French. Bravely the men charged, but they could make no impression on the
positions so recently won by the foe. The troops of the German Crown
Prince stood firm.

The French were forced to retreat toward the summit of the hill.

Here the big French guns opened violently upon the enemy, but the
invaders remained in spite of the hail of death.

Chester had been carried back with the French retreat and he now found
himself almost in the first line. He was sadly disappointed, for he had
felt sure that the French effort to repel the attack would be successful.

His men still falling back before the German advance, General Domont
determined upon a bold stroke. Orders were given thick and fast. Hal and
Chester, returning from their first missions of the day, found themselves
again near the front. The orders to the various French divisional
commanders were explicit. As the Germans advanced again to the attack,
the French, too, all along the line, were to take the offensive.

The men awaited the word eagerly.

At last it came. With a shout the French, still wearing their gas masks,
hurled themselves forward with the troops.

Halfway down the hill the lines met with a crash. Rifles and small arms
were fired point blank into the very faces of the foe and then the men
fell to the work with bayonets. Both sides fought desperately.

Hal and Chester had drawn their swords and found themselves engaged with