans poured in. The struggling mass 
 surged backward and forward. Then the French 
 broke and fled, and Hal found himself among a 
 panic-stricken mass of humanity, running for life 
 for the protection of the second line trenches. From 
 behind, the victorious Germans fell to their knees 
 and poured a steady rifle fire upon the vanquished. 
 Over the heads of their fleeing countrymen the 
 second line French troops returned the fire. 
 
 Hastily the Germans fell to work throwing up 
 earthworks facing the second French line. Under 
 experienced hands the breastworks sprang up as if 
 by magic. They entrenched calmly under the rifles 
 of the French infantry and the heavy guns of the 
 French batteries, though men fell upon all hands. 
 
 Far away, but coming closer, the German bat- 
 teries now opened fire on the second French trenches, 
 firing above the bear's of the victorious German 
 infantry. The infantry action subsided. The duel 
 of big guns was resumed. 
 
 Chester, who had been despatched by General 
 Petain with orders, arrived there to witness a scene 
 similar to the one Hal had seen in the center. The
 
 AT VERDUN 33 
 
 German assaults had been successful all along the 
 line. The French had lost their first line trenches 
 on a front of approximately twelve miles. Only at 
 one or two isolated spots had the Germans met re- 
 verses; and these few points that the French still 
 held were doubly dangerous now. They could not 
 be given the proper support. Later in the day they 
 were abandoned. 
 
 Hal and Chester returned to their posts about the 
 same time. Each was sadly disappointed at the 
 result of the first infantry fighting. For several 
 hours they were kept on the jump carrying des- 
 patches, and it was after dark before they found 
 themselves alone together after the strenuous day. 
 
 "Pretty hard," said Hal, shaking his head sadly. 
 
 "I should say so," Chester agreed. "It seems to 
 me that those fellows could have been stopped." 
 
 "It doesn't to me," declared Hal. "The way they 
 swept into our trenches seemed to me beyond human 
 power to stop. I'm glad they stopped when they 
 did. They probably could have gone farther." 
 
 "They'll try again tomorrow," said Chester posi- 
 tively. 
 
 "I'm afraid so," agreed Hal; "and if they do, 
 I'm afraid they'll drive us back again." 
 
 "And what's the reason?" demanded Chester. 
 
 Hal shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "I don't know," he said. "Of course they can 
 only progress so far. They'll wear themselves out
 
 8* THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 by their own exertions. They lost a great deal more 
 heavily than we did today; but certainly it seemed 
 as if nothing could stop them." 
 
 There was little rest for Hal and Chester that 
 night. It seemed to both that they had hardly 
 closed their eyes when they were again summoned 
 to General Petain. Assembled there they found the 
 entire staff. The French commander was reviewing 
 the events of the day and issuing orders and in- 
 structions rapidly. He realized that there would 
 be more and probably harder fighting on the next 
 day and he was laying his plans accordingly. Hal 
 and Chester received their instructions for the mor- 
 row along with the rest. 
 
 Returning to their own quarters again, they were 
 attracted by the sound of confusion a short distance 
 away. 
 
 "Something up," said Chester. "Let's have a 
 look." 
 
 Nothing loath, Hal followed his chum. 
 
 In the light of a large camp fire they made out 
 a crowd of soldiers gathered about in a large circle. 
 Howls of amusement and hilarious laughter rose 
 on the air. Hal and Chester pushed closer and were 
 able to ascertain the cause of merriment. 
 
 In the center six French soldiers held a blanket 
 and in the center of this blanket was a man. He 
 rose and fell as the six men alternately released 
 the blanket and then drew it taut again. He was
 
 AT VERDUN 35 
 
 yelling at the top of his voice to be let alone and 
 threatening dire vengeance on his tormentors when 
 he would be able to get at them. But he was laugh- 
 ing and taking the joke good naturedly. 
 
 Hal and Chester joined the circle of spectators 
 and derived as much amusement as the others from 
 the procedings. At length, tiring of their present 
 victim, the men lowered him to the ground. One 
 of them, a large, strapping fellow, perhaps thirty 
 years of age, cast his eye around the circle of faces. 
 
 "Let's get another one," he shouted. 
 
 There was a chorus of assent from the others 
 and all six set to looking about for a victim who 
 would not prove too willing. As Hal said to Ches- 
 ter, apparently there was no fun tossing a man who 
 took it good naturedly. 
 
 At last the big fellow gave a howl of delight and 
 dashed forward. Hal gazed after him. As the big 
 fellow bounded forward, a slight figure in the first 
 row turned and ran. But the big fellow overtook 
 him and dragged him back. 
 
 "Here's one, men," he cried. "See, he doesn't 
 want to come with me. He doesn't know what a 
 good time he is going to have. We'll give him a 
 good one." 
 
 The others lent a hand and dragged the unwil- 
 ling captive forward. As they would have put him 
 on the blanket, the youngster for such the cap- 
 tive proved to be protested.
 
 36 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Some other time, fellows," he said. "I'm sick 
 tonight. I hadn't ought to be out at all, but I 
 couldn't stay in the tent any longer. I'll let you 
 toss me in the blanket some other time, but please 
 let me alone tonight." 
 
 From where Hal and Chester stood it was plain 
 to see that the boy was telling the truth. His face 
 was deathly pale and he looked very ill. 
 
 "Great Scott," said Hal, "they shouldn't torment 
 him. He is telling the truth." 
 
 "Certainly he is," Chester agreed. "I believe the 
 boy is very ill." 
 
 But the young French boy's protest fell on un- 
 heeding ears. 
 
 With loud guffaws the men grabbed hold of the 
 blanket and sent the captive spinning aloft. Two, 
 three times he rose and fell, and upon the last was 
 still in the blanket. Apparently the men who held 
 the blanket had not noticed this, however, for they 
 were preparing to toss him aloft again. But Hal 
 had detected the lad's condition. He decided it was 
 time for some one to interfere, and as no one 
 else apparently was ready to call a halt on the 
 proceeding, he determined to take a hand him- 
 self. 
 
 Quickly he shed his overcoat and then tossed off 
 his jacket and passed them to Chester. 
 
 "Hold 'em!" he said, and sprang forward. 
 
 At the edge of the circle he halted and gazed at
 
 AT VERDUN 37 
 
 the big Frenchman, who had chanced to turn in his 
 direction. 
 
 "Let the boy go," he said. "Can't you see that 
 he is unconscious?" 
 
 The big Frenchman grinned at him. When Hal 
 had taken off his coat, he had removed all signs of 
 his rank and the soldier had no means of knowing 
 he was an officer. 
 
 "One more toss," said the Frenchman. 
 
 Hal stepped close to him. 
 
 "The boy is unconscious," said the Frenchman, 
 and added : "Then we'll take you." 
 
 He nodded to the others in signal that it was time 
 to toss; but before he could move, Hal had seized 
 him by the wrist and whirled him around. 
 
 "You heard me," the lad said quietly. "I meant 
 what I said." 
 
 He gave the Frenchman's arm a quick twist and 
 the man dropped his hold on the blanket. The 
 Frenchman's hold on the blanket released, the lad 
 upon it tumbled to the ground, where he lay still. 
 Instantly several others bent over and gave their 
 attention to bringing him to. The man whom Hal 
 had confronted turned on him angrily. 
 
 "What do you mean by that?" he demanded. 
 
 "I told you to let the boy alone and I meant it," 
 said Hal quietly. 
 
 For answer the Frenchman struck at him. Hal 
 dodged the blow and stepped back. He would have
 
 38 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 avoided a fight if possible. But the Frenchman 
 stepped after him and struck again. Again Hal 
 dodged and the blow passed harmlessly over his 
 head. The lad struck out quickly with his right and 
 caught the Frenchman a hard blow upon the side of 
 the neck. Big man though he was, the Frenchman 
 toppled over. Hal walked back to where he had 
 left Chester, donned his coat and the two moved 
 away. 
 
 Behind them, as the big Frenchman staggered to 
 his feet there was a howl of merriment. The 
 Frenchman shook a fist angrily at Hal's back.
 
 AT VERDUN 39 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE BLACK PEAS 
 
 The howling without continued when Hal and 
 Chester reached their own quarters. 
 
 "Well, you've made another enemy, Hal," said 
 Chester. 
 
 "Can't help that," was his chum's reply. "It had 
 to be done. By the way, I wonder what's happened 
 to Stubbs?" 
 
 "Oh, I guess he is spooking around some place. 
 He'll turn up before long." 
 
 The lad was right. Hal and Chester had hardly 
 composed themselves to sleep when the flap to the 
 tent was lifted and Stubbs' head appeared. He 
 struck a match and looked at the two lads. 
 
 "Asleep ?" he asked. 
 
 Neither lad was, but neither replied. They were 
 both too sleepy to care to enter into a conversation 
 with Stubbs, so they maintained a discreet silence. 
 
 "All right, then," said Stubbs, "if you're asleep 
 I'll soon be with you." 
 
 He removed his clothing and went to bed.
 
 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Stubbs was up early the following morning and 
 when the lads arose entertained them with an ac- 
 count of his wanderings. 
 
 "And," he concluded, "I've stumbled across a 
 story that's a wonder." 
 
 "A story?" repeated Chester. 
 
 "Yes. A 'story' is a newspaper man's way of 
 expressing something big." 
 
 "Something to do with the battle?" asked Hal. 
 
 "It may have and it may not," declared Stubbs. 
 "It may have something to do with the whole war 
 and it may not. I don't know." 
 
 "What is it, Stubbs?" asked Chester. 
 
 Stubbs winked one eye at him. 
 
 "As I happened to stumble across this while I 
 was snooping," he said, "and as you don't think 
 much of snooping, I am going to keep this to my- 
 self." 
 
 "Come, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "you know I 
 was just fooling." 
 
 "Well, I may be just fooling now, for all you 
 know," said Stubbs. 
 
 In vain did the lads plead to know what he was 
 talking about. Stubbs was obdurate and took his 
 departure, announcing that he was going to do 
 some more "snooping," without enlightening 
 them. 
 
 Hardly had he gone when the lads received a 
 caller. It was none other than the young French
 
 AT VERDUN 41 
 
 boy whom Hal had rescued from the hands of his 
 tormentors the night before. 
 
 "They told me you came to my aid," he said to 
 Hal, "so I have come to thank you." 
 
 "Who are they?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Some of the men. It was true that I was ill 
 last night. Jules Clemenceau will not forget." 
 
 The young French boy had stood with one hand 
 in his pocket, and now withdrew the hand and ex- 
 tended it to Hal. As he did so, two small objects 
 fell from his pocket. Apparently Jules did not no- 
 tice them. Hal shook hands with the boy and the 
 Frenchman took his departure. 
 
 Chester, in the meantime, had picked up the two 
 little objects and now he called to Jules, but the 
 young Frenchman did not hear him. 
 
 "Oh, I guess he doesn't want these things, any- 
 how," the lad muttered. 
 
 "What things ?" asked Hal, who had not seen the 
 objects drop from Jules' pocket. 
 
 Chester passed one of the objects to him. 
 
 "Know what it is?" he asked. 
 
 "Sure," returned Hal, "don't you?" 
 
 "No. What is it?" 
 
 "A pea." 
 
 "I never saw a pea like that." 
 
 "Probably not. They are rather rare. A black 
 pea, that's what it is. Where did you get it?" 
 
 "Jules dropped it out of his pocket."
 
 42 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Well, as he seems to think I have done him a 
 favor, I am just going to keep this. I guess he 
 won't mind. I'll carry it as a pocket piece." 
 
 "Then I'll carry the mate to it," said Chester. 
 
 He put the little round pea in his pocket and Hal 
 followed suit. 
 
 Although neither could possibly have suspected 
 it, these two little peas were to be the means of 
 getting them into all kinds of trouble. 
 
 There was heavy fighting that day and when 
 night fell it found the Germans safely entrenched 
 in the French second line trenches along a seven- 
 mile front. For some reason or other Hal and 
 Chester did not get to the front, their duties con- 
 fining them close to General Petain's headquarters. 
 They were kept busy most of the day, however, 
 and were tired out when they returned to their own 
 quarters late that night. 
 
 Ready as they were for bed, they consented to 
 sit up a while and talk with Stubbs, who announced 
 that he had a wonderful tale to unfold. 
 
 "Well," said Stubbs, "I have discovered a strange 
 thing. It's a big thing and there are many men in 
 the French army implicated in it. Most likely in 
 the British, too, and I know that it has touched the 
 ranks of the enemy." 
 
 "What is it, a conspiracy?" asked Chester. 
 
 "It is," said Stubbs, "and it's a whopper. I 
 haven't been able to find the names of any of the
 
 AT VERDUN 43 
 
 leaders and I wouldn't know what to do if I did 
 learn who they are. This one thing, rather than 
 anything else, is likely to disrupt the aims of the 
 Allies." 
 
 "Then you had better tell General Petain about 
 it," declared Hal. 
 
 "I suppose I should," said Stubbs, as he drew out 
 his pipe and proceeded to fill it. 
 
 He was quiet a moment as he ran his fingers in 
 his vest pocket, seeking a match. 
 
 "Say, I'm a good one, ain't I?" he demanded, 
 forgetting his grammar absolutely. 
 
 "What's the matter now?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Matter is that I can never keep a match. Have 
 you got one?" 
 
 "Fortunately for you, I have," said Chester. "I 
 don't carry them, as a rule, having no use for them, 
 but I chanced to find a box of safety matches to- 
 day." 
 
 He reached in his pocket and produced the box; 
 and as he did so the little black pea rolled from his 
 pocket. It rolled toward Stubbs and the little man 
 caught it. He would have returned it to Chester, 
 but as he started to do so he took a close look at it. 
 He gave a sudden start and the box of matches 
 Chester had extended to him dropped to the floor 
 even as his fingers would have closed on it. 
 
 "H-m-m-m," he muttered to himself. "I won- 
 der. I suppose it would be a great thing. I wonder."
 
 44 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Stubbs picked up the box of matches and pro- 
 ceeded to light his pipe with deliberation. 
 
 "Well, now that you have that pipe puffing," said 
 Hal, "what's the rest of this story of yours?" 
 
 "On second thought," said Stubbs calmly, "I have 
 decided to keep it to myself." 
 
 "You're not going to tell us ?" demanded Chester. 
 
 "No," said Stubbs. "By the way, here's your 
 black pea," for Chester had not noticed that he had 
 dropped it. 
 
 "Thanks," said Chester, taking the pea and drop- 
 ping it in his pocket, "I wouldn't want to lose it." 
 
 "No, I guess not," said Stubbs mysteriously. 
 "Pretty scarce articles. I don't suppose you could 
 find another one in some distance." 
 
 "Oh, yes, you could," said Hal. "I have one 
 myself." 
 
 "That so?" said Stubbs, and added to himself: 
 "I thought so, but I wanted to make sure." 
 
 Hal produced his black pea. Stubbs examined it 
 carefully and passed it back to him. 
 
 "Better keep it in a safe place," he said. "As I 
 say, they are scarce and it never does a fellow any 
 good to lose anything when there is anyone 
 around." 
 
 Hal and Chester started guiltily. How could 
 Stubbs know they had found the peas when they 
 fell from the pocket of Jules Clemenceau ? Stubbs, 
 who had been watching the two closely, observed
 
 AT VERDUN 45 
 
 these sudden starts and interpreted them to his own 
 satisfaction. 
 
 "Come now, Stubbs," said Chester, "tell us the 
 rest of this story of yours." 
 
 "No," said Stubbs, "I am going to keep it to 
 myself." He added under his breath : "The young 
 cubs ! Trying to pump an old-timer like me to see 
 how much I know !" 
 
 "You mean you are not even going to tell the 
 general?" asked Hal. 
 
 "That's what I mean," said Stubbs. 
 
 Hal and Chester exchanged glances. They won- 
 dered what had come over the little man so sud- 
 denly. Stubbs caught the interchange of glances 
 and again he read it wrong. To Stubbs it appeared 
 that there was relief on their features. 
 
 Stubbs shook his head. 
 
 "I'm going to turn in," he said. 
 
 Not another word could the lads get out of him, 
 try as they would. But Stubbs, on his cot, did not 
 sleep immediately. Covertly he watched the two 
 lads as they talked in tones too low for him to hear,' 
 strain his ears as he would. 
 
 "Well, I guess I don't need to hear 'em," he told 
 himself. "I can guess what it's all about." 
 
 He rolled over and went to sleep. 
 
 But the nature of the lads' conversation was a 
 whole lot different from what Stubbs thought it was, 
 though it concerned the little man himself.
 
 4C THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Something wrong with him," said Chester. 
 
 "Right you are," agreed Hal. "Talks like we had 
 offended him or something." 
 
 "Maybe he just wants to keep us guessing." 
 
 "That might be it. Anyhow, if he doesn't tell 
 us tomorrow, I'm going to tell him what I think of 
 him." 
 
 "Then he won't talk," said Chester. 
 
 "We might be able to get him mad enough to 
 make him talk," returned Hal. 
 
 "By Jove! so we might," said Chester. "We'll 
 have a try at it tomorrow if it's necessary." 
 
 "All right. Then let's turn in. I've a feeling 
 it's going to be a strenuous day tomorrow." 
 
 And it was ; though not strenuous in the way Hal 
 had expected.
 
 AT VERDUN 47 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 A PERILOUS SITUATION 
 
 Hal and Chester held no conversation with An- 
 thony Stubbs the following day, and therefore were 
 unable to learn more than they already knew of 
 the war correspondent's great "story." 
 
 Before they rose Stubbs was up and gone, and 
 when he returned, several hours later, Hal and 
 Chester were receiving orders from General Petain. 
 
 The German advance had continued the day be- 
 fore in spite of the heroic stand of the French 
 troops. Successive charges by the Teuton hordes 
 had driven the defenders back along practically the 
 entire front. Here, with the coming of night, they 
 had taken a brace with the arrival of reinforce- 
 ments and had stemmed the tide; but not a man 
 failed to realize that there would be more desper- 
 ate work on the morrow. 
 
 The French lines now had been pushed back well 
 to the west of the city of Verdun itself and the 
 civil population of the town had fled. The town 
 had been swept by the great German guns until
 
 48 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 hardly one stone remained upon another. North 
 of the city, the French had been bent back as the 
 Germans thrust a wedge into the defending lines 
 almost to the foot of Dead Man's Hill. 
 
 This hill was of particular importance to the Ger- 
 mans, for it commanded the approach on all sides; 
 and now the German Prince had determined upon 
 its capture. General Petain anticipated the move 
 and acted promptly. 
 
 It was toward this point, then, that Hal and 
 Chester found themselves moving upon the sixth 
 day of the great battle. They bore despatches from 
 General Petain and each bestrode a high-powered 
 motorcycle, which the French commander had 
 placed at their disposal. The two lads rode swiftly, 
 for there was no time to be lost. 
 
 Even above the "pop-pop" of their motorcycles 
 could be heard the terrible roar of the German 
 guns as they were brought to bear on Dead Man's 
 Hill, paving the way for an infantry advance, which 
 was to come a few hours later. It was risky busi- 
 ness upon which the lads were bent, for the great 
 shells struck on all sides of them, throwing huge 
 masses of dirt in the air like giant fountains and 
 digging immense excavations in the hard ground. 
 
 But the lads reached their destination in safety; 
 and here, for the first time, Hal and Chester were 
 to come in contact with a new method of fighting. 
 
 General Domont, in command at Dead Man's
 
 AT VERDUN 49 
 
 Hill, having read the despatches the lads carried, 
 announced that they would remain with him during 
 the day, acting as members of his staff. He or- 
 dered Hal forward with instructions for the troops 
 holding the crest of the hill to the north and Ches- 
 ter was despatched upon a similar mission to the 
 south. 
 
 Hardly had Chester delivered his message when 
 a shout told him the German infantry was advanc- 
 ing to the attack. The lad glanced around, and as 
 he did so, a sharp order rang out and a moment 
 later the French troops clamped queer-looking de- 
 vices over their faces and heads. 
 
 Chester knew what they were gas masks to pro- 
 tect the defenders from the poisonous vapors of 
 German gas bombs, which, had the defenders not 
 been protected by masks, would have killed them 
 instantly. A passing officer said something unintel- 
 ligible to the lad as he passed and pointed to the 
 ground. Glancing down, the lad perceived a mask 
 and then understood that the officer had meant for 
 him to put it on. Chester did so, though not with- 
 out some difficulty, for he had trouble adjusting it. 
 But with his nostrils protected at last, Chester 
 turned to watch the approach of the enemy. 
 
 The Germans came forward in a dense mass, 
 despite the fearful execution worked in their ranks 
 by the French guns. In the lines of the defenders 
 dropped huge bombs that sent up dense vapors*
 
 60 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 the deadly gasses of the foe but they caused little 
 harm, for the French were protected. Now and 
 then a man fell, however ; perhaps he had failed to 
 adjust his helmet properly, or perhaps it was not 
 perfect. But for the most part the gas bombs had 
 little effect. 
 
 The first concerted attack of the German troops 
 availed little; and after trying for half an hour to 
 gain a foothold in the French lines they withdrew. 
 But a second attack followed a few moments later. 
 This also was beaten off. A third attack, however, 
 met with better success. 
 
 This time the Germans succeeded in gaining a 
 hold in the French lines, and this they retained in 
 gpite of repeated counter assaults by the French. 
 Bravely the men charged, but they could make no 
 impression on the positions so recently won by the 
 foe. The troops of the German Crown Prince stood 
 firm. 
 
 The French were forced to retreat toward the 
 summit of the hill. 
 
 Here the big French guns opened violently upon 
 'the enemy, but the invaders remained in spite of the 
 hail of death. 
 
 Chester had been carried back with the French 
 retreat and he now found himself almost in the 
 first line. He was sadly disappointed, for he had 
 felt sure that the French effort to repel the attack 
 'would be successful.
 
 AT VERDUN 51 
 
 His men still falling back before the German ad- 
 vance, General Domont determined upon a bold 
 stroke. Orders were given thick and fast. Hal and 
 Chester, returning from their first missions of the 
 day, found themselves again near the front. The 
 orders to the various French divisional command- 
 ers were explicit. As the Germans advanced again 
 to the attack, the French, too, all along the line, 
 were to take the offensive. 
 
 The men awaited the word eagerly. 
 
 At last it came. With a shout the French, still 
 wearing their gas masks, hurled themselves for- 
 ward with the troops. 
 
 Halfway down the hill the lines met with a crash. 
 Rifles and small arms were fired point blank into 
 the very faces of the foe and then the men fell to 
 the work with bayonets. Both sides fought des- 
 perately. 
 
 Hal and Chester had drawn their swords and 
 found themselves engaged with the troops. So close 
 was the fighting that had it not been for the differ- 
 ence in uniform it would have been practically im- 
 possible to distinguish friend from foe. 
 
 Hal found himself engaged with a German officer 
 of huge stature, who was endeavoring to bring the 
 lad to earth by fierce sweeping blows of his officer's 
 sword. Hal was hard pressed to defend himself. 
 
 As the German's sword descended in a stroke of 
 extra violence, Hal stepped lightly aside and evaded
 
 52 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 the blow. Before the German could recover him- 
 self, Hal moved quickly forward. There was a 
 sudden, quick movement of his arm and the Ger- 
 man officer toppled over, to rise no more. 
 
 Hal turned just in time to see a second German 
 officer level a revolver straight at his head. The 
 lad ducked and the ball passed harmlessly over his 
 head. Before the German's finger could press the 
 trigger again Hal had raised his arm and struck. 
 
 Chester, in the meantime, had his own hands full. 
 He had accounted for a German trooper who had 
 sought to bring his rifle butt down on the lad's head 
 and was now engaged with two other troopers, who 
 sought to end his career with bayonets. 
 
 Chester sprang nimbly back as the two men ad- 
 vanced on him. One tripped and stumbled over a 
 fallen comrade and as he did so Chester took ad- 
 vantage of his misfortune to strike with his sword. 
 But the second German protected his fellow by 
 catching Chester's stroke with his bayonet and for 
 a moment Chester was at a disadvantage. 
 
 Even as the bayonet of the first trooper, who had 
 regained his balance, would have pierced him, how- 
 ever, Chester dropped flat on the ground and seized 
 one of the man's legs. The German dropped his 
 bayonet and crashed to the ground. Chester sprang 
 up quickly and jumped to one side to escape the 
 point of the bayonet in the hands of the second 
 trooper.
 
 AT VERDUN 53 
 
 Chester thrust with his sword, but the effort was 
 futile. The point of the lad's sword fell short. 
 Again the lad was at a disadvantage and the Ger- 
 man grinned as he stepped forward to end the com- 
 bat. His bayonet was pointed straight at the lad's 
 breast and it seemed as though nothing but a mir- 
 acle could save the boy. 
 
 But the miracle happened. Suddenly the Ger- 
 man dropped his bayonet with a crash and threw 
 up both arms. He spun on his heel and then fell 
 to the ground without an outcry. A stray bullet 
 had done what Chester had been unable to accom- 
 plish, and for the moment the lad was safe. 
 
 The second trooper now returned to the attack 
 and engaged Chester fiercely. All this time the 
 French were gradually being forced back, and of a 
 sudden Chester found himself the center of a mass 
 of German troops. 
 
 But the lad had no mind to give up. Throwing 
 caution to the winds, he now struck out swiftly and 
 sharply with his sword. Once or twice the thrusts 
 went home. Chester felt a sting in his left shoul- 
 der. The bayonet of a German trooper had pricked 
 him slightly. Chester whirled about and seized the 
 bayonet with his left hand. A powerful wrench 
 and it was wrested from the hands of the German 
 soldier, who had been caught off his guard. 
 
 Without taking time to reverse the weapon, Ches- 
 ter hurled it in the faces of the foe who pressed
 
 64 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 in about him. It struck one man squarely on the 
 forehead and he toppled over with a groan. 
 
 Again Chester laid about him with his sword, 
 retreating slowly as he did so. The gas helmet that 
 he wore impeded his progress somewhat, for it was 
 strange to his head and felt uncomfortable. Now 
 the lad realized for the first time that the Germans 
 before him also wore the heavy helmets. 
 
 He aimed a blow at one man's breast and it went 
 home. At the same moment a second German 
 brought his rifle butt down upon the lad's sword and 
 the weapon snapped off. Chester felt a second 
 sting in his arm and then he felt a blow across the 
 helmet. 
 
 There was a sudden roaring sound, Chester saw 
 a million stars flash through the air ; then he threw 
 up his arms, made a move to step forward and 
 crashed to the ground. 
 
 The last blow had broken open Chester's gas hel- 
 met and the lad was at the mercy of the poisonous 
 vapors !
 
 AT VERDUN 55 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 HAL TO THE RESCUE 
 
 At the same moment that Chester fell to the 
 ground, the clear note of a bugle rang out from the 
 German rear, sounding the recall. The attack was 
 to be given up. The resistance of the French had 
 been too much for the foe. 
 
 Hal, who had been retreating with the other 
 French troops, turned a second before the recall 
 was sounded just in time to see a single form that 
 had been struggling with a knot of the enemy crash 
 to the ground. Hal gave a loud cry, which was 
 stifled by his gas helmet, for he felt sure that it was 
 Chester. 
 
 It was at that moment the German bugle sounded 
 the recall. 
 
 Hal dashed toward the spot where Chester had 
 fallen. A score of enemy troops, perceiving his 
 approach, stayed their retreat and offered him battle. 
 Hal was nothing loath. He dashed toward them at 
 top speed. 
 
 Other French troops, seeing one of their num-
 
 56 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 ber dashing forward, and perceiving his peril, 
 jumped to the rescue. Still more Germans turned 
 and more French dashed forward. For a moment 
 it seemed that the struggle would be renewed in 
 spite of the order for a German recall. 
 
 Hal dashed among the foe with sword flashing 
 aloft. Right and left he slashed and the Germans 
 gave way before his fury. Then they closed in. 
 Almost at the same moment the French troops came 
 to his assistance. Again the recall was sounded 
 from the German rear. The few of the foe who 
 apparently had Hal at their mercy heeded this sec- 
 ond call reluctantly. They drew off slowly, open- 
 ing upon the advancing French with their rifles as 
 they did so. The French returned the fire and the 
 Germans retreated faster. 
 
 Apparently it was not the plan of General Domont 
 to follow up the retreating Germans, for there came 
 no order for a charge. Instead, the French com- 
 mander apparently was satisfied with having broken 
 down the German attack. He had no intention of 
 sacrificing more of his men in a useless pursuit that 
 would bring them again under the mouths of the 
 big German guns. 
 
 Quickly Hal bent over Chester. The latter had 
 fallen with his face on the ground, and this fact 
 undoubtedly had saved his life. He was uncon- 
 scious and his nose was buried in the dirt. Ke had 
 almost suffocated, but this fact had saved him from
 
 AT VERDUN 57 
 
 the poisonous gases. Hal stripped the gas helmet 
 from a dead French soldier and slipped it over 
 Chester's head. Then he lifted his chum from the 
 ground and started toward the rear, supporting the 
 unconscious figure as well as he could. 
 
 Several French troopers ran to his assistance. 
 Hal lowered Chester to the ground and put both 
 hands under his chum's head. He motioned one of 
 the French soldiers to take Chester's feet, and in 
 this manner they carried Chester from the danger 
 zone. 
 
 Hal did not rest easily until after a French sur- 
 geon had pronounced Chester little the worse for 
 his experience. Two bayonet wounds in the lad's 
 arm were found to be mere scratches. 
 
 "He'll pull round in a day or two," said the sur- 
 geon. "In the meantime it would be well to keep 
 him as quiet as possible, though he is in no 
 danger." 
 
 Hal thanked the surgeon, and leaving Chester in 
 safe hands, sought out General Domont and ex- 
 plained the circumstances to him. 
 
 "And I would like to get him back to my own 
 quarters," he concluded. 
 
 "Very well," said General Domont. "I shall 
 place an automobile at your disposal." 
 
 The French officer was as good as his word and 
 in a high-power motor car Hal and Chester, the 
 latter having regained consciousness, were soon oil
 
 58 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 their way to headquarters, Hal bearing General 
 Domont's report on the morning's encounter. 
 
 Hal went first to the quarters of General Petain, 
 where he delivered General Domont's report; then 
 he accompanied Chester to their own quarters, 
 where he made Chester as comfortable as possible. 
 
 He was just about to leave Chester alone, 
 when another figure entered the tent. It was 
 Stubbs. 
 
 "Hello, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester from his cot. 
 "Where have you been all summer?" 
 
 "Summer?" said Mr. Stubbs, removing his over- 
 coat. "This is the month of Febraury." 
 
 "All right; have it your own way," said Chester. 
 
 "Well, I've just been having a look around," 
 said Stubbs. 
 
 "Find out anything more about the conspiracy ?" 
 asked Hal. 
 
 "What conspiracy?" demanded Stubbs. 
 
 "Why, the one you were telling us about the otheF 
 night," exclaimed Chester. 
 
 Stubbs looked at the lad critically. 
 
 "Wounded today, weren't you?" he asked. 
 
 "A trifle," returned Chester. 
 
 "Any fever?" asked Stubbs. 
 
 "No," said Hal. "Why?" 
 
 "Why? He's dreaming things. What's this con 
 spiracy he's talking about ?" 
 
 Chester sat up in his cot.
 
 AT VERDUN 59 
 
 "You don't mean to tell me you don't remember 
 what you told us about it?" he demanded. 
 
 Stubbs tapped his head with a significant gesture 
 and nodded to Hal. 
 
 "Did you have a surgeon look at him ?" he asked. 
 
 "Look here, Stubbs " began Chester angrily. 
 
 "Here, here," interposed Hal. "You lie down 
 there, Chester. I'll talk to our friend here." 
 
 At this Mr. Stubbs moved toward the outside. 
 
 "I've got to be going now," he announced. 
 
 "Well, you're not going to go until you tell me 
 what all this foolishness is about," declared Hal. 
 
 "Foolishness?" 
 
 "Yes, foolishness. You can't deny, can you, that 
 mat you told us the other night you had unearthed 
 a conspiracy of some kind ?" 
 
 "I can," said Stubbs, "but I won't. It's my belief 
 that there is something wrong with both of you. 
 What would I know about a conspiracy ?" 
 
 "That's what I would like to know," returned 
 Chester, from his cot. "If you won't tell us, I've a 
 notion to tell General Petain what you told us." 
 
 "I wouldn't if I were you," said Stubbs. "It would- 
 n't do you any good. He probably would think your 
 wound had affected your mind. That's what I think." 
 
 "Oh, no you don't," said Hal. "You are just try- 
 ing to keep the thing to yourself, whatever it is. 
 Maybe you're going to slip it by the censor to the 
 Gazette, eh?"
 
