sight of the enemy, men dropping on all sides under the fearful fire of
the great German guns miles away. While the French, farther south, gave
way more rapidly, these few English stood their ground.

Time after time they came to hand grips with the enemy, and at the point
of the bayonet drove them back with terrible losses. These bayonet
charges were things of wonder to Hal and Chester in spite of the fact
that they had been in the midst of similar actions before Liège.

As the French and Belgians advanced in a wild whirlwind of fury, the
English went about the business of a charge more deliberately, though
with the same savage determination. They charged swiftly, but more
coolly; gallantly, but more seriously, and the effect of their charges
was terrible. The Germans who came on in the face of the fierce rifle and
artillery fire, could not face the British bayonets, and time after time
were driven back in disorder.

And as the British charged, always the words of their battle-song,
fated for some unfathomed reason to become historic, rose above the
sounds of battle:

"It's a long way to Tipperary.
It's a long way to go;
It's a long way to Tipperary,
To the sweetest girl I know.
Good-by, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester square.
It's a long, long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there!"