the hail of lead, he did not drop the pieces of the demolished truck he had picked up.

The firing from the German lines became hotter, and a machine gun began to splutter.

"It's all up with him now!" said the officer, with something like a groan. "I'll order our guns to shell the Hun trench, but it will be too late!"

He jumped down off the firing step, where he and the others, including Jerry and Bob, were standing, and started for the nearest telephone that connected with a battery.

Just then Ned was seen to stagger.

"He's hit!" someone cried.

But if he was the lad who had taken such a desperate chance did not stop. He dropped a piece of wood, but still he ran on, stooping over, and darting from side to side.

And at last, he reached the trench where Bob, Jerry, and his other comrades awaited him. The rain had made the top of the trench slippery, and Ned, striking this while going at full speed, fairly slid down into the ditch, the wood dropping from his arms all about.

"There you are!" he cried, as he recovered himself. "Enough wood for two fires! Now we can have something hot for breakfast! Bob, start the coffee boiling! I'm like you--hungry!"

For a moment the others stood staring at him, and then the officer came back.

"Did they get him?" he cried. "If they did they'll pay for it. We'll wipe out the Hun trench in another minute!"

Then he saw Ned, standing, surrounded by the splintered, wooden parts of the ammunition truck.

"Oh, you're here," said the officer, mechanically, as Ned saluted. "Well, what in the name of General Pershing did you want to do that for?"

"I wanted some wood to make a fire for breakfast, Sir," answered Ned simply. "Someone took our supply last night, and when I saw the truck blown to pieces and noticed that the driver was safe, I thought it a good chance to get some fairly dry fuel. So I took it. Better pick it up though, or it won't be dry long," he added to Jerry, and the latter, with Bob's help, obeyed. Ned had done his share.The officer stared at Ned as though the young soldier were a new sort of fighter, and then, with a shake of his head, turned away. It was past belief or understanding.

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