CHAPTER X
THE ENEMY ROUTED
The engagement into which American troops and American marines nowentered bore more resemblance to old-time open fighting than anythingHal and Chester had seen in months.
A short distance ahead, the German line had halted and drawn up in closebattle formation. Upon this human rock the Yankees hurled themselveswith reckless abandon and wild cheers. One, two, three volleys theyfired at the Germans as they charged and then they were upon the enemywith the bayonet.
The German line withstood the first onrush and the Americans werestopped. But in spite of their losses, they were not to be denied, andthey dashed forward again.
By this time Hal and Chester had reached the ranks in front and pressedinto the thick of the conflict. A few moments later Bowers rangedhimself alongside of them. The lads greeted him with a nod; they had notime for words.
So close were the American soldiers together that for the space of a fewmoments it was impossible for them to wield their bayonets with thegreatest effect. All they could do was to press ahead with the bayonetsshoved out in front of them. But this condition was soon remedied. Themen spread out fanwise, thus giving them better opportunity for usingtheir weapons.
The clash of the bayonets could be heard above the roar of small armfire and even above the cheering of the Yankees. For their part, theGermans fought silently and stubbornly.
Hal caught the point of a stabbing bayonet upon his own weapon andaverted the thrust that otherwise must have pierced his throat. Beforethe German who had delivered it could recover his poise, Hal's bayonethad found its mark and the man fell to the ground to rise no more.
Chester, meanwhile, had accounted for two of the enemy and had not beentouched himself. Bowers, once more in the heat of the conflict, wasfighting like a superman, thrusting right and left with almostmiraculous rapidity.
The German line wavered along its entire length. The Americans,unconsciously feeling that victory was within their grasp, pressedforward with even greater ferocity.
Suddenly, to Hal's right, fully fifty Germans threw down their guns as asingle man, and, raising their hands high above their heads, shouted"Kamerad" almost in unison.
Immediately these men were surrounded, their weapons collected and theGermans passed back to the rear ranks as prisoners. Following theiraction, other groups of Germans, separated from their comrades, followedthe example of the first batch. For a moment it appeared as if theentire line in action would surrender.
Under harsh commands of their officers, however, the German lineregained something of its cohesion and began a more orderly retreat.
Still the Americans pressed close on their heels. After a few moments ofineffectually attempting to hold back the Americans while retreatingorderly, the German line broke again and the German soldiers fled.
It now became a case of each man for himself. With a cry to a score oftroopers who had gathered about him, Hal dashed forward, thinking totake another batch of prisoners. But this particular group of the foesshowed an unexpected burst of speed and the Americans were unable toovertake them.
From the distance, the German artillery again burst into action andshells fell dangerously close to Hal's little detachment. In front ofhim, Hal saw half a dozen of the enemy go down before the fire of theirown guns.
Immediately the lad called a halt, and then led his men back to thesupporting columns which had come to a pause. Farther back, the Americanartillery, which had been silent while the hand-to-hand struggle raged,became active again. The hour of infantry fighting had passed and thebig guns took up the battle.
Hastily the Americans fell to work with intrenching tools to make securetheir newly-won positions against a possible German attack. Only a thinline of skirmishers stood to their rifles to repel any attack that mightdevelop while the digging in was in progress.
Hal found Chester with the marine, Bowers, a short distance back of thefirst line.
"Glad you're both safe," he said as he walked up to them. "Fortunately Iwas not even touched."
"Nor I," said Chester, "but our marine friend here didn't fare quite sowell."
"That so?" said Hal, turning to Bowers. "Where are you wounded?"
"In the left shoulder," answered the marine, "but it's just a scratch."
"Nevertheless, you had better report and have it attended to at once,"advised Hal. "Complications are likely to develop, you know, and wecan't afford to lose a man unnecessarily."
"Very well, sir," said Bowers. "I shall heed your advice."
He saluted, turned on his heel and walked rapidly away.
"A good man, Chester," said Hal. "He and I went through rather aticklish bit of work and he certainly upheld the traditions of themarines."
"That so?" said Chester. "How did you happen to get so well acquaintedwith him?"
