shall take time to introduce Hal and Chester more fully to those who have
not met them before, and to relate how it came about that they were
serving in such an important capacity with the British army in France.




CHAPTER II.

TWO YOUNG LIEUTENANTS.


Sturdy American lads, young though they were, Hal Paine and Chester
Crawford had, when this story opens, already seen considerable military
service. Each had received his baptism of fire during the heroic defense
of the Belgian city of Liège, which had held out for days against the
overwhelming horde of Teutons.

In Berlin with Hal's mother when the war broke out, they had been
separated from her and left behind. With Captain Raoul Derevaux, a
gallant French officer, and Lieutenant Harry Anderson of the British
army, they finally succeeded in making their way, after many desperate
experiences and daring adventures, over the Belgian frontier, as told
in the first book of this series, entitled "The Boy Allies at Liège."
They had reached Liège in time to take an active part in the defense of
that city.

In escaping from Germany, each had done his full share of fighting and
each had been wounded. They had finally reached Brussels, where they
remained some time, while Hal's wound healed sufficiently to continue his