Part 29 (1/2)
At the crest of the parapet the lines, attack and defenseof steel Bayonets flashed, darted, parried and struck Rifle butts whirled above bare heads and the stocks crashed down through bone and flesh Frorenades, bombs which exploded upon touch Fro formed troops, to assist in the repulse of the Russians, and as the supporting lines of the attack threw the lines on the trenches' top thickened and swayed
The line sagged, bulged, tre breaches there rushed fresh troops froain Men discarded their ar to the last
The din was deafening, yet above it there rang out the detonation and shock of a great explosion, where a delayedtroops coleeyser of death, and ca
Then the line broke again, and the shattered reserves of the attack, su the last resources, poured into the breach with bayonet and ave way
Cru of last reserves, the entrenched line shuddered along its length, then the line lost its cohesion, stood irresolute for a moment, then fled precipitately to the rear
The whistles of the Russian officers blew again and again Officers had fallen until corporals and sergeants commanded platoons and companies; yet they, too, had their whistles and knew their duties; and out of the scraade, the Russians fell into rough line, knelt, and opened fire upon the routed ene batteries dashed to the trenches, unli ed hands a dozen ti the course of the assault, were planted on the works; the troops theht and fury of their efforts, threw theades came up to hold the position
The trenches on!
CHAPTER XX
THE DEATH OF A FRIEND
Hal, Chester and Alexis had been in thewas the thickest Not in the first line of attack, they had advanced with the first reserves And beside the, strode Marquis
Now the herculean prowess of the giant Cossack stood theood stead More than once Hal or Chester would have gone down, or been trampled under foot by the troops behind, had not the quick eye of Alexis signaled out their danger and his powerful ar himself perfectly frohting becaht like ahimself upon his foes with almost superhuman ferocity
For the first ti trenches as they advanced upon the enemy, and in spite of the fact that they were officers, they did not shi+rk the work Just before reaching the parapet, the first line of reserves--to which the friends were attached--joined the original first line and sprang into the trenches together
There they fought with desperation Not a as exchanged between theht side by side There was no time for conversation The press was too thick, and death too near
But now that the Germans had turned to flee, the Russians sent up a wild cry of triumph Hal, Chester and Alexis rested upon their weapons, watching the troops pour a hail of lead into the flying foe Marquis advanced several paces ahead of the farthest Russian troops, stood up on his hind legs and let out a bark of joy Bullets flew around hier, whistled sharply Marquis turned and wagged his tail at his friend, and opened his mouth in one more joyful bark
It was at that moment that a German bullet struck him Without a sound the noble aniround The ball had pierced his throat But life was not extinct Marquis struggled to his feet, and dragged hi seen him fall, dashed toward hiht up in his ar hi wound in his throat Marquis looked up into the lad's face, and uttered a low, painful bark His tail wagged
Quickly the lads hurried back to Alexis and as quickly sought out a surgeon Chester laid Marquis gently on the ground, and the surgeon bent over him After a brief examination he arose and shook his head
”No hope,” he said quietly ”The bullet pierced his jugular vein”
”Isn't there so down his face
The surgeon shook his head sadly
”Nothing,” he said, and hurried away
Chester picked Marquis up again, and followed by Hal and Alexis, made his way toward the rear, where the troops were more scattered, and where there was none to bother the on it
Marquis did not whimper He, as well as his three friends, seemed to know that death was not far off, and he was prepared to htly and licked Chester's hand that lay upon his head Chester patted hie hand and softly stroked the dog's soft body