“Yes, I guess I can’t kick,” agreed Billy. “Just make out we won’t have something to tell Bart when we see him again. He’ll certainly be sore at having to miss all this.”
“He sure will,” agreed Frank, “he’ll never get over not being with us on this drive.”
“Let’s investigate one of these flame throwing machines,” proposed Frank. “It looks as though we might be here a little while, and I’m curious to see what the things look like.”
His companions readily acceded to his proposal, and stripped one of the machines from a dead German, and were soon familiar with its main features. They did not have time to make a very thorough examination, however, for the word to resume the advance was shortly passed down the line, and they resumed the drive.
From that time on the going was a little easier, and they made satisfactory progress, inflicting great losses on the Germans, and losing only a comparatively small number of men themselves. Toward nightfall, the rain, which had held off all day, began to fall heavily, and this soon put an end to the advance for that day, as they were already far beyond the point they had expected to reach.
It was a thoroughly weary but nevertheless cheerful and triumphant lot of young Americans who made camp that night, for they had the consciousness of obstacles overcome and difficult work well done that made their bodily weariness seem a thing of small account.
CHAPTER XII
BEATING THE HUNS TO THEIR KNEES
“Hurrah!” cried Frank, as he came running up to his comrades in a state of great excitement.
“What’s up?” asked Billy.
“The jig’s up,” returned Frank.