The two were now on even terms. The German reached out and attempted to entwine his fingers in Hal’s throat, but the lad was too quick for him. Dodging suddenly, he came up under the other’s chin, and sent him spinning head over heels from the car, so fierce was the contact.
Then the lad turned his eyes to other sections of the field. He could see no signs of an enemy. Evidently the Germans had had enough, or were awaiting the arrival of reinforcements before renewing the fight, for they had no way of determining the strength of the British attacking party.
In any event, Hal realized that there was no time to lose. Leaping from the car, he ordered the few men who were left to man the waiting automobiles, quickly ascertaining that there were enough men capable of driving them. Then he set out to hunt Chester and Captain Anderson.
He found Chester on his knee, supporting the unconscious form of their friend.
“Hurry, Chester, get him into this car,” he ordered. “We’ll have to get out of here at once.”
He helped the men lift the unconscious British officer into one of the automobiles, leaped in himself, and took the wheel.
Five of the other cars also were ready to go, each containing twenty men, all that was left of the thousand who had made a dash for the farmhouse in the morning.
Hal gave his orders slowly and tersely.
“Follow me, single file,” he called to his men, “until I give the word to close up. Then range right alongside of me. We will go as swiftly as possible, and try to get through the German lines without a fight, if by any chance it is possible. However, if we have to make a quick dash and fight, it would be better to do it side by side, and plow right into the enemy. Do you understand?”