"Now!"
Hal gave the word suddenly.
Immediately the two lads took to their heels.
For a moment the Germans were stunned by the very audacity of the two lads. Then entrenching tools dropped to the ground and the men seized their rifles and fired a volley after the two boys. But in the time it had taken them to lay aside their tools and pick up their weapons the lads had disappeared in the darkness and now hurled themselves to the ground, anticipating such a volley.
In the darkness the Germans could hope to hit them only by accident.
Springing to their feet again, the lads ran forward, bearing off slightly to the north, and soon felt they were safe.
They slowed down and approached the French lines cautiously. Presently they beheld the first French entrenchment. As they drew close a French soldier poked up his head and levelled a rifle at them.
"Halt!" he cried. "Who goes there?"
"Friends!" returned Hal.
"Advance friends," came the soldier's next words while he still held his rifle ready.