shooting down their own men. The Germans broke into a run.

From behind the French earthworks was poured a hail of lead, but it did
not serve to check the approaching foe. On to the breastworks they came
and clambered up. Behind the first line came many more and they swarmed
upon the defenders like bees in a hive.

Bayonet met bayonet and revolvers cracked. Men struggled with their bare
hands. Friend and foe went down together, struggling to the last. On the
right and on the left, though Hal could not see these actions, similar
scenes were being enacted. The Germans had made their initial advance
upon a front of almost fifteen miles.

A bugle sounded.

French reinforcements were rushed forward to aid the hard-pressed men in
the first line trenches. More Germans poured in. The struggling mass
surged backward and forward. Then the French broke and fled, and Hal
found himself among a panic-stricken mass of humanity, running for life
for the protection of the second line trenches. From behind, the
victorious Germans fell to their knees and poured a steady rifle fire
upon the vanquished. Over the heads of their fleeing countrymen the
second line French troops returned the fire.

Hastily the Germans fell to work throwing up earthworks facing the second
French line. Under experienced hands the breastworks sprang up as if by
magic. They entrenched calmly under the rifles of the French infantry and
the heavy guns of the French batteries, though men fell upon all hands.

Far away, but coming closer, the German batteries now opened fire on the