CHAPTER XXIII.
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Hal, at the right of the barrier, confined his attention to that side of the road, leaving Chester to deal with the enemy rushing forward on the left. Three times the weapon of each lad spoke, and at each shot an Austrian fell to the ground. Firing coolly and deliberately at such close quarters, a miss was absolutely impossible.
But the lads did not have time to fire again. The enemy was at the barrier; but, instead of hurling themselves over it, as both lads had expected they would, they dropped to the ground on the opposite side of the big rocks, and there they remained.
It was indeed a peculiar situation–the enemies less than six feet apart, separated only by a few rocks. Still the Austrians, in spite of their losses, outnumbered the lads three to one.
Now the rocks of the barrier began to move inward toward the lads.
“Great Scott!” cried Chester. “They are trying to push these rocks over on us. If they tumble this barrier over, we can’t hope to account for all six of them.”
The lads braced themselves against the rocks; but the strength of the two was not as great as the strength of the six. Such a contest could have but one ending. The boys realized this as well as did their foes.
“Well,” said Hal calmly, “it looks as though they had us. All ready for a last stand, Chester?”
“All ready,” replied Chester calmly.
“When I say jump,” instructed Hal, “leap backward!”