 60 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Stubbs made no reply 
 
 "If I thought that, I would tell General retain," 
 declared Chester. 
 
 "It must be a great thing to have such imagina- 
 tions," said Stubbs with something like a sigh. 
 "Some of these days, if you like, I'll get you both 
 jobs on the Gazette." 
 
 "Now look here, Stubbs," said Hal. "Laying all 
 joking aside, are you going to tell us about this thing 
 or not?" 
 
 "What thing?" demanded Stubbs. 
 
 "By George!" ejaculated Hal in exasperation. 
 "You're the limit, Stubbs." 
 
 "Sure I am," was the little man's smiling response. 
 "Otherwise, I wouldn't be in this tent with 
 you." 
 
 "Stubbs," said Chester, a sudden idea striking him, 
 "have we done something you don't like?" 
 
 "You have," was Stubbs' reply. 
 
 "By Jove!" said Hal. "We're sorry for that, 
 Stubbs. We apologize. Will you tell us what we've 
 done?" 
 
 Stubbs looked at the lad with a peculiar smile 
 on his face. He was silent several moments before 
 replying : 
 
 "You don't know, eh?" 
 
 "Of course not." 
 
 Stubbs shrugged his shoulders and started out of 
 the tent.
 
 AT VERDUN 61 
 
 "Say!" Chester called after him, "are you going 
 to tell us or not ?" 
 
 "Not!" said Stubbs briefly, and was gone. 
 
 "Now what do you think of that?" demanded 
 Chester of his chum. 
 
 "There's something wrong with him," was Hal's 
 reply. "I haven't any idea what it can be." 
 
 "Suppose it is because we were poking fun at him 
 the other night?" 
 
 "I don't know. I don't believe he would take a 
 thing like that to heart. However, you can't tell." 
 
 "Anyhow," said Chester, "we're not likely to 
 find out what it's all about until he gets good and 
 ready to tell us." 
 
 "You're right, there," returned Hal. "He can be 
 as mum as an oyster when he wants to. Well, old 
 boy, I'll leave you alone now and go out and look 
 around a bit. Maybe I can stumble on this conspi- 
 racy Stubbs talks about." 
 
 "You mean the one he won't talk about," said 
 Chester with a smile. "All right. Go ahead. I'll take 
 a little snooze." 
 
 He rolled over on his side as Hal left the tent. 
 
 How long Chester slept he did not know, but it 
 was dark in the tent when he opened his eyes. 
 
 "Wonder what can be keeping Hal?" he mut- 
 tered to himself. 
 
 Hardly had spoken the words when a form came 
 through the entrance to the tent. Chester was about
 
 62 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 to speak, for he thought at first that it was Hal, but 
 something seemed to tell him to remain silent. The 
 lad, therefore, said nothing. 
 
 At second glance Chester realized that the figure 
 that had entered the tent was not Hal. Neither was 
 it Stubbs. 
 
 "Great Scott !" muttered the lad to himself. "Won- 
 der who he is and what he wants here? He hasn't 
 seen me though. Guess I'll wait and see what 
 happens." 
 
 The lad stretched out a hand carefully and drew 
 toward him a camp stool upon which he had laid his 
 clothes before going to bed. Without a sound he se- 
 cured one of his revolvers and straightened to a sit- 
 ting posture. 
 
 "I'm ready for whatever happens," he told him- 
 self. 
 
 The intruder had now taken up such a position in 
 the tent as to command a view of the entrance, 
 shielded from sight himself. Chester saw something 
 glisten in the man's hand. 
 
 "Gun," said the boy to himself. "Guess I can be&t 
 him to it." 
 
 Came footsteps without. They stopped just out- 
 side the tent. Chester saw the nocturnal visitor in the 
 tent raise his revolver arm. Chester did likewise. 
 
 "I'll just shoot that gun out of your hand, my 
 friend," he said quietly. 
 
 He took deliberate aim.
 
 AT VERDUN 63 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 AN UNKNOWN ENEMY 
 
 The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance. 
 Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his re- 
 volver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw him- 
 self taut. 
 
 At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the en- 
 trance. 
 
 There were two sharp cracks, so close that they 
 seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the dark- 
 ness. Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the 
 tent and Hal dashed forward. 
 
 "Quick, Hal! Grab him!" .shouted Chester. 
 
 But quick as he was, Hal was not quick enough. 
 With a snarl the man jumped toward Hal even as 
 Hal leaped himself. The stranger was of much great- 
 er bulk than Hal and the lad was hurled to the 
 ground. When he regained his feet the stranger "had 
 di^ppeared. 
 
 Chester, unmindful of his wound, had leaped from 
 his cot and now ran outside. Some distance away he 
 saw a figure disappear in the darkness. The lad did
 
 64 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 not fire a second shot, for at that distance he could 
 not be sure of a hit and he did not wish further to 
 alarm the camp. 
 
 Hal struck a light and the two chums looked at 
 each other. 
 
 "Did you get a look at him, Hal?" asked Chester. 
 
 "No, did you?" 
 
 "No. He was in the tent for some time, but 
 I waited until I was sure what he was going to do be- 
 fore I fired, though I had him covered all the time." 
 
 "You must be losing your eye. At that dis- 
 tance you should you should have potted him with- 
 out trouble." 
 
 "I guess I could have done it this time had I 
 tried," returned Chester. "I shot at his revolver." 
 
 "Well, I guess you hit it," said Hal. "There it is, 
 right where he dropped it. But his bullet whistled 
 pretty close to my ear." 
 
 "I suppose I shouldn't have taken a chance," said 
 Chester. "Next time I'll shoot to hit something bet- 
 ter than a pistol." 
 
 "Well, it doesn't make any difference now," said 
 Hal. "He didn't get me. I wonder who he is and 
 what he wanted to shoot me for?" 
 
 "You've got me, look at the gun and see if there 
 is any mark of identification on it." 
 
 Hal stooped over and picked up the revolver. 
 He examined it carefully and then passed it to 
 Chester.
 
 AT VERDUN 65 
 
 "Can't find anything," he said. 
 
 Chester examined the weapon with no better suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "Well," he said at last, slowly, "there is one thing 
 certain. You've an enemy of some kind in the camp. 
 It will behoove you to be careful in the future." 
 
 "I suppose the bullet was meant for me," said 
 Hal, "although, of course it might have been meant 
 for either you or Stubbs." 
 
 "Great Scott ! What would anybody want to shoot 
 Stubbs for?" 
 
 "Well, you can search me," said Hal with a shrug 
 of his shoulders, "which may not be very good Eng- 
 lish, but expresses my sentiments just the same." 
 
 "How about Stubbs' conspiracy? Maybe one of 
 the conspirators has caught Stubbs nosing about." 
 
 "By Jove ! It might be that, after all," said Hal. 
 "I wonder!" 
 
 "At all events, we shall all have to be on our 
 guard," declared Chester. "We don't know for which 
 of us the bullet was meant. We'll have to warn 
 Stubbs." 
 
 "So we shall, and if I mistake not here he comes 
 now." 
 
 Hal was right. A moment later the rotund face 
 of the little war correspondent appeared in the tent 
 entrance. 
 
 "Stubbs," said Hal gravely, " you missed getting 
 killed by just about five minutes."
 
 66 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 The little man started back in alarm. 
 
 "Wha what's that?" he demanded. 
 
 "I said you just escaped getting killed." 
 
 "But who would want to kill me?" demanded 
 Stubbs, plainly very nervous. 
 
 "It might have been one of your conspirators," 
 said Hal. He displayed the weapon from which a 
 bullet had sped toward his own head. 
 
 "Hey!" shouted Stubbs. "Put that gun down! 
 Don't shoot !" 
 
 The little man was so visibly frightened that Hal 
 looked at him in surprise. 
 
 "Surely you didn't think I was going to shoot you, 
 Mr. Stubbs ?" he asked in some surprise. 
 
 "I don't know," returned Stubbs, wiping a moist 
 brow with his handkerchief. "I don't understand 
 you fellows at all. First you said you wanted to kill 
 me five minutes ago and there you stand with a gun 
 in your hand. What am I to think ?" 
 
 "Stubbs, you're crazy," said Hal, calmly. "I 
 didn't say I wanted to kill you. When I came into 
 the tent just now there was a man took a shot at me. 
 I don't know whether he wanted to kill me, or 
 whether he wanted to kill you. He may even have 
 been trying to kill Chester. He didn't take time to 
 investigate. He fired at the first figure to enter the 
 tent. I don't know who he was. Have you any 
 enemies?" 
 
 "I_7 Why I don't know," said Stubbs.
 
 AT VERDUN 67 
 
 "How about the conspirators. Do any of them 
 know you ?" 
 
 "What conspirators?" demanded Stubbs, ancfr 
 added, "I wish you would quit harping on that sub- 
 ject. It's all right to have a little fun with me 
 once in a while. I don't mind it; but enough 
 is enough." 
 
 Chester was about to make an angry retort, but 
 Hal stayed him with a word. 
 
 "All right, Stubbs," he said. "If you don't know 
 anything about a conspiracy you don't and that's all 
 there is about that. But if you do, I should advise 
 you to be careful. I believe that shot was meant for 
 you." 
 
 "I am afraid that this tent is going to be danger- 
 ous for me," said Stubbs, slowly. "I shall remain 
 here no longer." 
 
 "What! Not going to leave us, Stubbs?" exclaim- 
 ed Chester. 
 
 "Yes," returned the little man quietly. "If I re- 
 main here I'm liable to wake up dead some morning, 
 and I wouldn't like that. There's an expression in 
 New York that hits me just right. 'Safety first!' 
 I'm going to get out of this tent, and I'm going to 
 get out right now, while I'm all together." 
 
 He hurried to the far side of the tent and got his 
 belongings together. Then he moved toward the 
 door. There he paused a moment, as if undecided: 
 then walked up to Hal and extended a hand.
 
 68 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Goodbye, Hal," he said quietly. "I may not see 
 you for some time and then again it again it may be 
 soon." 
 
 Hal took the hand as he said : 
 
 "Look here, Stubbs, we don't like to lose you." 
 
 "I know, I know," said the little man, "but it will 
 be better for all concerned." 
 
 He approached Chester and extended a hand to 
 him also. 
 
 "Come now, Stubbs," said Chester. "Drop those 
 things back down there and go to bed." 
 
 "Not much," replied Stubbs grimly. "I'm going 
 to hunt a safer spot than this." 
 
 He released Chester's hand and made his way 
 to the door. There, just before moving away, he 
 turned and spoke. 
 
 "Boys," he said, "we've been pretty good friends, 
 the three of us, haven't we?" 
 
 "You bet we have, Stubbs," returned Chester 
 warmly. 
 
 "We certainly have, Mr. Stubbs," Hal agreed. 
 
 "All right, then," said the little man. "You both 
 have been good enough to tell me once or twice that 
 I have been of some service to you." 
 
 "You certainly have, Mr. Stubbs," declared 
 Hal, "and anything we can do to repay you " 
 
 "Never mind that," said Stubbs with a wave 
 of the hand. "All I want to say is this: If, at any 
 time, within a day or two or within a month or
 
 AT VERDUN 69 
 
 two, I do anything you don't like, anything 
 that puts you to some inconvenience you will 
 know that I am doing it for your own good 
 because I am fond of both of you and don't want 
 to see you get in trouble." 
 
 "Say, Stubbs, what on earth are you talking 
 about?" asked Chester in great surprise. 
 
 "Never mind what I'm talking about," re- 
 turned Stubbs, half angrily. "I just want you to 
 remember what I am saying." 
 
 " We'll remember, if that will do you any good," 
 said Chester, "but I wish you would tell me what 
 it is all about." 
 
 "I may not be talking about anything, and then 
 I may be talking about a whole lot," was Stubbs* 
 enigmatical response. "Time will tell." 
 
 "Time will tell what, Mr. Stubbs?" demanded 
 Hal. 
 
 "Oh, rats !" said Stubbs. "I haven't time to stay 
 here and talk to you fellows all night. Just re- 
 member what I said. That's all." 
 
 He stepped out the tent and was gone. 
 
 Hal and Chester gazed at one another in the 
 utmost surprise. 
 
 "What in the time of the Czar do you suppose 
 he was talking about?" asked Chester. 
 
 "I'm not good at conundrums," replied Hal. 
 "He's got something on his mind, all right." 
 
 "Providing he has a mind left," agreed Chester.
 
 70 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal smiled. 
 
 "From the way he talked that fact is open to 
 doubt," he replied. 
 
 "I didn't think he was a drinking man," said 
 Chester. 
 
 "Oh, he was sober enough. By the way, did you 
 notice his hesitation when I asked him if he had any 
 enemies?" 
 
 "By George! I did. He couldn't answer. I'll bet 
 he knows more about the man that fired that shot 
 at you than he is willing to admit." 
 
 "It looks like it," Hal agreed. "From his actions, 
 I would judge that the shot was meant for 
 him." 
 
 "Exactly," said Chester, "and he knows who it 
 was that fired it." 
 
 "Well, there is no use talking about it," declared 
 Hal. "We can't possibly figure it out ourselves. 
 One thing, though, we shall have to be on our 
 guard. The unknown enemy may not know that 
 Stubbs has moved and may try again." 
 
 "Right," said Chester. "We'll have to sleep with 
 one eye open." 
 
 "Oh, we're safe enough tonight," said Hal. 
 "He'll figure we'll be on the watch and will post- 
 pone his next visit for a day or two. By the way, 
 old man, how do you feel?" 
 
 "First rate. I'll be as good as new in the morn- 
 ing."
 
 AT VERDUN Yi 
 
 "I hope so. In that event we had better get a little 
 sleep." 
 
 "Then you don't think it necessary for one of 
 us to stand watch?" 
 
 "No; here goes for bed."
 
 72 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 IN THE TRENCHES 
 
 In some manner, known only to himself, Anthony 
 Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York Ga- 
 zette, had ingratiated himself with General Petain, 
 the French commander at Verdun. General Petain, 
 upon Stubbs' request, agreed that the little war 
 correspondent should be allowed to make a tour 
 of the city of Verdun and the surrounding forti- 
 fications and view for himself the effects of the 
 siege thus far. 
 
 An officer of the general staff was assigned by 
 the French commander to show Stubbs about. It 
 was the first time a war correspondent had been 
 admitted to Verdun and the surrounding forti- 
 fications ; and because of the things that Stubbs 
 learned on the tour, it is fitting that the reader 
 take the trip with him. 
 
 The offcer first led Stubbs to the highest point 
 on the walls encircling Verdun and there explained 
 the lay-out of the contending forces. From this 
 point of vantage, commanding the battlefield, Ver- 
 dun looked like the center of a huge saucer, with
 
 AT VERDUN 73 
 
 the town lying very low, while all around rose an 
 even circle of crests forming the outer edge of the 
 saucer. 
 
 The dangerous proximity of the Germans was 
 apparent. At the time that Stubbs viewed the battle- 
 field the armies of the Kaiser held a goodly portion 
 of these crests, though the battle of Verdun wa 
 less than two weeks old. 
 
 An intermittent bombardment was in progress 
 from Fort Tavennes, Fort Soueville, Fort St. Mi- 
 chael and Fort Belleville, which were barking stead- 
 ily and giving off jets of black smoke. The German 
 cannonade sounded like a distant roar. The shell- 
 ing of Verdun was continuing. 
 
 Three hundred shells a day had been hurled in- 
 to Verdun itself during the battle, Stubbs was in- 
 formed by the French officer, upon one day as 
 many as 750 having been counted; but the average 
 was 300. As the two stood there a French aeroplane 
 was attacked by a German gun, shrapnel bursting 
 all around as the machine turned from the German 
 positions and darted back to French cover. 
 
 The terrible course of the destruction was point- 
 ed out by the French officer. The town itself had 
 been abandoned by the civil population, and even 
 few troops were to be found there. Such shops and 
 houses as had escaped the shells were closed and 
 barricaded; and the shells continued to fall. 
 
 The streets were crumbling ruins, with only 

 
 74 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 jagged walls remaining here and there. The ca- 
 thedral had two shell holes in the roof; the main 
 altar was a mass of debris and the side altar was 
 littered with broken carvings, statues and chande- 
 liers. 
 
 One wing of the handsome military club was 
 torn off and the whole establishment was a wreck. 
 The archbishop's residence had its famous sculp- 
 tured walls peppered with shell holes and the ad- 
 joining College of Marguerite had its delicate stone 
 filigree reduced almost to powder. The houses along 
 the Meuse, flanking the principal bridge, were li- 
 terally wrecked. 
 
 Sixteen great shells had struck the town hall; 
 one corner of the building had been torn off and 
 the clock tower smashed. The mayor's office was 
 being used as an emergency butcher shop. 
 
 Stubbs' guide now led him to one of the inner 
 forts of the fortifications, which was still shelling 
 the Germans. From here Stubbs gained a view of 
 the fighting ground of Fleury at close range. Over 
 the entrance of the fort was a notice to the gar- 
 rison that the fort was to be levelled in extremity 
 and never surrendered. 
 
 Fleury, lying to the right of Verdun, showed not 
 a house standing. The great German guns had car- 
 ried all before them. The whole village was a mass 
 of ruins. At the moment the village was in the 
 hands of the French. It had been occupied twice
 
 AT VERDUN 75 
 
 by the Germans, but only the day before had again 
 been captured by the French. Although Stubbs did 
 not know it, the little village was to change hands 
 a score of times more in the months that were to 
 follow. 
 
 As Stubbs' guide pointed out the various points 
 destroyed by German shells, he gave the little man 
 an account of the fighting in each spot. He pointed 
 out the advantages of earthen breastworks as 
 against the solid walls of fortresses. The effective- 
 ness of the former was very plain. 
 
 Stubbs and his guide now returned to the ci- 
 tadel of Verdun, where Stubbs thanked General 
 Petain for being allowed to make the tour of in- 
 spection. Gathered about the commander were 
 many members of his staff, who joined in the con- 
 versation. Stubbs could not but be impressed by the 
 confidence manifested by the officers that Verdun 
 could be kept from the Germans, and this in the 
 face of the reverses of the past few days. The feel- 
 ing was summarized in the closing word of Gen- 
 eral Petain, as he bade Stubbs farewell. 
 
 "Au revoir, Monsieur Stubbs," he said, "until 
 you come back when our victory is complete!" 
 
 By a series of fierce counter assaults, the French 
 now had driven the seasoned veterans of the Ger- 
 man Crown Prince from Dead Man's Hill; from 
 Hill No. 265, to the north, from Chattancourt and 
 Charny. Back across the Meuse the Germans fled
 
 76 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 from the vicious attacks of the French. Second and 
 third line trenches were re-won. 
 
 But the French did not stop there. The third day 
 of March found them still pushing the Germans 
 and as darkness fell that night, the troops of Gen- 
 eral Petain entrenched themselves just to the east 
 of Thiaumont farm and Hill No. 320. A trifle to 
 the south, Fleury was once more in German hands, 
 the opposition in this sector having been too much 
 for the French to overcome. Almost due east, Ger- 
 man guns, wheeled into position at Fort Vaux, cap- 
 tured the preceding day, shelled the reconquered 
 positions of the French; but the latter stood firm. 
 All night the artillery duel raged and the coming of 
 morning found both armies ready for the day's 
 work. 
 
 The French opened the day by concentrating 
 heavy artillery upon the German positions at Fort 
 Vaux. After a two hours' bombardment, the in- 
 fantry was ordered to the attack. Fresh troops took 
 the places in the trenches vacated by the attacking 
 forces and heavy guns covered their advance. 
 
 A hundred yards or so from the hastily con- 
 structed German trenches, the thin French lines 
 charged. Their ranks had been sadly depleted as 
 they marched across the open ground, but they 
 stuck to the work bravely. Clear to the German 
 trenches they ran, a second and still a third line 
 close behind ; and then the Germans swarmed out
 
 AT VERDUN 77 
 
 to meet them. A fierce hand-to-hand encounter 
 ensued with victory crowning German arms. What 
 was left of the French attacking party scurried 
 back to their own lines. 
 
 The Germans did not wait for a second attack. 
 German buglers sounded an advance. Again the 
 Germans swarmed out of their trenches in count- 
 less thousands and rushed the French trenches. 
 
 Hal and Chester at this moment found them- 
 selves at the front with orders for respective divi- 
 sional commanders. They remained as the Ger- 
 mans charged, sheltered by the huge earthen breast- 
 works. 
 
 The fate of the German charge was the same as 
 that of the French a short while before. Beaten off 
 after a half hour of fierce fighting, the Germans 
 retired to the shelter of their own lines. The great 
 German guns, silent while the infantry was engaged, 
 opened up anew on the French trenches, dropping 
 shells in profusion. 
 
 Hal and Chester stood elbow to elbow watching 
 the destructive work of the giant shells. Of a sud- 
 den a shell dropped close to them. Hal uttered a 
 cry of alarm and made a desperate attempt to drag 
 Chester out of harm's way. In this he was partly 
 successful and they had dashed forward a few 
 yards before the shell exploded. 
 
 With the fury of the blast, great clouds of earth 
 flew high in the air. Hal and Chester felt the ground
 
 78 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 open up beneath them and they gasped for breath 
 as they were precipitated into what seemed a bottom- 
 less pit. How far they fell they could not tell, but 
 it seemed a long ways; and hardly had they 
 struck bottom when a shower of earth fell upon 
 them. 
 
 Fortunately for them, they were in a section of the 
 trench that was protected on either side by artificial 
 abuttments of hard dirt and stones thrown up by 
 the troops and these caught heavy beams and rocks 
 and other debris that would have showered down 
 upon them and crushed them to death. A great log, 
 or such it appeared, came down lengthwise and 
 struck the abuttments on either side of the pit into 
 which the lads had fallen ; a second did likewise and 
 these prevented the shower of rocks and pieces of 
 big guns from going through. It was all that saved 
 the lads. 
 
 Then more earth fell and covered these and the 
 pit was effectually sealed. Below there was no 
 light, and when Hal and Chester regained their 
 feet neither could see light above. They groped 
 for each other in the dark and at last clasped 
 hands. 
 
 "Great Scott! What's happened?" gasped Ches- 
 ter. "Where are we?" 
 
 "We are in a pit caused by the explosion of that 
 shell," said Hal, quietly. "The next question is how 
 to get out."
 
 AT VERDUN 79 
 
 He put a hand above his head, but could touch 
 nothing. He tried jumping, but with no better suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "I can't reach the top," he said. 
 
 The lads felt around the sides of the pit. The 
 walls were sheer. It was useless to think of get- 
 ting up that way. 
 
 "Well, we're up against it," said Hal. "I don't 
 know how we are to get out of here. By Jove! 
 It's lucky we weren't killed by the shell." 
 
 "We might just as well have been as to die down 
 here," said Chester. 
 
 "Buck up, old man," said Hal. "We're not dead 
 yet and while there's life there's hope. We've been 
 in some ticklish positions before and pulled through 
 all right." 
 
 "We were never in a hole like this before," said 
 Chester. 
 
 Hal had made his way to one side of the pit. 
 
 "Here," he called to Chester, "you climb up on my 
 shoulders and see if you can reach the top." 
 
 Chester did as Hal suggested and his efforts were 
 rewarded by touching something overhead. 
 
 "What luck?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Good," said Chester. "I have touched some- 
 thing. Feels like a log." 
 
 "Can you pull it loose?" 
 
 "If I do we're likely to be crushed down here." 
 
 "If you don't we're likely to suffocate down
 
 80 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 here," returned Hal. "I can scarcely get my breath 
 now. We'll have to take a chance." 
 
 "Then I'll have a try at it," said Chester. "Be 
 ready to crouch close to the side of the pit when I 
 give the word. I'll come down on top of you and 
 we'll trust to luck that the debris falls clear." 
 
 "All right," said Hal. "Yell when you're ready." 
 
 Again Chester tested the covering with his hands. 
 At last he struck a spot where he could obtain a 
 grip. He decided to throw his weight on it and see 
 if it would come down. He took a firm hold and 
 then called : 
 
 "All right, Hal ! Stoop quickly !"
 
 AT VERDUN 81 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 UNEXPECTED VISITORS 
 
 Came a low, rumbling sound from overhead and 
 a shower of dirt poured down on Hal as he 
 crouched in his corner. Chester still swung to and 
 fro from above. The lad felt something give, and 
 believing that the mass above was about to fall, he 
 dropped quickly alongside Hal and buried his face 
 in his arms. 
 
 But nothing happened. 
 
 Directly Chester rose to his feet. 
 
 "I thought it was coming," he said to Hal. 
 "Guess I didn't hang on long enough. I'll have an- 
 other try. Lend me your shoulders again." 
 
 Hal also stood up and took his position. Chester 
 clambered up and again explored the covering with 
 his fingers. At the first touch there was another 
 shower of earth. 
 
 "Won't take a whole lot to move it, I guess," he 
 said. 
 
 "Hurry, then," enjoined Hal. "The air is stifling 
 iown here." 
 
 Chester himself felt that he was suffocating and 
 realized the need for haste.
 
 82 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "All right," he said. "Here's hoping we're not 
 crushed to death. Down when I give the word." 
 
 Again his fingers found a hold and he braced him- 
 self for the shock. 
 
 "Down !" he cried suddenly. 
 
 Hal dropped. 
 
 A second time came the dull rumbling from above 
 as Chester swayed to and fro in his precarious po- 
 sition. Then the lad felt the covering give. One 
 instant longer he hung on, for he felt that he would 
 have no strength for a third attempt should this 
 fail. 
 
 And then, with a roar, the mass of debris above 
 came tumbling down. 
 
 Chester swung himself close to the side of the pit 
 even as he felt the covering give and came down 
 a short distance from Hal. He covered his head 
 as well as he could and waited for he knew not 
 what. 
 
 It was not long coming. 
 
 Something struck the lad a sharp blow upon the 
 shoulder, numbing it. Behind him the lad heard 
 rocks and other debris crashing to the bottom. 
 Holding his breath, he waited for the blow he felt 
 sure must come from above and unconsciously his 
 right hand stretched out toward where he knew 
 Hal to be. 
 
 But nothing struck him. After five seconds of 
 the terrible roaring, there was silence. Chester
 
 AT VERDUN 83 
 
 looked up. There was light above. Chester uttered 
 a short prayer of thankfulness and rose to his feet. 
 
 "All right, Hal," he said, still looking above, while 
 he rubbed his injured shoulder. 
 
 There was no reply. 
 
 Chester looked quickly about him. There was 
 no sign of Hal. 
 
 "Great Scott ! What can have happened to him ?" 
 he asked himself anxiously. 
 
 Quickly he fell to hands and knees and explored 
 the bottom of the pit. There, where he knew Hal 
 should be, he felt a mound of earth. 
 
 "Great Scott! He's buried!" cried Chester. 
 
 Frantically he set to work with his bare hands to 
 uncover Hal. 
 
 In a few moments his efforts were rewarded. He 
 exposed Hal's arm. From the position the arm 
 was in Chester was able to locate his chum's head. 
 This he uncovered quickly, for he feared that his 
 friend might suffocate. Then he bent over Hal 
 and listened. 
 
 Hal was breathing faintly. 
 
 Chester uttered a cry of relief and proceeded to 
 uncover the rest of his friend's body. This done, 
 he set about reviving Hal, who was unconscious. 
 
 Chester rubbed Hal's hands vigorously, and was 
 at last rewarded by hearing Hal sigh. A moment 
 later Hal spoke. 
 
 "What's happened?" he asked.
 
 84 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Well, it looks like the world caved in on you," 
 returned Chester. "Fortunately, appearances are 
 deceitful. I yanked the log loose from above and 
 you were buried in the dirt. Fortunately, I got you 
 out in time. How do you feel?" 
 
 "I don't feel very chipper," was the faint reply; 
 "but I guess I'm all right." 
 
 "Can you get up?" 
 
 "Don't know; I'll try." 
 
 He made the effort, and with Chester's assistance, 
 soon stood leaning against one side of the pit. He 
 looked up. 
 
 "Quite a ways up there," he said. "How are we 
 going to make it ?" 
 
 "Think you can climb up on my shoulders, pull 
 yourself out and then lend me a hand?" 
 
 "I don't believe so. Guess I can brace myself 
 while you climb up, though." 
 
 "Good, we'll try it." 
 
 Once more Chester climbed to Hal's shoulder 
 while the latter braced himself against one wall of 
 the pit. He took a firm hold on the edge above and 
 drew himself up with little difficulty. He was about 
 to reach down and lend Hal a hand when he hap- 
 pened to look toward the east. 
 
 "Good night!" he exclaimed and disappeared 
 into the pit in a hurry. 
 
 "What's the matter?" demanded Hal, who had 
 not overheard his friend's ejaculation.
 
 AT VERDUN 85 
 
 "Matter !" echoed Chester. "There are about ten 
 millions coming this way on the dead run. The 
 French have retreated !" 
 
 "Hm-m-m," said Hal; "and what are we going 
 to do?" 
 
 "Bide here for a spell, I expect," was Chester's 
 answer. 
 
 "Guess you're right. They may not notice us 
 down here. We'll play we're a couple of mice and 
 see how still we can keep." 
 
 "Good! Listen! I hear 'em coming!" 
 
 Above them, to one side, they could hear the 
 trampling of many feet as the Germans passed the 
 pit. 
 
 "Guess we're safe enough so long as we stay 
 down here," said Chester. 
 
 "But we're going to have trouble reaching the 
 French lines if the Germans are permitted to camp 
 out hereabouts," declared Hal. 
 
 "Well, maybe the French will chase them back 
 again," said Chester, hopefully. 
 
 "Maybe," Hal repeated, "and then maybe not. 
 Now, if we hello !" 
 
 He broke off suddenly. From above there had 
 come muttered exclamations of alarm, two bodies 
 came hurtling through space and struck the bottom 
 of the pit with loud thumps. 
 
 "Grab 'em, Hal!" shouted Chester, and leaped 
 across the pit.
 
 86 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal followed suit, for the two bodies that had 
 tumbled through space were nothing less than Ger- 
 man soldiers who had failed to see the opening 
 above. 
 
 They were taken by surprise when two forms 
 leaped on them below, but they put up a fight. 
 
 "Tap 'em over the head with your gun !" shouted 
 Chester. 
 
 He had drawn his revolver as he leaped forward 
 and now suited the action to the word. The Ger- 
 man toppled over with a groan. 
 
 Hal, however, had not drawn his weapon, and 
 was now locked in the arms of the second German, 
 as they rolled over and over in the bottom of the pit. 
 Weakened by his recent experience he was getting 
 the worst of it. 
 
 Chester took in the situation at a glance and leaped 
 forward. At the moment Hal was on top and the 
 German stared up at Chester. Seeing a second foe 
 he raised a loud cry for help. 
 
 This was what Chester had been afraid of. He 
 didn't want any more Germans down there if he 
 could help it. 
 
 "Turn him over, Hal !" he cried. "Let me get a 
 whack at him with my gun." 
 
 By a desperate effort Hal obeyed and the Ger- 
 man rolled on top of him. One more loud cry he 
 gave and then Chester silenced him with a sharp 
 blow of his revolver butt.
 
 AT VERDUN 87 
 
 Chester stepped back with an exclamation of re- 
 lief and Hal dragged himself from beneath his now 
 unconscious adversary. 
 
 "A tough customer, that fellow," he remarked. 
 
 "You'd have done for him if you hadn't been so 
 weak," Chester replied. "I didn't think we might 
 have callers down here." 
 
 "Neither did I," returned Hal, "but I'm glad they 
 came." 
 
 "Why?" demanded Chester in surprise. 
 
 "We can borrow their uniforms if it's necessary," 
 Hal explained. 
 
 "By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," exclaimed 
 Chester. "A good plan." 
 
 "Of course it may not be necessary," said Hal. 
 "If the Germans should be driven back it would be 
 unnecessary. We'll wait until after dark and see." 
 
 "In the meantime we had better tie these fellows 
 up," said Chester. "One of them is coming to now. 
 He may not know when he's properly licked and 
 want to continue the fight." 
 
 "Better gag 'em, too," said Hal. "I noticed that 
 one fellow had pretty good lungs." 
 
 The lads removed their belts and with these 
 bound the hands of their captives. They had noth- 
 ing to tie their legs, but they didn't feel there was 
 much danger of the men crawling out of the pit 
 with their arms bound. They gagged them with 
 their handkerchiefs.
 
 88 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 A few moments later one of the Germans stag- 
 gered to his feet and gazed at the two lads in aston- 
 ishment. The second also soon regained conscious- 
 ness and apparently was no less surprised. Both lads 
 kept their revolvers handy, for they weren't sure 
 whether the Germans might not attack them, bound 
 and gagged as they were. 
 
