Hurriedly the wounded
were carried out and the retreat begun.
And at that moment the Germans, also reinforced, charged again. Greatly
outnumbered the French retreated, firing as they went.
Then, for the first time, Hal noticed Chester's absence.
"Great Scott!" he exclaimed to Captain Leroux, "we have come away without
notifying the men in the basement."
Quickly the two made their way to the French commander and laid the
situation before him. The latter shook his head sadly.
"It's too late now," he said quietly. "Look at the number of the foe. We
could not make headway against them."
He was deaf to all Hal's entreaties that he make the effort.
In the basement, Chester and his five men had been unable to ascertain
the cause of the increased firing at one moment and the lull a moment
later. Chester had about decided that the defenders had given up and that
he and his men in the cellar were all that remained.
From his window he could see the Germans only when they came into a
certain position; and what went on above he had no means of telling. But
that the others would go and leave him and his men behind had not entered
his head. Therefore, he decided to remain quiet with his men.
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