But soon they realized that this
But soon they realized that this, too, was as hopeless as the pounding,
for it further exhausted the energy which the foul air was rapidly
sapping, without making any apparent opening in the thick earthen wall
that surrounded them.
“Well,” said Slim at last, gulping back his nausea, and smiling almost
in his old time way, “Im as anxious as anybody to keep up hope to the
last. But if this is to be our end, I guess we can face it as Americans
should.”
“Bravo!” exclaimed Lieutenant Mackinson, “I always knew that each one of
you fellows had the right sort of stuff in you.”
And Jerry, too, slapped him affectionately on the back.
“Slim,” he said, smiling over at his chum, and ready for his pun, even
under such circumstances, “my head is feeling a trifle heavy, but Im
game to stand up to the last.”
Thus they sat down to wait–for just what, they did not know–while at
that very moment, four feet away from them on the other side of the
wall, faithful Joe was setting up the flashlight exactly according to
directions.
For a few seconds he waited, and then, three times in quick succession,
a rocket went into the air from just behind the American lines.
Over there Captain Hallowell himself found the range, submitted it to
his most expert gunner, who verified it, and then they waited for the
three minutes to elapse, during which Joe was to seek a place of safety.
It was in that interval, too, that Fate intervened for those within the
cave, for they were sitting with their backs to the very point against
which the shell was to be directed.
“We need all our strength,” Lieutenant Mackinson was saying. “So long as
possible we want to remain in full possession of our senses. The air is
purer near the floor. I think it would be better to lie down.”
And following his suggestion and example, the other two stretched
themselves out in the middle of the cavern.
Within the American lines, at that point where a regiment of heavy
artillery was stationed, Captain Hallowell raised his hand in signal to
his gunner. Out on the parapet of the front trench an anxious colonel
was standing, regardless of all danger, a pair of powerful glasses to
his eyes. His vision was focused upon a little light far out in No Mans
Land.
Two hundred feet away from that light Joe and Frank Hoskins lay prone
upon the ground, silent, impatient, fearful, hoping.
With a quick motion the artillery captain swung his outstretched arm
downward. There was a roar, a flash, and a great shell tore through the
air. Out in No Mans Land there was a second explosion as the shell hit,
and the target–a flashlight–was blown to atoms.
Over in the German trenches a sentinel chuckled at the thought of
another wasted American shell, but out of the hole that that shell had
torn three pale, haggard, and exhausted youths were crawling to safety
and Gods fresh air. And across No Mans Land dashed two pals to greet
them.
American determination and American marksmanship had Wokw 102.9 Mhz In Curwensville saved three
American lives. The German sentinel might have his laugh if he liked.
It was hours later before the three who had been imprisoned learned how
their rescue had been effected; but they got an inkling of it as they
came within four hundred yards of the American-French front.
“What are you doing?” Lieutenant Mackinson had asked, as Joe brought the
party to a stop.
“Just a moment and you will see,” Joe had responded.
And, first in wonder and then with a dawning understanding, the other
three read off his flashed message:
“Signal Corps men, and whole party safe.”
CHAPTER XV
THE SURPRISE ATTACK–PROMOTION
During the week that followed, the lads were confined almost entirely to
regular routine work, with nothing particularly exciting. Frank Hoskins
elbow wound healed quickly, without any serious results; and Tom Rawle,
who had been under treatment at the field hospital, was able to get
about the camp, although still pale and weak, and limping considerably
from his injury.