 Hal addressed them. 
 
 "We expect to keep you company for some time," 
 he said, "and we don't want any foolishness. The 
 first false move will be your last. Get over there in 
 the corner." 
 
 The men obeyed, growling to themselves. 
 
 Hal and Chester listened for sounds above that 
 would indicate the retreat of the Germans and the 
 advance of the French. No such sounds came; and 
 with the fall of darkness Hal said : 
 
 "Well, I guess we had better change clothes with 
 these fellows and make a break for it." 
 
 "Good!" agreed Chester. "We'll have to un- 
 bind them while they disrobe. We'll strip one at a 
 time. You hold the gun while I do the work." 
 
 "Well, I guess everything is all ready," said 
 Chester, when they were at last garbed in the Ger- 
 man uniforms and the men were safely tied up 
 again. "We may as well be moving." 
 
 "All right," said Hal, "climb up on my shoulders. 
 I'll keep my gun on these two fellows in the mean- 
 time. Can't trust 'em."
 
 AT VERDUN 89 
 
 Chester followed Hal's instructions and a moment 
 later gazed out of the pit. Ahead he could see mov- 
 ing forms, but there was no one close to the pit. 
 
 "Coast clear," he called to Hal. "Here I go. Be 
 ready when I reach down for you." 
 
 He pulled himself up.
 
 90 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THROUGH THE LINES 
 
 "Ready, Hal?" 
 
 "All ready/' 
 
 Hal stretched up his hands, and Chester, leaning 
 far over the pit, seized them and pulled. Hal came 
 slowly upwards. 
 
 Suddenly he gave a cry of pain and twisted and 
 squirmed vigorously. Chester became alarmed. 
 
 "What's the matter?" he asked quickly. 
 
 "One of those fellows bit me in the leg!" ex- 
 claimed Hal. 
 
 It was true. 
 
 As Hal had soared upward, one of the Germans 
 had sprung forward, and being unable to free his 
 hands, had seized the fleshy part of Hal's leg be- 
 tween his teeth. Evidently the gag had not been 
 properly adjusted. 
 
 "Kick him loose!" cried Chester. 
 
 Hal obeyed instructions. The German uttered a 
 loud cry another sign that the lads had gagged him 
 too carelessly. 
 
 In kicking out at the German, Hal had used too
 
 AT VERDUN 91 
 
 much violence and had jerked loose from Chester's 
 hold. Down into the pit he plunged again. Appar- 
 ently believing that Hal had come back with the in- 
 tention of silencing him forever, the ungagged Ger- 
 man gave vent to a series of loud cries. 
 
 "Quick, Chester!" called Hal. "Pull me out of 
 here before this fellow brings down the whole Ger- 
 man army." 
 
 Chester leaned over and again seized Hal by the 
 hands and pulled. Once more the German below 
 sprang forward and attempted to sink his teeth 
 in Hal's leg. Hal, realizing what the man was 
 about, kicked out suddenly before the German could 
 obtain his hold, and the lad's heavy shoe caught the 
 man squarely in the mouth. One more cry the Ger- 
 man gave and then toppled over. 
 
 "Quick Chester !" cried Hal, again. 
 
 With an effort Chester dragged Hal from the 
 pit. 
 
 Hal stood up and both lads dusted the dirt from 
 their clothes. 
 
 "Now the sooner we get away from this spot the 
 better," said Chester. 
 
 They advanced directly west toward the extreme 
 German front. 
 
 "We'll have to depend on boldness to take us 
 through," said Hal. "It is unlikely that we shall 
 be questioned until we reach the outposts and then 
 we'll have to make a break for it."
 
 92 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Suits me," said Chester. 
 
 They walked along leisurely, passing countless 
 German soldiers standing about; but little attention 
 was paid to them. Occasionally a man nodded to 
 them and the lads returned the salutation. 
 
 Gradually they drew away from the main body 
 of troops and neared the outposts. Here German 
 troopers were engaged in throwing up breastworks 
 against a possible attack by the French in the morn- 
 ing. 
 
 "Guess we won't have far to go if we can get 
 beyond the outposts," muttered Hal. "These prepa- 
 rations indicate the Germans have just won this 
 ground. The French can't be far away." 
 
 Chester nodded in token of assent; and at that 
 moment they came up to the workers. Casually they 
 stood and watched the German soldiers digging for 
 a few moments; then wandered in among them, 
 keeping close together. 
 
 "When I give the word !" whispered Hal. 
 
 Chester nodded. 
 
 "Now !" 
 
 Hal gave the word suddenly. 
 
 Immediately the two lads took to their heels. 
 
 For a moment the Germans were stunned by the 
 very audacity of the two lads. Then entrenching 
 tools dropped to the ground and the men seized their 
 rifles and fired a volley after the two boys. But in 
 the time it had taken them to lay aside their tools
 
 AT VERDUN 93 
 
 and pick up their weapons the lads had disappeared 
 in the darkness and now hurled themselves to the 
 ground, anticipating such a volley. 
 
 In the darkness the Germans could hope to hit 
 them only by accident. 
 
 Springing to their feet again, the lads ran for- 
 ward, bearing off slightly to the north, and soon 
 felt they were safe. 
 
 They slowed down and approached the French 
 lines cautiously. Presently they beheld the first 
 French entrenchment. As they drew close a French 
 soldier poked up his head and levelled a rifle at 
 them. 
 
 "Halt !" he cried. "Who goes there ?" 
 
 "Friends !" returned Hal. 
 
 "Advance friends," came the soldier's next words> 
 while he still held his rifle ready. 
 
 Hal and Chester advanced to the very edge of 
 the trench. There the soldier took a good look at 
 their faces and noticed the German uniforms. Up 
 went his rifle again and he would have pulled the 
 trigger with the gun aimed squarely at Hal had not 
 Chester leaped quickly forward and struck up the 
 weapon. 
 
 The two clinched. 
 
 "You fool!" cried Chester. "We are not Ger- 
 mans !" 
 
 Other soldiers now came running up. They gath- 
 ered about the two figures in German uniforms.
 
 94 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 An officer approached. Fortunately, he recognized 
 the two boys and waved the men away. 
 
 "These men are all right," he said. 
 
 The soldiers drew off, satisfied, all but the man 
 who would have fired point blank at Hal. He stood 
 there and eyed the lad sullenly. Then, for the first 
 time, Hal obtained a good look at him. The lad 
 recognized him instantly. He was the same man 
 who had directed the hazing of young Jules Clemen- 
 cau a short time before. 
 
 As the Frenchman leered at him evilly, Hal 
 walked close to him. 
 
 "It's my belief you knew me all the time," he de- 
 clared quietly. 
 
 "What of it?" the Frenchman demanded. 
 
 "Why," said Hal, "only that if I were sure, I'd 
 pull your nose for you." 
 
 "Ha!" exclaimed the Frenchman. "I'd like to 
 see you try it. You caught me off my guard the 
 other night. You can't do it again." 
 
 "I don't particularly care to do it," returned Hal, 
 quietly, "because you're not worth it; but if I start 
 I'll probably go through with it." 
 
 Again the Frenchman sneered at him. 
 
 Further conversation was prevented by the ap- 
 pearance of a French lieutenant who had observed 
 the trouble. 
 
 "Matin !" he ordered. "Back to your post at once, 
 sir."
 
 AT VERDUN 95 
 
 The latter saluted respectfully enough, but he gave 
 Hal another evil look as he walked away. 
 
 "He's no friend of yours, that's sure," said the 
 young French officer to Hal, with a smile. 
 
 "I am glad to say he's not," replied Hal, quietly. 
 "I don't believe I'd care for a friend like that." 
 
 "I don't blame you," was the young officer's re- 
 sponse. "Matin has a bad reputation and I would 
 advise you to keep your eye on him." 
 
 "Thanks," said Hal. "I shall remember that. 
 By the way, can you tell me just where we are?" 
 
 "Thiaumont farm," returned the French officer; 
 "or, rather, I should say, just east of Thiaumont 
 farm. You two fellows look somewhat done up. If 
 you will go to the farm you will find a place to sleep 
 in the farmhouse. By some trick of fate the house 
 and barn still stand, although everything else in this 
 vicinity has been knocked to pieces by the big guns." 
 
 "Thanks," said Flal, again. "We shall take your 
 advice. We are pretty tired and a sleep will help 
 out. It's too far back to our own quarters when 
 there is a place to bunk so handy." 
 
 The two lads left the young officer and made 
 their way to the farmhouse. Here they found a 
 number of French officers already installed, but the 
 latter gladly made room for them. 
 
 "No beds," said one with a laugh, "but there is 
 plenty of room on the floor." 
 
 "I guess a bed would be too much to expect," said
 
 96 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Chester, also laughing. "Besides, it's been so long 
 since I slept in one I don't believe I could rest." 
 
 "The floor is plenty good enough for me," Hal 
 agreed. 
 
 "Help yourselves then. You can pick out your 
 own room." 
 
 "Guess we'll go upstairs then," said Hal. "It'll 
 probably be more quiet up there. These fellows 
 down here are having too much fun to care about 
 sleep," and he waved his arm toward one corner 
 of the room, where a group of young French offi- 
 cers were engaged in a game of cards. 
 
 The two boys made their way upstairs and found 
 a room to their liking in the rear of the house. Here 
 they stretched themselves out on the floor and were 
 asleep immediately. There were no other occu- 
 pants of the room. 
 
 Outside the moon was shining, and it cast a beam 
 of light into the room where the two chums lay 
 asleep. Several hours after the boys had closed 
 their eyes in sleep, the figure of a man appeared in 
 the window without. After some experimenting he 
 opened the window softly and came in. He closed 
 the window gently behind him. 
 
 Chester stirred in his sleep and the man shrank 
 back against the wall in the darkness. For perhaps 
 five minutes he remained there, and then, as there 
 was no further move by the sleeper, he advanced 
 into the center of the room. The light fell upon his
 
 AT VERDUN 97 
 
 face, and had the boys been awake, they would have 
 recognized in the intruder, Matin, the man who had 
 attempted to shoot Hal a short time before. 
 
 Matin approached the two sleepers quietly, seek- 
 ing to make sure which was Hal. He examined each 
 closely and then grinned as he stepped back a pace 
 or two, apparently satisfied. 
 
 From the next room there came the sound of 
 footsteps and again Matin shrank back against the 
 wall. Directly the footsteps moved away and Matin 
 drew a breath of relief. 
 
 From his pocket now he produced a knife, ex- 
 amined it carefully and grinned again. Looking 
 carefully about to make sure that there was no 
 one in the room to observe him, he stepped forward. 
 
 Had he turned his head at that moment he would 
 have seen a second figure lowering itself just inside 
 the room. But so intent was Matin upon the dark 
 deed ahead of him that, after his one observation 
 of the room, he did not look again. 
 
 The second figure was creeping after Matin now. 
 He was not far behind, but still he was not close 
 enough to touch the first intruder. Matin took two 
 quick steps forward and raised his arm. Then he 
 bent on one knee. 
 
 The arm flashed down !
 
 98 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE BATTLE OF THIAUMONT FARM 
 
 But the knife never reached its mark. 
 
 There came a sudden loud report, a flash of flame 
 and the knife clattered to the floor. Matin reeled 
 and fell backward, and as he did so the second in- 
 truder pounced upon him and pinned him down. 
 
 Hal arose to his feet slowly. In his hand he held 
 a smoking revolver. Chester, awakened by the shot, 
 leaped quickly to his feet and his revolver flashed in 
 his hand. 
 
 "What's happened ?" he exclaimed. 
 
 "My friend Matin here tried to do for me," said 
 Hal, pointing. "I shot him." 
 
 Chester rushed to the side of the two figures 
 across the room. Then, for the first time, the iden- 
 tity of the second figure was established. It was 
 Jules Clemenceau. 
 
 Hal also approached and bent over. He took 
 Jules by the arm. 
 
 "What are you doing here ?" he demanded. 
 
 "I followed Matin," replied Jules, rising to his
 
 AT VERDUN 99 
 
 feet. "I saw you when you entered the trench from 
 the German lines. After you had gone I heard 
 Matin threaten to kill you. We were relieved at 
 the same time, and suspecting that he might be up 
 to some mischief, I followed him. I was too far 
 behind to do any good. I was so frightened that 
 I could not cry out." 
 
 "How did you happen to see him, Hal?" asked 
 Chester. 
 
 "I don't know," was Hal's reply. "I was awak- 
 ened just as Jules here came through the window. 
 I was about to call out when I saw Matin coming 
 toward me with drawn knife. I drew my revolver 
 quietly and waited. I wanted him to get close 
 enough so I would not miss. My arm was doubled 
 under me and I wasn't certain at that distance." 
 
 "Is he dead ?" asked Chester as Hal bent over the 
 body. 
 
 "No," said Hal. "I didn't shoot to kill him. I 
 shot him through the shoulder." 
 
 "Then he should regain consciousness pretty 
 quick," declared Chester. 
 
 "Oh, he's conscious right now," said Hal. "He's 
 just shamming a bit. Isn't that so, Matin?' 
 
 Matin sat up. 
 
 "What of it?" he demanded. 
 
 "Nothing," returned Hal, "except that the next 
 time you come near me, except in the performance 
 of duty, you will not get off so lightly."
 
 100 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Are you going to let him go?" asked Jules, in 
 surprise. 
 
 "What did you expect me to do with him?" de- 
 manded Hal. 
 
 "Shoot him again." 
 
 Hal was forced to smile at the grimness of the 
 boy's tones. 
 
 "No," he said quietly, "I have done him injury 
 enough for one time. Let him go." 
 
 "But he will try to kill you again !" 
 
 "If he does, he will wish he hadn't," was Hal's 
 reply. 
 
 He turned and prodded Matin with the toe of his 
 boot. "Get up and get out of here," he said 
 sharply. 
 
 Cringingly, Matin obeyed. He slunk out of the 
 room without a word. 
 
 "Now I can breath easier," declared Hal. "His 
 presence contaminated the air." 
 
 "I am afraid you let him off too easily, Hal," 
 said Chester. "You at least should report him 
 and have him put in a safe place." 
 
 "I guess I am big enough to fight my own bat- 
 tles, Chester," said Hal. "The French officers have 
 enough to do without worrying about men like 
 Matin. Besides, I don't really believe he will bother 
 me again." 
 
 And so the subject was dismissed. Jules took his 
 departure and Hal and Chester again lay down to
 
 AT VERDUN 101 
 
 sleep. Chester was just about to doze when a sud- 
 den thought struck him. 
 
 "I say, Hal," he called. 
 
 "What's the trouble now?" 
 
 "Do you suppose it could have been Matin who 
 shot at you that night in our quarters ?" 
 
 "I don't know. I hardly think so, though. I be- 
 lieve that gentleman called to pay his respects to 
 Stubbs." 
 
 "But " 
 
 "Come, Chester," said Hal, "it's getting late and 
 I am going to get six good hours' sleep." 
 
 But Hal was mistaken. There was to be yet an- 
 other interruption to the slumber of the two lads. 
 It came suddenly and unexpectedly. 
 
 It was still an hour before dawn when the Ger- 
 man artillery broke forth afresh, thousands of guns 
 hurling death upon the sleeping French lines. The 
 men were awake in an instant and rushed to their 
 positions. Out of the first confusion order came 
 promptly as officers issued sharp commands. Offi- 
 cers and men had the same thought. The heavy 
 bombardment presaged a new German assault. 
 
 Hal and Chester had sprung from the floor at 
 the sound of the first salvo. Rushing from the 
 farmhouse, they watched the troops form and move 
 forward. The defenders of the first line trenches 
 already were engaged by the German infantry when 
 Hal and Chester reached the open, and reinforce-
 
 102 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 ments were being rushed forward as rapidly as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 Unassigned for the moment, Hal and Chester 
 were undecided as to what to do. Chester settled 
 the matter. 
 
 "We'll stay here," he decided. "There is no need 
 of our going forward. We will only be in the way 
 now. If we are needed, of course, it will be differ- 
 ent." 
 
 Hal agreed with his chum and the two remained 
 where they were. 
 
 The terrible thunder of the great guns ceased now 
 and there broke out the crash of rifle fire. This told 
 Hal and Chester that the German infantry was 
 charging the trenches. 
 
 And this was indeed the case. In great waves of 
 humanity the German assault poured on. Into the 
 trenches the men threw themselves, dying by the 
 hundreds ; but there were always more to take their 
 places. While the attack had not been exactly a 
 surprise, the French nevertheless had been caught 
 off their guard and the first advantage was with the 
 Germans. 
 
 As wave after wave of humanity poured into the 
 trenches, the French broke and fled. Toward Hal 
 and Chester they came, making for the protection 
 of the next line of entrenchments just beyond 
 Thiaumont farm. Hal and Chester stepped within 
 the farmhouse to watch the flight.
 
 AT VERDUN 103 
 
 "We can't remain here long," Chester shouted 
 to make himself heard above the din and crash of 
 musketry. 
 
 Hal nodded his understanding and turned again 
 to the window. 
 
 At that moment a body of French infantry, per- 
 haps 200 strong, dashed directly for the farmhouse, 
 Through the doors they poured and rushed to the 
 windows and manned them. 
 
 Some rushed upstairs, under the direction of the 
 single officer with them and others descended into 
 the basement. 
 
 "By Jove! They are going to make a stand 
 here!" cried Chester. 
 
 "Right !" Hal agreed. "Here is a chance for us 
 to do some good. We'll offer our services to this 
 officer." 
 
 The lads had discarded their German uniforms 
 soon after their return to the French lines and were 
 again attired in regulation French costume, with 
 which they had been provided. They now ap- 
 proached the French officer who was busy direct- 
 ing the disposition of his men. 
 
 "We would be glad, sir," said Hal, "if you would 
 put us to work." 
 
 The officer glanced at them keenly. 
 
 "Officers, I perceive," he said. "Your names, 
 please?" 
 
 The boys gave them.
 
 104 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Good," said the Frenchman. "Lieutenant Paine, 
 you shall take charge of the second floor. Lieuten- 
 ant Crawford, you will command in the basement. 
 I have orders to hold this position, come what may." 
 
 "Very good, sir." 
 
 The two boys saluted. 
 
 "To your posts, then!" 
 
 Hal dashed upstairs and Chester descended 
 quickly below. 
 
 Hal gazed quickly about the front room upstairs 
 as he entered it. There were three windows. It 
 was the only room facing east. There were two 
 other rooms on the floor, and Hal quickly posted 
 men at the windows of each. 
 
 In the basement Chester found that the only two 
 windows fronted east. He had not much to guard. 
 He gazed upon the men under his command and 
 quickly selected five. 
 
 "The rest of you go upstairs," he commanded. 
 "Six of us will be enough here. The hard fighting 
 will be done above, if it is done at all." 
 
 The five men selected nodded their approval of 
 the boys' understanding of the situation. They 
 could see he was young in years, but from the way 
 in which he issued orders they realized that he was 
 old in experience. 
 
 A moment later the French officer in command 
 came downstairs. He approached Chester. 
 
 "In the excitement," he said, "I forgot to tell you
 
 AT VERDUN 105 
 
 my name. I am Captain Leroux. I came down to 
 see if you are all ready." 
 
 "All ready, sir," said Chester, saluting. 
 
 "Good !" The officer took his departure. 
 
 On the first floor he attended to several import- 
 ant details in the matter of placing his men to best 
 advantage and then ascended to where Hal was in 
 command. He gave his name to the latter and 
 commended the manner in which Hal had stationed 
 his men. 
 
 "Very good, Lieutenant Paine," he said. "I see 
 that I may depend upon you." 
 
 "And upon my friend below, sir," replied Hal; 
 "and upon the men with me here." 
 
 The soldiers gave a cheer at these words and Hal 
 knew that they would fight to the last. 
 
 Captain Leroux peered from the window. 
 
 "Not in sight yet," he muttered. He turned again 
 to Hal. "Two hours, Lieutenant," he said. 
 
 "We'll hold 'em, sir," was Hal's quiet response. 
 "We'll hold them if it can be done." 
 
 "My instructions," returned the captain, "are that 
 they must be held." 
 
 "Very well, sir. Then they shall be held." 
 
 Hal saluted and turned to the window. 
 
 And now there hove into sight in the early morn- 
 ing light countless numbers of German infantry- 
 men at a charge. They had discovered the fact that 
 the French held the farmhouse, and although their
 
 106 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 officers had no means of ascertaining the French 
 strength at that point, they realized that it must be 
 won before there could be a general advance. So 
 they ordered the charge. 
 
 "Here they come, sir," said Hal, quietly. 
 
 Captain Leroux dashed down the stairs without 
 making reply. 
 
 "Let them come close, men," ordered Hal, "and 
 when I give the word let them have it for all you're 
 worth. Make every shot count." 
 
 His words were greeted with a cheer. Each man 
 was in position. Each man's ringer was on the trig- 
 ger. A moment of silence and then Hal ordered: 
 "Fire!"
 
 AT VERDUN 107 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE FIGHT 
 
 The front of the farmhouse broke into a sheet 
 of flame. 
 
 At almost the same moment, Captain Leroux on 
 the floor below, and Chester in the basement, gave 
 the command to fire and the first line of approach- 
 ing Germans seemed to crumple up. 
 
 But the men behind came on. 
 
 Again and again effective volleys were fired from 
 the farmhouse; but despite their heavy losses and 
 urged on by commands of their officers, the Ger- 
 mans pressed forward until they were at the very 
 side of the house. * 
 
 As they approached they fired volley after volley 
 at the windows behind which the defenders stood 
 calmly ; and the French had not gone unscathed. 
 
 In the basement, where Chester was in command, 
 no German bullet had gone so far, but Hal had lost 
 three men and Captain Leroux five. As quickly as 
 these fell others took their places at the windows 
 and continued to fire steadily into the German 
 ranks.
 
 108 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Came a heavy battering at the front door. A 
 force of Germans had reached this point in spite of 
 the fire of the French and now were attempting 
 to batter it down. Without exposing themselves 
 too recklessly the French could not reach this party 
 of Germans with rifle fire. 
 
 Captain Leroux quickly told off ten men to guard 
 the entrance the moment the door should give be- 
 neath the kicks and blows of the enemy. r 
 
 "Ten men should be as good as a hundred there," 
 he explained. "Pick them off as they rush through. 
 Aim carefully and make every shot count." 
 
 He turned back to the work of directing the fire 
 from the windows. 
 
 The battering at the door continued. One of the 
 defenders, thinking to dispose of a member of the 
 enemy in such close proximity, stuck his head out 
 and brought his rifle to bear upon the foe in the 
 doorway; but before he could accomplish his ob- 
 ject he fell back inside with a groan. A German 
 bullet had done its work. 
 
 "No more of that!" ordered Captain Leroux, 
 sharply. "I need every man I have. No need to 
 expose yourselves uselessly." 
 
 After that no French head appeared above the 
 window sill farther than was necessary to aim and 
 fire. 
 
 In the basement Chester and his men had had lit- 
 tle to do so far. True, they had been able to pick
 
 AT VERDUN 109 
 
 off a German or two, but their position was such 
 that they could be of little value at the moment. 
 Their time was to come later. 
 
 On the top floor Hal, because of his position, 
 was better able to command a view of the open field 
 ahead than Captain Leroux in the room below. The 
 fire of Hal's men, therefore, was more effective 
 than of the French on the ground floor. 
 
 Below there was a crash as the door splintered 
 beneath the battering tactics brought into play by 
 the Germans who had gained the shelter of the house 
 and were able to continue work without molesta- 
 tion. The ten Frenchmen told off by Captain Le- 
 roux to defend the entrance held their rifles ready, 
 waiting for the first German head to appear in the 
 opening. 
 
 But the door was of stout oak, and though it 
 seemed on the point of giving under each succeed- 
 ing blow, it still held. Hoarse guttural cries from 
 without indicated that the Germans were becoming 
 impatient to get at the French within. Came an 
 extra violent crash and the door suddenly gave way. 
 Three Germans, who had been leaning against the 
 door, caught off their balance, were precipitated 
 headlong into the room. It was unfortunate for 
 them. 
 
 Before they could scramble to their feet, the 
 French had placed them beyond all hopes of fur* 
 ther fighting. Their days of war were over.
 
 110 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 But other Germans poured into the door behind 
 them and leaped forward over the prostrate forms 
 of their comrades. Calmly, the ten French sol- 
 diers, far back against the wall and a little to one 
 side, so as to be out of direct line of fire from the 
 open doorway, fired into the surging mass of hu- 
 manity. And their fire was deadly and effective. 
 In almost less time than it takes to tell it the door- 
 way was choked with German dead. 
 
 It was a gruesome sight and even the French sol- 
 diers, used as they were to such spectacles, shud- 
 dered inwardly. It seemed foolhardy for the enemy 
 to seek entrance to the house through that blocked 
 door. Even the Germans realized it and would have 
 drawn back but for the fact that their officers, far- 
 ther back, urged them on with cries and impreca- 
 tions. 
 
 Again there was a concerted rush for the door. 
 
 The pile of prostrate German forms served as a 
 shield for the defenders and behind this barrier of 
 bodies the men took their posts and poured a wither- 
 ing fire into the ranks of the attackers. This deadly 
 fire was more than the Germans could face, and in 
 spite of the frantic efforts of their officers, they drew 
 off. 
 
 "I didn't think they could make it," shouted Cap- 
 tain Leroux. "Good work, men!" 
 
 A cheer went up from the defenders. But the 
 men knew the calibre of these German veterans and
 
 AT VERDUN 111 
 
 they realized that the attack had not been given up. 
 They knew that the Germans, with their superior 
 numbers, would not desist and that eventually they 
 must be overwhelmed. 
 
 "Two hours !" Captain Leroux had said. 
 
 Hardly a quarter of that time had flown and in it 
 had been crowded desperate work that well would 
 have been enough for the day. The men were tired, 
 but they were not willing to admit it. Each had 
 told himself that he would die at his post rather than 
 surrender. 
 
 There came a lull in the fighting. 
 
 To the war-seasoned veterans of France this lull 
 told a story of its own. It presaged a new and more 
 violent attempt on the part of the Germans to force 
 the farmhouse. Captain Leroux knew it. So did 
 Hal and Chester, and at their various stations they 
 gave quick commands to their men. 
 
 Taking care not to expose himself too much, he 
 gazed from the window. His action did not even 
 bring a shot. This increased the lad's suspicions. 
 
 "Trying to draw us out," he muttered. "Want 
 us to think they have given up the attempt. Never 
 mind, Mr. German, you are not shrewd enough." 
 
 The defenders waited patiently; and presently 
 the Germans again advanced to the attack, even as 
 Hal and Chester had known they would. 
 
 Forward came the Teuton horde in a charge. 
 From a distance of perhaps 500 yards, they dashed
 
 112 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 across the open at full speed, apparently bent upon 
 overawing the defenders by the very appearance of 
 such numbers. 
 
 But the French did not quail. The weight of 
 numbers meant nothing to them. It was not the 
 first time they had stood firmly against overwhelm- 
 ing odds, and there was not a man in the farm- 
 house who did not fully expect to survive the pres- 
 ent battle and be ready to face overwhelming odds 
 again. Each man knew well enough that before the 
 fighting was over it was ten to one that there would 
 be but a handful of the defenders left, but each 
 man was confident he would be one of that num- 
 ber. 
 
 They poured a galling fire into the ranks of the 
 Germans as they advanced to the charge. 
 
 The effect of this steady stream of rifle fire, ac- 
 curate and deadly at such close range, was bound to 
 tell. In spite of the urging of their officers, the 
 Germans wavered. The lines behind the first surged 
 forward, however, pushing the men in front closer 
 to the deadly fire of the French. Those in front 
 pushed back and for a moment there was wild con- 
 fusion without. 
 
 In vain German officers rushed in among the 
 troops, trying to rally them. It was too late. The 
 Germans had become demoralized. A moment and 
 they broke and fled. It was every man for himself. 
 
 The French within the farmhouse raised a wild
 
 AT VERDUN 113 
 
 cheer and poured volley after volley into the flee- 
 ing Germans. Men tumbled right and left. The 
 German losses in the retreat were greater even than 
 they had been in the advance. 
 
 Hal, who had been working like a Trojan, wiped 
 the beads of perspiration from his forehead with 
 his shirt sleeve the work had become so hot that 
 the lad had removed his coat, though it was still 
 cold without and spoke words of encouragement 
 to his men. 
 
 "Good work, boys," he said quietly. "A few 
 more like that and they will bother us no more." 
 
 Even as he spoke the lad knew that his words 
 meant nothing. He knew the Germans would not 
 give up until they had captured the farmhouse or 
 had been driven back by the weight of superior num- 
 bers, and at that moment it did not appear that re- 
 inforcements would arrive. 
 
 The troops also knew that Hal's words meant 
 nothing, but they cheered him anyhow. They real- 
 ized that he had spoken as he did merely to encour- 
 age them; and they liked the spirit that inspired 
 the words. They knew that Hal was fully compe- 
 tent of judging the hopelessness of the task ahead 
 of them. 
 
 "The captain said to hold them two hours, sir," 
 said one grizzled old veteran to Hal. "How long 
 has it been now, sir?" 
 
 Hal glanced at his watch. "One hour exactly/*
 
 114 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Good !" exclaimed the French soldier. "One half 
 of the work done and most of us are still here. 
 We'll hold them !" 
 
 "Of course we'll hold them, Francois," exclaimed 
 another. "Surely you didn't think we couldn't do 
 it?" 
 
 "Well," was the reply. "It's a pretty big job 
 and " 
 
 "But we were ordered to hold them for two 
 hours," protested the other. 
 
 "Of course," returned the man addressed as Fran- 
 cois. "That settles it. Two hours are two hours." 
 
 "Right," said the other. "Also two hours are 
 only two hours, which makes it that much better." 
 
 "But at the end of two hours, then what?" asked 
 a third soldier. 
 
 The man who had first engaged Francois in con- 
 versation shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "That," he said, "is not for us to decide. But 
 we will not be forgotten, you may be sure of that. 
 Our general will see that we are relieved." 
 
 "You may rest assured on that score," Hal agreed, 
 "Having picked you as the men to defend this im- 
 portant position, it is not to be expected that he 
 will see you all sacrificed." 
 
 There was another cheer from the men, followed 
 a moment later by a shout from one at the front 
 window. 
 
 "Here they come again, sir!"
 
 AT VERDUN 115 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 HAL LEADS A SORTIE 
 
 Hal sprang forward and gave a quick look at the 
 enemy. 
 
 Apparently, the assault was to be made on the 
 same plan as before. After the last retreat of the 
 enemy, their officers had succeeded in re-forming 
 them beyond the zone of French fire and now were 
 about to hurl the troops forward in another grand 
 offensive against the farmhouse. The Germans 
 moved forward silently and doggedly. 
 
 "It'll be a little warmer this time," Hal muttered 
 to himself. 
 
 And the lad was right. 
 
 Straight on came the Germans at the charge in 
 spite of the withering fire poured in among them 
 by the French ; straight up to the side of the house 
 they rushed, though there were many men who did 
 not get that far; and then the German troops de- 
 ployed. 
 
 While perhaps a hundred men remained at the 
 front of the house, apparently to seek entrance
 
 116 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 through the doorway blocked with their own dead, 
 the others divided and dashed round the house, some 
 to the right and some to the left. 
 
 Now, for the first time, French troops who had 
 not been posted at the front windows came into 
 action. 
 
 As the Germans rushed around the house, these 
 French troops leaned from their windows on the 
 side of the house and poured volley after volley 
 into the German ranks. They were almost directly 
 above the Germans and the latter were at a great 
 disadvantage; for they could not return the fire 
 of the French without pausing in their mad rush; 
 and when they did pause and bring their rifles to 
 bear upon the windows above, there were no French 
 heads to be seen there. 
 
 But when they dashed on again, the French heads 
 reappeared and again the Germans fell in large 
 numbers. 
 
 But the losses of the French by this time, in spite 
 of the comparative safety afforded by their posi- 
 tion, had been extremely heavy, considering the size 
 of the original force. Chester, in the basement, 
 still had suffered no casualties, but fully a third of 
 the men on the two floors above had been killed or 
 wounded. 
 
 And there had been no time to care for these 
 wounded, except for the brief respites occasioned 
 by the retreat of the Germans. Now that the fight- :
 
 AT VERDUN 117 
 
 ing was on again the wounded were left to shift for 
 themselves; and the air was filled with moans and 
 groans. 
 
