“Gosh!” exclaimed Billy, when Arney had concluded his narrative, “I think that’s the service I’d like to get into. You get some excitement there.”
“You are certainly hard to please!” exclaimed Tom. “Chances are you’ll get all the excitement you want this afternoon, when we get in touch with the Germans again. Making a frontal attach on a machine gun emplacement is all the excitement my young heart craves.”
“You’re probably easily satisfied,” grinned Billy. “But if your young heart craves that method of diversion, we’ll let you go after the next one all by your lonesome.”
Arney grinned at this exchange of repartee, and then, shaking hands all around, took his departure. Shortly afterward the bugle sounded, and once more the tedious and costly attack was resumed.
CHAPTER XI
LIQUID FIRE
It was soon apparent that contact with the Germans had been made in earnest, for the resistance, which had been comparatively light in the morning, stiffened perceptibly. Machine gun nests became more and more frequent, and in every case the machine gunners stood by their pieces until the last man was killed, or the gun put out of action.
The Americans advanced as they could, some parts of the line of course preceding others, according to the resistance offered by the Germans. The portion in which the three friends were placed met with particularly stubborn resistance. They had to advance into a crossfire from several closely connected machine gun emplacements, but that was what they were there for, and they advanced to the task with a dogged persistence that shook the nerves of the Germans.
“This is getting to be pretty hot work,” panted Frank. “We’ve got to clean up some of those fellows pretty quick, or they’re going to clean us up.”
“All right, then, up and at ’em!” exclaimed Tom, and with a shout the three friends dashed forward, crouching low to avoid the storm of machine gun bullets that whizzed by over their heads. On they dashed, until they reached the parapet surrounding one machine gun. Without a pause, they leaped over this, and, using their revolvers with deadly effect, quickly despatched the Germans who formed its crew.
“So far, so good,” gritted Frank, the lust of battle in his eyes. “There’s another parapet over there, fellows, and it’s a cinch there’s one of these hornets concealed behind it. Let’s get after it before the crew discovers us. They’re not firing now, but they’re apt to begin any minute.”