move he swept aside his opponent's blade and felled him to the earth. At
the same moment a tall German soldier, thinking to deprive the lad of his
weapon, brought his rifle down upon Hal's sword.

But the boy's grip was firm and the sword snapped off near the hilt.
Quickly Hal sprang forward, and before the German soldier could recover
himself, the lad cut him down with his broken sword. Then, stooping, he
picked up the sword which had fallen from the hands of the German
officer, and sprang to the aid of Chester, who was fiercely engaged with
two of the enemy, one an officer, the other a trooper.

One swift stroke of the boy's sword and the soldier was laid low. At the
same instant Chester's sword slipped through his opponent's guard and the
latter went to the ground, a deep wound in his side.

"Good work!" Chester found time to pant to Hal, and a second later both
lads were once more too busy for speech.

Now Chester found himself engaged with a foeman worthy of his steel. The
latter, a German lieutenant, was pressing the lad severely. At sword play
the lad was clearly no match for him. Nevertheless Chester was giving a
good account of himself.

Suddenly his sword was sent spinning from his hand, and as the weapon
came down the point struck a German soldier squarely in the face.
Chester's opponent sprang forward, his blade raised for a death thrust.
But even as he thrust Chester dodged and the sword passed harmlessly
over his head.

From his stooping position Chester seized the German officer by the knees