 The Germans in front of the house again had tried 
 in vain to force a passage of the doorway, choked 
 with their own dead and dying. This had failed, for 
 the French, under the direction of Captain Leroux, 
 had poured in such a galling fire that the Ger- 
 mans dropped as fast as they appeared in the 
 doorway. 
 
 From above, the defenders at the front of the 
 house, also, had done heavy execution among the 
 enemy below. Again the Germans wavered; then 
 retreated; and the French mowed them down as 
 they ran. 
 
 Suddenly Hal bethought himself of a daring 
 plan. Dashing down stairs he confided it to Cap- 
 tain Leroux. The latter clapped his hands in ap- 
 proval. 
 
 "You shall direct the move," he exclaimed. "I'll 
 take your post and see that the Germans in front 
 continue to fall back; also I shall be able to cover 
 you to some extent." 
 
 He ran quickly upstairs. 
 
 Quickly Hal picked fifty men. 
 
 "Clear away those bodies," he said, pointing to 
 the German dead that blocked the doorway. 
 
 It was the work of but a few minutes. 
 
 "Now," said Hal, "when we go out the door, I
 
 118 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 want half of you to go around the house to the 
 left. The others follow me." 
 
 He divided the men into two squads. 
 
 "We'll catch the fellows who got behind us by 
 surprise," the lad explained. "They are still en- 
 gaged with the men at the windows above. We can't 
 afford to be surrounded. We must drive them off." 
 
 Silently, the men filed from the house. 
 
 The strategy of Hal's plan was at once apparent. 
 The Germans who had circled the house, after di- 
 viding after the grand assault, still were unaware 
 of the retreat of their fellows. They did not know 
 that this support had been lost to them. Therefore, 
 they were sure to be at a great disadvantage when 
 attacked from a position that they believed to be 
 held by their comrades. 
 
 Above, the defenders still continued to fire rap- 
 idly, seeking to keep up the delusion. 
 
 There was only one thing that worried Hal one 
 thing that he felt possibly might bring disaster fol- 
 lowing his surprise attack. He knew that the Ger- 
 mans who had recently retreated from before the 
 farmhouse would understand his plan the minute 
 he led his men from the farmhouse. This would 
 mean another grand assault. The question in Hal's 
 mind was whether he could get his men back inside 
 the house before the main force of the enemy could 
 advance and cut him off. 
 
 But he was depending upon the French still within
 
 AT VERDUN 119 
 
 the house to hold the foe off until he could get back. 
 
 As the French dashed suddenly around the house, 
 there came a wild cry from the distant German 
 lines to the east. The ruse had been discovered and 
 Hal realized that the bulk of the enemy would be 
 upon them before long. Therefore, he knew he 
 must hurry. 
 
 "Quick !** he cried to his men. 
 
 The latter needed no urging. 
 
 Swiftly they dashed around the house in either 
 direction and fell upon the Germans, who had sought 
 shelter at the far side, with their bayonets. The 
 enemy, taken completely by surprise, uttered cries 
 of consternation and sought to retreat ; for their of- 
 ficers had no means of telling the numbers of these 
 new foes. 
 
 But the French pressed them closely. Although 
 the Germans were taken at a great disadvantage be- 
 cause of the suddenness of the attack, they, neverthe- 
 less, fought bravely. 
 
 No quarter was asked. 
 
 For safety's sake the enemy pressed close to the 
 French, engaging them hand-to-hand. In this was 
 their only hope of success, for every time a man 
 strayed from the struggling mass, a keen-eyed 
 French soldier above dropped him with a rifle bul- 
 let. 
 
 But the struggle could have only one end. Be- 
 wildered by the sudden appearance of the French,
 
 120 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 the Germans never gained time to recover them- 
 selves. The French pushed the fighting; and soon 
 it was all over. 
 
 There remained now only half a score of Ger- 
 mans standing. 
 
 "Surrender!" called Hal. 
 
 With the exception of one, the men threw down 
 their weapons. The exception was a German offi- 
 ficer, who evidently had been in command. He 
 sprang toward Hal with a cry and thrust with his 
 sword. 
 
 The move had been so unexpected that the lad 
 was caught completely off his guard and the sword 
 must have pierced him had it not been for the quick- 
 ness of a French soldier who stood near. Without 
 taking thought to his own danger, this man sprang 
 forward and grappled with the German. 
 
 The latter hurled the French soldier from him 
 with a sudden powerful move and again advanced 
 on Hal. But now the lad was ready for him and his 
 sword met the sword of the German officer neatly. 
 
 In vain the German officer sought to break down 
 Hal's guard. Hal foiled him at every turn. The 
 German was furiously angry, but Hal was smiling 
 easily. The lad realized that he probably owed his 
 life to the German's anger, for at the first touch of 
 swords the lad had realized that the German was 
 clearly his master. Therefore, the lad jeered at the 
 officer as he fought.
 
 AT VERDUN 121 
 
 Hal became more certain of the outcome of the 
 duel as it continued, for with every thrust and parry 
 the German became more and more angry because 
 he could not overcome this boy. Perspiration rolled 
 down his face and he panted with rage. 
 
 "I'll get you!" he cried. 
 
 "Oh, not for some time yet," Hal grinned back 
 at him. 
 
 The German swore. 
 
 "Now ! Now !" said Hal. "That's no way for a 
 nice German officer to do. What would the em- 
 peror say?" 
 
 The duel was interrupted at this point by a sud- 
 den cry from the farmhouse. 
 
 "Never mind him, Lieutenant! Back into the 
 house quickly!" 
 
 It was the voice of Captain Leroux and the tone 
 told Hal how urgent was the call. Taking a quick 
 step forward, he caused the German officer to re- 
 treat a few paces. Then Hal lowered his sword, 
 and calling to his men to follow him, dashed to- 
 ward the front of the house. 
 
 Behind, the German officer broke into a torrent 
 of abuse and would have continued it had not a 
 French soldier, who cared nothing for the etiquette 
 of duelling, put an end to him with a rifle bullet. 
 
 To the half score of men who had thrown down 
 their arms, Hal cried : 
 
 "Back to your own lines quickly or you shall be
 
 122 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 shot down ! No," pausing and levelling his revolver 
 as one of the Germans sought to stoop and pick up 
 his discarded rifle, "never mind the gun. Another 
 move like that and you'll all be shot down. Move, 
 now!" 
 
 The Germans wasted no further time and made 
 for the shelter of their own lines at top speed. 
 
 And their own lines were advancing rapidly to 
 meet them. 
 
 "Quick, men !" cried Hal. "Into the house !" 
 
 They had now reached the front door again and 
 Hal stood to one side that his men might enter first. 
 
 Above, the fire of the defenders had broken out 
 afresh, but the Germans rushed forward in spite 
 of it. Bullets hummed close about Hal's head as 
 he stood beside the doorway, but none struck him; 
 and at last all the men were inside. 
 
 Hal went in after them. 
 
 From without came a cry of rage as the advanc- 
 ing Germans realized that, for the moment, at least, 
 they had been deprived of their prey. 
 
 "Guard the door there, men !" shouted Hal. "Get 
 back and to one side out of the line of fire. Save 
 your bullets until they cross the threshold, then shoot 
 them down." 
 
 The men moved into position. Hal glanced 
 quickly around to make sure that all was in readiness 
 and at that moment Captain Leroux descended the 
 stairs.
 
 AT VERDUN 123 
 
 "Good work, Mr. Paine," he said quietly. "If I 
 live, I shall report this piece of work. I will take 
 command here now. Return to your post above." 
 
 Hal saluted and did as commanded. 
 
 Hardly had he reached position above when he 
 heard Captain Leroux below give the command: 
 
 "Fire!"
 
 124 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 LEFT BEHIND 
 
 The Germans had drawn off again. 
 
 The last assault had met with no better success 
 than had the attacks that had gone before. True, 
 the defenders had suffered considerably, for the Ger- 
 man fire had been accurate; but the losses of the 
 French had been as nothing compared with those 
 of the Teutons. 
 
 This last assault had been more severe than the 
 others. The Germans had shown even greater te- 
 nacity and courage than before. In vain had their 
 officers sought to hold them to the attack. Once, 
 twice, thrice had the human sea surged against the 
 farmhouse, only to be thrown back; so at last the 
 Germans had withdrawn. 
 
 Dead and wounded men strewed the floor. There 
 were still some who had not been touched by the 
 bullets of the foe, but the majority of the defenders 
 of the top floor lay prone. 
 
 Hal shook his head sadly. 
 
 "Don't believe we can withstand another such 
 charge," he said aloud. 
 
 "How long yet, sir?" asked the grizzled old vet-
 
 AT VERDUN 125 
 
 eran, Francois, who, though he had kept his place 
 at the window through the last attack, had escaped 
 the German bullets. 
 
 Again Hal gazed closely at his watch. 
 
 "Twelve minutes to go," he said quietly. 
 
 The face of Francois brightened. 
 
 "Then we are all right, sir," he said. "They will 
 hardly attack again in that time, sir." 
 
 Hal shook his head. 
 
 They are likely to attack at any moment," he re- 
 plied slowly. "Besides, if we do succeed in beating 
 them off once more, there is nothing to assure us 
 that we will be relieved then." 
 
 "Nothing sir," returned Francois, "except Cap- 
 tain Leroux's word that we have only to hold this 
 house two hours, sir." 
 
 "True," said Hal, brightening visibly. "1 
 shouldn't have spoken as I did. We must trust tc 
 the others, and if they fail, why, we'll know it is 
 not their fault." 
 
 "Right, sir," said Francois. "If they fail, it will 
 not be their fault." 
 
 He returned to his place at the window. 
 
 Cn the floor below Captain Leroux also had taken 
 account of his casualties. Merely a handful of men 
 remained un wounded. Some of the men who had 
 felt the effects of the German fire were still in con- 
 dition to continue the fight should their services be 
 necessary, but their number was few.
 
 126 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 The captain shook his head dubiously as he' 
 glanced at his watch. 
 
 "Ten minutes," he muttered. "Well, we'll hold 
 it that long, but afterwards I can't be held account- 
 able. There will be none of us left." 
 
 In the basement Chester and his five men still 
 were unmarked. Though they had stood at the 
 small windows and fired at whatever German forms 
 came within view, they had had little work to do, 
 The men were beginning to murmur among them- 
 selves. 
 
 "We're not needed down here," said one. "We 
 should be upstairs where the fighting is being done. 
 No Germans will seek to come in here." 
 
 "That's right," said another, "we might do some 
 good above. Here we are doing nothing at all. 
 Why, we have hardly seen a German. I don't be- 
 lieve any of the enemy have spotted this opening 
 yet, either." 
 
 "Nor I ; wish they had let me stay upstairs." 
 
 "What's all this?" demanded Chester, suddenly. 
 "You men have been in the ranks long enough to 
 know better than to question your officers' orders. 
 You have been posted here and here you shall re- 
 main until I get orders to the contrary." 
 
 "But, sir," said one of the men, "we would 
 like " 
 
 "Silence !" said Chester. "Back to your places." 
 
 The men obeyed, though they continued to mur
 
 AT VERDUN 127 
 
 raur. Chester softened a few minutes later and 
 again addressed his men. 
 
 "I have no doubt you fellows will have all the 
 fighting you want before this thing is over," he said 
 quietly. "As nearly as I can make out from here 
 the men upstairs must be about done for. I ques- 
 tion whether they will be able to beat off another 
 attack." 
 
 "And are the two hours up, sir," asked one of 
 the men. 
 
 Chester glanced at his watch. 
 
 "Not quite," he returned. 
 
 "How much to go, sir ?" 
 
 "A little more than five minutes." 
 
 The man's face darkened. 
 
 "And we'll be relieved at the end of that time 
 without having done any fighting," he said. "Here 
 we sit down here in the dark and the other fellows 
 have all the fun." 
 
 "You're liable to get yours yet," said Chester. 
 "If I mistake not, the Germans are returning to the 
 attack. I hear the sounds of firing from above." 
 
 Chester was right. The Germans again had ad- 
 vanced to the charge. 
 
 Above, Hal and Captain Leroux were issuing or- 
 ders to their men for what each believed would be 
 the final effort. Should this attack be repulsed, both 
 had some slight hopes that they would not be com- 
 pelled to face another that French reinforce-
 
 128 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 ments would arrive before the Germans could ad- 
 vance again. But, also, neither was sure in his own 
 mind that the approaching attack of the foe could 
 be beaten off. 
 
 And this time the Germans seemed to be advanc- 
 ing in even greater numbers than before. 
 
 "Crack ! Crack ! Crack ! Crack ! Crack !" came the 
 spatter of German bullets against the side of the 
 house; and occasionally a bullet struck home and 
 left no sound, unless it was the sound of a man top- 
 pling over backwards to the floor, or a man as he 
 clapped his hand to his head. The rifle bombard- 
 ment was having its effect. 
 
 The sharp crack of French rifles answered the 
 challenge of the Germans, though, because of the 
 fact that the ranks of the defenders had been sadly 
 depleted, their weapons spoke not so often. But 
 when they did speak, men fell; for, at this crucial 
 stage of the battle, they were making every shot 
 count. 
 
 But this time, it seemed, the Germans were not 
 to be denied. Men as well as officers understood the 
 slowness of the French fire. The Germans were 
 flushed with the spirit of victory, despite the fact 
 that the field on all sides of the farmhouse was cov- 
 ered with their own dead and dying. The German 
 soldiers realized, as did their officers, that the end 
 of the courageous defense was near. Another ef- 
 fort and the farmhouse would be theirs.
 
 AT VERDUN 129 
 
 For some reason, in spite of the fact that the 
 German troops appeared to be making fair prog- 
 ress, their advance was suddenly stayed. At some 
 distance they halted and continued to pepper the 
 house with rifle bullets, doing little damage at that 
 distance. 
 
 Horses dashed suddenly into view, dragging be- 
 hind them a rapid-fire gun. 
 
 Hal guessed the answer. 
 
 "That's to mow us down when we try to run," 
 he told himself. "Well " 
 
 He broke off and shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 Now the Germans came on again, the rapid-fire 
 gun covering their advance. A moment later the 
 side of the farmhouse resembled a sieve, it was so 
 full of holes. For a man to stick his head out the 
 window meant instant death. 
 
 But as the Germans drew closer, the rapid firer 
 became silent, for, without risking the lives of Ger- 
 mans as well as French, it was of no value now. 
 At the same moment the heads of the defenders 
 again appeared at the windows and renewed the 
 work of picking off the Germans as they charged. 
 
 For some reason Hal took the time to glance at 
 his watch once more. 
 
 "Time's up!" he told himself gravely, "and no 
 help in sight." 
 
 But the lad was wrong ; for, could he have looked 
 from the rear of the house at that moment, he would
 
 130 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 nave seen advancing several columns of French cav- 
 alry, coming to their relief. 
 
 The Germans saw the approach of reinforcements 
 and redoubled their efforts to gain the farmhouse 
 before the reinforcements could arrive. But it was 
 too late. With wild cries, the French cavalrymen 
 swept down and about the house. Cheers from the 
 defenders greeted them. The men left their places 
 at the windows and ran from the house. Hurriedly 
 the wounded were carried out and the retreat 
 begun. 
 
 And at that moment the Germans, also reinforced, 
 charged again. Greatly outnumbered the French 
 retreated, firing as they went. 
 
 Then, for the first time, Hal noticed Chester's ab- 
 sence. 
 
 "Great Scott!" he exclaimed to Captain Leroux, 
 "we have come away without notifying the men in 
 the basement." 
 
 Quickly the two made their way to the French 
 commander and laid the situation before him. The 
 latter shook his head sadly. 
 
 "It's too late now," he said quietly. "Look at 
 the number of the foe. We could not make headway 
 against them." 
 
 He was deaf to all Hal's entreaties that he make 
 the effort. 
 
 In the basement, Chester and his five men had 
 been unable to ascertain the cause of the increased
 
 AT VERDUN 131 
 
 firing at one moment and the lull a moment later. 
 Chester had about decided that the defenders had 
 given up and that he and his men in the cellar were 
 all that remained. 
 
 From his window he could see the Germans only 
 when they came into a certain position; and what 
 went on above he had no means of telling. But 
 that the others would go and leave him and his men 
 behind had not entered his head. Therefore, he de- 
 cided to remain quiet with his men. 
 
 But when an hour had passed and there came no 
 more sounds of firing from above, Chester decided 
 it was time to investigate. Accordingly, he ascended 
 the steps quietly. * 
 
 There was no one above. The lad gazed about 
 quickly. Except for the dead, there was no French- 
 man in the house. Bloodstains on the floor showed 
 that the wounded had been removed. 
 
 Then Chester realized what had happened. 
 
 Quickly he ran to the door and peered out. Far 
 in the rear he could see the French retreating, pur- 
 sued by the foe. Chester uttered an exclamation of 
 dismay and called to his men. He explained the 
 situation to them. All were dumbfounded. 
 
 At that moment Chester espied an object a short 
 distance from the farmhouse. There was no living 
 form near. With a sudden cry of hope, Chester 
 dashed from the house. 
 
 "Come on, men !" he called over his shoulder,,
 
 132 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 Chester's gallant feat 
 
 The object upon which Chester's eyes had fallen 
 and which was the cause of the sudden activity on 
 the lad's part was nothing less than the rapid-fire 
 gun the Germans so recently had brought up to 
 bombard the farmhouse and cut off the retreat of its 
 French defenders. Its crew had been killed, picked 
 off by the accurate shooting of the French before 
 they abandoned the house, and the gun had not been 
 remanned. Apparently the Germans had overlooked 
 the small field piece in their haste to give chase to 
 the retreating French. 
 
 The horses were standing a short distance away, 
 unhurt, as Chester could see. The lad dashed to- 
 ward the gun at top speed, his five men following 
 him as fast as they could run. 
 
 There was a light of anticipation on Chester's 
 face as he reached the gun and examined it care- 
 fully. 
 
 "Plenty of ammuri'-^'on," he said with a grin, as 
 his men came up to*him. 
 
 The others grinned also.
 
 AT VERDUN 133 
 
 "What are you going to do with it, sir?" asked 
 one. 
 
 Chester waved his arm in the direction of the re- 
 treating French and pursuing Germans. 
 
 "Give those fellows a little surprise party when 
 they turn back," he said. 
 
 The men caught the idea and were immediately 
 filled with enthusiasm. 
 
 "We'd better get away from here before we're 
 discovered, though," said Chester. "Catch those 
 horses, some of you." 
 
 This was an easy matter, for the horses stood still 
 as two of the French soldiers approached them. 
 
 "Hook 'em up," cried Chester. 
 
 This, too, was the work of a moment. 
 
 "I'll do the driving," said Chester. "You fellows 
 climb aboard." 
 
 The others needed no urging and a moment later 
 this strange battery moved toward the French lines 
 at a gallop. 
 
 The Germans in pursuit of the French were still 
 in plain view and Chester intended to keep close 
 behind. He reasoned that the distance was too great 
 for the Germans to make out the uniforms of the 
 men on the gun and he intended to turn off the 
 roadway at the first sign that the Germans were 
 ready to give up the chase. 
 
 Along the road ran a fringe of trees, sparse in 
 some places and thicker in others. It was Chester's
 
 134 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 plan to wheel the gun in among the trees at the 
 proper moment and open on the foe when they came 
 back. 
 
 And the plan was to be put in execution sooner 
 than the lad had hoped for. 
 
 Chester saw the Germans slow down. Then they 
 turned and came toward him. The lad could not 
 make out at once the cause of their sudden decision 
 to retreat, but it came to him a moment later with 
 the sound of heavy rifle firing. Apparently, French 
 infantry had advanced to the support of the cavalry 
 and the Germans were not strong enough in num- 
 bers to contest effectively. 
 
 Immediately, Chester swung the horses to the 
 right in among the trees, which, fortunately, hap- 
 pened to be dense at this particular point. 
 
 "Guess we'll give 'em a little surprise," said Ches- 
 ter, with a grin. 
 
 Dismounting, he motioned the men to unhitch the 
 horses, which was done. Then the gun was whirled 
 into position where it commanded the roadway. 
 
 "We're ready for them," said Chester, quietly. 
 
 The Germans drew on apace. Suddenly a thought 
 struck Chester. 
 
 "Great Scott !" he exclaimed. "I can't shoot them 
 down in cold blood, I'll have to give them a chance. 
 Here!" he motioned to one of his men and the lat- 
 ter approached. "Take this gun," the lad com- 
 manded. "I'm going to give these fellows a chance
 
 AT VERDUN 135 
 
 to surrender. If they refuse I'll duck back here 
 and you let them have it. I'll keep out of range, but 
 don't turn this gun until I get back. Understand ?" 
 
 The man signified that he did. 
 
 Chester walked some distance back to where the 
 road curved a bit. He was out of the direct line 
 of fire, but still in such position to make his 
 demand for the surrender of the Germans with- 
 out allowing them to pass the sweep of the 
 rapid-firer. 
 
 With the Germans still some distance down the 
 road, Chester stepped directly into the highway and 
 raised a hand. 
 
 The leading Germans pulled up and an officer de- 
 manded : 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 "Surrender!" exclaimed Chester, "or you shall 
 all be killed." 
 
 The German officer gave a great laugh. 
 
 "Hear the boy talk," he exclaimed. "He asks 
 us to surrender when we have just chased all the 
 French back to their own lines." 
 
 There was a roar of laughter from the troop. 
 
 "Surrender!" called Chester again. 
 
 Again there was a laugh and the German officer 
 called : 
 
 "Throw up your hands, boy, or you shall be 
 shot!" 
 
 "Well," said Chester, "I've done all I can. I've
 
 136 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 warned you. Your blood be upon your own heads." 
 
 With a sudden leap he disappeared among the 
 trees. With a fierce cry, the German officer made 
 after him, firing as he did so. 
 
 At the same moment there was a crash as of a 
 thousand rifles. Germans fell from their saddles 
 like chaff before a storm. Horses reared, screamed, 
 stampeded and fell down dead, crushing their riders 
 beneath them. 
 
 By this time Chester had returned to his men 
 and took charge of the rapid-fire gun himself. He 
 turned it this way and that, sweeping the roadway 
 clear, where the foe was in range. * 
 
 And from far behind the German line at this 
 moment broke out the crack of rifles. The French 
 infantry had advanced in pursuit of the Germans, 
 a squadron of cavalry showing the way. 
 
 The Germans were caught between two fires. 
 
 Unable to estimate the number of men in the 
 force that had ambushed them, the Germans threw 
 down their arms. 
 
 "We surrender !" cried a German officer. 
 
 Instantly the fire of the machine gun ceased and 
 Chester advanced to the road again. The same 
 German officer who, a moment ago, had scorned 
 the lad's warning, now advanced and tendered his 
 sword to Chester. 
 
 "Tell your men to throw down their arms," com- 
 manded Chester.
 
 AT VERDUN 137 
 
 The officer did so, and swords and pistols rattled 
 to the ground. 
 
 "Now," said Chester, "you will about face and 
 march toward the French lines. There must be 
 no foolishness. My army here is rather small, but 
 we still have the rapid-fire gun and it will be trained 
 upon you until you are safe." 
 
 The lad signalled to his men, who had already 
 hitched up the horses, and these now advanced. 
 
 "What!" exclaimed the German officer, when he 
 had taken a glance at Chester's "army," "are these 
 all the men you had when you attacked us?" 
 
 "They seemed to be enough," said Chester, with 
 a smile. 
 
 "No wonder we haven't beaten you a long while 
 ago," the German officer mumbled to himself. 
 "When five men and one a boy perform a feat like 
 this, I begin to have my doubts as to the outcome of 
 this war." 
 
 "Well," said Chester, "I don't have any such 
 doubts. But come, now; forward march." 
 
 Slowly the German troopers marched ahead, 
 Chester and his machine gun bringing up the rear. 
 
 And in this manner they came directly upon the 
 French cavalry and infantry advancing in pursuit 
 of the Germans. 
 
 Great were the exclamations among the French 
 troops when it was found that five men and a young 
 officer had made such an important capture, to say,
 
 138 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 nothing of the terrible execution inflicted upon the 
 enemy with their own rapid-fire gun. The French 
 officers were loud in the praises of Chester's gal- 
 lantry. 
 
 And with the troop of French cavalry Chester 
 found Hal and Captain Leroux. 
 
 "By Jove! I'm glad to see you, Chester," said 
 Hal, advancing with outstretched hand. "I was 
 afraid we wouldn't get back in time." 
 
 "I guess you wouldn't have, if we had waited for 
 you," said Chester, dryly. "I wasn't going to take 
 any more chances if I could help it. When you left 
 us there by ourselves, I was sure if we wanted to 
 come away, we'd have to do it by ourselves." 
 
 "We didn't do it intentionally," said Captain Le- 
 roux. 
 
 "Who said you did?" demanded Chester, some- 
 what angrily. 
 
 The French captain flushed. He drew himself 
 up, seemed about to make an angry reply; then 
 cooled down and said : 
 
 "I'm sorry." 
 
 With that he walked away. 
 
 "Look here, Chester," said Hal, "you know that 
 I wouldn't have left you behind for anything if I 
 had only thought of it. But in the excitement 
 and " 
 
 "That's it," said Chester. "There was too much 
 excitement and you were having it all. I get buried
 
 AT VERDUN 139 
 
 down in a cellar with five men and sit there in the 
 dark till the fun's all over. Then you don't even 
 take the trouble to tell me it's time to go home. I 
 don't like it." 
 
 "Great Scott! You're not mad, are you, Ches- 
 ter?" 
 
 "Mad? Sure I'm mad. Next time you get in a 
 hole I'm going to walk away and leave you there." 
 
 Hal smiled. 
 
 "Oh, I guess not," he returned. 
 
 "You do, eh ? Well, you try it and see what hap- 
 pens." 
 
 "Come, now, Chester, you know how this thing 
 happened," said Hal. "We didn't do it purposely." 
 
 Chester seemed about to make an angry retort; 
 but a moment later a smile broke over his face and 
 he extended a hand to his chum. 
 
 "I know you didn't," he replied, "but can't a fel- 
 low have a little fun?" 
 
 Hal took the hand as he exclaimed : 
 
 "You've offended Captain Leroux. 
 
 "Well," said Chester, "Captain Leroux has of- 
 fended me."
 
 140 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 A QUEER SITUATION 
 
 < 
 
 'Somebody following us, Hal !" 
 
 "That so?" said Hal; "and why should we be 
 followed along here?" 
 
 "I don't know," was Chester's reply, "but I have 
 noticed a shadow following us wherever we go." 
 
 "We'll see about it," was Hal's rejoinder. 
 
 It was the night succeeding the day on which the 
 lads had taken part in the defense of Thiaumont 
 farmhouse. They had returned to their quarters 
 late in the day, had reported to General Petain and 
 had been relieved of duty until the following morn- 
 ing. It was now after 8 o'clock and they were 
 strolling about the camp. 
 
 They had made their way well back into the heart 
 of the armed settlement when Chester had made the 
 announcement that they were being followed. 
 
 With Hal to reach a decision was to act. Chester 
 let his friend do the leading in this instance. 
 
 Hal quickened his steps and walked quickly down 
 the row of tents, which, well back of the trenches,
 
 AT VERDUN 141 
 
 were laid out in the form of streets, and which, in 
 fact, were called streets by the soldiers themselves. 
 Chester followed. 
 
 At the first cross street, for so they may be called. 
 Hal led the way sharply to the left and stopped sud" 
 denly. A moment later a figure came slinking 
 around after them. Hal reached out an arm and 
 grabbed him. 
 
 "Here," he said, "what are you following us 
 for?" 
 
 The man tried to free himself, but Hal held him 
 tight. 
 
 "If you'll let me loose, I'll explain," he said fi- 
 nally. 
 
 Hal considered this a moment ; then with a shrug 
 of his shoulders released his hold. 
 
 "Stand behind him, Chester," he said. 
 
 Chester followed Hal's injunction, but the man 
 made no effort to escape. 
 
 "Well?" said Hal, questioningly. 
 
 The man thrust a hand into his pocket. 
 
 "Hold on there!" cried Hal, sharply, producing 
 his revolver. "No tricks now." 
 
 The man smiled and withdrew his hand from his 
 pocket. 
 
 "I wasn't after a gun," he said. 
 
 He opened his hand and in the palm Hal saw a lit- 
 tle round object. 
 
 "Can you match that ?" the man demanded.
 
 142 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal peered closer and made out the nature of the 
 object in the man's hand. 
 
 "A black pea !" he exclaimed. "Yes, I can match 
 it." 
 
 He thrust a hand in his pocket and produced a 
 black pea, which not many days before had rolled 
 from the pocket of Jules Clemenceau. 
 
 The stranger looked at it closely. 
 
 "All right," he said. He turned to Chester. 
 "And you?" he demanded. 
 
 Chester's reply was to produce his black pea, 
 which he exhibited to the man. 
 
 "Good !" said the stranger. "Follow me." 
 
 "Follow you where?" Chester wanted to know. 
 
 "Yes ; what's all this funny business, anyhow ?" 
 demanded Hal. 
 
 The man smiled enigmatically. 
 
 "Best to be careful," he said. "Come on." 
 
 Chester looked at Hal and the latter nodded. 
 
 "Might as well see what it's all about," said the 
 latter. 
 
 They fell into step behind the stranger. 
 
 With many turns and twists the man walked for 
 perhaps half an hour. Apparently he was bent on 
 beclouding the lads' sense of direction. 
 
 "I say!" Hal called a halt finally. "Where are 
 you taking us?" 
 
 "It's not much farther," the man protested, "and 
 I have been instructed to bring you."
 
 AT VERDUN 143 
 
 "Instructed to bring us ?" echoed Chester, "and by 
 whom ?" 
 
 "You'll learn that later," was the stranger's re- 
 sponse. "Are you coming?" 
 
 Again Hal and Chester exchanged glances. The 
 latter shrugged. 
 
 "We've started; may as well see it through," he 
 said. 
 
 "All right," Hal agreed and turned to the 
 stranger, "but cut out all this winding about," he 
 demanded. "There is a quicker way of reaching 
 our destination, wherever it may be." 
 
 The stranger smiled, but made no reply. He 
 moved off and the boys followed him, and at last 
 they came to their journey's end. 
 
 Before an army tent the man stopped a few mo- 
 ments later. 
 
 "In here," he said. 
 
 He entered and Hal and Chester paused long 
 enough to look at each other. 
 
 "I guess it's all right," said Hal. "Can't much 
 happen right in the heart of the camp. Come on." 
 
 He entered the tent with Chester close behind him. 
 
 Within powerful arms seized them and dragged 
 them down ; and before they could cry out gags 
 were stuffed in their mouths. In vain the lads 
 struggled to free themselves. They were soon 
 safely bound. 
 
 Up to this time the tent had been in darkness,
 
 144. THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 but now someone struck a light. Hal and Chester 
 gazed at their captors. All were attired in regula- 
 tion army uniforms, but their faces were masked. 
 One man, who seemed to be the leader, was short 
 and chunky. The others were taller. The small 
 man approached the lads and spoke. 
 
 "If you will give me your words to make no out- 
 cry, I shall have the gags removed," he said in a 
 shrill, quavering voice, plainly disguised. 
 
 Hal considered this point a moment ; then nodded 
 his head in token of assent. Chester did likewise. 
 
 "All right," said the little man and beckoned 
 the others to remove the gags. 
 
 Their mouths free of the evil-tasting cloths, Hal 
 and Chester breathed easier. 
 
 "Now," said Chester, "perhaps you will explain 
 what this is all about." 
 
 The little man shook his head. 
 
 "No," he replied, "all I can tell you is this ! You 
 shall be kept confined here until your removal to 
 Paris can be arranged. Then you will be sent to 
 London and put aboard a vessel for New York. 
 That's all I can say." 
 
 "But what for?" demanded Hal, angrily. 
 
 "That you will not be told," was the reply, "al- 
 though I guess you don't need to be told." 
 
 "By George !" exclaimed Chester, "I don't know 
 what you are talking about, but you can take my 
 word that somebody is going to suffer for this
 
 AT VERDUN 145 
 
 night's work. How long do you intend to hold us 
 here?" 
 
 "I can't say. Possibly a day or two ; at all events, 
 until your removal can be arranged." 
 
 "Do you know who we are?" demanded Hal. 
 
 The little man nodded. 
 
 "Perfectly," he replied. 
 
 "You know that we are attached to the staff of 
 General Petain?" 
 
 Again their captor nodded. 
 
 "And still you've got the nerve to hold us here?" 
 
 "Yes, I've got the nerve." 
 
 "Don't you know you shall suffer for this?" 
 
 The man shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "At least I shall have done my duty," he replied. 
 
