Part 9 (1/2)

”Just like Jimmy Blazes,” declared Roger to Bob, afterward.

It was three or four days after this that Iggy was able to leave the hospital, and take his place with his chums.

”The five Brothers are together again!” cried Jimmy, when the reunion took place. ”Now let the Huns tremble!”

”By golly yes!” declared the Polish lad. ”I fight can now like three soldiers, so much did they give me eats in the h.o.a.rspottle. A fine place she is--tha h.o.a.rspottle.

”But the longer we can keep out of such places as hospitals the better,” remarked Jimmy. ”Now then, Iggy, what is it you want most?”

”Well, Blazes, if you excuse me--but you did say you would the reward moany crack among us. No, it was not crack; he was a word--”

”Split!” suggested Bob.

”Yas. Him it was. You say you split him--that moany, Jimmy, and if I could to my mothar send what you say you give me--maybe she of need have for him now.”

Jimmy looked queerly at his chums. Truth to tell he had scarcely any cash at present, and to give Iggy his share of the five thousand francs--about two hundred dollars--was out of the question.

Bob took the financial bull by the horns.

”Look here, Iggy,” he said. ”Jimmy has played hard luck. He had that money but--”

”Doan't tell me he is loss!” cried Iggy. ”Oh, doan't tell me he is loss! I so much think of that two hundred dollars--mine fader or mine mothar never so much have at once see in all their lives. Two hundred dollar--Oh if he is loss--”

”It's only lost for a while--temporarily,” said Jimmy. ”I wasn't going to tell you, but Bob spilled the beans, I left the cash with Sergeant Maxwell to keep for me, and the sergeant is missing with the dough.

But as soon as I get my money from home you'll get your share--the two hundred bucks, Iggy, and so will the others.”

”Nonsense! Forget it!” cried Roger. ”Do you think--”

But he had a chance for no more, for at that moment came the signal that the Huns had launched a gas attack. Instantly the five Brothers, and all up and down the line the other Americans, donned their gas masks. This was but the preliminary to what turned out to be some of the fiercest fighting of that particular series of battles. The Germans followed up the gas attack with a fierce deluge of sh.e.l.ls and shrapnel, and half an hour later our heroes were under heavy fire.

”It's an attack in force!” cried a lieutenant as he hurried along the trench where the Khaki Boys were stationed. ”And the word is, stand where you are! Don't give back an inch!”

His words were drowned in the roar of big guns.

CHAPTER VIII

THE OLD MILL

Silently the five Brothers, again united and ready to fight to the death, gazed at one another as they lined up in the trench. That is they were silent as regards conversation, for they could not talk with their gas masks on, and the warning given by the lieutenant--the warning and the admonition to stand fast--had been the last words he uttered before he, too, donned the protecting device. And no sooner had the five Brothers and those about them begun to breathe through the chemicals that destroyed the terrible chlorine, than over it came rolling in a deadly, yellowish cloud.

And yet it was far from silent in that hideous storm, for the very ground shook and trembled with the intensity of the gun-fire--the gun-fire not only of the Germans but the Allies as well.

It was an attack in force, and the fire was of the fiercest. Protected somewhat by the trench, in which they were, nevertheless the members of the company to which our heroes belonged sustained several casualties.

At one place a high explosive sh.e.l.l struck on the very edge of the trench, caving it in, and burying beneath tons of earth and stone the unfortunate Sammies stationed there. And the worst of it was that no adequate revenge could be taken just then--at least no revenge that was visible to the enraged comrades of the killed and wounded.

For the orders were to stay in the trenches and repel the attack at first. Later the counter-attack on the part of the Americans would take place, and then it might be that the Huns would be made to pay dearly for their work.

Jimmy looked through the grotesque goggles of his gas mask at his chums. If appearances went for anything they were on the alert and ready to jump over the top at the signal and fight to the death. But the word was delayed, for what, doubtless, were good military reasons.