"Oh, not for some time yet," Hal grinned back at him.
The German swore.
"Now! Now!" said Hal. "That's no way for a nice German officer to do.
What would the emperor say?"
The duel was interrupted at this point by a sudden cry from the
farmhouse.
"Never mind him, Lieutenant! Back into the house quickly!"
It was the voice of Captain Leroux and the tone told Hal how urgent was
the call. Taking a quick step forward, he caused the German officer to
retreat a few paces. Then Hal lowered his sword, and calling to his men
to follow him, dashed toward the front of the house.
Behind, the German officer broke into a torrent of abuse and would have
continued it had not a French soldier, who cared nothing for the
etiquette of duelling, put an end to him with a rifle bullet.
To the half score of men who had thrown down their arms, Hal cried:
"Back to your own lines quickly or you shall be shot down! No," pausing
and levelling his revolver as one of the Germans sought to stoop and pick
up his discarded rifle, "never mind the gun. Another move like that and
you'll all be shot down. Move, now!"
The Germans wasted no further time and made for the shelter of their own
lines at top speed.
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