With yells they started out of the hole, but at that instant a shell descended directly on an old house where the Germans had made a stand, placing no less than ten machine guns in the structure, as was learned later. The shell came from the American lines, and was doubtless aimed according to directions signaled back by some Allied aviator. It fell directly on the house, and being an H. E. shell--that is, high explosive--the damage wrought was terrific. In one great blast, directly in front of the boys, and so close as to scatter dirt and small stones all about them, the house that sheltered the Boches was blown apart. And with it went the machine guns and those serving the weapons. That nest was wiped out, and with wild yells the Khaki Boys rushed forward to take advantage of the gap thus made in the German line. "Well, that saved us a lot of work," cried Franz, as they swept past the place where the house had been. Now it was but a hole in the ground. "Yes, and it saved a lot of lives," added Bob. "But the job isn't finished yet. We've got to go on!" "You said it!" came grimly from Roger. "Say, look on either side of us!" he added. "This is one of the biggest battles of the war." And so it proved. As the boys, taking a little breathing spell just beyond the machine-gun nest, looked to either side of them up and down the conflicting lines, they saw how the tide of battle was going. And at no point were the Americans giving way. Ever they were pressing onward. The German spear-head was broken off and flattened--being rendered harmless. In fact, it was being turned so as to become a veritable thorn in the side of the Boche enemy. Iggy, the Polish lad, rejoicing that he was again in the battle fighting for the beloved land of his adoption, had, early in the conflict, lost contact with Bob, Franz, and Roger. But this had happened before during fights, and Iggy was so desperately in earnest in firing his rifle at the foe, in rushing forward at the word of command, and in seeking such shelter as there was when told to, that he had little time to think of his friends. Bob, Roger, and Franz, after passing the demolished machine-gun nest, soon found themselves, together with others of their company, in a small patch of woods. "Rest here," directed a lieutenant. "There's a spring, and you can get some water. There'll be plenty of hard fighting yet, so take it easy when you can." "Water! Oh, boy!" came the cries of delight from the thirst-parched and wearied lads. And never did liquid taste sweeter. It refreshed them more than can easily be imagined. Then came the order to go forward, and in a fierce bit of fighting that followed, Franz Schnitzel found himself out of contact not only with Bob and Roger, but also away from any others of his company. "This won't do! Got to get back!" he decided. "They must be off to my left."