For a few moments they, thought they were going to have the way clear--that they would not be fired at. But this was not to be. Half way to the woods both boys saw off to their left several gray-uniformed figures leap up. "There they are! Shoot!" cried Jimmy. He fired from the hip, as did Roger. They were both pretty good shots, and they had practised this method, so they knew what they were doing. One of the Germans toppled over, though whether from the effect of Roger's fire or Jimmy's could not be told. But the others began firing in return, and the bullets sang about the heads of the Khaki Boys. "Come on! Run faster!" yelled Jimmy, as he fired again. "Say, there's a bunch of 'em!" cried Roger, as he saw more Huns springing up as if from holes in the earth where they had been hidden. Jimmy did not answer. He was busy firing at the enemy, even as he was being shot at, and he had the satisfaction of seeing two more go down. One of these Roger got. Then Jimmy felt a sharp pain in one ear, and, clapping his hand to it, he saw his palm covered with blood. "Hurt much?" cried Roger, as he dashed up beside his chum. "No, just a graze, I guess. But keep away from me. The two of us together make a bigger target than one. Separate!" He leaped to one side, and as he did so a bullet passed between him and Roger. They could hear it. Had they stood together one or both of them might have been hit. On they staggered, firing as rapidly as they could under the circumstances. They crouched down, zigzagged from side to side, and hoped for the best. They were now within the fringe of the woods, and a few feet more would bring them within the shelter of trees. But would they find more foes there? That was the question. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, and, glancing back for an instant, Roger and Jimmy saw that a shell had torn a big hole in the earth at a spot where the German firing party had been massed. There was no firing party now. "Was that one of our shells?" cried Roger. "Hard to say," was Jimmy's reply. "It did the trick for us all right, though." "If they don't come any nearer," added Roger grimly. Exhausted and weary, they reached the woods. They dodged in among the sheltering trees, fearing any moment that they would be fired upon by enemies who might be concealed in the copse. "I--I'm about all in!" gasped Roger. "Same here!" panted Jimmy. "We've got to rest and get some water after we make sure this place is comparatively safe." On they staggered. They could hardly breathe now, so great had been the rush and burdened, as they were, with equipment. They saw before them a little grassy glade, and at one edge of it was a spring of water. The sight was a welcome one. "Over there!" cried Roger, pointing to it to direct Jimmy's attention. "We'll flop down there and----"