Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line Part 14

The last word was given, the final preparations had been made. Then silently, like shadows of the night, the figures crept out of the trench in the darkness and advanced toward the German lines.

The American barbed wire had been cut in places to let the party through. To pa.s.s the German barrier they would have to do their own cutting, and they were provided with tools for this purpose.

Silently they went down the lane of wire, now and then pa.s.sing grim sentries to whom the pa.s.sword was given. And then, coming to the gap in the wire, Ned, Bob and Jerry, with the others, pa.s.sed through. Each member of the party carried an automatic pistol and several hand grenades. These were small, hollow containers, of cast-iron, loaded with a powerful explosive, which was set off after a certain trigger or spring or firing pin (according to the type used) was released by the thrower. The explosive blew the grenade to bits, and it was scored, or crisscrossed, by deep indentations so that the iron would break up into small pieces like shrapnel. The grenades could be carried in a pouch or in the pocket, and were harmless as long as the detonating device was not disturbed.

Silently the lieutenant led his men forward. Jerry Hopkins, the only noncommissioned officer in the squad, marched next, as in the event of the lieutenant being killed the command would fall to him.

No talking was permitted, and each man knew what he was to do, so no orders were necessary. On and on they went, and presently they found themselves traveling over the battle-scarred and sh.e.l.l-pitted territory of No Man's Land. They had got close to the German barbed wire when suddenly, as though their movements had been watched, several star sh.e.l.ls were sent up by the Huns.

Instantly every man in the party fell flat on his face and did not move. It was the only thing to do. They resembled, as nearly as they might, the dead which lay all about them on the desolate field.

And some of the dead had been there a long time, as it was impossible for either side to bury them, though occasionally, at night, parties went out to bring in those in whom it was hoped a spark of life still remained.

Jerry found that he had thrown himself down close beside a dead Hun.

He wanted desperately to move, for his position was grimly unpleasant, but he did not dare. This was not the most glorious side of war, but it was vitally necessary.

However, thanks to the precaution of blackened faces and hands, and to the dark uniforms, the party of night-raiders must have resembled the dead all about them, for no firing followed the illumination of star sh.e.l.ls.

Then, when it was dark again, the party rose and went on. Good luck attended them thus far, in that they reached the German barbed wire undiscovered. Then began the ticklish work of cutting it, and in this there was much danger.

For some of the wire was under great tension, and, when cut, made a tw.a.n.ging sound like a broken harp or piano string. And this sound carried far in the silence of that sector. Other sectors were not so quiet, for firing was going on along both lines of trenches, though what movement was under way the Motor Boys did not know.

The sound of the wire as it was cut was deadened as much as possible by having a man hold the strand on either side of the place to be cut.

This helped some, but not always, as the wire twisted itself from the grips of the soldiers, and sometimes the barbs injured them.

"All cut, Lieutenant," reported Jerry, as the final strand was severed. The commanding officer had been on watchful patrol while this was being done.

"Good!" was the low-voiced answer. "Come on, now. Every man with a grenade in either hand!"

Once more the party went forward. They were past the first German barbed wire now, but the way was still not completely open, for more opposing strands were found farther on. However, this was not unexpected, for often three or more lines of this American invention were to be found opposing the American forces.

Once more the cutters were called into play, and as the last strand was severed a dog, somewhere within the Hun lines, barked. Instantly all in the raiding party crouched down, for a burst of star sh.e.l.ls might follow immediately.

However, the dog must have been believed to be a false alarmist, or else he was barking at some other disturbance than that caused by the raiders, for darkness still reigned.

Then, after waiting a moment to make sure all was right, the lieutenant led his men forward. So far they had not been challenged by the enemy, but now this immunity was to end, for when they had pa.s.sed the final wire barrier and were advancing with tense steps toward the German dugout, with grenades in readiness, there came a sharp, guttural order to halt.

It was in the German tongue, as they all knew, and they all realized that the crucial moment had come.

