CHAPTER XVIII
THE GERMAN PRISONER
There was fighting that night all along the line, but nothing in the way of a battle developed and the engineers did not participate in the contest any further than that they were called on to repair some bridges along the roadway where the shell-fire of the enemy made several telling hits.
“The Huns are certainly showing some strong resistance to our advance,” remarked Roger, while the bombardment was going on.
“Oh, I shouldn’t be surprised if they contested every foot of the ground,” returned Dave. “They thought they were going to walk right into Paris, and it makes them more than mad to be driven back this way.”
“One thing is certain,” said Phil. “These old Hindenburg trenches are marvels of completeness.”
“I heard of one German dugout that was fitted, out like a first-class hotel, with a bath and even a billiard-table! Those high muck-a-mucks certainly take care of themselves.”
“Yes, and they take mighty good care that they are not hit, too!” added Ben. “They let their common soldiers take all the hard knocks. You very seldom hear of anybody connected with the royal families getting even a scratch.”
Early in the morning there was a sortie on the part of one of the American battalions. They had located some Germans hidden in a patch of wood, and after some fierce fighting succeeded in surrounding a part of the enemy and making them prisoners. A little later these fellows, to the number of thirty, with a lieutenant and a sergeant, were marched to the American rear.
At the time the prisoners were brought in, Dave and his detail were at work on the roadway which the prisoners and those in charge of them used. Along this roadway was also stationed the company of soldiers to which Lieutenant Gebauer and Nat Poole belonged.
As Dave went about his duties he passed Gebauer and Nat several times. Both of them glared at him, but no words passed. However, five minutes later Dave saw Nat approach the lieutenant, and an earnest conversation followed. Both looked several times toward our hero, and Dave felt certain that the pair were talking about him.