At almost the same moment, Captain Leroux on the floor below, and Chester
in the basement, gave the command to fire and the first line of
approaching Germans seemed to crumple up.
But the men behind came on.
Again and again effective volleys were fired from the farmhouse; but
despite their heavy losses and urged on by commands of their
officers, the Germans pressed forward until they were at the very
side of the house.
As they approached they fired volley after volley at the windows behind
which the defenders stood calmly; and the French had not gone unscathed.
In the basement, where Chester was in command, no German bullet had gone
so far, but Hal had lost three men and Captain Leroux five. As quickly as
these fell others took their places at the windows and continued to fire
steadily into the German ranks.
Came a heavy battering at the front door. A force of Germans had reached
this point in spite of the fire of the French and now were attempting to
batter it down. Without exposing themselves too recklessly the French
could not reach this party of Germans with rifle fire.
Captain Leroux quickly told off ten men to guard the entrance the moment
the door should give beneath the kicks and blows of the enemy.
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