But there was little time on that morning to indulge in private griefs. The fight was on, and shortly after dawn the battle was resumed. All the forenoon it raged with great ferocity. But American grit and steadfastness never wavered and the enemy was forced to retire with heavy loss. Not only had they failed to drive the Americans from their positions, but they had been driven back and forced to surrender a large portion of their own, including the place where Frank had crouched in the shell hole the night before. Shortly after noon there came a lull while the Americans reorganized the captured positions. Infantry actions ceased, though the big guns, like belligerent mastiffs, still kept up their growling at each other. "Hot work," remarked Frank, as, after their work was done, the three friends found themselves together in the shade of a great tree. "A corking scrap," agreed Bart, as he sprawled at his ease with his hands under his head. "The Heinies certainly put up a stiff fight," observed Billy, as he tied up his little finger from which blood was trickling. "They felt so sure that they were going to make mincemeat out of us that it was hard to wake out of their dream," chuckled Frank. "I wonder if they're still kidding themselves in Berlin that the Yankees can't fight." "In Berlin perhaps but not here," returned Bart. "They've had too much evidence to the contrary." "I wonder if this is really the beginning of the big drive that the Huns have been boasting about?" hazarded Billy. "I hardly think so," replied Frank. "There's no doubt that that's coming before long, but the fighting yesterday and today was probably to pinch us out of the salient we're holding. That would straighten out their line and then they'd be all ready for the big push. When that comes there will be some doings." "The longer they wait the harder the job will be," said Billy. "They say that our boys are coming over so fast that they're fairly blocking the roads." "They can't come too many or too fast," replied Bart. "And they'll sure be some busy bees after they get here." "Well, we're not worrying," observed Billy. "We're getting along pretty well, thank you. By the way, Frank," he went on with a grin, "are you feeling any different on this ground today than you felt last night?" "Bet your life," laughed Frank. "It's just about here that I was calling a Heinie a jackass. And at that same minute I was thinking that my life wasn't worth a plugged nickel." "Wonder how the fellow made out that you left in the shell hole," chuckled Billy. "Oh, he was all right," replied Frank. "I shouldn't wonder if he was rather chilly during the night, but no doubt they hauled him out in the morning." "He got off lucky, though," put in Bart. "It's the sentry who got the hot end of the poker. I wonder what he thought when he heard that watchword."