Then, suddenly, without further words, Hal turned his gun on the four men, in spite of their Red Cross uniforms, and fired. "And just in time!" muttered Bowers to himself. CHAPTER VIII THE ADVANCE CONTINUES The queer-looking litter, as Bowers termed it, came suddenly to life. The quartet of Germans tumbled in a sprawling, jerking heap. One sprang in the air, raising and overturning the litter as he did so. The gray blanket which had covered it fell off and Bowers' suspicions were confirmed. It was a machine gun the "Red Cross" counterfeits had been carrying away. "Good job there, sir," Bowers called to Hal. The lad nodded grimly to himself. "So that's the way they play the game, eh?" he said. "Well, I'll be prepared for them when they try another trick like that." The tank jangled on. Out of a hole in the ground, partially hidden by a tangle of old wire, suddenly popped a German boy in soldier's uniform. His appearance was so unexpected that Bowers stopped the tank abruptly. The German's hands were raised high in the air. "Kamerad!" he cried. "Kamerad!" He was so near the tank that Hal could see the tears streaming down his cheeks. "I haven't got the heart to shoot him," Bowers called to Hal. "Climb out, sir, and see what he has to say." Hal knew as well as any soldier in the Allied armies that tanks, British, French or American, were not expected to make prisoners unless the infantry was in immediate support, and for this reason he understood what Bowers meant when the marine said he couldn't shoot the German boy down in cold blood. The reason may be readily understood, for the crew of a baby tank is composed of only two men. Only now and then is it possible to shepherd prisoners ahead of a tank and it is always bad practice for either of the crew to leave his steel fortalice. In this case, however, Hal took into consideration the youth of the prisoner. "Better be careful, sir," Bowers called as Hal opened the door and crawled out. "Remember the Boche who called 'Kamerad' to me awhile back." "But this is only a boy," replied Hal, "and he's crying at that." "Can't help that, sir. They're all bad actors and none is to be trusted." "I guess I'm safe enough," declared Hal, as he advanced. "Got your gun?" called Bowers. Hal shook his head. "I don't need any gun for this Boche," said he. "Maybe not," grumbled Bowers to himself, "but I guess I'll just crawl out after you." As Hal approached the boy, the German's face changed. He saw that Hal was unarmed, while at his side hung a handsome Luger pistol. He stopped his cry of "Kamerad" and began jerking at the fastenings of his weapon. The flap of the American holster fastens with a leather button, which facilitates hasty action, while the German holster is buckled down.