“If we only had a machine-gun handy we might do something,” answered Dave.
It was now seen that several additional German companies were rushing to the scene of the conflict. Evidently the enemy was massing with the idea of breaking through on that part of the front.
“If we can only hold out until we get reinforcements!” said Dave.
“We’ve got to hold our ground, boys!” shouted Captain Obray. “Don’t give in an inch! We’ll have help here before long! Make every shot count! Show those Huns what you are made of!”
A cheer went up at these words—a cheer which was almost drowned out by a volley of shots from the German company which had just come up on the double-quick. Then a great yell arose from the enemy line, and a few minutes later they leaped up and, firing as they ran, made straight for the American engineers.
CHAPTER X
DAVE SHOWS HIS BRAVERY
My young readers must understand that it would be next to impossible to give all the details of the battle which occurred when the fighting engineers were attacked first by a battalion of the Germans and then by a full regiment.
By the command of the major the engineering battalion gradually withdrew to the protection of a number of jagged rocks, flanked here and there by thick brushwood. Here, screening themselves as much as possible, the Americans poured forth volley after volley at the Germans, and over a score of them went down, some never to rise again.
But the enemy had probably received word from their air scouts as to the exact number of the engineers, and with the first battalion augmented by the remainder of their regiment, they showed increased courage and recklessness, and suddenly made a charge forward, shouting like demons as they came on.
It was certainly a thrilling moment and enough to make the heart of any soldier quail, however brave. Even the most unthinking of the engineers could see that they were largely outnumbered, for the German regiment counted up to at least sixteen hundred men.