Hal sprang at the German machine gunner from the left, while the remaining marine attacked him from the right. Unable to fire effectively again, and caught between two fires, the German rose, stepped quickly back and produced a revolver.
He took a snapshot at Hal, but the bullet went wild.
Before he could fire again, the marine was upon him and sent him staggering back to escape a bayonet thrust.
Immediately the German dropped his revolver, raising both hands.
“Kamerad!” he cried.
Hal lowered a revolver which he had trained upon the Boche and the marine lowered his rifle.
As he did so, the German suddenly dropped his hand to his belt, drew a second revolver and fired point-blank at the marine. The latter side-stepped swiftly, but although he moved promptly enough he was not equal to the task of escaping the bullet altogether. The ball which the German had aimed at his heart pierced the man’s left arm.
Before the German could fire again and even before Hal could bring his own revolver to bear, the marine jumped forward with a roar.
“Treachery, eh!” he shouted. “I’ll show you!”
He dropped his rifle as he jumped and threw both arms around the German. With his right hand he pinioned the man’s left arm while he seized his opponent’s right wrist with strong fingers. Gradually the man’s arms described an arc until his own revolver was pointed at his head. There was a flash and a sharp report. The marine stepped back and the German crumbled up on the ground. The marine surveyed him disdainfully.