with Hal Paine and Chester Crawford as their guides, were reconnoitering
ten miles in advance of the main army along the river Marne in the great
war between Germany and the allied armies. For several hours they had
been riding slowly without encountering the enemy, when, suddenly, as the
little squad topped a small hill and the two boys gained an unobstructed
view of the little plain below, Hal pulled up his horse with an
exclamation.

Quickly he threw up his right hand and the little troop came to an
abrupt halt.

"Germans!" he said laconically.

"And thousands of 'em," said Chester. "They haven't seen us yet. What is
best to be done?"

The answer to this question came from the enemy. Several flashes of fire
broke out along the German front, and the boys involuntarily ducked their
heads as bullets sped whizzing past them.

"Well, they have seen us now," said Hal; then turning to the men: "To the
woods," pointing with his sword to a dense forest on his right.

Rapidly the little body of men disappeared among the trees.

"Up in the trees," ordered Hal, "and pick them off as they come!"

Swiftly the troopers leaped from their horses and climbed up among
the branches. Here all could easily command a view of the oncoming
German horde.