“Must be a temporary affair,” said Captain Anderson, in a low voice. “And what are those objects nearby?”
Hal peered through the darkness.
“Look like armored automobiles to me,” he said.
“And so they are,” declared Chester. “And there must be twenty of them. Seems to me an act of providence must have put them there. We couldn’t want anything better to escape in.”
“You are right,” declared the captain.
The captain now divided his men into three forces, one of which he commanded, the other two being led by Hal and Chester.
The first column approached to within fifty yards of the automobiles before being discovered. Then the cry of a German sentry rang out.
At the word of command, the British opened fire, and again charged with fixed bayonets. But the German guard was strong, and evidently had been on the alert against a possible surprise.
A rapid-fire gun stationed near the automobiles opened fire. The first column of men was literally annihilated, Captain Anderson himself going to the ground with a severe wound in his chest. Not one of the troopers reached the automobile.