"Armande!" cried Jacques, suddenly recognizing his rescuer. "You saved my life."
"It is part of the day's work," said Armande lightly, for it was indeed the daring Frenchman who had aided Jacques so opportunely.
Every German in the trench had by this time either been killed or captured and already the prisoners were being led back to the French lines.
"The next trench now," shouted someone. "Why stop here?"
A cheer greeted this remark and immediately the soldiers began to scramble out of the captured position. The second line of German trenches ran through a little wood on one border of which appeared the tower of a château which had so far escaped destruction in some miraculous way.
"Let's make for that," shouted Armande in Jacques' ear. "If we can reach that château we can defend ourselves indefinitely."
"Get some more men and we'll go," answered Jacques.
"This way! This way!" cried Armande, and immediately a dozen or fifteen men turned aside and followed his lead.
At top speed the little company dashed forward. The German rifles and machine-guns raked them with a galling fire, but still they kept on. Four of their number fell, but undaunted the others still continued the mad race. Closer and closer to the half-ruined château they came.
"They're firing from the tower," shouted Jacques. "The place is occupied."
"What of it?" demanded Armande. "So much the better."
An occasional flash from the narrow windows of the tower told that the Germans were using the place for defense. How many of them might be in there at present no one could tell. Not one of the attackers faltered on this account, however. Apparently they did not care whether four or forty men might be waiting for them.
Straight up to the front door Armande dashed. It was open and he rushed inside. Close at his heels followed the rest of the daring little company. A fusillade of bullets sang about their ears but no one was touched.
Up the winding stairs ahead of them three German soldiers could be seen fleeing. Their escape cut off below they had made for the only safe place left, the tower of the château. Armande was for following right after them, but Jacques restrained him.
"Wait," he cautioned. "They're above you and have us at a disadvantage."