Fighting with French

rom the front. They instantly dropped flat into one of the furrows of the stubble field. Two horsemen galloped

g, the two got up, and, still bending low, hurried over the fe

or crook," whispered Kenneth. "They'll trac

rack already? For a few moments they were unable to decide in what direction the men were going. The sounds became graduall

d, a little to their left, they could just distinguish the tower of the ruined church. Still farther to the left the moonbeams revealed the roofs of the small village which the church served, and in

own for hours, and it will be light by six. We simply must get back before sunrise

ection by the compass, and made their best speed. Once they found themselves in a field completely surrounded by a hedge. Forcing their way through at the cost of many scratches, they fell so

urse seemed to be to try to find the communication trench by which they had come. Keeping always on the shady side of the hedges,

ares upon an occupied trench it was all up with them. Throwing themselves on the ground, they crawled forward by painful inches, stopping every few seconds to listen. Once the scurry of some wild creature across their front tightened their hearts and sent a col

dge of broken earth, and stopped, holding their breath. There was no sound near them; faint murmurs

tre

was empty. They halted at the corner to listen, then hurried along until they had almost reached the second trench. A man, by his figure an

pered Kenneth. "Our best

," said Harry. "T

the firing trench. Voices were heard. There was great risk in crossing the trench, and it occurred to Harry that it would be less dangerous to clamber over the embankment on their left and wade through a few yards of the pond, which could not be very deep thereabout. If the mo

o crawled through several inches of water towards the dry land. The light was increasing as the thinner end of the cloud moved slowly across the moon. Crushing their inc

was alive. A hand grenade fell just behind them, bespattering them with earth. Yard by yard they dragged themselves over the ground; here was the wire entanglement. As they drew themselves und

G WAY

d Kennedy. "Keep f

ire they thought of nothing but the safety of the trench. They

Kenneth, as somethin

on to the banquette. And then the air was rent by

oat. "You're a lucky fellow, by George! It's little more than a

Adams

tight moment. You seemed an age crawling up

depot blow

interrupted. "We thought it must have been an a

r knowledge and belief

; a round unvarnished tale d

two lieutenants, and as many men of the platoon as could come within earshot. When the story was finished, another roar of cheers burst forth, wh

pany, and certain promotion for you two men. You'll have to see the colonel to-morrow, when we g

their comrades next day a

tch after it had been raining all night. Your best gals would fair scream at the sight of you. 'Oh George, dear, where did you get them scratches? You've been a-fighting, you horrid creature, you!' 'No, Sally, I've had a little bit of misfortune.' 'Rats!

sfigured objects concerned understood that

ly just washed and got rid of some of the mud from their clothes

I'm going to recommend you for commissions. Officers are badly wan

aid Kenneth. "We're

ut to give such a promise was a piece of confounded stupidity. Why, go

Kenneth replied, "but really w

Well, I shall have to get Captain Adams to gi

ng that gave us a lift over the other men

h well, have it your own way! Virtue shall be its own reward. You've relieved the

for the distinguished conduct medal. Their refusal of promotion had become known to their comrades, and it was observed that Ginger and s