But at that moment came from General Lawrence’s portion of the field the call for a general advance. Hal glanced around quickly. He was still some distance from his own post, and he saw his men start forward under command of Lieutenant Edgerton. It was unlikely that he would be able to overtake them. He turned to the marine.
“What’s your name?” he demanded.
“Bowers, sir.”
“All right. Bowers. Do you know anything about these tanks?”
“Not much, sir. I can drive an automobile or an airplane, and I’ve watched these things work. Guess I could run one if I had to.”
“Well, you can work the gun, can’t you?” Hal wanted to know.
“You bet I can, sir, and I’ll guarantee not to miss very often. Are you thinking of boarding this craft, sir?”
“I am,” said Hal. “We seem to be out of the fight right now. It’s up to us to get into it again. Climb in, man.”
Bowers boarded the tank with alacrity and deposited himself beside the single machine gun. Hal perched himself in the pilot’s seat and opened the throttle. The tank moved forward.
In the distance, both to right and left, Hal saw other tanks waddling forward. They were all still too far from the enemy to do any great damage, but they were ambling forward as swiftly as their peculiar construction would permit, all anxious to approach within striking distance.