In a twinkling his comrades obeyed, and every drop that their canteens contained was emptied into the cooler. The result was apparent at once, and the gun continued its deadly work without interruption.
But now the Germans had brought up a field-piece and placed it in position where it had a good target in the tank, and shells began to fall thick and fast in the vicinity of their temporary fort. It was evidently only a matter of time before one of them would strike it and put it out of business.
“Getting pretty hot,” muttered Frank, as one shell fell within twenty feet and a great volume of smoke and dirt rolled over them.
“Can’t you pick off the gunners, Frank?” asked Billy.
“I’m trying to,” answered Frank, “but the bullets fall short. Those fellows are too far out of range.”
As he spoke, there was a roar that almost split their eardrums and a shell exploded within a few feet of the tank. It dug a great crater under one edge of the tank which began to topple ominously.
“Jump!” shouted Frank, and they leaped out just as the tank lurched over and tumbled into the hole.
They were just in time, for in another instant the monster would have carried them with it and probably caught them beneath its weight. As it was, Tom’s leg was badly scraped by one of the edges as it passed him.
CHAPTER XIII
THE WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER
The Germans sent up a triumphant shout as they saw the tank go over, and a large detachment came rushing out of the woods. But by the time they had advanced a few yards, Frank and his squad grabbed their rifles, and, crouching behind what shelter they could find, sent a volley of bullets into the enemy ranks.