"Ten men should be as good as a hundred there," he explained. "Pick them
off as they rush through. Aim carefully and make every shot count."
He turned back to the work of directing the fire from the windows.
The battering at the door continued. One of the defenders, thinking to
dispose of a member of the enemy in such close proximity, stuck his head
out and brought his rifle to bear upon the foe in the doorway; but before
he could accomplish his object he fell back inside with a groan. A German
bullet had done its work.
"No more of that!" ordered Captain Leroux, sharply. "I need every man I
have. No need to expose yourselves uselessly."
After that no French head appeared above the window sill farther than was
necessary to aim and fire.
In the basement Chester and his men had had little to do so far. True,
they had been able to pick off a German or two, but their position was
such that they could be of little value at the moment. Their time was to
come later.
On the top floor Hal, because of his position, was better able to command
a view of the open field ahead than Captain Leroux in the room below. The
fire of Hal's men, therefore, was more effective than of the French on
the ground floor.
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