 "Duty! Great Scott ! Duty! What are you 
 talking about?" demanded Hal, angrily. "Are you 
 a German sympathizer?" v 
 
 "No, my sympathies are French," was the reply. 
 
 "Well, if you call this doing your duty," said 
 Chester, sarcastically, "let's hope you don't have 
 too many duties to perform in the service of France. 
 For if you do, the Germans certainly will win." 
 
 "Well," said their captor, "I guess I shall have to 
 leave you now. I must make my report." 
 
 "Who are you going to report to?" demanded 
 Hal, suddenly, thinking to take the man off his 
 guard. 
 
 The latter only grinned.
 
 146 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "I'm too old a bird for that trick," he said, show- 
 ing that he understood what had been in Hal's 
 mind. "I'm going to report to the proper person." 
 
 "Improper person, I guess you mean," Chester 
 growled. 
 
 "At any rate, I must report," said their captor. 
 "Now if you'll promise to make no outcry while 
 I'm gone, I will not have the gags replaced in your 
 mouths. Otherwise, I am afraid " 
 
 He closed with a shrug of the shoulders. 
 
 "You put one of those things in my mouth again, 
 and I'll make you eat it some day," said Chester. 
 
 "Not for some time to come, I'm afraid," was 
 the little man's rejoinder. "I believe I can guar- 
 antee you will be kept out of mischief for the dura- 
 tion of the war." 
 
 Hal had been gazing at the little man closely. 
 
 "Seems to me," he said at last, "that I have seen 
 you some place before. There is something familiar 
 about you." 
 
 "You've probably seen me," was the reply. "I've 
 been around here for some time." 
 
 Chester was now struck with a sudden thought. 
 
 "Is Matin mixed up in this thing?" he demanded, 
 believing that, after all, the capture might have been 
 concocted by the French soldier who had sought to 
 kill Hal. 
 
 "Matin ? Who is Matin ?" asked their captor. 
 
 Chester explained.
 
 AT VERDUN 14? 
 
 "No, he has nothing to do with it," was the 
 reply. 
 
 "Then, in the name of the Great Czar, what's it 
 all about?" 
 
 "I can't tell you," was the firm reply. 
 
 Chester groaned. 
 
 "Of all the fool predicaments," he said, "this is 
 the worst." 
 
 The little man had now moved toward the door 
 of the tent. 
 
 "I go now," he said, "to make my report. Pleas- 
 ant dreams to you." 
 
 "Hold on a minute," shouted Hal. 
 
 "No ; I think I had better go. Good-bye, boys ! ,f 
 
 There was such a familiar ring to these words 
 that Hal was struck with a great light. He uttered 
 a loud exclamation, so loud, in fact, that the little 
 man came running back in the tent. 
 
 Even Chester was surprised but for a moment 
 only for the words that escaped Hal were these: 
 
 "By all that's holy ! If it isn't Stubbs !"
 
 148 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 STUBBS REFUSES TO EXPLAIN 
 
 With two bounds the little man covered the dis- 
 .nce to Hal's side and bent over. Quickly he 
 placed a hand across Hal's mouth and whispered : 
 
 "Sh-h-h. Not so loud!" 
 
 Hal shook his head free his hands were tied 
 and exclaimed : 
 
 "So! This is the thanks we get from you, eh! 
 Why, you little fat " 
 
 "Names won't help any," said Anthony Stubbs, 
 quietly. "I've got you here and, as I told you, here 
 you are going to stay until I arrange for your trans- 
 portation back to the good old town where stands 
 the Gazette." 
 
 "New York, eh?" said Chester. "But why, 
 Stubbs, that's what I want to know. Come on, be 
 a good fellow and tell us what this is all about." 
 
 "If I wasn't so sure you know, I might be tempted 
 to do so," said Stubbs. "But you do know and 
 there is no need to ask me again. I refuse." 
 
 "But I tell you, Stubbs, we don't know," declared
 
 AT VERDUN 149 
 
 Hal. "What's gone wrong with you ? Are you in 
 the employ of the Kaiser?" 
 
 "Not by a long shot," was the answer. "That's 
 one reason I want to get you away from here. I 
 want to see the Kaiser licked properly." 
 
 "You don't mean to insinuate " 
 
 "That you are aiding the Kaiser ?" Stubbs broke 
 in. "I guess not. But you know as well as I do that 
 with you here something is sure to go wrong. No 
 sir. You've got to go back to the old U. S. A. and 
 you're going to go if it lies in my power to get you 
 there." 
 
 "By Jove !" said Chester, suddenly. "I know the 
 answer." 
 
 "Well, you're a good guesser if you do," said 
 Hal, dryly. "Let's hear it." 
 
 "Uncle John is the answer," declared Chester. 
 "In some manner he has learned we are here; he 
 has come up from Italy and bribed Stubbs to get 
 us sent home." 
 
 "By Jove !" exclaimed Hal. "Is that it, Stubbs?" 
 
 Stubbs grinned at them. 
 
 "Come," he said, "I'm too old to be fooled with 
 such innocence as that. You know what you're 
 here for and that's all there is about it. Now I'm 
 going to arrange for your removal." 
 
 "Stubbs," said Hal, quietly, "I wonder if you 
 could guess what I think of you?" 
 
 "I'm afraid I could," returned the little man ser-
 
 150 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 iously. "But now let me ask you something. Do 
 you remember, not so many nights ago, that I told 
 you both that if ever you found me doing some- 
 thing you didn't approve of, I would be doing it 
 for your own good because I am fond of you? 
 Do you remember that?" 
 
 "You bet I remember it," declared Hal; "and all 
 I've got to say is that if you call this thing for our 
 own good you're mightily mistaken. If we don't 
 report to General Petain to-morrow morning we're 
 likely to be court martialed." 
 
 "Oh, no, you're not," said Stubbs. 
 
 "Oh, yes we are." 
 
 "I say you're not." 
 
 "Say," said Hal, "you talk like you knew some- 
 thing about it." 
 
 "I do," returned Stubbs. 
 
 "Well, Stubbs," interposed Chester, "if you are 
 bent on showing your fondness for us in this man- 
 ner all right ; but I want to say that, for my part, 
 you can take all your affection and go hang with 
 it." 
 
 "Same here," growled Hal. 
 
 "I'm sorry you feel that way about it, boys," 
 said Stubbs, seriously, "but I know that some time 
 you will forgive me. Of course, you are angry 
 now because I have spoiled your plans, but some 
 time you will overlook it." 
 
 "But where do you come in for all this fairy god-
 
 AT VERDUN 151 
 
 father stuff, Stubbs?" demanded Chester. "What 
 iron have you in the fire ? You've got some reason 
 besides just trying to keep us out of trouble, now 
 haven't you?" 
 
 "Why, yes, I have," was Stubbs' quiet reply. 
 
 "I thought so. Would you mind telling me what 
 it is?" 
 
 "I've already told you. I want to see the Kaiser 
 properly licked." 
 
 Chester was about to make an angry retort ; then 
 changed his mind and gave a snort of pure disgust. 
 
 "Stubbs," said Hal, "I know what it's all about. 
 If I ask you a question will you answer it?" 
 
 "Depends on the question," was the reply. "Let's 
 hear it." 
 
 "Well, here it is, and I think it's the answer to 
 the whole thing : Are you crazy ?" 
 
 Stubbs gave a snort. 
 
 "Crazy!" he shouted. "No, I'm not crazy! Who 
 says I'm crazy?" 
 
 "I do, Stubbs," declared Hal. 
 
 "And I agree with him," exclaimed Chester. 
 
 The little war correspondent became suddenly 
 very angry. He stamped up and down the tent mut- 
 tering to himself. Then he whirled on the lads. 
 
 "You make me tired !" he exclaimed. "Here I've 
 gone and got myself in a mess just to keep you two 
 out of trouble and what thanks do I get for it? 
 , You say I'm crazy ! Why, you ought to bow down
 
 152 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 and thank me for doing what I am doing. You 
 both make me sick." 
 
 "Well, we're not going to do any bowing down 
 to you, Stubbs," said Hal ; "but there is one thing 
 I'll promise you." 
 
 "What's that?" demanded Stubbs, eagerly. 
 
 "That, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "is a good first- 
 class thrashing when I get hold of you again." 
 
 "Guess we had better make it two," declared Ches- 
 ter. "Remember he's got me here with you, Hal." 
 
 "All right, Chester. We'll make it a double- 
 handed affair. Hear that, Stubbs?" 
 
 Stubbs snapped his fingers at them. 
 
 "You can do what you please when you get free," 
 he declared. "But I'm going to make it a point 
 to see that you don't get free on this side of the 
 English Channel. Now, good-night." 
 
 The little man turned, ordered his men out ahead 
 of him and disappeared from the tent. 
 
 For some moments Hal and Chester lay silent 
 without a word. Then Hal said : 
 
 "Chester, if you can tell me what's at the bottom 
 of all this, I'll give you a million dollars." 
 
 "If you had the million, Hal, you'd lose." 
 
 "You don't mean to tell me " 
 
 "Of course I know. I thought you did by this 
 time. There are two things at the bottom of this 
 and they are two little black peas!" 
 
 "Well, by Jove!" said Hal, "and to think I didn't
 
 AT VERDUN 153 
 
 get that through my head sooner. Then you think 
 these peas " 
 
 "Yes; there is some kind of a conspiracy brew- 
 ing and Stubbs thinks we have a hand in it. What- 
 ever it is, he's against it. You remember how h 
 shut up in the middle of his tale that night when 
 he first saw the peas in our possession ?" 
 
 "By Jove! That's so!" 
 
 "Sure ; but have you any idea what the conspiracy 
 may be ?" 
 
 "Not the slightest; but if we can get out of here 
 we'll have a look. We know one of the band, I 
 think." 
 
 "You mean?" 
 
 "Jules Clemenceau. I don't suppose he ever 
 missed the two peas. He probably had more. At 
 the first opportunity we'll display our peas where 
 he can see them and then maybe he will say some- 
 thing that will tip us off where to look next." 
 
 "Not a bad idea ; but he seems to be so young to 
 be mixed up in such a thing." 
 
 "He's no younger than we are; and we've been 
 mixed up in a whole lot of things." 
 
 "That's so, too. I would like to know, though, 
 what this plot is. I don't believe it has anything to 
 do with treachery." 
 
 "Depends upon what you mean by treachery. I 
 suppose you mean nothing that will aid the Ger- 
 mans to defeat us ?"
 
 154 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Exactly; then, too, don't you remember, when 
 Stubbs was telling us about the conspiracy, that he 
 said he had reason to believe there were plotters in 
 the German ranks as well as the British and 
 French?" 
 
 "He didn't say it just that way, I think, but I 
 remember what you mean. By Jove! I wonder 
 what it can all be about ?" 
 
 "Well, it's too deep for me; and unless some- 
 thing happens, I am half afraid Stubbs may be as 
 good as his word and have us sent back to New 
 York." 
 
 "By George! We can't stand for that." 
 
 "I should say not. See if you can wiggle your 
 hands loose." 
 
 Hal tried. So did Chester. 
 
 "They did a pretty fair job, if you ask me," said 
 the latter. 
 
 "I should say they did. However, we'll keep try- 
 ing. Something may give. Perseverance is a great 
 medicine, you know." 
 
 And they did keep trying ; but here was one place 
 where it seemed that perseverance was about to fail. 
 An hour's tugging at their bonds failed to loosen 
 them to any noticeable degree. 
 
 "I guess it's no use, Chester," said Hal. 
 
 "I'm not having much luck, either," was Ches- 
 ter's reply. 
 
 They took a brief rest and then fell to tugging
 
 AT VERDUN 155 
 
 at their bonds again. But they had no better luck 
 than before. 
 
 "Well, it's no use," said Chester at last. "I'm 
 going to sleep." 
 
 Hal was also forced to admit that he was unable 
 to loosen his own bonds and he followed Chester's 
 example and sought repose. 
 
 How long they slept neither knew, but both were 
 awakened by a hand on their shoulders. Looking 
 up in the darkness the lads saw a form bending over 
 them. They could not distinguish the features. 
 
 "Hello !" said Hal, in a whisper. "We have com- 
 pany, Chester." 
 
 "So we have," was the latter's reply. "Wonder 
 what he wants ?" 
 
 The figure in the darkness explained his presence 
 in the tent in a few words. 
 
 "Come with me !" he whispered. 
 
 "Can't. We're tied up," said Hal. 
 
 "I have unloosened your bonds," said the voice in 
 a whisper. "Come, and make no noise." 
 
 The lads found that their deliverer had told the 
 truth. They were no longer bound. They got to 
 their feet and followed him from the tent. They 
 had not recognized the voice that had called them ; 
 but as they passed without, Hal caught sight of the 
 man's features. 
 
 "Jules Clemenceau !" he exclaimed.
 
 156 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE CONSPIRATORS 
 
 Chester, who had been unable to catch a sight 
 of their deliverer's face, was surprised. 
 
 "Great Scott! Jules," he exclaimed. "You have 
 a knack of turning up in the nick of time." 
 
 "Sh-h-h!" whispered Jules. "No talk until we 
 get away from here." 
 
 The others obeyed this injunction to keep silence 
 and followed the young Frenchman without fur- 
 ther words. 
 
 Jules approached his own quarters and led the 
 way inside. 
 
 "Make yourselves at home," he said with a wave 
 of his hand. "In here we may talk." 
 
 Hal and Chester found seats and then the former 
 asked a question. 
 
 "How did you happen to find us, Jules?" 
 
 "I chanced to be near when the stranger showed 
 you his pea," returned Jules. "I knew that there 
 had been no summons sent out for an immediate 
 meeting and that something must be wrong. There-
 
 AT VERDUN 157 
 
 fore, I followed you. Having learned where you 
 were held I returned later to release you. That's 
 all." 
 
 "Well, we certainly thank you," said Chester. 
 "There is no telling what would have happened to 
 us." 
 
 "I was never more surprised," said Jules, "than 
 when I saw you both exhibit black peas. I had no 
 idea that you were with us." 
 
 "Then you, too," said Hal, "are " 
 
 "Yes," Jules interrupted. "I am one of you. I 
 suppose you have received the summons ?" 
 
 "Summons? What summons?" asked Chester. 
 
 "Why, for the meeting to-night, or, rather, I 
 should say in the morning." 
 
 "No, we have received no summons," said Hal. 
 
 "Then it is twice good that I arrived," said Jules. 
 "You shall accompany me." 
 
 "And where is the rendezvous?" asked Chester. 
 
 "I'll show you," said Jules. He drew his watch 
 from his pocket and glanced at it in the semi-light 
 of the tent. "Twelve fifteen," he said. "We have 
 forty-five minutes still, but it will do no harm if we 
 are a few minutes early. Come." 
 
 He picked up his cap from the cot where he had 
 thrown it and led the way from the tent. Hal and 
 Chester followed without a word. The same 
 thought was in the mind of each. At last they 
 would be able to learn the nature of the conspiracy
 
 158 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 which, although they knew nothing of it, had caused 
 them so much trouble. 
 
 After a walk of perhaps twenty minutes, in which 
 time they had not been challenged, Jules pulled up 
 before a tent somewhat larger than the rest. 
 
 "General Pombrey's quarters," he said, "and for 
 that reason comparatively safe." 
 
 "You mean that the general is one of us?" de- 
 manded Hal in no little surprise. 
 
 "Yes," said Jules, briefly. 
 
 Chester gave a low whistle. Evidently this con- 
 spiracy, whatever it might be, was more widespread 
 than he had imagined. 
 
 Jules entered the tent and the two lads followed 
 him. 
 
 Inside a large number of men already had as- 
 sembled. Apparently, their anticipation had been 
 so great that they had been unable to control their 
 impatience until nearer the appointed hour. The 
 lads were impressed with one peculiar feature. Un- 
 like most plotters and Hal and Chester already had 
 come into contact with many these men wore no 
 masks. Apparently, they were not afraid of their 
 identities being known by their fellow conspirators. 
 
 There were no remarks when Jules and Hal and 
 Chester entered the tent. The former led the way 
 to the far side and there stood quietly in the half 
 light. Hal and Chester took their places beside 
 him.
 
 AT VERDUN 159 
 
 As time passed other men appeared in the tent 
 and Hal and Chester were surprised to see that some 
 were officers of high rank ; but neither lad said any- 
 thing aloud. 
 
 Came the voice of a sentry without: 
 
 "One o'clock and all's well!" 
 
 A moment later the apathy that had gripped the 
 interior of the tent where the conspirators were as- 
 sembled disappeared. General Pombrey addressed 
 the others. 
 
 "I am glad to see so many of you here to-night," 
 he said earnestly. "I note several new faces 
 amongst us and I am pleased to know that others 
 are joining this great movement every day. It 
 shows that even in the midst of this warlikeVamp 
 the spirit of peace has not died." 
 
 His words were greeted with a murmur of ap- 
 proval, though no man spoke. 
 
 The general continued : 
 
 "Now, I have to inform you that the crisis is 
 near. I have had word from the enemy's lines that 
 the spirit of peace there has grown. It would ap- 
 pear that we are on the eve of success. Another bat- 
 tle or two a few thousand more lives lost and this 
 great war may end. When the spirit of peace has 
 overcome the spirit of war in the ranks, then will 
 the war end. I have called you together to-night 
 to instruct you to sound even deeper than you have 
 done the sentiment of the men who stand by your
 
 160 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 side. The time to stop this war is almost at hand." 
 
 Again there was a murmur of approval as the 
 general became silent. He gazed upon the faces 
 about him a few moments in silence, and then spoke 
 again : 
 
 "I need not caution you to silence. A false move 
 and all would be lost. But if we can command 
 10,000 more men when the crisis arrives, men who, 
 like the rest of us, will refuse to fight more when 
 the word is given, we shall be strong enough; and 
 if I told you how many already are pledged you 
 could scarcely believe me. Now here," the general 
 exposed to view a large box, "I have many more of 
 the little peas that are our bond of membership. I 
 want each of you to take as many as you please; 
 and pass them around when you have convinced 
 yourselves the men you approach are acting in good 
 faith." 
 
 One after another the men in the tent stepped 
 forward and dipped a hand into the box of peas 
 and put the little round pellets into their own pock- 
 ets. Then the general signified that he had yet a 
 few remarks to make. The men stood about re- 
 spectfully as he addressed them. 
 
 "Men," he said, "there may be some among you 
 who question the justice of this move. To those I 
 say that we are engaged in a great effort. To pre- 
 vent further war and bloodshed among ourselves 
 and our enemies is a great duty; for nothing can
 
 AT VERDUN 161 
 
 possibly be gained by the loss of millions of lives 
 and the destruction of billions of dollars worth of 
 property. However, if there are any among you 
 who would draw out of this movement, I would ask 
 that you do so now." 
 
 The general paused and looked keenly at the faces 
 about him. No man spoke. 
 
 "Good," said the general, "then I know you are 
 with me." 
 
 "And the time? When will the time come?" 
 asked one man in the crowd. 
 
 "That I cannot say," responded the general, 
 quietly. "But I can assure you that it will be before 
 long. You will all be notified by the messengers, 
 that you may be ready. Now are there any other 
 questions?" 
 
 "If we fail, then what?" asked another man. 
 
 General Pombrey shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "Probably courtmartial and a firing squad," he 
 said indifferently. "But you will have died in a 
 glorious cause, whereas now " 
 
 A glimpse of happiness stole over the general's 
 face. To Hal and Chester it meant but one thing. 
 General Pombrey was a fanatic: and the men who 
 had come under his spell were fanatics. In that in- 
 stant Hal and Chester both realized that this mat- 
 ter must be brought to General Petain immediately. 
 
 After some few other words, General Pombrey 
 signified that the meeting was over, and the men filed
 
 162 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 from the tent singly and in pairs, discussing the 
 matter in low tones. 
 
 Outside Hal and Chester were accosted again by 
 Jules Clemenceau. 
 
 "And what do you think of General Pombrey?" 
 asked the young Frenchman, his face shining. 
 
 For a moment Hal considered what was best to 
 say. Should he try and convince Jules that his 
 preset course was wrong; that there was to be 
 co^dered the honor of his country rather than the 
 opinion of General Pombrey? The lad decided on 
 the side of caution. 
 
 "A good man," he replied quietly. "A man who 
 will face a firing squad without a tremor, secure in 
 the belief he is dying for a good cause." 
 
 "And do you not think the cause good, and just?" 
 demanded Jules, anxiously. 
 
 "If not, why should I be the bearer of a pocket- 
 full of black peas?" was Hal's reply. 
 
 Jules, apparently, was satisfied. 
 
 Alone in their own quarters later Hal and Ches- 
 ter discussed the situation seriously. 
 
 "To tell the truth," said Chester, "I am half in- 
 clined to agree with General Pombrey. But if for 
 no other reason, there is one thing that would make 
 me reveal this plot to General Petain." 
 
 "And that?" asked Hal. 
 
 "That," said Chester, "is the fact that General 
 Pombrey and the others engaged in this conspiracy
 
 AT VERDUN 163 
 
 are lacking upon the German- troops to throw down 
 their arms and refuse to fight at the same moment 
 the French and British do." 
 
 "Well ?" asked Hal, but he was beginning to catch 
 Chester's drift. 
 
 "Well," said Chester, "you and I know the Ger- 
 mans won't do that. It's a ten to one bet that the 
 German general staff knows all about this con- 
 spiracy. The peace talk has been carried from one 
 army to the other by the prisoners. The Germans 
 will take advantage of it. Should the French really 
 follow General Pombrey's plan, they would be 
 slaughtered by the thousands. The Germans could 
 not keep faith. You know that." 
 
 "Yes, I know it," said Hal with a nod of his head, 
 head. "They have never kept faith in this war, 
 save in individual cases. It doesn't seem to be in 
 them." 
 
 "Exactly," agreed Chester. "Then, if for no 
 other reason than to save these deluded French and 
 British soldiers, the matter must be brought to the 
 attention of General Petain, that he may act 
 promptly and not only save them, but the whole 
 army of France ; and the cause of the Allies." 
 
 "Good !" Hal agreed. ''Then we shall see that 
 it's brought to his attention." 
 
 "The first thing in the morning," said Chester. 
 
 "Right you are, Chester. The first thing in the 
 morning."
 
 164 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 UNDER ARREST 
 
 It was morning. Hal and Chester, refreshed by 
 a good night's rest, had just completed their toilets 
 and were about to repair to the quarters of General 
 Petain, there to report for the day's duty and also 
 to inform the French commander of what they had 
 learned the night before. But, as it transpired, their 
 good intentions were to go for naught and they were 
 to be ushered into the presence of General Petain in 
 a manner that neither would have believed possible. 
 
 Came the sound of many footsteps approaching 
 without. They stopped before the boys' tent. A 
 French officer thrust his head in the entrance. * 
 
 "Lieutenant Crawford! Lieutenant Paine i" he 
 said sharply. 
 
 "Sir !" exclaimed both lads in a single breath. 
 
 They stepped from the tent. 
 
 "You are under arrest!" were the French officer's 
 next words. 
 
 Hal and Chester stepped back in complete be- 
 wilderment.
 
 AT VERDUN 165 
 
 "Wha what's that, sir?" asked Hal, believing 
 that he could not have heard aright. 
 
 "You are under arrest," was the sharp reply. "I 
 am ordered to conduct you before General Petain 
 at once." 
 
 Both lads had recovered themselves by this time ; 
 they stepped forward coolly enough, in spite of the 
 fact that their hearts were fluttering strangely. 
 
 "The general might have spared himself the 
 trouble of sending for us," said Hal, quietly. "Even 
 now we were about to report to him." 
 
 The French officer said nothing. He motioned to 
 the file of soldiers whom he commanded and Hal 
 and Chester stepped in between the men. 
 
 "One moment," said the French soldier. 
 
 He approached the lads. 
 
 "I must ask for your swords and revolvers," he 
 said. 
 
 Without a word the lads surrendered their weap- 
 ons. 
 
 "Good!" said the French officer. Then to his 
 men : "Forward, march !" 
 
 And in this manner Hal and Chester came before 
 the French commander at Verdun. The latter was 
 busy with a pile of papers when they entered his 
 quarters and did not look up immediately. For per- 
 haps fifteen minutes the lads stood there, firmly 
 *rect, their eyes upon the general. 
 
 Suddenly General Petain wheeled about.
 
 166 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Leave these men with me," he instructed the 
 French officer who had escorted the lads to his tent ; 
 "but attend me outside within call, Captain." 
 
 The French officer saluted and withdrew. 
 
 General Petain gazed frowningly at Hal and 
 Chester for perhaps a full minute. The lads re- 
 turned his look without flinching, though there was 
 nothing that might be construed as defiance in their 
 manner ; rather, nothing but respectful attention. 
 
 "So!" said General Petain at last. "So! I find 
 you two lads, whom I have trusted, among a band 
 of conspirators, eh?" 
 
 "Among them, sir," said Hal, quietly, "but not of 
 them." 
 
 "What's that ?" demanded the general. "You ad- 
 mit you were with them and then claim innocence ? 
 Impossible !" < 
 
 "I beg your pardon, sir," said Hal, "but it is not 
 impossible. It is the truth." 
 
 "But I have it on high authority," returned the 
 general, "that you have been the possessors of the 
 emblem of the conspirators for some days now." 
 
 "That is true enough, sir," Hal agreed; "but we 
 came into the possession of those black peas acci- 
 dentally and with no thought of their significance." 
 
 The general sniffed contemptuously. 
 
 "My information regarding you boys comes from 
 a source that I am afraid I must believe," he 
 said.
 
 AT VERDUN 16C 
 
 "Will 3'-ou tell us the source, sir ?" asked Hal. 
 
 General Petain shook his head. 
 
 "It would do no good," he returned. "It would 
 not alter the facts in the case. Now, I know you 
 boys have been of great value to the cause of the 
 Allies. My informant is authority for that state- 
 ment also. You have accomplished much and 
 France and the other allied countries must thank 
 you. But it appears now that you have been led 
 from the proper way of thinking; and my inform- 
 ant in your case says, and rightly, that from young 
 men who have done much to advance the cause of 
 the Allies, there is much to be feared when they 
 embark upon some other venture. * 
 
 "You are both resourceful; I know that. That 
 is the reason that I have had you placed under ar- 
 rest that you may not turn your energies against 
 us. I shall have you sent to Paris, thence to Lon- 
 don, and I hope that before long you will be back 
 in your own country, the United States." 
 
 "Pardon me, sir," said Hal, respectfully, "but I 
 do not need to ask you again to name the man who 
 has caused us to be in this predicament. His name 
 is Stubbs." 
 
 "Well, I see no need to deny it," said General 
 Petain. 
 
 "General," said Chester, now stepping forward, 
 "I would be glad if you would give me an oppor- 
 tunity to explain this matter."
 
 168 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "It shaTi not be said that I denied any man a 
 hearing," was the general's reply. "Proceed." 
 
 As briefly as possible Chester recounted the man- 
 ner in which they had come into possession of the 
 two peas ; of why they decided to keep them ; of 
 their capture the night before by Anthony Stubbs 
 and of their escape ; and last, of their attendance at 
 the meeting of the conspirators, where, for the first 
 time, they learned the true significance of the little 
 black peas. 
 
 As Chester proceeded with his story the general 
 listened attentively. When Chester spoke of being 
 captured by Stubbs, the general smiled quietly, and 
 Hal, noting the smile, guessed rightly that General 
 Petain had had a hand in the capture himself or 
 rather, that he at least had sanctioned it ; and when 
 Chester spoke of the meeting of the conspirators 
 and mentioned the name of General Pombrey, Gen- 
 eral Petain frowned. 
 
 "So," he said when Chester had concluded, "Gen- 
 eral Pombrey is mixed up in this thing, eh ?" 
 
 "He seems to be the leader of the movement, sir," 
 replied Chester. "I should say that he is without 
 doubt the directing hand." 
 
 "And what do you hope to gain by telling me all 
 this?" asked General Petain, eyeing the lad 
 shrewdly. 
 
 "I hope to see the conspiracy crushed, sir, before 
 it gains further momentum," was Chester's reply.
 
 AT VERDUN 169 
 
 General Petain eyed the lad peculiarly. 
 
 "Can it be that I have been misinformed ?" he mut- 
 tered to himself. 
 
 Hal's keen ears caught the words. 
 
 "I can assure you that you have been misin- 
 formed, sir," he replied firmly. 
 
 For several moments more the general eyed the 
 lads sternly and they returned his gaze without 
 flinching. Suddenly the general clapped his hands 
 together. The French officer who had arrested the 
 two lads entered the tent and saluted. 
 
 "Captain," said General Petain. "my compli- 
 ments to Mr. Anthony Stubbs and say that I desire 
 his presence here at once." 
 
 The French officer saluted and took his depart- 
 ure. 
 
 The hearts of the two lads beat high now. Ap- 
 parently General Petain had been convinced of the 
 truth of their stories. They believed that when 
 Stubbs confronted them he would weaken. 
 
 "I don't know what to think about this matter," 
 said General Petain as they waited for Stubbs' ar- 
 rival. "I am loath to believe you would be mixed 
 up in anything of this nature." 
 
 "How did Mr. Stubbs happen to mention us as 
 being implicated in this conspiracy, sir?" asked 
 Chester. 
 
 "He said he wanted to see you get home safely 
 and not be mixed up in anything that might mean a
 
 170 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 firing squad," said General Petain, calmly. "I prom- 
 ised him your safe return to America for his news 
 of the conspiracy." 
 
 "I see," said Chester. 
 
 At this moment Stubbs was announced. Gen- 
 eral Petain looked at him sharply. 
 
 "These officers," he said, indicating Hal and Ches- 
 ter with a wave of his hand, "deny the charges you 
 have made against them, sir." 
 
 "Surely, you didn't expect them to admit it, sir ?" 
 questioned Stubbs, shifting from one foot to an- 
 other, as Hal and Chester bent their gaze on him. 
 
 "Well, no, I didn't," was General Petain's reply, 
 "but they tell such a straightforward story that I 
 am of the opinion you must be mistaken as to their 
 part in this conspiracy." 
 
 "But the peas," said Stubbs. "They had them." 
 
 "Well, somebody might have slipped one into your 
 pocket, as far as that goes," said General Petain; 
 "and then you might be standing here under sus- 
 picion." 
 
 "Tha that's so, too," Stubbs stammered. "I 
 hadn't thought of that." 
 
 "Well, you should have thought of it," exclaimed 
 General Petain. "It's no small thing to cast sus- 
 picion upon a man and then be able to prove noth- 
 ing. 
 
 "But the peas " 
 
 "Never mind about the peas," stormed the gen-
 
 AT VERDUN 171 
 
 eral. "By any chance, when you had these officers 
 in your tent last night, did they admit connection 
 with the plot?" 
 
 "No, sir ; they professed ignorance. But they had 
 the peas " 
 
 "Mon Dieu! Can't you think of anything but 
 peas? What kind of a war correspondent are you, 
 anyhow ?" 
 
 Stubbs was offended. He drew himself up and 
 would have made reply, but General Petain silenced 
 him with a gesture. 
 
 "I don't question your loyalty," he said, "and I 
 know that you acted with the good of these lads at 
 heart. But I am convinced you have been mistaken. 
 I am going to release these boys. Lieutenant Paine ! 
 Lieutenant Crawford ! you are " 
 
 "Sir !" exclaimed Stubbs at this juncture. 
 
 The general eyed him closely. 
 
 "Well?" he demanded. 
 
 "Please, General, do not let them go until I have 
 a few moments' start. I don't know what they will 
 do to me." Stubbs looked nervous. 
 
 "Very well," said General Petain with a smile. 
 "Then hurry and take your departure, Mr. Stubbs." 
 
 Stubbs needed no urging and he disappeared from 
 the general's tent with agility; and Hal called after 
 him: 
 
 "Better hunt a hole, Mr. Stubbs ; we'll be on your 
 trail in a few minutes !"
 
 172 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE TURNING OF THE TIDE 
 
 In the days immediately following their inter- 
 view with General Petain, the lads saw much fight- 
 ing; and with the close of each day there came bit- 
 terness to them, to the French troops, their officers 
 and to the people of France and of all the allied 
 nations. 
 
 For the armies of the German Crown Prince con- 
 tinued to advance steadily in spite of the heroic re- 
 sistance of the French ; and it began to appear that 
 the "Gateway to France" must ere long fall into 
 alien hands. 
 
 Day after day the Germans hurled themselves for- 
 ward in herculean efforts to break the French lines ; 
 and most every day found them fighting a little 
 nearer to Verdun. In vain the French attempted 
 to stem the onslaught of the invading forces; the 
 Germans were not to be denied. 
 
 On the days when the fiercest of the German as- 
 saults were made, it was learned that the Emperor 
 of Germany had directed the assaults in person.
 
