"Funny!" snorted Tom. "Yes, as funny as a funeral. Some people have a queer sense of humor."
They were passing a hedge that walled off an orchard from the road when Frank, who was ahead, saw before him a great wave of gray uniforms coming around a bend in the road.
"Quick, fellows," he whispered. "Over the hedge and down on the ground."
Like a flash the boys were out of sight, and not one instant too soon, for a moment later they could see through the hedge what seemed to be an endless line of gray uniforms going past at the double quick. They were evidently hurrying forward to reinforce their hard-pressed comrades farther down the road.
The boys lay still as death until the troops had passed, and then looked at each other ruefully.
"We're cut off," ejaculated Frank. "Those fellows are between us and our line."
"Looks pretty bad," said Bart.
"This is a pretty kettle of fish," grumbled Tom. "Let's cut across the orchard and see if we can find some of our boys."
They acted on the suggestion, but found to their dismay that the Germans were everywhere. In whatever direction they looked the only uniforms they saw were the detested field gray. The Germans had rallied and the boys had been caught in the swirl of the returning tide.
"We'll have to hide somewhere until our men drive back the Huns and get as far as this orchard," said Billy.