His rifle spoke and the officer plunged forward to the ground.
“Good shooting,” commended Billy, as a bullet from his gun also found its mark.
But this time the Germans were bound on winning through, and they came on with determination. The distance between the two forces lessened to a hundred feet, then to eighty, then to fifty. The Army Boys pumped lead into the enemy ranks as fast as their fingers could pull the trigger and the German loss was heavy, but still they kept on.
“Fix bayonets,” commanded Frank, his eyes blazing, as the line got within thirty feet of him. “When I give the word, follow me.”
Another moment passed.
“Forward!” shouted Frank, and the next instant he sprang forward with leveled bayonet, with his devoted little band close on his heels.
There was a shout and a volley from the Germans and two of Frank’s men fell wounded, but the rest kept on and in another second they were in the midst of the German ranks and giving them the bayonet.
Stabbing and hacking, they hewed their way into the mass. And just at that moment there was a great cheer behind them and a company of the old Thirty-seventh with Captain Baker at their head came pounding along and threw themselves into the fight.
The tables had turned and turned with a vengeance, and now it was the Germans who were outnumbered. They were already disconcerted by the savageness of Frank’s attack and the coming of the new foe threw them into a panic. They put up a show of resistance, but this soon vanished, and they broke and fled, pursued by the Americans who did not pause in the work until they had rounded up the greater portion of the fleeing enemy as prisoners.
The captain congratulated Frank and his comrades warmly for their gallant stand, but there was little time for talk, for much remained to be done. The prisoners were sent to the rear and the wounded were gathered up and taken away to an advanced dressing station. The corporal, they were glad to be told, was not fatally wounded, although he would probably be in the hospital for a couple of weeks.