 AT VERDUN 173 
 
 From the top of a small hill, surrounded by his staff, 
 the Kaiser looked down upon the battlefield for days 
 at a time, showing no signs of emotion as his coun- 
 trymen fell right and left, that the German flag 
 might be planted a few yards sometimes only a 
 few feet farther westward. 
 
 While the German losses were something terrible 
 in this continuous fighting, the French suffered un- 
 told hardships. The effect of the great German 
 shells, which fell within the French lines almost in- 
 cessantly, was tremendous. It did not seem that 
 flesh and blood could survive their deadly effect 
 and yet the French fought back gamely. 
 
 At last the Germans reached a point only three 
 miles and a half from the city of Verdun itself. 
 
 Then began the fiercest of the fighting. 
 
 After having been pushed back many miles by the 
 German hordes, the French now braced suddenly 
 and gave as good as they received. Instead of wait- 
 ing for the German attacks, General Petain launched 
 offensives of his own. At first these broke down 
 easily under the German shells, but as they contin- 
 ued, the drives began to meet with more and more 
 success. It became apparent that at this point the 
 advantage usually rested with the attacking party. 
 
 Battles or what would have been called battles 
 in any other war of history, but now, in the official 
 reports were merely referred to as skirmishes 
 raged for hours at a stretch, some of the most im-
 
 114 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 portant continuing for days, first with advantage to 
 one side and then to the other. 
 
 In vain the German Crown Prince hurled his men 
 forward to pierce the French lines that now sepa- 
 rated him from Verdun, less than four miles away. 
 
 While the German guns still continued to shell 
 the city and the fortifications, there was little they 
 could accomplish now. All walls and houses in the 
 path of the great guns had crumbled under their ter- 
 rible fire days ago; there was nothing left to de- 
 stroy, except at intervals where a small fort still 
 stood and breathed defiance to the enemy. 
 
 But the German guns served one purpose. They 
 afforded protection for the infantry as it advanced 
 to the attack. Only when the Germans advanced 
 close enough to come to hand grips with the French 
 did the big guns become silent. 
 
 But now came the turning of the tide. 
 
 From far back the French threw out reinforce- 
 ments to the hard pressed men in front. Fluge new 
 field guns were brought up. Great masses of am- 
 munition, which the French had been storing up for 
 just such a chance, were rushed to the front. Soon 
 the French guns were speaking as loudly and as 
 often as the great German 42-centimetres them- 
 selves. 
 
 The first work of the new French offensive was 
 to clear the Germans from Dead Man's Hill, Hill 
 No. 320 and Hill No. 304. These battles, among
 
 AT VERDUN 175 
 
 the fiercest of all history, however, were really little 
 more than skirmishes, when the entire movement 
 was taken into consideration. Terrible though they 
 were, after all they were nothing more than small 
 parts of the great battle of Verdun itself. 
 
 From Dead Man's Hill and the other two eleva- 
 tions captured by the French, the Germans now 
 were pushed clear back to the banks of the river 
 Meuse; and then they were driven beyond. Thiau- 
 mont farm, where Hal and Chester had seen hard 
 fighting, came once more beneath the French tri- 
 color ; and the German eagle went back farther still. 
 
 There was little or no rest for the men in the 
 trenches on either side. Out would rush the Ger- 
 mans from their trenches in a grand attack upon the 
 trenches of the French. Hand-to-hand fighting 
 would ensue. Perhaps the Germans would be driven 
 back. If they were they would make a new effort 
 an hour or so later. 
 
 Perhaps the French would give way and the Ger- 
 mans would occupy the trenches. A short time later 
 the French would re-form under the very rifles of 
 the enemy, and, by a grand charge, oust the Germans 
 from their newly won positions. Then came the 
 work of concentrating and fortifying the trenches 
 all over again. 
 
 It was terrible work, these days before Verdun. 
 
 Hal and Chester played no small part in the ad' 
 vance of the French army. More than once the$
 
 176 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 were despatched upon important missions ; and their 
 fortune had been of the best. Not once had they 
 failed to accomplish a piece of work entrusted to 
 them. General Petain began to look upon them as 
 among his best men. Many a piece of work that, a 
 month before, he would have entrusted to an older 
 head now fell to the lot of either Hal or Chester; 
 and the boys did not complain. In fact, the more 
 they had to do the better they liked it. 
 
 Nor, for the matter of that, was there complaint 
 from any of the men in the French army, officers 
 or men. They stood to their work bravely and 
 never flinched under fire. Nor did they protest 
 when they were forced to go for long hours with- 
 out sleep, other than that they could catch between 
 the battles that raged almost incessantly and seemed 
 to be nothing less than one continuous struggle. 
 
 Now came the day when the Germans had been 
 pushed far east of the Meuse. For the moment the 
 French, flushed with victory, paused for a breath- 
 ing spell. It had been work well done, in the days 
 that had just passed, and men and officers alike real- 
 ized it. Preparing their lines against attacks, under 
 the command of General Petain, the French paused 
 for breath. 
 
 The German Crown Prince, realizing the cause 
 of this lull by the French, thought to take advantage 
 of the foe, and launched assault after assault; but, 
 tired out as the French were, there was still energy
 
 AT VERDUN 177 
 
 and courage enough among them to resist success- 
 fully the fierce charges of the foe. 
 
 And after awhile the Crown Prince gave up these 
 attacks, realizing that he could not hope, at that mo- 
 ment, to penetrate the French positions, and, for 
 once, doing away with the needless sacrifice of men. 
 
 Upon an afternoon when the battle of Verdun 
 was a little more than three months old, Hal and 
 Chester were summoned to the quarters of General 
 Petain. They went eagerly, for they realized that 
 there was important work ahead. 
 
 "Boys," said General Petain, for thus he had 
 come to address them when alone, after the official 
 salutes had been returned, "I have here a piece of 
 work, that, because of the danger attached, I hesi- 
 tate to select a man, or men, to perform." 
 
 Hal and Chester both smiled. 
 
 "And you want to give us the first chance at it, 
 sir?" said Hal. 
 
 "Yes; I know that if you accept the mission it is 
 more certain of success than if I entrusted it to 
 other hands." 
 
 "We shall be glad of the chance, sir," said Ches- 
 ter, quietly. 
 
 General Petain clapped his hands in satisfaction. 
 
 "I knew it," he said, "and yet I did not like to 
 order you to perform it. You boys are true blue." 
 
 Both lads flushed with pleasure at this remark, 
 but they made no reply. They stood quietly waiting
 
 178 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 until the general should tell them what was required. 
 
 "Boys," said the general, "it is absolutely essen- 
 tial to the success of this campaign that I have a 
 more accurate knowledge of the enemy's lines and 
 strength. My aviators have been sent in search of 
 such information, but they have met with little suc- 
 cess. The only man who got close enough to learn 
 w 7 hat I am after, according to others who followed 
 him, was shot down. He failed to return. What 
 he learned, of course, I do not know. But it is that 
 which I must know. Do you think you can gain 
 this information for me?" 
 
 "We can at least have a try at it," said Chester, 
 with a smile. 
 
 "We'll get it if it is humanly possible," agreed 
 Hal. 
 
 "I am more confident of success than I would be 
 if the mission were in other hands," said General 
 Petain, quietly. 
 
 "And when do you wish us to start, sir?" asked 
 Hal. 
 
 "Immediately," was the reply, "though I believe 
 it would be better to wait until dark." 
 
 "And you would suggest an aeroplane?" asked 
 Hal. 
 
 "I leave the means to you," returned the general. 
 "I'll give you a written order that will put anything 
 in the French lines at your disposal, aeroplane, auto- 
 mobile or horses. You may take your choice."
 
 AT VERDUN 179 
 
 The general turned to his desk and scribbled on a 
 piece of paper. To what he had written he affixed 
 his signature and then passed the paper to Hal. 
 
 "I have no further instructions," he said. "But, 
 be as quick as you can, and be careful." 
 
 He arose and extended a hand to each lad. He 
 had come to be very fond of them, and he patted 
 each on the back affectionately. 
 
 "May good fortune attend you," he said quietly. 
 
 The lads drew themselves up, saluted and left 
 the tent. The general stepped to the door and gazed 
 after them. 
 
 "Good boys, those," he said quietly to himself. 
 "May they return safely !"
 
 180 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE PARTY IS INCREASED 
 
 "I guess an aeroplane is the best way after all," 
 said Hal, when they were back in their own quar- 
 ters. 
 
 "Sure," Chester agreed. "It's swifter, and if we 
 have any luck at all, it's a pretty good contraption 
 to get away in after we have gained our information. 
 Now about clothes. Shall we keep on these uni^- 
 forms?" 
 
 "What would you suggest?" 
 
 "Well, I don't know. Thought maybe we would 
 take some German clothes along." j 
 
 "Might not be a bad idea, though we won't put 
 them on unless we have to. I don't want to be shot 
 as a spy if I can help it." 
 
 "Nor I. Don't suppose there would be any use 
 in taking civilian costumes?" 
 
 "I don't know. Guess it wouldn't do any harm, 
 though. The more clothes the better. We may need 
 a change of costume most any time." 
 
 "All right. We'll load up, if we can find what we 
 want."
 
 AT VERDUN 181 
 
 "I guess there won't be any trouble about that." 
 
 The lad was right. Soon they had a large army 
 plane at their disposal and had stocked it with all 
 they thought they would need in the way of cloth- 
 ing and food. Then they returned to their own 
 quarters. Hal glanced at his watch. 
 
 "Only five o'clock," he said. "We've a good three 
 hours yet. We don't want to go up until well after 
 dark. Let's go out and have a look around." 
 
 Chester was agreeable and they made their way 
 from the tent. They had walked about for prob- 
 ably an hour, when suddenly Hal took Chester by 
 the coat sleeve. 
 
 "Look there!" he exclaimed. 
 
 Chester looked; and there, perhaps fifty yards 
 away, was Anthony Stubbs, slinking along, now 
 and then casting an eye at Hal and Chester. 
 
 "He's seen us," said Chester. "Let's have a little 
 talk with him. Maybe we can have some fun." 
 
 It was the first time they had seen the little war 
 correspondent since the talk in General Petain's tent 
 more than two months before. 
 
 "Come on, then," said Hal. 
 
 They increased their stride; but Stubbs, with a 
 quick glance over his shoulder, observed this and 
 also increased his pace. 
 
 "He doesn't want to see us, Hal," said Chester, 
 with a grin. 
 
 "I see he doesn't," Hal grinned back. "Well, we
 
 182 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 want to see him." He raised his voice in a shout. 
 "Hey, there, Stubbs!" 
 
 The little man glanced quickly back over his shoul- 
 der . Then, seeing that Hal and Chester were gain- 
 ing on him, he broke into a run. 
 
 "After him, Hal!" cried Chester, and also broke 
 into a run. 
 
 Hal followed suit. 
 
 Around turn after turn they darted after the lit- 
 tle man, who was making the best time his short 
 legs would permit. At a word from Hal, Chester 
 slowed down, for they didn't want to catch Stubbs 
 too easily. 
 
 "Let him run himself out," Hal said. 
 
 And that was what the little man was doing. His 
 tongue was literally hanging out as Hal and Ches- 
 ter continued to gain slowly. He was puffing like 
 a locomotive and his arms were working like pistons. 
 Once or twice he staggered and it seemed to him 
 that he could not run another step. But he set his 
 teeth and plodded on. 
 
 "I've got to get away," he told himself. "There 
 is no knowing what these young ruffians will do to 
 me. 
 
 In vain he tried to increase his pace. It could 
 not be done. Every step cost him an effort and it 
 seemed that he could not take another. He waddled 
 crazily from one side to the other; and at last he 
 came to a stop, and with what strength remained,
 
 AT VERDUN 183 
 
 he faced his pursuers and threw up his hands in an 
 attitude of defense. 
 
 At arm's length, Hal and Chester came to a 
 pause. 
 
 "So we have you at last, eh !" said the former. 
 
 "You you keep a-away from me," gasped 
 Stubbs, panting for breath. "I don't want to have 
 any tro trouble with you." 
 
 "Perhaps not, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "but 
 we want to have a little trouble with you." 
 
 "Let me a-alone," gasped Stubbs. 
 
 Hal moved a step closer. 
 
 "Remember what you did to us ?" he asked. 
 
 Stubbs stepped backward quickly. 
 
 "Don't you come any closer," he gasped. "Let 
 me alone." 
 
 "Had us tied up, didn't you, Stubbs?" demanded 
 Chester. 
 
 "Yes; but it was for your own good!" Stubbs 
 had regained his wind now. 
 
 "For our own good, eh? Well, we have come 
 after you for your own good." 
 
 "What have you got to say for yourself, Stubbs?" 
 demanded Hal. 
 
 "Nothing," snapped the little man angrily, "ex- 
 cept that I want to be let alone. You hoodwinked 
 the general, all right, but you can't hoodwink me. 
 Now go on away from here." 
 
 Again Chester stepped forward, and this time the
 
 184 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 lad was treated to an unpleasant surprise. Instead 
 of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly lowered his 
 head and charged Chester. 
 
 Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out 
 of the way and the top of Stubbs' head rammed him 
 squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled up and 
 fell to the ground with a cry of pain. 
 
 Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he 
 had taken half a dozen steps, Hal had reached him 
 and taken him by the arm. In vain the little man 
 struggled to shake off the lad's grasp. 
 
 "Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the pre- 
 dicament in which Chester found himself, "what's 
 the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all of 
 a sudden? Getting to be a regular fighter, aren't 
 you?" 
 
 "Well, he was just about to swat me," declared 
 Stubbs. 
 
 Chester had now picked himself up and advanced 
 upon Stubbs, threateningly. 
 
 "Say!" he exclaimed; "what do you mean by 
 using your head as a battering ram on me?" 
 
 "I told you to keep away," returned Stubbs. 
 
 "I know you did ; but that's no sign you should 
 try to kill me. I wasn't going to hurt you." 
 
 "Maybe not," said Stubbs, "but I wasn't going 
 to take any more chances. Now you keep away 
 from me." 
 
 "Oh, Chester won't hurt you," said Hal, with a
 
 AT VERDUN 185 
 
 laugh. "You treated him just right, Stubbs. He's 
 got no kick coming." 
 
 "No, that's right, Stubbs," said Chester, with a 
 grin. "No hard feelings, I'm sure. You're all right. 
 Put her there." 
 
 The lad extended a hand. Stubbs advanced 
 doubtfully, but at last grasped Chester's hand. 
 
 Immediately he began to dance about wildly, 
 shouting : 
 
 "Leggo ! Leggo my hand ! Ouch !" 
 
 At last Chester relaxed his grip. 
 
 "That makes it square all around, Stubbs," he 
 said with a grin. 
 
 For a moment Stubbs gazed at him angrily, the 
 while he worked his fingers back and fro to chase 
 away the stiffness. Then he smiled. 
 
 "All right," he said. "Now we're square." 
 
 "Where you bound, Stubbs?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Hunting news," returned Stubbs. 
 
 "By Jove!" said Chester. "Why not take him 
 along with us, Hal ?" 
 
 "Suits me," was Hal's answer, "if he wants to 
 
 "Where you going?" demanded Stubbs. 
 
 "Sailing," returned Chester. "Sailing over the 
 German lines. Want to go along?" 
 
 "Not me," said Stubbs, briefly. 
 
 "Come now, Stubbs, don't be afraid. Nothing 
 is going to hurt you, and we might need you."
 
 186 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "That's what I thought," said Stubbs. "I knew 
 there was some reason you wanted me to go along. 
 I knew you didn't just want to take me along to 
 show me the sights. Want me to stand in the gap 
 when the trouble comes up. I know you." 
 
 "I assure you I had no such thoughts," 
 
 "Well, maybe you didn't have them, but that is 
 what would happen all the same." 
 
 "Stubbs," said Hal, quietly. "It's my belief that 
 you're afraid." 
 
 "Hal," said Stubbs, "you can bet your life I'm 
 afraid to go up in the air with you two." 
 
 "Come on, Stubbs," said Chester, seriously. 
 "Honestly, we would be glad of your company. We 
 haven't seen much of you for some time." 
 
 "I know you haven't," returned Stubbs, "and 
 that's why my health happens to be so good right 
 now. But what are you going to do over the Ger- 
 man lines?" 
 
 "Get the lay of the land," said Hal. "Find out 
 the German strength and a few other things, if pos- 
 sible." 
 
 "Hm-m-m," muttered Stubbs. "Ought to be 
 some news for the Gazette over there, don't you 
 think?" 
 
 "Lots of it, Stubbs," replied Chester. 
 
 "The only trouble," said Stubbs, "is that if I go 
 after it, will I be able to come back and tell the 
 Gazette about it?"
 
 AT VERDUN 187 
 
 "If you don't mind, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "one 
 Of us will take it upon himself to see that the Gazette 
 gets the news." 
 
 "After my job, are you?" said Stubbs, with a 
 smile. 
 
 "Well, not exactly. We just offered to help you 
 out." 
 
 "I can't see where that would do me any good. 
 However, I guess I'll take you up on this bet. I 
 might be able to learn something of importance. 
 The next thing would be to get it by the censor." 
 
 "Why, Stubbs," said Chester, "with your pull with 
 General Petain, I can't see that you should have any 
 trouble." 
 
 "My pull, eh?" said Stubbs, with rather a sickly 
 grin. "You two went and smashed my pull all to 
 smithereens." 
 
 "Oh, well," said Hal, "a newspaper man always 
 finds a way." 
 
 Stubbs looked at Hal, suspiciously. 
 
 "If you're making fun of me " he began. 
 
 "Far from it, Mr. Stubbs," replied Hal. "I was 
 just stating a fact. Why, you've told us that your- 
 self." 
 
 "Come, come, Stubbs," said Chester. "Are you 
 going along or not ? It's time to be moving." 
 
 The little war correspondent made his decision. 
 
 "I'll go," he said quietly.
 
 188 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 FLYING 
 
 "You know I don't think much of these contrap- 
 tions," said Stubbs. 
 
 With Hal and Chester he was flying aloft in a 
 large army biplane. The little war correspondent 
 had climbed into the machine with the same trepi- 
 dation he always manifested when about to ascend 
 into the air, but he had not spoken until the ma- 
 chine was a full half mile aloft and Hal had sent it 
 moving swiftly toward the distant German lines. 
 
 "Just sit tight and yon will be all right," Chester 
 replied. 
 
 "Never fear, I'll sit tight," returned Stubbs and 
 became silent. 
 
 It was very dark aloft. Because he feared he 
 might encounter an air craft of the enemy, Hal 
 had not turned on the searchlight with which the 
 machine was equipped. He had taken his bearings 
 before making a start and was now trusting to his 
 judgment of distances to guide him to the spot he 
 had selected to return to the ground.
 
 AT VERDUN 189 
 
 This point, which Hal and Chester had decided 
 upon after some deliberation, was well behind the 
 most advanced German lines. According to Hal's 
 calculations, it was possible that at the place selected 
 there would be few German troops. He had fig- 
 ured to descend between the German lines. Under 
 the cover of darkness he felt there was little to fear 
 should they avoid all enemy aircraft. 
 
 Accordingly, it was about an hour later when Hal 
 reduced the speed of the biplane and then shut off 
 the motor altogether. A moment later the machine 
 began to glide slowly to earth. 
 
 Chester, peering over the side of the aeroplane, 
 was the first to see the ground below. 
 
 "Land below!" he called to Hal. 
 
 "Anything in sight?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Not a thing. Coast seems to be perfectly clear. 
 Trees near, too; so we can hide the plane, if you 
 go almost straight down." 
 
 Hal followed directions and a moment later the 
 biplane came to rest upon the ground as lightly as 
 a bird. 
 
 Hal, Chester and Stubbs climbed out quickly. 
 
 "Guess we had better run the machine back 
 among the trees," said Hal. "Lend me a hand here." 
 
 It was the work of but a few moments. Hal 
 walked some distance away and surveyed the spot 
 where the machine had been rolled. He walked 
 around it on all sides.
 
 190 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "O. K.," he said. "You wouldn't know it was 
 there unless you happened to be looking for it." 
 
 "Well, what now ?" asked Chester. 
 
 "Guess we had better don those German uniforms 
 and prowl about a bit." 
 
 "Snoop, eh," said Stubbs. 
 
 "Now look here, Stubbs," said Hal, "you just 
 keep quiet and get into this uniform we brought 
 along for you." 
 
 Mumbling to himself, Stubbs obeyed. 
 
 Arrayed in the German uniforms the attire of 
 lieutenants the three advanced toward where they 
 felt sure the main German entrenchments must be. 
 Hal glanced at his watch in the moonlight. 
 
 "Ten o'clock," he said. "Within three hours we 
 should have learned all we need to. As soon as we 
 reach the German lines we shall separate. We'll 
 meet here again at two o'clock. Is that satisfac- 
 tory?" 
 
 "Suits me," said Chester. 
 
 "Want to lose me, do you?" grumbled Stubbs. 
 "Never mind, though. I'll be here by the time you 
 are. 
 
 "Pick up every scrap of information possible," 
 Hal enjoined his companions. "Don't take the 
 trouble to write it down. Just impress it on your 
 memory." 
 
 The others nodded their understanding. 
 
 The three came now upon a light in the distance.
 
 AT VERDUN 191 
 
 "Germans ahead, I guess," Chester whispered, 
 "Careful and let all further conversation be in Ger- 
 man." 
 
 The lad was right. Advancing two hundred yards 
 farther, the three friends came upon the outlying 
 sections of the big German camp. Sentinels moved 
 about in the darkness, their forms lighted up now 
 and then by the flare of campfires for the night was 
 very cold. 
 
 Once they were challenged by a sentry, but when 
 the man looked at their uniforms in the moonlight, 
 he lowered his rifle and passed on. 
 
 "I'll go straight ahead," said Chester in a low 
 voice. "Hal, you go north and let Stubbs go south." 
 
 And thus it was arranged without further talk. 
 The three friends separated. 
 
 Walking between the rows of German tents, Ches- 
 ter, after perhaps half an hour, was arrested by the 
 sound of voices in a tent that seemed, in the dark- 
 ness, to be much larger than the ones which sur- 
 rounded it. He paused and listened attentively. 
 
 "Then everything is in readiness," came a voice, 
 
 "Everything. When the French see that we have 
 weakened our lines on the left wing, they naturally 
 will press forward in masses. The pressure on the 
 right wing probably will be lessened. Also in the 
 center. General Petain, in all probabilities, will seek 
 to take advantage of what he will believe is our care- 
 lessness."
 
 192 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "And then?" asked the first voice. 
 
 "Why, then we shall push forward in the centet 
 and on the right, leaving enough men on the left 
 to make a show of force. Taken at a disadvantage,. 
 the French will be cut off on our left, and our cen- 
 ter, sweeping around, suddenly, will envelop them. 
 As I estimate it, the French wing, which will be thus 
 enveloped, will be 100,000 strong. It will be a tell- 
 ing blow." 
 
 Chester, while this conversation was in progress, 
 had shrunk close up against the tent. Now, think- 
 ing to gain a view of the occupants, he drew his knife 
 from his pocket and made a little slit in the canvas. 
 To this opening he applied his eye; and then gave 
 an exclamation under his breath. 
 
 In the center of the group of officers in the tent 
 was none other than the German Crown Prince, the 
 directing head of the German attack on Verdun, 
 and son of the Emperor himself. 
 
 The conversation continued and the lad stored up 
 mentally the knowledge he gained by listening to 
 the conversation. 
 
 The gathering within now seemed about to break 
 up ; but Chester delayed in his precarious position, 
 thinking to gather every possible iota of informa- 
 tion. And this almost proved his undoing. 
 
 Although Chester did not know it, one of the 
 German officers had, for some moments, been gazing 
 at the little slit in the tent made by the point of
 
 AT VERDUN 193 
 
 Chester's knife. Now, with a murmured apology to 
 the other officers, he strode from the tent. Chester 
 still had his eyes glued to the opening and did not 
 hear soft footsteps behind him. 
 
 A harsh voice sounded in the lad's ear. 
 
 "Get up from there !" 
 
 Chester did not lose his nerve, although he real- 
 ized immediately that he was in a ticklish position, 
 indeed. His hand reached for his pocket as he rose 
 slowly to his feet. 
 
 But one glance at the figure that confronted him 
 told the lad that it would be useless for him to at- 
 tempt to draw his revolver; for the German held a 
 pistol in a steady hand and it was levelled straight at 
 Chester's head. 
 
 "What are you doing here?" was the officer's 
 next question. 
 
 "Why, I heard voices," said Chester, "and I 
 thought I would see what was going on." 
 
 "Curiosity has got a man into trouble many a 
 time," said the German quietly. "March on ahead 
 of me." 
 
 There was nothing for it but to obey. Under the 
 muzzle of the German officer's revolver, Chester was 
 marched around to the front of the tent and then 
 inside. 
 
 "Hello!" It was the Crown Prince who spoke. 
 "What have we here ?" 
 
 "I caught this man eavesdropping outside the
 
 IV4> THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 tent," replied the man who had captured Chester. 
 
 "So!" said the Crown Prince in an angry tone. 
 He whirled upon Chester. "And what were you 
 doing there, sir?" he asked. 
 
 "I why, I " Chester stammered. 
 
 The lad was thankful in that minute for his Ger- 
 man uniform; though he knew it probably would 
 go hard with him anyhow, he believed that the fact 
 that he was, ostensibly, a German lieutenant would 
 give him more time; possibly it would give Hal 
 enough time to find and rescue him. At least, it 
 would preclude a search for more possible French 
 spies. 
 
 "To what regiment are you attached?" asked the 
 Crown Prince. 
 
 Chester took a long chance. 
 
 "Fortieth Hussars, sir," he replied quietly. 
 
 "Then what are you doing here?" demanded the 
 Crown Prince, but continued without giving Chester 
 time to reply : "Surely you know the penalty of such 
 actions ?" 
 
 "All I can say, sir," the lad declared, "is that my 
 curiosity overcame me." 
 
 For a moment it seemed that the face of the 
 Crown Prince softened. Then it became stern 
 again. 
 
 "I can see that you are little more than a boy," 
 he said, "but that is no excuse. You are a soldier 
 and you know a soldier's duty. That is not prying
 
 AT VERDUN 195 
 
 into the business of your superiors." He turned to 
 the group of officers. "What do you say, sirs," he 
 said, "shall I have this man courtmartialed, or shall 
 I have him returned to his regiment with a warn- 
 ing?" 
 
 But there was no mercy on the faces of the oth- 
 ers and Chester realized it. 
 
 "He should be courtmartialed and shot," said 
 one. 
 
 "I agree with you," said another. 
 
 "I'm not so sure," said the Crown Prince. "The 
 lad is young. How do I know what I would have 
 done in his place? No; I am tempted to have him 
 returned to his regiment and placed under arrest 
 indefinitely." 
 
 "Lieutenant Hollsein, I shall leave this man in 
 your charge. See that he is returned to his regiment 
 immediately." 
 
 Chester breathed a sigh of relief. He realized 
 that he was still in a perilous situation, for when 
 he should be taken to the commander of the For- 
 tieth Hussars, his deception must be learned. But 
 at least it gave him more time. 
 
 But Chester's sigh of relief came too soon. 
 
 "Hold on !" said one of the German officers. 
 "This man is no German!"
 
 196 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 STUBBS AS A STRATEGIST 
 
 Anthony Stubbs., after leaving Hal and Chester, 
 pushed off to the south slowly, absolutely uncon- 
 scious of the adventures that were to come his way. 
 Mindful of the fact that there was a certain degree 
 of safety in the German uniform he wore, and 
 rather proud of himself thus attired, Stubbs walked 
 on more boldly than he would have done otherwise. 
 
 And thus it was that, without warning, he walked 
 suddenly into the midst of a group of German offi- 
 cers who sat about a campfire a short distance from 
 where he had left his two young friends. 
 
 Stubbs pulled up suddenly and would have drawn 
 back had not one of the German officers sprung sud- 
 denly to his feet. 
 
 "Here, Hans, is another man now !" exclaimed the 
 officer. "A moment ago you were bemoaning the 
 fact that there was not another man to take a hand 
 in a game of cards. Here is one come in answer to 
 your prayers." 
 
 Two other German officers sprang to their feet.
 
 AT VERDUN 197 
 
 "Four of us ; that's enough," said one. He turned 
 to Stubbs. "What do you say?" 
 
 "Say to what ?" asked Stubbs, bravely. 
 
 "A game of cards." 
 
 "What kind of a game of cards?" 
 
 "An American game," was the reply. "Hans 
 learned it when he was in the United States and 
 has taught us something about it. It's called poker." 
 
 "I've played it," said Stubbs. 
 
 "Good ! Then you will join us ?" 
 
 "I should be elsewhere," said Stubbs, hesitat- 
 ingly. 
 
 Be it known that Anthony Stubbs, war corre- 
 spondent of the New York Gazette, had, in his day, 
 liked to play a game of poker, whether it was right 
 or whether it was wrong. Even to this day the 
 lure of the game held, and in spite of the danger 
 such a game entailed, Stubbs was not loath to play. 
 Besides, the little man bethought himself that while 
 the game was in progress he might learn something 
 of value, so he said : 
 
 "All right. I'll play." 
 
 The man called Hans now sprang to his feet. 
 
 "I want to warn you," he said, "that I am ex- 
 tremely lucky at this game." 
 
 "Well, I used to be fairly lucky myself," said 
 Stubbs. To himself he said: "Whoever heard of 
 a German trying to play the American game of 
 poker ?"
 
 198 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 The man called Hans now led the way to his 
 quarters, where he produced a table, chairs and a 
 pack of cards. The four men ranged themselves 
 around the table. 
 
 As the game progressed there was considerable 
 talk of the status of the opposing armies and Stubbs 
 gained much information that he felt would be of 
 use. As time passed other officers dropped in to 
 witness the game; and chancing to look over his 
 shoulder, Stubbs was startled to see the face of 
 Hal. He gave a slight start, but quickly covered 
 this up as he saw a look of annoyance on Hal's 
 face. 
 
 "Hal objects to my gambling, I guess," Stubbs 
 muttered to himself. "But what do I care? I'm 
 glad to gather in a few German coins. Fortunate 
 that I had some in my pocket." 
 
 The manner in which Hal came to be in the tent 
 was very simple. He had walked north for some 
 distance, and finding nothing that would prove of 
 value, he had turned back. He had been attracted 
 by the sound of conversation and had joined the 
 group of German officers near the tent where the 
 game of poker was in progress. When one of the 
 officers had suggested going in and watching the 
 game Hal had acquiesced. That is how he found 
 himself standing behind Stubbs and scanning the 
 latter's cards. 
 
 At that moment Stubbs had lost a hand to the
 
 AT VERDUN 199 
 
 man called Hans. Stubbs was considerably net- 
 tled, for he felt sure he should have won. He turned 
 an eye on Hal, who stood directly behind him. 
 
 "Don't stand behind me," the little man snapped. 
 
 "What's the matter?" demanded Hal. "Super- 
 stitious ?" 
 
 "Yes, if you want to call it that," Stubbs an- 
 swered. 
 
 Hal shifted his position slightly. 
 
 Again Stubbs scanned a hand that he felt sure 
 would win. Hans was the dealer. As he drew two 
 more cards, Stubbs suddenly gave a start. He had 
 seen Hans slip a card from his sleeve. 
 
 Now Stubbs was not a fighter. He had shown 
 that on more than one occasion. But the little man 
 objected to being imposed upon. Also he had al- 
 ways stood for a square deal in a friendly game of 
 cards. He had proven that more than once in his 
 younger days. And now, seeing the man called 
 Hans cheating made Stubbs' blood boil. 
 
 Quietly he leaned across the table and spoke. 
 
 "You," he said, shaking his forefinger in the 
 man's face, "no wonder you say you are lucky." 
 
 "Why, what do you mean ?" demanded Hans, his 
 face turning pale, for he well realized the import 
 of Stubbs' words. 
 
 "I mean," said Stubbs, and at that moment his 
 hand dropped to his revolver butt, "I mean that 
 you are a cheat !"
 
 200 THE BOY ALLIES * 
 
 Stubbs produced his revolver and levelled it 
 straight at Hans. Then he swept the circle of sur- 
 prised faces about him with his eyes. 
 
 "Sir!" exclaimed Hans, "I demand an apology 
 for those words." 
 
 "Well, you won't get it," returned Stubbs, decis- 
 ively. He turned to the man next to Hans. "Reach 
 up his sleeve there," he said, "and if you don't find 
 a card or two I'll make you a present of all the 
 money I have in my pocket." 
 
