CHAPTER X
A MIDNIGHT SWIM
"A pretty tight place we're in," remarked Bart to Frank as the ArmyBoys stood side by side behind a barricade of logs where they had justrepelled a German attack that had surged up close before it fell backin confusion.
"Tight is right," grunted Bart, as he reloaded his rifle which wasgetting hot from firing.
"We ought to be used to tight places by this time," put in Billy,stopping long enough to wipe the perspiration from his face. "It seemsthat when our division has a specially tough job to do they always callupon the old Thirty-seventh to do it."
There was no exaggeration in describing the position the soldiers wereholding as a tight place. While the great drive had not yet begun, theenemy was carrying on a nibbling process in the attempt to improve hisposition before the start of the big offensive.
There was a piece of woodland surmounting a broad plateau that hadconsiderable strategic importance. Its possession would enable theGermans to straighten their lines and permit their guns to dominate thevalley beyond. They had made several attacks previously which had beendriven back; but on the morning in question the assaults had beenparticularly ferocious and determined. It was evident that the Germanshad received orders to carry it at all costs, and they had thrown theirforces ahead again and again regardless of their heavy losses in men.
Their attacks on the direct front had remained without result, but theyhad been able to gain some advantages on the side that separated thedetachment in the woods from their main divisions. It was necessarythat American reinforcements should be sent at once, for thecomparatively small force that held the position was rapidly thinningout, owing to the terrific shell fire of the enemy's guns.
Several couriers had been sent to notify the main command of theperilous position in which the defenders were placed, but these hadevidently been killed or captured, and at last Major Blake, the officerin command, had to use his last resort.
There was a cage of carrier pigeons that the detachment had broughtwith them, beautiful, soft-eyed creatures that had been thoroughlytrained. It seemed a pity that things so gentle should have to servethe harsh purposes of war. But human lives were at stake, and one ofthe birds was quickly selected, and a message tied on it securely.Then it was thrown up in the air. It circled about for a moment to getits direction, and then straight as an arrow to its mark made fordivision headquarters.
A cheer rose from the men as they watched the feathered messenger, butthis quickly changed to a groan when the bird was seen to falter andthen plunge downward. An enemy shot had winged or killed it.
Two more were sent and met with the same fate. The need was growingfearfully urgent, for the enemy had been reinforced and the attackswere growing in intensity. Unless help came very soon the positionwould be overwhelmed.
Frank and his comrades were fighting like tigers, their faces coveredwith grime and sweat. The last time the enemy came on they had reachedthe breastworks and had been beaten back with savage bayonet fightingand clubbed rifles. But they still kept coming as though their numberswere endless.
"The boys had better hurry up if they want to find any of us alive,"muttered Billy.
"They'll probably find us dead," grunted Bart, "but they'll find, too,that we've taken a lot of the Huns with us."
"There goes the fourth bird," said Frank. "Perhaps he'll have betterluck."
Through the tempest of shot and shell the bird winged its way unhurt,and with new hope the desperate defenders buckled down to their work.They knew their comrades would not leave them in the lurch.
Two more attacks came on, but the gray-clad waves broke down before thegallant defense. And then, above the roar of battle, came a rousingAmerican cheer, and into the woods came plunging rank after rank offresh troops to relieve their hard-pressed comrades.
They rapidly fell into position, and the next time the Germans came forwhat they believed would be their crowning success they had thesurprise of their lives. A withering rifle fire ploughed their ranks,and then the American boys leaped over the barricade and chased theenemy back to his own lines. The position was saved, and the hardyfighters who had held it so gallantly looked at each other and wonderedthat they were alive.
"The narrowest shave we ever had!" gasped Billy as, utterly exhausted,he threw himself at full length on the ground.
"It was nip and tuck," panted Bart. "I know now how the besiegedBritish at Lucknow felt when they heard the bagpipes playing: 'TheCampbells are coming.'"
"We pulled through all right," said Frank, "and don't forget, boys,that we owe it to the birds."
Two days later the position of the divisions was shifted and the ArmyBoys found themselves on the banks of a small river that forms thedividing line between the hostile armies.
The squad to which Frank and his comrades were assigned under thecommand of Corporal Wilson, who had now fully recovered from hiswounds, was stationed at a point where the river was about a hundredand fifty yards wide. Desultory firing was carried on, but the sectorat the time was comparatively quiet, as both armies were engrossed intheir preparations for the great battle that was impending. It was thelull before the storm, and the boys improved it to the utmost. Theirduties were light compared to what they had been, and they rapidlyrecuperated from the great strain under which they had been for someweeks past.
"If only Tom were here now," remarked Frank for perhaps the hundredthtime, for their missing comrade was always in the thoughts of the otherArmy Boys.
"Poor old scout!" mourned Bart. "I wonder where he is now?"
"Working his heart out in some German camp, I suppose," said Billysavagely.
"You see, Frank, your hunch hasn't worked out as you thought it would,"said Bart. "You felt sure that Tom would be with us again before this."
"I know," admitted Frank. "My time-table has gone wrong, but I haven'tgiven up hope. Tom is only human and he can't work miracles. He mayhave been so placed that it simply wasn't possible to make a break.But one thing you can gamble on, and that is that he hasn't given uptrying. And when a man has that spirit his chance is sure to come."
"I wish I had your optimism," said Bart gloomily.
"Look at those skunks on the other side of the river," interruptedBilly.
He pointed to a group of German soldiers who were making insultinggestures and holding up huge placards with coarse inscriptions on them.
"Cheap skates," replied Frank. "You notice they're not quite so gaywhen we get to close quarters with them."
"They get my goat," said Billy with irritation. "I'd like to cramthose placards down their throats."
"Pretty big mouthful," laughed Frank.
"We'll get them yet," said Billy vengefully.
"What's the use of saying 'yet,'" suggested Frank. "Why not say 'now'?"
They looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?" queried Bart.
"Got anything up your sleeve?" asked Billy.
"An idea just came to me," replied Frank. "I don't know whether it'sany good, but perhaps it's worth chewing over."
"Let's have it," demanded Billy eagerly.
"Well," said Frank slowly, "I figure that there must be about twentyGermans in that detachment just opposite us. What would be the matterwith a few of us going over there some dark night and cleaning up thebunch?"
A delighted shout met the suggestion.
"Bully!" exclaimed Bart.
But though the approval was enthusiastic, practical difficulties soonpresented themselves.
"How are we to get across?" asked Bart dubiously.
"We haven't any boat on this side that's big enough," said Billy. "Infact, I don't think we have any at all."
"That's an easy one," answered Frank. "Do you see that big lobster ofa boat on the other side? That looks as though it would carry almost adozen anyway. We won't need any more than that to nab the Huns,because we'll have the advantage of the surprise if our plans gothrough all right."
"But how are we going to get the boat?" asked Bart.
"Swim over for it," replied Frank. "I'll attend to that. Give me adark night and it's all I ask."
"Let's see what the corporal has to say about it," suggested Bart.
The corporal listened with interest. It was a plan after his own heart.
"You young roosters are always looking for fight," he grinned. "I'llput it up to the captain and see what he says."
The assent of the captain was readily obtained as he knew the value ofsuch exploits in keeping the spirits of the men up to high fightingpitch.
The night following there would be no moon until late, and it was fixedon for carrying out the raid. Frank was to swim across the river andget the boat. On the American side Wilson with eight men would be inwaiting. They would embark and try to reach the other side withoutdetection. Quick thinking and Yankee grit could be depended on to dothe rest.
The night came, black as pitch. Frank slid into the water asnoiselessly as a fish and struck out for the other side.
Army Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German Drive Page 10