The French lines now had been pushed back well to the west of the city
of Verdun itself and the civil population of the town had fled. The town
had been swept by the great German guns until hardly one stone remained
upon another. North of the city, the French had been bent back as the
Germans thrust a wedge into the defending lines almost to the foot of
Dead Man's Hill.
This hill was of particular importance to the Germans, for it commanded
the approach on all sides; and now the German Prince had determined upon
its capture. General Petain anticipated the move and acted promptly.
It was toward this point, then, that Hal and Chester found themselves
moving upon the sixth day of the great battle. They bore despatches from
General Petain and each bestrode a high-powered motorcycle, which the
French commander had placed at their disposal. The two lads rode swiftly,
for there was no time to be lost.
Even above the "pop-pop" of their motorcycles could be heard the
terrible roar of the German guns as they were brought to bear on Dead
Man's Hill, paving the way for an infantry advance, which was to come a
few hours later. It was risky business upon which the lads were bent,
for the great shells struck on all sides of them, throwing huge masses
of dirt in the air like giant fountains and digging immense excavations
in the hard ground.
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