The Khaki Boys Over the Top | Page 9

"It's our turn now!" grimly shouted Roger in Jimmy's ear.
Forward swept the company to which our heroes were assigned. For a
time, during which the two chums had had a chance to get Iggy from
the shell hole, there had been no advance. Now it came with a
vengeance.
But the Germans were not idle. If their infantry was held back from
making a counter-attack, their heavy guns, and here and there,
machine-guns, were not idle. And these weapons tore big holes in the
ranks of the Sammies. But ever the holes were closed
up--comparatively closed up, that is, for the fighting of the Americans
was not in close order, such as that in which the Germans so often
advanced to their deaths.
At times the four Brothers would be close to one another, converging to
get out of the line of some trench or avoid a shell hole. Again they
would be yards apart But they kept in "contact," as it is called.
And ever as they advanced they fired their rifles into the German lines.
True they could only now and then catch a glimpse of the foe, but they
made those chances tell.
"Come on now, boys--a little farther and we'll have our objective! Just
a few yards more!" cried the lieutenant who was leading our heroes.

"Once we're at that barn, we can rest. Only a few feet more--only a
few--"
His yelling voice suddenly ceased, and Jimmy, who was nearest, saw
the gallant soldier crumple up, with a bullet through his head. And as
he fell his men behind him, leaped over his body with wild yells of
rage.
"Come on! Come on!" screamed Jimmy, inflamed to the point of
madness. He was in command at this point now, following the death of
the lieutenant. "Come on! Make 'em pay for that!" He choked back his
sobs, for the lieutenant was well beloved.
On they rushed, on and on. The man on Jimmy's left was killed, and the
comrade on his right fell with a shattered leg.
"I'm out of it!" suddenly shouted Franz, and he tried to hop on one foot,
falling, a moment later, in a shallow hole.
On the others rushed, and finally, with wild yells, they drove the
Germans from their last stand. The stone barn held a machine gun nest,
and many of the Sammies were killed or wounded before the crew of
Huns were scattered or captured--and there were very few of this last
class, so desperate was their resistance.
From somewhere came the signal to cease firing, and, a little later, a
captain came along and took charge.
"Who's in command?" he asked, seeing no commissioned officer in the
group which had for a nucleus Jimmy, Roger and Bob.
"I am, sir," answered the former, saluting. "The lieutenant was killed."
A twitch of the face, and a hardening of the muscles about the captain's
mouth were the only signs of emotion he showed, but his heart was
torn--the boys knew that. The lieutenant was his only brother.
"Hold this place at all costs!" was the grim order. "I'll send an officer to

take charge shortly. But hold the place!"
"Yes, sir." and Jimmy saluted again.
Quickly they took measures to do this--to make the stone barn, once the
part of a French farm homestead, a position of defense. The German
machine-gun, for which there was considerable ammunition left, was
turned to point at the Hun line. But the Boches had withdrawn some
distance. The Sammies had gained their objective, and the battle, for
the time being, was over. Now there might come a counter-attack, and
for this Jimmy, temporarily in command, prepared with his chums.
"Bob," called Jimmy to the former reporter, "you and Roger go back
and see if you can pick up Franz, or any other of our lads who are alive.
See what they need, and, if it's possible, get first-aid to them."
This was a welcome order to these two Khaki Boys and they started
back over the ground won at such terrible cost. Already, though, gallant
stretcher-bearers were searching among the dead to succor the living.
And then, to their unutterable delight, Roger and Bob saw Franz
limping toward them, using his rifle as a crutch.
"Thought you were done for, like poor Iggy," cried Roger.
"I thought so, too," answered Schnitz. "I felt sure my foot was lopped
off, but it was only bruised on the ankle by a stone that some piece of
shell must have kicked up. It's only badly bruised. I don't have to go to
the rear!" and he said this joyously.
But there were many poor lads who did have to go to the rear, for they
were torn and mangled. And there were some who had made