The rifle
bombardment was having its effect.
The sharp crack of French rifles answered the challenge of the Germans,
though, because of the fact that the ranks of the defenders had been
sadly depleted, their weapons spoke not so often. But when they did
speak, men fell; for, at this crucial stage of the battle, they were
making every shot count.
But this time, it seemed, the Germans were not to be denied. Men as
well as officers understood the slowness of the French fire. The
Germans were flushed with the spirit of victory, despite the fact that
the field on all sides of the farmhouse was covered with their own dead
and dying. The German soldiers realized, as did their officers, that
the end of the courageous defense was near. Another effort and the
farmhouse would be theirs.
For some reason, in spite of the fact that the German troops appeared to
be making fair progress, their advance was suddenly stayed. At some
distance they halted and continued to pepper the house with rifle
bullets, doing little damage at that distance.
Horses dashed suddenly into view, dragging behind them a rapid-fire gun.
Hal guessed the answer.
"That's to mow us down when we try to run," he told himself.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130