All afternoon the fighting continued, the Germans, because of the fierce
fire of the remaining English and hampered by their own dead, being
unable to rush the defenders.

There were less than twenty-five of the British unwounded. Hal and
Chester had both been struck, Hal on the arm and Chester on the shoulder.
But neither was badly hurt.

"Hadn't we better retreat, sir?" asked one soldier of Hal, when there was
a let up in the firing.

"What chance would we have?" demanded Hal. "The minute we broke and ran
we would be shot down like dogs."

"Then we might surrender."

"Surrender! Never! We were ordered to hold the bridge and we will hold it
as long as we can."

The man subsided, and Hal turned his face toward the foe again. There was
a sudden silence. The Germans drew off.

"Wonder what that means?" demanded Hal of Chester. "They certainly are
not going to give up. I wonder what they are up to now?"

"I can't imagine," replied Chester. "But they have something up
their sleeves."

"Well, well soon see," said Hal.