They followed the suggestion and were relieved to find that there was a little stretch of dry sand beyond the water line. They took Bart from the plank and bore him out on the sand. Here they rubbed his wrists and tried as far as they could in the darkness to ascertain the extent of his injuries. Frank did not dare to use his flashlight for fear of betraying their presence to the enemy. To their immense relief Bart soon showed signs of returning animation. He opened his eyes and was about to speak, when Frank put his hand gently on his lips. "Don't speak, old man," he whispered. "You're all right. It's Frank speaking. Billy's here. Just whisper to me and tell where you're hurt. But be careful, for the Germans are all around us." "Guess I'm not hurt much," whispered Bart. "Got a clip on the head when that beam struck the boat." "Sure you didn't get a bullet?" asked Frank anxiously. "I don't think so," replied Bart. "Head's dizzy from that crack, but I feel all right everywhere else." "Bully!" said Frank. "Now you just lie there till you get your strength back, and then we'll figure out what's to be done." It was a hard problem, and it became none the easier a few minutes later when a boat came along under oars and was tied up at the end of the pier. It was a big boat and similar to those in which the Germans had made their unsuccessful attempt to cross the river a few days before. It had evidently been out in the river picking up the wounded who had been thrown into the stream by the explosion. The rickety planks creaked as the soldiers carried the wounded survivors over the pier to the bank beyond. It would have been an exceedingly bad time for the Army Boys to be discovered and they crowded back as far as they could to escape detection. The Germans were in a terrible rage over the body blow that had been dealt them in the destruction of the bridge. Apart from the heavy losses in men their entire plan of campaign would have to be reconstructed. "That one bullet of yours was a mighty effective one, Frank," whispered Billy. "It was classy shooting," said Bart. "From a rocking boat with shells bursting all around and so much depending on it, there'd have been lots of excuse for missing." "Maybe the old Thirty-seventh isn't feeling good over the way the thing went through," chuckled Billy. "And maybe we won't get the glad hand when we get over there," murmured Bart. "We've got to get there first," whispered Frank, "and we've got a mighty slim chance of doing that as long as this boat stays here." Every instant was fraught with peril. They had no weapons and even if they had they would have stood no chance against the throng of enemies surrounding them. Their only hope of safety lay in not being discovered. But at last, to their great relief, the German rowers resumed their places at the oars and the boat pulled out into the darkness. "Thank heaven, they're gone at last!" breathed Billy.