In a few words Hal explained, and added:
"Now give me an account of your troubles since I saw you last."
"Well," said Chester with a laugh, "you seem to have had all the fun. Inmy case there isn't much to tell. I lost sight of you soon after theadvance began and before long found myself in the midst of the fighting.I had a couple of narrow escapes in the course of the battle and I guessI got in a couple of good licks. Then, when we halted the first time, Ihunted around for you, but you were missing. I was able to learn,however, that you had gone off on a little jaunt to put a certainmachine gun out of action, but that's all I could learn. I began to fearyou had been killed. But when we came in sight of two men holding thatlittle wall in face of the entire German army, it seemed, I told myself,that it was you. Events have proved that I was right. Then I came on asfast as I could, Smith and Jenkins with me. That's about all."
"Well," said Hal, "I've had about enough excitement for one day. I votewe report to General Lawrence, who I see has moved his quarters close tothe front. After that, unless there is work in store for us, I am infavor of finding a place to take a little nap."
"Suits me," agreed Chester. "Come on."
But, as it developed, there was to be no sleep for either Hal or Chesterfor hours to come.
General Lawrence received the reports of the two lads in silence and forsome moments seemed wrapped in thought. At last he said:
"You have done very well, young men. You will not think I am imposingupon you when I ask whether you are willing to take despatches for me toGeneral Pershing?"
"Not at all, sir," said Hal. "We shall be very glad."
General Lawrence took a sheaf of papers from his pocket and passed themto Hal.
"These must be delivered to General Pershing with all possible haste,"he said. "In a high-powered automobile, you should be able to reach hisquarters soon after dark. It is probable that you will be ordered backhere at once."
He indicated that the interview was at an end. Hal and Chester salutedand took their departure.
Ten minutes later they were speeding westward in a big army automobile,Hal himself at the wheel.
"If you ask me, Chester," said Hal as they sped along, "these marines,from what I have seen of them, are going to prove among the mosteffective units in Uncle Sam's army."
"What makes you think so?" demanded Chester.
"Well, take this man Bowers for example. Of course, he's a powerful man,but it's his spirit that counts--he's afraid of nothing. He's perfectlycool under fire and when it comes to hand-to-hand fighting I doubt ifthere's a man in the German army who could stand up against him."
"He's only one," said Chester.
"That's true enough. But look at the rest of them--rough and ready everyone. Hard men they are. Most of them look as though they had come offthe Bowery in New York, or were prize fighters, or gun-men. They arebound to give a good account of themselves in a fight. Hardly a marinewho doesn't look as though he had been brought up to fight."
"I guess most of them have," replied Chester dryly. "They gave a goodaccount of themselves to-day, as far as
that goes."
"So they did," agreed Hal, "but their numbers were comparatively small.Take a couple of divisions now, and I'll venture that they could driveback twice their number."
"That's a pretty fair-sized order, Hal."
"So it is, but that's just what I think."
"Well, I hope you're right. We'll have need of men like that. But look!we seem to be coming to some place."
"We'll stop and make sure of our bearings," said Hal, and brought thecar to a stop before a group of French soldiers.
For the benefit of the reader, it may be said that up to this time, theAmerican troops had not been acting independently of their British andFrench allies. Up to this time there was no distinct American army inthe field. American troops had been brigaded with French and Britishdivisions for seasoning purposes, for the Allied staff could notunderstand how raw troops could possibly hold their own against theGermans without having been put through a rigorous course of trainingwith veteran troops.
And yet British and French alike soon were to learn the true mettle ofAmerican troops, whether fully trained or not. They were to learn thatwherever an American soldier was ordered he went, or died in the effort.
The date was not now far distant when this was to be brought home to theBritish and French in a manner they will never forget and, as itdeveloped, it was the American marines who were to prove it; for at thebattle of Chateau Thierry the American marine was to prove that as afighting man there does not live his equal.
From a French officer, Hal gained needed directions and the big armyauto continued its journey. Darkness fell and they still sped on. Ateight o'clock Hal stopped the machine in the center of a big army campand stepped out. He made his way to General Pershing's quarters. Chesterwent with him.