Fighting with French

er of the messages was at some other point behind the long British front. But on the first night of their return to billets it occurred to Harry that the light might possibly

of this as an observation post, which some of his officers regarded as an excess of scrupulous

certainly using a church tower a few miles away gave his consent. Finding, therefore, the sacristan, Harr

ward, and they were indeed on the point of quitting the spot when Kenneth caught sight of a twinkle far away t

ter Harry had taken a look. "But it is clear that they ar

ower, and see if the light is

ot of the belfry itself could they

ing to this village, that's clear. There's certainly no observer but

ood. Only the attics of the Alsatian philanthropist's house rose above that level. That large building in its extensive grounds was about sixty

y of Obernai's servants is in German pay," Kenneth cont

Adams next morning. Later in t

uld answer for them all. I didn't tell him why I had made the enquiry; it's best to keep these things as quiet as possible; we don't want to make people uneasy.

ard of the signalli

he Rutlands were moved a little to the right, and Kennedy's platoon occupi

d Ginger when he picked up, among the various articles left by it

inger," he said with a laugh. "He's

arry. "You forget I was in

tle cherub face when you let off your songs on the platform. 'Isn't he

oke, and I got out of all that. I haven't sung a not

old man. But look here; whistle ov

scanned it for a mom

l. The notes go up

led a fe

t's Stoneway's exercises, by the sound of it. C

Stoneway next time I

er. "If he hasn't got i

interrup

! Here th

apart on the banquette, looking excitedly through the loopholes. Across the open ground in front the Germans were advancing in a serried m

ted breathlessly the order to fire. On came the dense grey lines. The Germans did not fire; with fixed bayonets they swarmed forward rapidly. They came to

rounds,

ree times the rifles spoke. Men were shouting, they knew not what. Other sounds mingled with the din: yells,

ending torrent; the grey-clad men were drawing nearer to the trench. The rifle-fire was now continuous, but it was of no avail to repel this close-packed horde. There was no longer question of taking cover. The Rut

rawled forward again. Again they were driven back. They began to retreat. And then Kennedy leapt on the parapet and gave the command to charge. The men responded with alacrity. Up they scrambled, over the fallen men, and dashed forward with exultant shouts. There was a whizz and boom overhead. The British artillery behind was comi

to the Germans from the east. They had no reserve strong enough to hold the new line in face of a superior force. Th

up a pick, and remembering the pond at the right of the communicating trench, he began to cut a hole through the three or four feet of interveni

equipment that were scattered over the ground, threaded their way among the fallen men, stopping here and there to assist wounded comrades. Meanwhile

e friends met at the edge of their trench. Each ran his eyes rapidly over t

eir dug-out, the three men t

, "but I hadn't time to be afraid. I f

nically cleaning his rifle.

er. What for? What about his mother? And all those poor chaps yonder: why can't them as make wars let us alone? Men ain't made to kill

hat force isn't everything, that people have a right to live their own lives without being bullied. For every man that dies, whether English or German, perhaps thousands may have a better time in days to come. That's worth fighting for, and dying for, if need be. We've all got our little part to play. It's not a thing you c