 Surprised, the other obeyed and the result vindi- 
 cated Stubbs. Two cards fluttered from Hans' 
 sleeve. Stubbs got to his feet. 
 
 "You see, gentlemen," he said, "with what kind 
 of a man you have been playing. No wonder he 
 calls himself lucky." 
 
 The others were very angry. Seeing that the 
 matter would be taken out of his hands, Stubbs re- 
 stored his revolver to its place. 
 
 Hans stood up. 
 
 "If you think I have cheated," he said, "you are 
 welcome to all the money I have won. As for you," 
 he turned on Stubbs, "you shall die !" 
 
 A revolver appeared in his hand as if by magic 
 and Stubbs shrank back. 
 
 But before the man could fire Hal leaped quickly 
 forward and struck up the weapon. 
 
 "You are not only a cheat but a coward!" said 
 the lad quietly.
 
 AT VERDUN 201 
 
 "And who are you ?" screamed Hans, now beside 
 himself with rage. "What have you to do with 
 this?" 
 
 "Nothing more than to prevent murder," replied 
 Hal. 
 
 Now the other German officers took a hand in 
 the trouble. 
 
 "Lieutenant Darnhart," said one. "I wish you 
 never to speak to me again." 
 
 "Nor to me," from the other man who had taken 
 part in the game, and added : "If you are wise, you 
 will know what to do." 
 
 For a moment Hans gazed at them hardly know- 
 ing what to say. Then, slowly, he emptied the con- 
 tents of his pockets upon the table. 
 
 "You are right, gentlemen," he said quietly. "I 
 have cheated. Therefore, this money belongs to 
 you. And do not fear that I do not know what to 
 do. The honor of the regiment shall be kept clean." 
 
 With that he bowed low to the others and stalked 
 from the tent. The others stood stiffly erect until 
 he had disappeared ; then turned to Stubbs. 
 
 "We have to thank you, sir," said one, "for open- 
 ing our eyes. Long we have wondered why Darn- 
 hart was so lucky, why he always arose from the 
 game the only winner. Now we know." 
 
 "Well," said Stubbs, "I used to play considerably 
 when I lived in the United States, and for that rea- 
 son, I guess, I was on my guard."
 
 202 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "At all events," said the second German, "you 
 have done us a service and we wish to thank 
 you." 
 
 "Why, that's all right," said Stubbs. "I am sure 
 either of you would have done the same thing under 
 the circumstances. And with your permission, I 
 shall leave you now." 
 
 The others bowed and Stubbs turned toward 
 the door. 
 
 "If you will wait a moment, sir, I shall accom- 
 pany you," said a voice. 
 
 It was Hal who spoke and Stubbs waited obedi- 
 ently. 
 
 "First," said Hal, "I have something else to do." 
 He addressed the Germans : "Which of you is upon 
 the staff of General Ludwig?" 
 
 "Why, I am," said one of the men, stepping for- 
 ward. 
 
 "Good !" said Hal. "I would have spoken sooner, 
 but I was absorbed in the game. I did not remem- 
 ber your name, but I was sent for you. Will you 
 follow me ?" 
 
 The German nodded his head. 
 
 "Very well," said Hal. "Come." 
 
 He led the way from the tent and the German 
 and Stubbs followed. The latter was astonished at 
 Hal's words, but he did not show his surprise in 
 his actions. He walked after the others without a 
 word.
 
 AT VERDUN 203 
 
 "Something up," he muttered to himself. "I guess 
 I had better keep my gun handy." 
 
 Outside, they walked along slowly. 
 
 Five minutes later, when they reached a place that 
 was somewhat secluded, Hal suddenly produced his 
 revolver and pressed it against the German's head. 
 
 "You will give me immediately what papers you 
 have in your pockets," the lad said quietly. "If 
 you make an outcry I shall be compelled to shoot 
 you." 
 
 The German stared aghast. 
 
 "What is the meaning of this ?" he demanded. 
 
 "It means that I must have whatever papers you 
 possess," said Hal, calmly, "even if I have to shoot 
 you to get them." 
 
 "Ah !" cried the German, "I see ! A spy !" 
 
 He made a move as though to seize Hal, but the 
 lad was too quick for him. 
 
 With his left hand he grabbed the German's 
 elbow in a tight grip and squeezed. Then, even be- 
 fore the man had time to cry out, the lad released his 
 hold, reversed his revolver quickly and brought the 
 butt down on the German's head with all his force. 
 
 The man crumpled up without a word and lay 
 still. 
 
 Stubbs, who had witnessed this proceeding in 
 open-eyed wonder, now uttered an exclamation. 
 
 "What are you doing? Trying to get us both 
 killed?" he demanded.
 
 204 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal did not reply. Stooping over the prostrate 
 German he ran his hand quickly through the man's 
 pockets. Then he straightened up, and by the soft 
 light of the moon, ran through the papers hurriedly. 
 He gave an exclamation of satisfaction. 
 
 "I thought I should find something," he muttered. 
 "Come on now, Stubbs !" he said. 
 
 The little war correspondent hurried after him 
 without another word.
 
 AT VERDUN 205 
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 IN GRAVE PERIL 
 
 Chester's sigh of relief almost choked in his 
 throat. But he determined to brave out the situa- 
 tion as well as he could. 
 
 "No," exclaimed the man who had spoken, "this 
 boy is no German !" 
 
 Even the Crown Prince was surprised. 
 
 "Not a German!" he exclaimed. "Then what is 
 he? A " 
 
 "A spy !" the other concluded for him. 
 
 "Impossible !" declared the Crown Prince. "How 
 could there be a spy among us?" 
 
 "Well, he's here. Surely you can look at the boy 
 and tell he is not a German." 
 
 The Crown Prince approached Chester and scrut- 
 inized him closely. 
 
 "Who are you?" he demanded at length. 
 
 "I have told you, sir," replied Chester, quietly. 
 
 "But you have not told the truth," was the 
 Crown Prince's reply. "I can see you are not 
 French. Are you British ?"
 
 206 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Then what?" 
 
 "Well," said Chester, at length, realizing that 
 subterfuge was useless, "I am an American." 
 
 "With the French army, eh?" said the Crown 
 Prince. 
 
 Chester did not reply. He could see no reason for 
 incriminating himself, though he realized, too, that 
 it made no particular difference whether he replied 
 or remained silent. He was convicted either way, 
 
 "You don't answer," exclaimed the Crown Prince, 
 "That is evidence sufficient of your guilt." 
 
 Chester shrugged his shoulders. The Crowh 
 Prince eyed him angrily. 
 
 "You are one of these indifferent ones, are you?" 
 he said. "Well, we know how to cure that. Do you 
 realize what is in store for you ?" 
 
 "Perfectly," replied Chester. "The firing squad." 
 
 "No; you are wrong," was the Crown Prince's 
 answer. "The firing squad is too good for spies. 
 You have been captured within our lines in dis- 
 guise; therefore, there can be no doubt that you 
 are a spy. You shall be hanged." 
 
 Chester took a step backward. He had realized 
 what his fate would be should he fall into the hands 
 of the enemy, but this was more than he had bar- 
 gained for. And at that moment there seemed lit- 
 tle possibility that Hal would find and be able to 
 rescue him.
 
 AT VERDUN 20T 
 
 "Looks like the end of my rope," the lad mut- 
 tered. 
 
 He made no reply to the Crown Prince's words. 
 He knew a reply would be useless. 
 
 "So you decline to talk ?" said the Crown Prince. 
 "Well, it matters not." He motioned to one of his 
 staff. "See that this prisoner is hanged by the 
 neck at sunrise," he said. 
 
 The officer saluted and motioned to Chester to 
 precede him from the tent. There was nothing for 
 it but to obey and the lad walked out. 
 
 Now it happened that in some unaccountable 
 manner the Germans had neglected to relieve Ches- 
 ter of his revolvers. The lad's right hand rested 
 upon the weapon in his belt. But he was unable 
 at this moment to draw with any degree of hope, 
 for the German officer was directly behind him and 
 Chester knew he would be shot down before he could 
 turn and fire. Also, should he succeed in gaining the 
 drop on the German by a quick move, he was in 
 the very heart of the German camp and the sound of 
 a shot would bring a thousand men on his heels. 
 
 The lad bided his time. 
 
 Perhaps half a mile from the quarters of the 
 German Crown Prince, Chester's captor motioned 
 him into a tent. Chester entered without a word. 
 What hopes he might have had of suddenly flash- 
 ing his revolver on his captor disappeared, for the 
 man entered close behind him.
 
 208 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 He clapped his hands. 
 
 A moment later a second officer appeared in the 
 tent and stood at attention. 
 
 "Call a guard of four men and have this tent 
 surrounded," instructed Chester's captor. 
 
 The man saluted and left the tent. He was back 
 within a few moments, however, and saluting said : 
 
 "The tent is surrounded, sir." 
 
 "Very well," said Chester's captor. "You may 
 
 go- 
 Again the man left the tent; then Chester's cap- 
 tor said : 
 
 "Now, I guess you will be safe here until morn- 
 ing; after that you will be safe for all time." 
 
 "Thanks," said Chester, dryly. 
 
 The German left the tent. 
 
 Chester now took stock of his surroundings. Out- 
 side he could hear his guards pacing up and down. 
 
 "If I could get one of them in here at a time," 
 the lad told himself, "perhaps I could dispose of 
 them. I'll try it." 
 
 Approaching the entrance, he poked his head out. 
 
 "Get back inside there," a gruff voice exclaimed, 
 and Chester beheld a large German soldier with his 
 rifle pointed squarely at his head. 
 
 "Look here," said Chester. "I want a drink of 
 water." 
 
 "Get back inside," was the sharp reply. "I'll get 
 it for you."
 
 AT VERDUN 200 
 
 Chester moved back in the tent. Five minutes 
 later the German soldier stuck his head inside. 
 
 "Here's your water," he said, holding forth a tin 
 cup. v 
 
 Chester's right hand rested on his belt as he ex- 
 tended his left to take the cup. The German had 
 lowered his gun at that moment ; and he paid dearly 
 for his carelessness. 
 
 Chester made a sudden movement and the cup of 
 water went clattering to the ground. At the same 
 moment Chester brought the butt of his revolver 
 down on the head of the German soldier with a 
 crunch. The man fell to the ground. 
 
 Hastily now Chester seized the man by the feet 
 and dragged him inside. Then the lad quickly 
 stripped him of his clothes and donned them him- 
 self. They were large, but Chester made them fit 
 by turning up the trousers and drawing his belt 
 tight. Then he picked up the German's gun and 
 stepped from the tent. 
 
 The lad had intended to move away from the tent 
 immediately, but even as he would have walked off 
 a second of the guards approached and engaged him 
 in conversation. Chester muffled his voice as well as 
 possible and imitated the hoarse tones of the man 
 he had disposed of. 
 
 "Nice night," said the German. 
 
 "Nice night," Chester agreed. 
 
 "What is to be done with the prisoner inside f* 1
 
 210 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Hang him in the morning," said Chester. 
 
 "Good ! It's the way all spies should be treated." 
 
 "Of course; unless they chance to be German 
 spies." 
 
 "That's different," muttered the guard. 
 
 "Of course it is," Chester agreed and added: 
 "You'd better get back to your place. The prisoner 
 might escape under your nose." 
 
 "Not much chance," was the reply. "I wouldn't 
 care if he did try, though. I'd like to have a shot 
 at him." 
 
 "Nice pleasant sort of a customer," Chester mut- 
 tered to himself. Aloud, he said : "Well, I was just 
 giving you a word of warning. You can't tell about 
 these fellows. They're pretty slippery customers." 
 
 "Well, this one won't slip out of our clutches," 
 declared the guard. "I wonder if I hadn't better 
 go in and have a look at him?" 
 
 "Can't be done," said Chester. "My instructions 
 are to let no one pass." v 
 
 "So are mine, but what has that to do with it?" 
 
 "A whole lot. I'm on guard in front here and I 
 say you can't go in." 
 
 "Come now, be a good fellow, I want to have 
 a look at the prisoner." 
 
 "Can't be done," returned Chester. 
 
 "You are a deucedly uncivil sort of a fellow/* 
 said the guard. "I don't seem to know you. What's 
 your name?"
 
 AT VERDUN 211 
 
 "None of your business," returned Chester. 
 
 "Is that so? Suppose I make it some of my busi- 
 ness," and the guard took a threatening step for- 
 ward. 
 
 "You'll be sorry, that's all." 
 
 "Think so, do you? Let me tell you something. 
 I'm going to hunt you up in the morning and have 
 it out with you." * 
 
 "All right," said Chester. "You can suit your- 
 self about that. But wait until morning. Remem- 
 ber we're guarding this prisoner now." 
 
 "Well, I've a notion to settle with you right now, 
 prisoner or no prisoner. I don't like you." 
 
 "To tell the truth, I don't think a whole lot of 
 you," said Chester. "I would a great deal rather 
 be without your company. You had better get back 
 where you belong." 
 
 "Think so, do you? Well, I'll show you." 
 
 With these words the German guard forgot all 
 about the prisoner supposed to be inside and every- 
 thing else save that he wanted to get at Chester. He 
 dropped his rifle with a clatter and struck at Ches- 
 ter with his right fist. 
 
 "Well, if you must have it," Chester muttered ta 
 himself. 
 
 He, too, dropped his gun and his right fist shot 
 forth. The German staggered back with a grunt; 
 but Chester's blow had not reached a vital spot and 
 the guard leaped forward again.
 
 212 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 This time Chester timed his blow a little more 
 carefully. 
 
 "Smack!" 
 
 The lad's fist landed flush on the guard's jaw. 
 The man rolled over like a log. 
 
 Chester looked around quickly. 
 
 "Now to get out of this," he muttered. 
 
 He picked up his rifle and turned to move away. 
 But even as he would have started the sound of 
 hurrying footsteps halted him ; and he began to pace 
 up and down in front of the tent. 
 
 Two figures dashed toward him; behind them 
 came the sound of shots. 
 
 "Hello!" said Chester to himself. "More trouble 
 in camp. Wonder what's up now?" 
 
 The answer was to come sooner than he could 
 have expected. As the two figures came closer, 
 other figures appeared in the distance. There came 
 the sound of revolver shots. 
 
 "This way !" cried a voice. 
 
 Chester raised his rifle, ready to take a hand in 
 the proceedings himself should the occasion de- 
 mand. 
 
 "This thing is getting rather complicated," he told 
 himself. 
 
 The two approaching figures came closer rapidly. 
 Chester gave an exclamation of pure astonishment
 
 AT VERDUN 213 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 RUNNING THE GAUNTLET 
 
 When Hal and Stubbs took to their heels after 
 the former had relieved the German officer of his 
 papers, they had run some distance before coming 
 across anyone in the darkness. Then they came 
 upon another figure so suddenly that it almost re- 
 sulted in their capture. 
 
 Hal, in the lead, had been just about to slacken 
 his pace, when, rounding a corner suddenly, he had 
 crashed into a form in the night. The two went 
 down in a heap ; and Stubbs, turning a moment later, 
 had stumbled over the pair of struggling forms be- 
 fore he could check himself. In a moment he found 
 himself mixed up in the struggling mass. 
 
 A fist struck Stubbs squarely upon the nose. 
 
 "Hey! Quit that," said Stubbs, and struck out 
 with his right. 
 
 This blow came almost ending the fight right there 
 and in a manner not at all advantageous to Stubbs 
 and Hal. In the darkness the little war correspond- 
 ent had been unable to distinguish friend from foe 
 and his fist caught Hal just above the right eye.
 
 214 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Now Anthony Stubbs had considerable power in 
 his right arm and for a moment Hal was dazed by 
 the blow. Before he could clear his head, his op- 
 ponent had struck him a heavy blow on the other 
 side of the neck and leaped to his feet. 
 
 At that instant Stubbs realized what he had done 
 and a sickening sensation struck him in the pit of 
 the stomach; but the little man determined to give 
 the best that was in him to undo his work. 
 
 With an angry bellow he charged his German 
 opponent. The latter stepped back a pace and sought 
 to draw his revolver, but Stubbs was too quick for 
 him. Almost at the moment that Stubbs crashed 
 into his foe he lowered his head, as would a steer, 
 and his head caught the German in the region of the 
 belt. 
 
 Came a gasp from the German as he doubled up 
 and collapsed. He rolled over upon the ground sev- 
 eral times in a vain attempt to gain his breath ; then 
 lay still. 
 
 The victory was with Stubbs ! 
 
 Hal had now regained consciousness and sat up 
 just in time to see the effect of Stubbs' charge. 
 
 "Good work, Stubbs !" the lad cried. "Now lend 
 me a hand and we'll get away from here !" 
 
 Stubbs did as requested and a moment later Hal 
 was on his feet. The lad felt the bump over his eye 
 tenderly. 
 
 "Stubbs," he said, "it was rather dark and we were
 
 AT VERDUN 215 
 
 so mixed up on the ground that I couldn't see, but 
 I would be willing to wager a whole lot that it 
 wasn't a German who gave me this crack over the 
 eye. Now was it?" 
 
 "Well," said Stubbs, "I I " 
 
 "Just as I thought," declared Hal. "So you tried 
 to do me up as well as the German, eh ?" 
 
 "It was an accident," declared Stubbs. "You 
 know I wouldn't have done it on purpose, Hal." 
 
 "It came very near being a costly accident, 
 Stubbs. Suppose the German had laid you out? 
 Then what? We would have been nabbed, sure." 
 
 "I'll be more careful next time," said Stubbs, apol- 
 ogetically. 
 
 "You won't have to be," said Hal. "Next time 
 I'm going to get in the first blow. Then we'll see 
 how you like it. But come. We must be mov- 
 ing away from here. See. The German is re- 
 gaining consciousness. I don't want to kill 
 him, and we mus'n't be here when he comes to. 
 Come now." 
 
 Hal led the way rapidly along the row of tents. 
 
 "Looks as though we should be safe enough 
 now," the lad said, after they had walked for per- 
 haps fifteen minutes. 
 
 The lad produced his watch, and by the soft light 
 of the moon, took note of the time. 
 
 "By Jove! half past one o'clock," he said. "We 
 shall have to hurry back or Chester will be worried."
 
 216 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Let's hope Chester will be there when we ar- 
 rive," said Stubbs. 
 
 "Oh, he'll be there, all right. Come on." 
 
 "Say," said Stubbs as they walked along, "what 
 I want to know is how you knew the German officer 
 you knocked down had any valuable papers ?" 
 
 "That's easy," was Hal's response. "Before en- 
 tering the tent where your little game was in prog- 
 ress, I overheard one of the officers without men- 
 tion the fact that an aide of General Ludwig's was 
 in the tent and that he carried important papers. 
 The rest was very simple." 
 
 "I see," said Stubbs. "Now what look there, 
 Hal." 
 
 The little man broke off suddenly and pointed di- 
 rectly ahead. Advancing toward them were per- 
 haps a dozen German soldiers, with an officer at 
 their head. 
 
 "We'll have to get out of the way," said Hal, 
 quietly. "We haven't time to answer questions 
 now." 
 
 He turned between the rows of tents and hur- 
 ried on, with Stubbs close behind him. And from 
 the German officer came the command to halt. 
 
 Instead, Hal increased his speed and a moment 
 later he and Stubbs were running quietly between the 
 rows of German tents. Behind came the sound of 
 pursuing footsteps. 
 
 "We're in for it now, Stubbs," panted Hal. "I
 
 AT VERDUN 217 
 
 was a fool to run. They know now that there is 
 something wrong and they won't rest until they have 
 scoured the entire camp." 
 
 "Then we are done for!" exclaimed Anthony 
 Stubbs. 
 
 "Not yet!" replied Hal. "While there's life 
 there's hope. Never say die, Stubbs." 
 
 The little man did not reply. He saved all the 
 breath he had left for running purposes, for he felt 
 that he was likely to have to run the rest of the 
 night. 
 
 Suddenly, making another short turn, Hal pulled 
 up. Stubbs did likewise and both listened atten- 
 tively. 
 
 The footsteps were some distance back. 
 
 "We've gained a bit, Stubbs," said Hal. 
 
 "Well, what's the use of waiting here then?" de- 
 manded the war correspondent. "Let's gain a bit 
 more." 
 
 "Hold on !" exclaimed Hal, as Stubbs would have 
 taken to his heels again. "We can't run clear 
 through the German camp like this, you know. 
 We're bound to be caught if we try it. It must be 
 strategy rather than fleetness of foot if we hope 
 to get out of this situation safely." 
 
 "All right," Stubbs agreed. "Whatever you say 
 suits me. But if it is strategy that is going to get 
 us out of this, tell me some strategy real quick." 
 
 Hal considered a moment. Every second the pur-
 
 218 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 suing footsteps were coming closer. Stubbs 
 squirmed about uneasily. 
 
 "Say," he said at last; "hear those fellows com- 
 ing? I'm going to get away from here." 
 
 Again he took to his heels; and there was noth- 
 ing for Hal to do but follow, for he did not wish 
 to lose sight of the little man. Besides, in that mo- 
 ment's pause, Hal had decided upon a plan that he 
 believed had a fair chance of success. 
 
 For perhaps five minutes more they ran on, Hal 
 fearful at every moment that German soldiers would 
 pour from their tents and interrupt their flight. For- 
 tunately, this did not happen, however. 
 
 Hal, fleet of foot as he was, was hard pressed to 
 catch up with Stubbs, who had gained a slight lead 
 and was covering the ground with rapid strides. But 
 at last the lad overtook him and laid a hand on his 
 shoulder. 
 
 "Slow down, there," he commanded. "First thing 
 you know you'll have the whole camp after us. 
 Those shoes of yours must be at least number elev- 
 ens. They shake the whole earth when you run." 
 
 "Well, they have come in pretty handy to-night," 
 said Stubbs. "What are you stopping here 
 for?" 
 
 "Because I don't want to arouse every German 
 in the camp. I'll tell you about that strategy now." 
 
 "Well, let's hear it real quick," said Stubbs, im- 
 patiently. "I want to get away from here."
 
 AT VERDUN 219 
 
 "So do I," said Hal, "but I want to get away all 
 in one piece. Here's my plan : We can't hope to get 
 away by running. Sooner or later, before we are 
 clear of the German lines, we are certain to bump 
 into some one. That would settle it. We'll go 
 ahead a little more, then we'll enter one of these 
 tents, tap the occupants on the head with our re- 
 volver butts and crawl into their cots. Then when 
 our pursuers have gone by we'll go back." 
 
 "By Jove!" said Stubbs, "that's not half bad. 
 Wonder why I can't think of things like that?" 
 
 "Because you're too busy running," returned 
 Hal. 
 
 The first of the pursuers came into sight at that 
 moment and uttered a cry. This told the others fol- 
 lowing that the prey had been sighted and they 
 dashed forward. 
 
 "Come as fast as you can, Stubbs," shouted Ches- 
 ter. "We've got to get out of sight." 
 
 In the distance Hal saw a solitary figure standing 
 before a tent. He knew that this figure had seen 
 him and decided that the man must be disposed of 
 before he could give the alarm, Therefore, he 
 headed straight for him. 
 
 As he ran, Hal expected every moment that the 
 figure before the tent would open fire on him and 
 his own revolver was held ready should the man's 
 first shot go wild. Hal did not wish to fire if he 
 could possibly avoid it.
 
 220 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Close behind Hal, Stubbs panted and puffed along. 
 Once Hal was forced to reduce his speed in order 
 that Stubbs might keep up with him. The little 
 man was doing his best, but his short legs were not 
 built to maintain a pace that Kal could set. Be- 
 sides, he had long since lost his youthfulness and he 
 could not run as he had done in his earlier days. 
 
 "I can't go much farther, Hal," he gasped. 
 
 "Just a little ways, Stubbs," Hal urged him on. 
 "See that man in the tent there? That's where 
 we'll hide. I'll knock him out if he doesn't get me 
 first. The fool ! He is taking a long chance. He 
 should fire." 
 
 At that moment there came a fusillade of shots 
 from behind. 
 
 In his anxiousness to get the man in the door of 
 the tent out of the way, Hal had continued a straight 
 course longer than he had realized ; and this had al- 
 lowed the pursuers to come within sight again. 
 There was nothing to do but make the best of it 
 now. 
 
 Hal dashed straight for the figure in the tent. 
 
 Drawing close, Hal raised his revolver, reversed, 
 and held it ready to bring down on the figure's head 
 the moment they should come together. There was 
 a sudden exclamation from the figure in the tent; 
 and with it Hal dropped his arm; the exclamation 
 was a single word: 
 
 "Hal!"
 
 AT VERDUN 221 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 A HARD BLOW TO THE ENEMY 
 
 It was the voice of Chester. 
 
 Hal stopped abruptly. Stubbs also panted up and 
 came to a halt. 
 
 "What on earth are you doing here, Chester?" 
 asked Hal. 
 
 For answer Chester pointed to the men who were 
 pursuing his friends. 
 
 "Are those fellows after you?" he asked. 
 
 "Yes," was Hal's answer. 
 
 "Then let's get away from here," said Chester. 
 "Come on." 
 
 He took to his heels and Hal and Stubbs followed 
 him. Gaining his friend's side, Hal, in a few quick 
 words, explained his plan as he had outlined it to 
 Stubbs only a few moments before. 
 
 "Then we shall have to get out of sight of our 
 pursuers," said Chester. "Come, Stubbs," he called 
 back over his shoulder, "a little spurt now and we 
 shall be safe." 
 
 Stubbs tried to respond to this command ; and he 
 did succeed in getting up a little more speed as he
 
 222 xTiE BOY ALLIES 
 
 turned about a tent after Hal and Chester. Twice 
 more the three doubled on their tracks and then 
 Hal pulled up before a tent. 
 
 "This will do as well as another, I guess," he 
 said. 
 
 "Waste no time," said Chester. "Revolvers ready 
 and come on." 
 
 With weapons reversed the three entered the tent 
 quietly. Deep snores within led the. friends to the 
 cots of the occupants of the tent. 
 
 "I hate to do this," said Chester, as he stood over 
 a German soldier, "but there is no help for it." 
 
 His arm rose and fell. 
 
 Across the tent Hal performed a similar oper- 
 ation. Then they explored carefully in the darkness 
 for signs of another figure. 
 
 There was none. 
 
 "Only two cots, Hal," whispered Chester. "Now 
 let's get to bed until things have quieted down." 
 
 Quickly the three threw off their clothes and clam- 
 bered into the cots, first throwing the men they had 
 overcome beneath them. Stubbs had a cot to him- 
 self, while Hal and Chester climbed in together. 
 
 "When they fail to find trace of us they likely will 
 come back and ask if we have been seen," said Hal. 
 "We must pretend to be asleep." 
 
 A few moments later the sound of their pursuers' 
 feet were audible as they passed the tent on the run. 
 Then they died away in the distance.
 
 AT VERDUN 223 
 
 "Had we better wait or try to get out before they 
 come back ?" asked Chester. 
 
 Hal was undecided, but the question was answered 
 for him. 
 
 Only a few minutes had passed when there came 
 the sound of returning fotsteps. The boys could 
 hear them stop before the different tents and also 
 the sound of voices. Directly a man poked his head 
 into the tent. 
 
 "Awake in here ?" he asked. 
 
 There was no answer. 
 
 The man advanced into the tent and approached 
 Stubbs' cot which was nearest the entrance. He laid 
 a hand on Stubbs' shoulder and shook him. 
 
 "Hello," said the little man sleepily. "What's the 
 matter. Time to get up already ?" 
 
 "No," was the reply. "Have you seen anything 
 of three men, whose appearance would indicate they 
 had been running?" 
 
 "I've been asleep," protested Stubbs. "I had a 
 dream. But I guess the men I saw in my dreams 
 are not the ones you want." 
 
 "These are not dream men," was the response. "I 
 thought possibly you might have heard them run by 
 this tent." 
 
 "No," said Stubbs, truthfully, "I didn't hear them 
 run by this tent." 
 
 "All right," said the German and withdrew. 
 
 For perhaps an hour the three fugitives lav in the
 
 224 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 shelter of the German tent. From time to time they 
 heard voices without but after awhile these died 
 away. After there had been absolute silence with- 
 out for perhaps fifteen minutes, Chester slipped from 
 the cot. 
 
 "May as well move, I guess," he whispered. 
 
 Hal also arose. 
 
 "All right," he said. "Come, Stubbs." 
 
 There was no reply from Stubbs' cot. Hal walked 
 quickly across the tent, laid a hand on Stubbs' shoul- 
 der and shook him vigorously. 
 
 "Come, Stubbs!" he exclaimed. "Time to get 
 out of here." 
 
 Stubbs muttered something unintelligible and 
 turned over. 
 
 "By Jove! if he isn't asleep," said Chester, who 
 came to Hal's side now. 
 
 "That's what he is," agreed Hal. "Well, we've 
 got to get him up. Grab hold of his feet." 
 
 Chester did so and together the boys picked the 
 little man up bodily. 
 
 "I say!" said Stubbs, sleepily, "let me alone, will 
 you? I want to sleep a little more." 
 
 "You'll find an eternal sleep if you don't get out 
 of here, Stubbs," said Hal. "Don't you know you 
 are in a German tent and that you'll be shot if 
 you're found here?" 
 
 This awoke Stubbs instantly. He stood up and 
 rubbed his eyes.
 
 AT VERDUN 225 
 
 "Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "How on earth 
 did I go to sleep in a predicament like this ?" 
 
 "I don't know how you did it," returned Hal, "but 
 you did. Come on, Chester, let's get out of here 
 while we have a chance." 
 
 He led the way cautiously to the door of the tent 
 and poked his head carefully outside. 
 
 "Coast seems to be clear," he announced. "Come 
 on and walk quietly." 
 
 The others followed him. 
 
 Hal made a direct line for the place where they 
 had hidden the large army aeroplane. Fortunately, 
 the lad was blessed with an almost uncanny sense of 
 direction and he knew the course he laid out would 
 take them to the hiding spot of the plane as directly 
 as if he could see the huge machine from where he 
 stood. 
 
 All was silence in the big camp as the lads walked 
 cautiously along, stopping now and then and strain- 
 ing their ears for a sound that would indicate the 
 presence of a watchful German sentry. No such 
 sound came and the three had almost reached the 
 outskirts of the camp when Hal, who was leading, 
 stopped and pointed to an object that loomed up 
 large in the darkness a short distance away. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Stubbs in a hoarse whisper. 
 
 "Looks to me like a place where ammunition 
 might be stored," said Hal, quietly. "I shall have a 
 look."
 
 226 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 "Let it alone, Hal," said Stubbs, anxiously. 
 "Don't go fooling around there. You're likely to 
 blow us all up." 
 
 "I guess not," returned Hal, "but I wouldn't mind 
 blowing all the ammunition up that the place may 
 contain." 
 
 "By Jove!" said Chester. "A good idea! I'm 
 with you." 
 
 "Well, I'm not," declared Stubbs. "I know where 
 our aeroplane is and that's where I'm going right 
 this minute. I don't know how to fly the thing, and 
 if you fellows go fooling around that ammunition 
 depot I'll probably have to hunt another pilot; but 
 Anthony Stubbs is not going to be blown up with his 
 eyes open when he can help it." 
 
 "Better wait here, Stubbs," said Chester. 
 
 "Not me," returned the little man, decisively. 
 "You'll find me at the plane when you get there ; or 
 if you get there, I should say." 
 
 "But there is nothing sure that the building con- 
 tains ammunition," said Hal. "I just guessed at it, 
 Stubbs. Come and have a look." 
 
 "Oh, it contains ammunition, all right." 
 
 "Plow do you know?" demanded Chester. 
 
 "Well, if it didn't you fellows wouldn't have spied 
 it. You call it good luck. I call it hard luck. I 
 tell you that every time I go any place with you I 
 risk my neck. Sure the building contains ammu- 
 nition ! It was put there for the sole purpose of frav-
 
 AT VERDUN 227 
 
 ing you blow it up. That's the way it looks to me. 
 But I can see all the fireworks I want to from a dis- 
 tance. Good-bye." 
 
 "All right, Stubbs, if you are such a coward," 
 said Chester, somewhat nettled. 
 
 "I'd rather be a live coward than a dead fool," 
 was Stubbs' reply. 
 
 He walked off. 
 
 "Come on, Chester," said Hal. "We'll have a 
 look at this place." 
 
 He led the way close to the building. Going 
 slowly and cautiously they advanced to within a 
 short distance of the building without being ob- 
 served, although they could see an occasional dark 
 shape as it moved about in front of the building. 
 
 "Guards there," said Hal, briefly. 
 