The lieutenant, seeing a figure in the darkness before him, shot at it pointblank with his pistol. There was a murmured exclamation, and the sentry went down, his finger pressing the trigger of his rifle, discharging it as he fell dead.

"Come on now, boys! Give it to 'em!" cried the officer.

"Forward!" shouted Jerry Hopkins, and with Ned and Bob at his heels he rushed ahead, the others stumbling after him. They had reached the German trenches, and from them now poured several defenders. The main body were in the dugout a little farther on, and it was desired to attack this, and, if possible, capture some prisoners.

"Come on! Come on! Down with the Huns!" cried the lieutenant, and his battle yell was echoed by Jerry and the others.

Then began a fight in the dark, the details of which were never very clear to the Motor Boys. Bob said he let loose all the grenades he had at the advancing party of Germans and then rushed at them, head down, as though advancing the ball for a touchdown.

Ned declared that he fired his automatic pistol until he realized that it was empty, and then, throwing it away, thought for the first time of the grenades he carried. Then he began using them.

There was a deafening noise as the grenades of the Americans exploded in the faces of the advancing Huns, and they, in turn, threw hand bombs and opened fire with their rifles. The attack awoke to life sentries and guard parties all along the line, and the scene was illuminated by a burst of star sh.e.l.ls.

"Come on! Into the trenches! They can't see us there so well!" yelled Jerry.

"That's the idea!" commanded the lieutenant. "Get to the dugout!"

So desperate and sudden had been the attack of the Americans that, after the first resistance, the Germans gave way and ran back, jumping down into the trenches whence they had come.

The raiding party asked nothing better than to follow, and for a time pursued the Huns along their own trenches, the bursting star sh.e.l.ls above giving light enough to see.

"Are you there--Ned--Bob?" demanded Jerry, as he ran on, following the tortuous line of the trench.

"I'm here!" answered Ned.

"So'm I," added Bob. "Haven't a shot left, though."

"Here, take these," and Jerry handed over some spare grenades he had in a pouch slung at his back. "Don't pot any of our men, though. Some are ahead of us."

On ran the Motor Boys, and in another moment they came to the dugout--a pretentious affair of concrete, now well lighted, for the alarm of the attack had spread.

One of the raiding party threw a hand grenade inside the structure.

There was a powerful explosion, not enough, indeed, to wreck the stout place, but sufficient to send the inmates scurrying out--what were left of them.

"_Kamerad! Kamerad!_" some of the wounded ones cried, and others held up their hands.

"Come on!" shouted the lieutenant. "Gather 'em in and let's get back.

This place is getting too hot for us."

He spoke with truth, for on all sides the big guns were now beginning to bark, and a general engagement might be precipitated.

Some of the Americans s.n.a.t.c.hed guns from the now cowed Germans, and prodded them back along the trench with the points of the bayonets.

Others held hand grenades or automatic pistols ready, and the order to retreat was given.

Half a dozen Hun prisoners had been captured, but at a price, for when the lieutenant, hurrying his men back across No Man's Land, began to look over his party, he found three were missing. They had either been killed or wounded, or were left prisoners in the trenches.

"Are you there, boys?" asked Jerry again, of his chums, and he received rea.s.suring answers from both.

"Hurt?" was his next inquiry, as they raced across the stretch, stopping every time there was a burst of star sh.e.l.ls, and crouching down, making their prisoners do the same, to take shelter in some sh.e.l.l holes, some half-filled with water and others containing dead bodies.

"I'm all right," Bob answered. "Only a bit scratched by some Hun's bayonet, I guess."

"A bullet or a bayonet touched me in the side," came from Ned. "It's bleeding a bit, but not much. I'm all right."

Some of the others who were able to come back were not so fortunate, however, and two died later of wounds received in that night raid.

But the main party succeeded in getting back to the American lines, and hurried through the opening in the barbed wire, where a relief or a rescue party, whichever might be required, was in waiting.

"Good work!" commended the captain to his lieutenant. "And you got some prisoners?"