Part 23 (1/2)

Those ere thus far uninjured kept pushi+ng ahead, even though they must realize that it was into the very jaws of death they advanced And Rod found himself filled with sincere admiration for the bravery they exhibited He had read of si with his own eyes an exhibition of such wonderful valor was an entirely different matter

Oh! how he hoped and prayed that in the end soe to reach the other shore which they aspired to gain But when the Geruns continued to roar and send torrents of iron hail into the ranks of the adventurous French it began to look very ht be able to accoe of the disputed ford

Hanky Panky could stand it no longer He rolled over and hid his face, while thrusting the forefinger of each hand as deeply into his ears as he could, evidently with the hope of shutting out all that dreadful noise

Not so Josh, who, though very white, and tre with exciteerly, as onehis senses

The war dra Under that murderous fire the French soldiers in the water fairly ed to return safely to the side of the streaer number seemed to have vanished Further down the river they could be seen, so significantly still

The firing had almost ceased by now, because there was no further need of wasting precious ae of the impetuous French had been stopped, and if they still ather as left of their force for a second atte it seemed madness for them to risk the annihilation of their men in another effort

”It was a fluke, after all!” Josh was calling out in bitter disappointet over while that awful battery covered the ford Oh! hoish a part of theet across Look, Rod, as I live, one lone French in the scrub there, his red breeches betraying his every le one of all that brave lot, and he'll be either killed right away or made a prisoner, like as not!”

Soress of the crawling Frenchrain of sand on the seashore cohty forces employed on both sides, and yet at that particular e in theirwhy this should be so they continued to follow his moveain He could make hi now; the Germans were satisfied with the execution already accomplished, while the mortified French held their fire until further plans could be settled upon

”Rod, what do you reckon that madman means to try and do?” he asked excitedly; ”see how he keeps on creeping straight along tohere that battery is hidden behind sooodness, now, I believe he means to tackle the entire business all by himself; just like a Frenchman for desperate bravery Heunaided, Rod”

”Don't be too sure of that, Josh,” the other told hiot soh, come ill”

”Oh! now I see what youin his hand, and I do believe itto throw over the barricade on to that battery! It's a great scheme, Rod, but with not one chance in ten to succeed”

With strained eyes they watched the creeping figure with the telltale red trousers that added so greatly to his peril Shortly afterwards Josh broke out again in what ht be called a lali You can see so a rain of balls in that direction, for they make little puffs of dust fly up everywhere they strike He's bound to be hit in a jiffy now Oh! see that, would you?”

There could be no question but that one orbullets had reached their intended ony

”He's done for, poor chap, just as I expected!” cried the sy Josh, while even Hanky Panky once more dared to lift his head and look; but aled his tune from despair to one of new hope--”no, he was only badly injured that tiain Oh! I take off allant man! There never lived a braver chap, never; and now I do hope he'll get close enough up to fire that bo with him on to that battery”

Perhaps theto pick another foeman off did not realize what the French soldier really rasped the full situation a volley would surely have finished his career, and left his self-appointed mission unfulfilled

Josh kept tabs of his ave signs of having been struck once more by some of that leaden hail This he could tell from the way in which the heroic fellorithed as in pain

”But, Rod, they just _can't_ keel hi his hands in his excitea after hi where he's been hit Oh! ouldn't I give for a chance to help hiot to do it by himself!”

The seconds went on Perhaps other eyes were following the slow and painful progress of that lone French hero as he crawled along foot by foot, suffering dreadfully no doubt with every movement, yet never for a minute dismayed Perhaps the eyes of the French coh his powerful glasses; and realizing what the success of the daring soldier's ht mean for a second assault on the defenders of the ford, his heart would begin to pick up renewed hope the closer the private crept to the battery

There could be no question as to the unflinching spirit that dwelt in the breast of that particular soldier Rod res he had read in ancient history, but sonificance ith his own eyes he saw this wonderful exhibition of valor unparalleled The heroic defense of the Pass of Ther of the hellespont by Leander, yes, and other instances made famous in the annals of history had once struck the boy as wonders in their way, but soreat deal s

By now the French adventurer had et close up to the place where the terrible offending battery was hidden Doubtless he could see much better than the boys at a distance, and knehere it would be possible to throw his boe

”He's nearly there, Rod, and oh! I'et hi a whirl over There, see, he's trying to get up on his knees now, though it's a hard thing for him to do, because he's so weak fro to take a fling, and here's wishi+ng you the greatest of luck!”