 "Sure," said Chester. "I believe you have guessed 
 right. I am sure the place is filled with ammunition. 
 Now if we could just dispose of the guards and 
 place a time fuse " 
 
 "It would be a hard blow to the Germans," Hal 
 agreed. "We'll try it." 
 
 Still cautiously they approached. A guard arose 
 from in front of the building. He stretched his 
 arms. Apparently he had been asleep. Then he 
 sat down again. 
 
 "We'll wait a minute," Hal whispered. "Per- 
 haps he'll doze again." 
 
 Fortune was with the boys. A few moments later
 
 228 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 there came the sound of a gentle snore. The man 
 was asleep. Immediately the lads sprang to action. 
 Quickly they dashed across the open space to the 
 side of the large building, which was made of wood 
 and seemed to be nothing more than a huge barn. 
 
 Chester stopped beside the guard and raised his 
 revolver. He hesitated a moment and then lowered 
 the weapon. 
 
 "Let him be," he muttered. "He won't be with 
 us long anyhow." 
 
 Hal, in the meantime, had been exploring the 
 barn. Coming back he picked up the guard's 
 rifle. 
 
 "I can pry a board loose with this," he told Ches- 
 ter, in a whisper. 
 
 This proved easier work than it looked. The 
 board came loose without much trouble. Hal dis- 
 appeared inside. 
 
 "Ammunition?" Chester asked, as he poked his 
 head in. 
 
 "Yes," Hal whispered back. 
 
 "Find a fuse?" asked Chester. 
 
 Again Hal's reply was in the affirmative. 
 
 "Stretch it out here then, and hurry," ordered 
 Chester. 
 
 Hal appeared on the outside a moment later, car- 
 rying a fuse. One end still remained in the barn, 
 The other Hal carried some distance. 
 
 "Guess you'd better dispose of that guard first/'
 
 AT VERDUN 229 
 
 he said. "He might wake up and extinguish the 
 fuse." 
 
 It was the work of but a moment, much as Ches- 
 ter hated to perform it. 
 
 Then Hal struck a light, shielding the match with 
 his cap. He applied the match to the fuse. Then 
 he sprang to his feet and called to Chester : 
 
 "Run!"
 
 230 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 FLIGHT 
 
 Both lads fled through the night knowing that 
 their lives depended upon it. For safety's sake it 
 was absolutely necessary that they put as great a 
 distance as possible between them and the barn. 
 
 According to Hal's calculations, the spot where 
 the aeroplane was hidden was far enough away so 
 that the machine would not be disabled by the force 
 of the explosion ; and it was for this point that the 
 lads made at full speed. 
 
 They reached there safely; and still there had 
 been no explosion. 
 
 "How much time did you allow, Hal?" asked 
 Chester. 
 
 "Ten minutes, as nearly as I could judge," was 
 the reply. 
 
 "Then we still have a few minutes, I guess. Had 
 we better wait here until after the blast, or shall we 
 run out the machine and get up in the air." 
 
 "We'd better stay here," returned Hal, positively. 
 "I don't know how much ammunition there is in
 
 AT VERDUN 231 
 
 that barn. It's going to kick up a terrible fuss. My 
 advice is that we lay flat on the ground, hold our 
 ears and bury our faces. Immediately after the 
 blast we'll run the machine out and get up as swiftly 
 as possible." 
 
 "I can imagine the effect of the explosion," said 
 Chester. 
 
 "Well, I can't," returned Hal; "nor can you. 
 How many men it may kill, how many it may maim 
 and what damage it will do cannot be estimated. 
 But one thing sure, immediately afterwards every 
 sleepy German soldier within fifty miles will be on 
 the alert. The Germans will know it was not an 
 accident. They will attribute the explosion to a 
 bomb dropped from the air., We may have trouble 
 reaching our lines." 
 
 "I wish you hadn't done it, Hal," mumbled 
 Stubbs, whom the lads had found hiding beside 
 the aeroplane. "It will dig a hole a mile deep in 
 the ground. Rocks, guns and everything will come 
 down like hail. We may be killed." 
 
 "Quiet, Stubbs!" ordered Hal. "Flat on the 
 ground with you now. Hold your ears and bury 
 your faces until I tell you to get up." 
 
 He suited the action to the word. Chester and 
 Stubbs followed his example. 
 
 For long moments, it seemed to them, they waited 
 for the sound of the blast that would shake the coun- 
 try. Each was anxious, for there was no telling
 
 232 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 what the result of the explosion might be. Stubbs 
 squirmed uneasily as he burrowed in the ground, 
 while Chester and Hal were by no means easy in 
 their minds. 
 
 So long did they wait that it seemed to Chester 
 something must have gone wrong. Perhaps the 
 fuse had gone out. Perhaps another German guard 
 had discovered it in time and pinched out the fire. 
 There were many possibilities, and the lad consid- 
 ered them all as he lay prostrate on the ground. 
 
 He was about to raise his head and ask Hal a 
 question, when, suddenly, the blast came. 
 
 There was, at first, a long grumbling roar, which, 
 it seemed, would never end. Gradually the roar in- 
 creased until it reached such proportions as to be be- 
 yond all description; it was a roar the like of which 
 neither of the three figures who lay there had ever 
 heard before probably never would hear again. 
 
 Louder and louder it grew and then ended in a 
 final blast that was louder than many thousand times 
 the loudest peal of thunder louder than the simul- 
 taneous firing of thousands of guns. 
 
 Then it became suddenly quiet so quiet that Hal, 
 Chester and Stubbs, who had now leaped to their 
 feet, felt a queer sensation hovering all about them ; 
 so quiet that it was, for the moment, impossible to 
 hear. 
 
 Then something descended not five yards from 
 where the three stood with a terrible roar. Instinc-
 
 AT VERDUN 233 
 
 tively, all fell to the ground again, crowding them- 
 selves into the smallest possible space. 
 
 For the rain of debris had begun. And for sev- 
 eral minutes it continued. Pieces of guns, of rocks 
 and of all objects imaginable fell upon all sides of 
 the three ; but, fortunately, none struck them. Then 
 the rain of debris ceased. 
 
 In the great German camp all was hideous con- 
 fusion. Thousands of lives had been snuffed out by 
 the force of the titanic blast; thousands of others 
 had perished in the rain of steel and iron and rock 
 that followed. It was the greatest catastrophe that 
 had befallen the Germans for many a long day. The 
 effect of the explosion was appalling. 
 
 Hal's first thought after the rain of steel and iron 
 had ceased was for the aeroplane. If it had been 
 smashed they were, indeed, in a serious situation. 
 If it had gone through the storm safely they were 
 comparatively safe. 
 
 Together the three friends rushed toward the ma- 
 chine. Quickly they rolled it out into the open. Hal 
 examined the engine and steering apparatus care- 
 fully. 
 
 "All right, Hal?" asked Chester, anxiously. 
 
 Hal shook his head. 
 
 "Something wrong with the engine," 
 
 "Can you fix it?" 
 
 "I haven't been able to determine just what's 
 wrong yet."
 
 234 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal worked rapidly; and at last he gave an ex- 
 clamation of satisfaction. 
 
 "Find it?" asked Chester. 
 
 "Yes ; I'll have it fixed in a quarter of an hour." 
 
 "If we're not away from here in five minutes 
 we're likely to be dead," said Stubbs, plaintively. 
 
 "Don't croak, Stubbs," said Chester. "We've 
 done a good day's work and you should be proud 
 to have a hand in it." 
 
 "Should I ?" said Stubbs. "Well, all right, if you 
 say so; but I would be a whole lot more proud if 
 I could get back and tell somebody about it." 
 
 "A man deserves no particular credit for doing 
 his duty," said Chester, quietly. 
 
 "Maybe not," agreed Stubbs. "But I haven't 
 done mine yet." 
 
 "Why " 
 
 "My duty," said Stubbs, "is to get back to some- 
 place where I can send an account of this feat to 
 the New York Gazette. Believe me, it will be some 
 scoop." 
 
 "Scoop?" 
 
 "Yes. I mean no other paper will have the facts 
 as I have them." 
 
 "All right, Stubbs," said Chester. "I hope you 
 get your scoop." 
 
 "I'm going to get it," said Stubbs, excitedly, "if 
 I have to walk over the body of the Kaiser himself 
 to do it."
 
 AT VERDUN 235 
 
 "That's the way to talk," said Chester. "Con- 
 fidence is the greatest asset in the world." 
 
 "It's not confidence," said Stubbs. "I've just got 
 to do it. Why, if my boss knew I had something 
 like this in my hands and I didn't get it to him I'd 
 lose my job." 
 
 Chester made no reply to this; instead, he bent 
 over Hal who was still tinkering with the engine of 
 the aeroplane. 
 
 "How are you making it?" he asked. 
 
 "I don't seem to be able to fix it," returned Hal. 
 "Say! you two fellows walk away a bit and keep 
 an eye open for possible enemies. We don't want 
 to be caught off our guard here." 
 
 Chester and Stubbs did as Hal directed, though 
 the latter mumbled to himself as he took his posi- 
 tion some distance away. 
 
 "That's the trouble with these contraptions," he 
 said. "Always out of whack. If a man had a good 
 horse now " 
 
 He broke off and continued to mumble something 
 unintelligible to himself. 
 
 "I've found it," cried Hal now, from the aero- 
 plane. "I was working on the wrong part. I'll have 
 it fixed in a jiffy." 
 
 Chester made no reply, but Stubbs brightened up 
 wonderfully. 
 
 'That's the talk!" he cried. "Fix her up, Hal, 
 and get a move on."
 
 236 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Hal smiled to himself as he tinkered with the en- 
 gine. 
 
 Hal was deep in his work when his attention was 
 attracted by a sudden cry of alarm from Stubbs. 
 
 "Germans !" cried the little man, and without stop- 
 ping to look again, he dashed toward Hal. 
 
 At almost the same moment Chester saw a force 
 of the enemy advancing toward him. He, too, ut- 
 tered a cry of alarm and dashed toward the place 
 where Hal still bent over the aeroplane. 
 
 Stubbs danced up and down and chanted excit- 
 edly: 
 
 "Hurry up, Hal ! Hurry up ! Here they come !" 
 
 "Shut up, Stubbs!" exclaimed Hal, straining all 
 his energies to fix the break in the plane. "I'll have 
 it in a minute." 
 
 "A minute will be too late !" cried Stubbs. 
 
 "Be still, Stubbs!" said Chester, quietly. "Give 
 Hal a chance. There is still time to run if it's neces- 
 sary." 
 
 And at that moment Hal sprang to his feet. 
 
 "Fixed!" he cried joyfully. "Climb in here, 
 quickly !" 
 
 The others needed no urging and soon all were in 
 their places. It was now that Hal thanked his stars 
 that the plane was one of the few that could rise 
 from the ground. 
 
 Slowly the large army plane gathered headway as 
 he moved along the ground. Hal increased the speed
 
 AT VERDUN 237 
 
 slowly in spite of the close proximity, for he realized 
 that too great haste might spell disaster, and he 
 wished to test the engine carefully before soaring 
 into the air. 
 
 "Up, Hal!" cried Stubbs. "Here they come!" 
 
 Hal paid no heed to this frantic exclamation. In- 
 stead, for a moment, he reduced the speed of the 
 craft as something seemed not to be working exactly 
 right. Calmly he bent over the engine and tinkered 
 with it a moment later. Then he sat straight and 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "All right now!" 
 
 Stubbs gave a great sigh of relief. 
 
 Hal increased the speed of the machine until it 
 fairly flew over the ground. And then his hand 
 touched the elevating lever. 
 
 Immediately the plane soared in the air like a big 
 bird. 
 
 And from the ground came exclamations of sur- 
 prise ; for it was not until that moment that the Ger- 
 mans who had been advancing toward the friends 
 had discovered their presence; although they had 
 been espied by Chester and Stubbs some moments 
 before. 
 
 A volley of rifle bullets was fired at the rapidly 
 rising machine. 
 
 One flew by Stubbs' ear and he dropped to the 
 bottom of the car with a howl of fright. 
 
 A moment later, however, the machine was be-
 
 238 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 yond reach of the rifles of the German troops, and 
 Hal laid the craft out on a straightaway course, 
 heading directly west. 
 
 "Nothing can stop us now but enemy aeroplanes," 
 he said quietly. 
 
 He increased his speed. The big army plane flew 
 toward the distant French lines with a speed greater 
 than that of the fastest express train.
 
 AT VERDUN 23i> 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 THE END OF MATIN 
 
 "You have done well, sirs. President Poincare 
 shall hear of this." 
 
 The speaker was General Petain. Before him 
 stood Hal, Chester and Anthony Stubbs. Hal, act- 
 ing as spokesman, had just concluded an account 
 of their adventures within the enemy lines, a ven- 
 ture from which they had returned successfully and 
 safely only an hour before. 
 
 For, after the aeroplane had descended above the 
 French lines and headed for the French positions, 
 the journey had been without important event. 
 True, there had been a brush with one enemy air- 
 craft; but this had been worsted. A second, which 
 had given chase, was distanced with ease and the 
 three friends had returned to the French lines un- 
 scathed. 
 
 "So !" said General Petain, "you blew up the en- 
 emy's ammunition depot, eh? The explosion was 
 felt even here. We knew the foe had suffered some 
 hard blow, but I had no idea that it had been deliv- 
 ered by your hand."
 
 240 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Bott inds flushed at the praise of General Pe- 
 tain. Stubbs was pleased. 
 
 "Now tell me what else you did, if anything," 
 said the general. "Did you get the information 
 after which you went ?" 
 
 "We did, sir," returned Hal. 
 
 He passed to the general the documents he had 
 taken from the young German aide. General Pe- 
 tain scanned them carefully. 
 
 "These will be invaluable to me," he said quietly. 
 
 Then Chester told the French commander of the 
 conversation he had overheard in the quarters of 
 the German Crown Prince. 
 
 "Now that I have escaped," the lad concluded, 
 "it may be possible, of course, that the German plans 
 will be altered." 
 
 "You have done well," said the general again, 
 "and as I have said, your work shall be brought to 
 the personal attention of the President." He turned 
 to Stubbs. "You, sir," he said, "are not a soldier, 
 yet I have to thank you for your part in this mis- 
 sion." 
 
 Stubbs blushed like a school boy. 
 
 "I didn't do anything deserving of credit, sir," he 
 said. "My young friends here were the directing 
 heads and performed all the dangerous work." 
 
 "Nevertheless," returned the general, "you are 
 deserving of praise and if there is anything I can do 
 for you, you have but to ask it."
 
 AT VERDUN 241 
 
 Stubbs hesitated. There was something he 
 wanted very much but he did not know whether to 
 make the request or not. General Petain saw the 
 little man's indecision, and said with a smile: 
 
 "You have something on your mind, sir. Come, 
 out with it. Be sure it will be granted if it lies in my 
 power." 
 
 Still Stubbs hesitated. Chester stepped forward, 
 smiling. 
 
 "I believe I can tell you what it is, sir," he said. 
 
 "Speak," said the general. 
 
 "Why, sir," said Chester, "Mr. Stubbs would have 
 your permission to send an account of the great ex- 
 plosion to his newspaper uncensored. He would 
 have the people of the United States know, through 
 his paper, of the severe blow the enemy has suf- 
 fered." 
 
 "H-m-m-m," muttered the general. "The United 
 States will hear of the disaster, of course. Mr. 
 Stubbs, with the other correspondents, will be al- 
 lowed to file his despatches after the official report 
 has been made." 
 
 "But that's the point, sir," said Stubbs, stepping 
 forward. "I would like to have my paper get the 
 news first." 
 
 "Oho! I see," exclaimed General Petain. "You 
 want for your paper what you Americans call 
 a _a_a " 
 
 "Scoop."
 
 242 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Chester supplied the word. 
 
 "Exactly," said Stubbs. 
 
 The general considered the matter for a moment. 
 Then he threw wide his arms in a gesture of con- 
 sent. 
 
 "It shall be done," he said. 
 
 "Thank you, General," said Stubbs. "Then, with 
 your permission, I will retire to my own quarters 
 to prepare my despatches." 
 
 "One minute, Stubbs," said Chester. "You may 
 perhaps remember that until a short time ago you 
 shared quarters with Hal and me. We would like 
 to have you come back." 
 
 Stubbs grinned. 
 
 "That was before the discovery of the great con- 
 spiracy," he said. "By the way, General, may I 
 make so bold as to ask what has been done toward 
 crushing the move?" 
 
 "It has been crushed, sir," replied General Pe- 
 tain, quietly. "That shall have to suffice. And, by 
 the way, Mr. Stubbs, I must tell you that if you 
 refer to that matter in your despatches they will be 
 strictly censored." 
 
 "I shall not mention the matter, General." 
 
 Stubbs bowed and took his departure, first stop- 
 ping to say to Hal and Chester : 
 
 "You'll find me back in our old quarters when you 
 arrive." 
 
 "Now, boys," said General Petain, after Stubbs
 
 AT VERDUN 24*3 
 
 had gone, "you are relieved of duty for the rest of 
 the day. To-morrow morning, however, I shall 
 have need of you; for to-morrow and I am tell- 
 ing you something few know we shall launch a new 
 drive, basing our attacks upon the information 
 which you have just now furnished me. Good-bye 
 until to-morrow." 
 
 The general walked to the door of the tent with 
 the two boys and waved a hand to them as they 
 turned away. 
 
 "Well," said Hal, as they walked along, "we ap- 
 parently have accomplished something worth while." 
 
 "To hear the general talk you would think we 
 had," agreed Chester, "and still we didn't do so 
 much, after all." 
 
 "That's what I think." 
 
 "By the way," said Chester, "I'm going to hunt up 
 Stubbs' old quarters. Perhaps he hasn't moved his 
 things yet. I'll lend a hand." 
 
 "All right," said Hal. "I'll go along without 
 you. I'll probably be taking a nap when you reach 
 our quarters. Don't awaken me. I'm tired." 
 
 The lads parted and Hal continued on his way 
 to his quarters. 
 
 Stubbs had not yet arrived. Hal sat down on the 
 edge of his cot to remove his shoes. As he did so 
 he thought he heard a sound from behind him. He 
 whirled suddenly and there, a few feet away, his 
 revolver trained right upon Hal's heart, stood Matin,
 
 244 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 the French soldier who already had tried once to 
 kill him. 
 
 "A visitor, I see," said Hal, quietly. "You will 
 pardon me a moment while I remove my shoes. 
 That is what I started to do and when I start a thing 
 I always like to finish it." 
 
 "Take them off if you want to," returned Matin, 
 grinning evilly. "You won't need to put them on 
 again." 
 
 "Think not?" said Hal. "You never can tell 
 about those things, Matin." 
 
 "Trying to be funny, are you?" returned Matin. 
 "Well, go ahead. You won't be funny long not 
 to anyone but me. I'm going to shoot you." 
 
 "Don't suppose you would let me draw my own 
 gun first, would you?" asked Hal. 
 
 "No. What do you think I am ?" 
 
 "Just a coward ; that's all," said Hal, quietly. 
 
 "Coward, am I ?" exclaimed Matin, taking a quick 
 step forward. 
 
 "Correct," replied Hal. "It's about your size to 
 shoot a man in the back. I have had dealings with 
 your kind before. You're afraid to take an even 
 chance." 
 
 "It's not that I'm afraid," said Matin. "It's just 
 that I want to make sure. I failed twice before." 
 
 "Then it was you who tried to shoot me in here 
 one night, eh ?" asked Hal. 
 
 "Yes; and I would have succeeded had it not
 
 AT VERDUN 245 
 
 been for your friend. When I have disposed of you 
 I shall settle with him also." 
 
 "I don't think so, Matin." 
 
 "You don't? What's to prevent me?" 
 
 "Why," said Hal, "when I am through with you, 
 you will be in no condition to settle with anyone* 
 Now, if you will take my advice, you'll put that gun 
 in your pocket and leave this tent." 
 
 "Talk pretty big, don't you ?" said Matin, with a 
 sneer. "Well, I'll show you!" 
 
 He raised his revolver so that the muzzle pointed 
 squarely between Hal's eyes. His finger tightened 
 on the trigger. 
 
 "One moment, Matin," said Hal, quietly. "Don't 
 you know that before you can pull the trigger my 
 friend in the doorway will kill you?" 
 
 A look of fright and disappointment passed over 
 Matin's face. Slowly he lowered his revolver and 
 turned toward the doorway. It was the moment 
 for which Hal had been waiting. 
 
 With a bound he leaped upon Matin and with his 
 left hand seized Matin's right wrist. Matin uttered 
 a snarl of rage. 
 
 "Tricked me, did you?" he shouted. "You shall 
 pay for it." 
 
 It had been Hal's intention at first simply to wrest 
 the revolver from his opponent's hands and then turn 
 the man over to the officer of the guard. 
 
 But Matin's strength was greater than the lad had
 
 246 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 Imagined; also he was wild with rage. With his 
 free hand he struck viciously at Hal, while he kicked 
 with his feet and sought to bury his teeth in Hal's 
 arm. 
 
 But Hal held him back. 
 
 Vainly, Matin sought to move his right arm 
 around so as to bring the muzzle upon Hal's heart. 
 With a quick move Hal suddenly released his hold 
 upon Matin's pistol wrist and seized the pistol hand. 
 His finger covered Matin's finger on the trigger. 
 
 Matin's hand at that moment was extended 
 straight from him. Slowly now, as Hal exerted his 
 utmost pressure, the arm described a semicircle. 
 Now it pointed almost straight forward. Then, as 
 Hal brought more strength into play, the arm curved 
 inward; and directly the revolver pointed squarely 
 at Matin's heart. 
 
 The perspiration stood out in great beads on Mat- 
 in's forehead. He was panting and gasping for 
 breath. Hal was breathing easily, though the man- 
 ner in which the sinews on his forehead and arms 
 stood out showed to what extent he had extended 
 himself. 
 
 When the mouth of the revolver pointed at Mat- 
 in's heart, Hal said quietly: 
 
 "Now, Matin, if you will release your hold on this 
 gun I will let you go free." 
 
 Matin's answer was a snarl of rage. 
 
 Whether the man went suddenly insane or
 
 AT VERDUN 247 
 
 whether he knew fully what he was about, Hal can 
 not say to this day; but under his own finger, the 
 finger on the trigger tightened. There was a flash, 
 a muffled report and the form of Matin fell limp in 
 the lad's arms. Hal stepped back and Matin slid to 
 the floor. Hal stooped over and laid a hand over 
 the man's heart. 
 
 "Dead !" the lad exclaimed, and added : "but not 
 by my hand. He pressed the trigger himself !"
 
 248 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE ADVANCE 
 
 A bugle sounded. 
 
 The sleeping French camp sprang suddenly to life. 
 Men, half dressed, sprang from their cots they had 
 not disrobed entirely the night before and hurried 
 to their positions, adjusting their clothing as they 
 did so. Regiments formed hurriedly in the dark- 
 ness that is always more intense just before dawn. 
 Officers shouted and swore; horses whinnied from 
 Ihe distance, indicating that the French cavalry, as 
 well as the infantry was forming. 
 
 A second bugle sounded ; then many more. More 
 commands from the various officers. Aides rushed 
 hither and yon delivering sharp orders to division 
 commanders. The men stood quietly in line. Came 
 other sharp commands all down the line : 
 
 "En avant!" 
 
 The troops began to move. 
 
 Overhead, screaming French shells from the big 
 guns in the rear flew as they raced for the distant 
 German lines. This was no new sound. For more
 
 AT VERDUN 249 
 
 than twenty-four hours now these big guns had 
 been hurling shells into the German ranks ; and the 
 men had become so used to the sounds of their voices 
 that they would have been almost unable to sleep 
 had they become silent. 
 
 This bombardment, continuing for more than 
 twenty-four hours as it had, was the opening of the 
 greatest offensive by the French at Verdun an of- 
 fensive by which General Petain, the French com- 
 mander, hoped to drive back the foe that for months 
 had pressed on so hard, and thus to insure the safety 
 of Verdun, "The gateway to France," against the 
 German invader for all time to come. 
 
 Each move of this gigantic effort had been 
 thought out well in advance. All contingencies had 
 been provided for and against. The blow was to be 
 struck at the psychological moment, when it would 
 be deemed by the French general staff that it was 
 sure of success. 
 
 And now this moment had come. 
 
 The information placed in the hands of General 
 Petain days before by Hal and Chester had been the 
 one link in the chain that had been missing. Now 
 the general staff felt sure of the success of this great 
 effort, though there was not a man who had taken 
 part in the preparations who did not know that the 
 victory if victory there should be would be won 
 at tremendous cost. 
 
 But, with the fate of Verdun in the balance, it
 
 250 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 had been the opinion of each member of the general 
 staff that now was no time to hesitate. 
 
 So, upon this morning in June, just before dawn, 
 the French advanced all along their entire front. 
 
 Under the protection of their big guns they would 
 be able to progress for some time; and as they at- 
 tacked the German first line trenches in a charge, the 
 fire of the big guns would continue, firing overhead 
 at the German second and third line trenches be- 
 yond. 
 
 And it was in this manner that the advance was 
 made. 
 
 The day dawned while the French were still some 
 distance from the German first line trenches ; and the 
 German guns, far to the east, and the German de- 
 fenders in the trenches opened on them with a ven- 
 geance. But the French were prepared for this. 
 There had been no thought of a surprise attack in 
 the plans of the general staff. It was known that 
 the Germans would realize what was about to hap- 
 pen when the duel of big guns began more than 
 twenty-four hours before. 
 
 Before sun-up the French infantry sprang for- 
 ward in its first charge. It was thrown back. Im- 
 mediately a second charge was ordered. This met 
 the same fate as had the first. A third brought no 
 better results. 
 
 On the next diarge, as the French advanced the 
 Germans left their trenches and sprang forward to
 
 AT VERDUN 251 
 
 meet them. The big German guns became still as 
 the infantry struggled hand to hand. 
 
 There issued from the French left at this junc- 
 ture, heavy bodies of French cavalry. Into the thick 
 of the struggling mass the horsemen charged. This 
 attack had been a surprise. The Germans were cut 
 down in large numbers. As they scrambled back to 
 the protection of their trenches, French troops 
 scrambled over with them. Again the infantry 
 alone was engaged, but this time in the enemy 
 trenches. 
 
 Whole squadrons of cavalry were ordered from 
 their horses and also sprang into the German 
 trenches. Reinforcements were hurried up. The 
 Germans also rushed up supports ; but they had de- 
 layed too long. 
 
 The Germans broke and fled for safety to the sec- 
 ond line trenches. 
 
 Immediately the French turned the field pieces 
 captured with the German trenches upon the fleeing 
 enemy and mowed them down in great numbers. 
 Others of the French troops fell to work consolidat- 
 ing the newly won trenches. The big German guns 
 opened again; but by this time the French were 
 pretty well secured against this arm of fire. 
 
 More French reinforcements w r ere rushed up to 
 hold the captured trenches. Batteries of field guns 
 braved the German shell fire and dashed across the 
 open to the captured trenches. Immediately these
 
 252 THE BOY ALLIED 
 
 guns were brought into position, they opened upon 
 the German second line of defense. 
 
 From their posts of vantage, mounted upon slight 
 elevations, and from behind trees and other secure 
 places, the great French guns protected the advance 
 of the cavalry and infantry. 
 
 Hal and Chester, who had stood close to General 
 Petain during most of this battling, had watched the 
 conflict with the greatest interest. 
 
 "Look at them fall!" exclaimed Chester, as 
 through his glasses, he witnessed the last desperate 
 attack of the French. 
 
 "It's a terrible sight," agreed Hal, "and yet there 
 will be many more just as terrible before this war 
 is won." 
 
 "Indeed there will," agreed Chester. 
 
 "Lieutenant Crawford! Lieutenant Paine!" 
 
 It was General Petain who spoke. 
 
 "My compliments to General Bordeaux, Lieuten- 
 ant Paine, and tell him that the left of the newly won 
 trenches must be held at all hazzards !" 
 
 Hal sprang upon a nearby motorcycle and soon 
 was speeding toward the front. 
 
 "Lieutenant Crawford! The same instructions 
 to General Ducal on the right!" 
 
 A moment later Chester was speeding forward. 
 
 His message delivered, Hal stopped for a mo- 
 ment to gaze about the trenches won at such terrible 
 cost.
 
 AT VERDUN 253 
 
 There had been no time to bury the dead, or even 
 to have the bodies removed; and the trenches were 
 piled high with French and German dead. In be- 
 tween the rows of corpses, which had hurriedly been 
 pushed to one side, the other troops worked, appar- 
 ently without thought of their fallen comrades. Red 
 Cross physicians and nurses were working among 
 the wounded, lightening the suffering. 
 
 Hal looked at his watch. 
 
 "Twelve o'clock!" he muttered. "It seems as if 
 this single battle had been going on for days !" 
 
 He made his way slowly back to General Petain. 
 
 Chester, his message delivered, also had taken ac- 
 count of the French position on the right. There the 
 fighting had been particularly severe, and the newly 
 won positions presented ghastly spectacles. Ches- 
 ter shuddered: 
 
 "And this is war !" he said. 
 
 He made his way back to headquarters and re- 
 joined Hal. 
 
 "Wonder if we shall try for the second line de- 
 fenses to-day ?" Hal said to his chum. 
 
 "I don't know ; but I wouldn't be surprised to hear 
 the order at any minute now. Look at the masses 
 of reinforcements being rushed forward. Surely, 
 they are not being sent there just to hold the 
 trenches. No; I believe that today General Petain 
 hopes to carry at least the second and third line of 
 trenches on our whole front."
 
 254 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 And, as it transpired, Chester was right. 
 
 At four o'clock in the afternoon the French had 
 established themselves firmly in the German second 
 line trenches, although at great cost. Dense masses 
 of reinforcements were immediately rushed for- 
 ward. To Hal and Chester this signified that there 
 was still to be another effort that day. 
 
 And at five o'clock in the evening the effort was 
 made. 
 
 Under a sun that beat down with terrific force, 
 despite the lateness of the hour, the French infantry 
 again advanced to the attack. Flushed with two vic- 
 tories earlier in the day, they went forward confi- 
 dently and with eagerness and enthusiasm. Cheers 
 broke out along the whole line as they advanced. 
 Farther back, a band many bands played "The 
 Marseillaise." 
 
 The German troops, twice driven back before the 
 victorious French, nevertheless stood firm in their 
 trenches. They had learned a dear lesson at the 
 hands of their enemy this day ; and while they real- 
 ized fully that they were getting the worst of the bat- 
 tle, they still stuck bravely to their task. 
 
 Terrible as it was, it was an awe-inspiring sight 
 that Hal and Chester, far back with General Petain 
 and staff, witnessed through their glasses that late 
 afternoon. 
 
 In dense masses the French hurled themselves 
 against the German trenches; and in great masses
 
 AT VERDUN 255 
 
 they were hurled back again those of them who 
 did not lie upon the ground. Time after time the 
 French charged what appeared to be impregnable 
 trenches. Then, on their fifth effort, they reached 
 their goal and surged into the trenches. 
 
 Immediately all was confusion there. An un- 
 guarded moment meant a man's death. Struggling 
 as they were, it was, at times, almost impossible to 
 tell friend from foe. But the troops distinguished 
 somehow, and for what seemed ages they battled 
 there, hand-to-hand. 
 
 German reinforcements rushed up in a valiant ef- 
 fort to save the day. General Petain threw out sup- 
 ports for his own infantry. All these surged into the 
 trenches and added their quota to the terrible din. 
 
 Several times the German cavalry charged, their 
 riders dismounting when they reached the strug- 
 gling mass of humanity and plunging into the fray 
 with sabres and revolvers. But each time they were 
 beaten off. 
 
 Gradually the French cleared the trenches. The 
 Germans gave slowly at first; then more swiftly. 
 The French pursued them with loud cries. The 
 enemy broke and fled. 
 
 Again German reinforcements rushed to the at- 
 tack. The French met them in the open, beyond the 
 third line German trenches. The fighting was some- 
 thing terrible ; but flushed with victory as they were, 
 there could be but one ending.
 
 256 THE BOY ALLIES 
 
 A German bugle sounded a recall ; and at almost 
 the same moment the evening sun settled beyond the 
 distant eastern hills. 
 
 The French had won the day! 
 
 Hal and Chester looked at each other. Then, 
 even as the entire French staff broke into a loud 
 cheer, the two lads grasped hands. 
 
 "We've won !" said Hal. 
 
 "Verdun is saved!" exclaimed Chester. 
 
 So there, upon this historic field, we shall take our 
 leave of these two friends for the time ; but we shall 
 renew our acquaintance later, in a succeeding vol- 
 ume, entitled : "The Boy Allies on the Somme ; or r 
 Courage and Bravery Rewarded." 
 
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