Men tumbled right and left. The
German losses in the retreat were greater even than they had been in
the advance.
Hal, who had been working like a Trojan, wiped the beads of perspiration
from his forehead with his shirt sleeve--the work had become so hot that
the lad had removed his coat, though it was still cold without--and spoke
words of encouragement to his men.
"Good work, boys," he said quietly. "A few more like that and they will
bother us no more."
Even as he spoke the lad knew that his words meant nothing. He knew the
Germans would not give up until they had captured the farmhouse or had
been driven back by the weight of superior numbers, and at that moment it
did not appear that reinforcements would arrive.
The troops also knew that Hal's words meant nothing, but they cheered
him anyhow. They realized that he had spoken as he did merely to
encourage them; and they liked the spirit that inspired the words. They
knew that Hal was fully competent of judging the hopelessness of the
task ahead of them.
"The captain said to hold them two hours, sir," said one grizzled old
veteran to Hal. "How long has it been now, sir?"
Hal glanced at his watch.
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