CHAPTER XXVIII.

A dash for liberty.

Swiftly the high-powered armored motor-cars rushed on, drawing closer and closer to the solid ranks of the enemy.  Not expecting trouble from within their own lines, the Germans were not on the lookout for this spectacular dash, and so were caught unprepared.

Hal gave the prearranged signal.  The other cars increased their speed and drew up to him, two on either side.  At a second signal they increased their speed to the utmost, and dashed forward.

The Germans lay sprawled about, the close formation having been more or less broken following the morning fight.  The five speeding monsters were upon them almost before they realized it.  As the cars approached the first irregular line of troopers, the British in the machines opened fire.  In spite of their terrific speed, their aim was good.  Germans tumbled right and left, or fell back as they attempted to rise.

Then the machines plowed in among them, hurling them helter-skelter on all sides, the occupants continuing their destructive fire.

But now the Germans opened fire, and, in spite of the fact that the speed of the flying automobiles made accurate shooting impossible, the British did not escape scot-free.  Three men in one of the machines to the left of the one driven by Hal dropped their rifles and sank to the bottom of the car.  In one on the opposite side a soldier threw up his hands and tumbled from the car.

Hal, protected as he was on either side, had not been touched, nor had Chester, who stood erect the while, firing rapidly with his automatic.

Suddenly the car nearest the lads on the left swerved, and almost bumped into them; in fact, would have done so, but for Hal’s promptness in turning slightly to the right.  The driver of the car had been struck by a German bullet and killed.

The driverless machine, swerving suddenly to the left, leaped forward ahead of the others, turned suddenly to the right again, and plunged straight toward the dense masses of Germans, the British inside still shooting as calmly as though they stood on firm ground, although it was plainly evident to them that the wild car was carrying them to certain death.

All this the boys could see at a glance, but they quickly passed beyond, and so did not see the gallant fate of their comrades.

Plunging straight into the dense masses of Germans, the gallant machine leaped upon them like a thing of life, hurling them off on all sides, and running amuck over their prostrate forms.  Then, with another sudden turn to the left, it sped directly toward a group of officers, who stood nearby directing the firing.  So sudden was this unexpected turn that the officers were run down before they could move from their tracks.

Then the machine darted straight at a German field battery.