Fighting in France | Page 5

"Look here," cried Earl who was peering cautiously through one of the
holes made for the rifles.
Following his instructions Jacques and Leon could see the French
shells exploding in the opposing trenches. Big and little they were, and
had somewhat the appearance of a great display of fireworks. The noise
was beyond description. So fast did the shells burst that they seemed all
to be part of one continuous explosion. The German return fire only
added to the din.
"They say," shouted Jacques after a consultation with the man next to
him, "that only the German long range guns are doing any damage."
"I hope they don't find us here," said Leon grimly. "I want to live long
enough to get into this fight to-morrow anyway."

"How big are those long-range cannon of the Germans?" asked Earl.
"Ten-inch," said Leon. "They're good ones too."
"Can't they use the 42-centimeter guns out here?"
"No, they're for smashing forts. They're mortars, you know."
"None of them compare with our 75's," exclaimed Jacques proudly.
"That is, for field work, you mean," said Leon.
"Yes. And no gunners can compare with the French, either."
"That's been proved to every one's satisfaction, I guess," Leon agreed.
It seemed remarkable that these three boys could stand in the front line
trenches of the greatest battlefield the world has ever known and calmly
discuss the merits of the rival artillery. Such is the effect of war,
however. It seems as if a man can become accustomed to almost
anything, and after weeks and months on the battle-line the artillery
duels and the ever-present death become matters of unconcern to the
ordinary soldier.
"We ought to get some sleep," Jacques announced finally.
"Can any one sleep here?" demanded Earl.
"I think I can," said Jacques. "I'm healthy and I'm tired."
"We can lie right down here in the trench," suggested Leon. "We can
use our knapsacks for pillows and maybe get a little sleep."
"This is no place for a man who's nervous," laughed Jacques as a
German shell whistled over their heads and exploded with a roar a short
distance behind their position.
"I should think not," exclaimed Earl. "Still I don't suppose it will do us
any good to keep thinking about it. I suppose we might as well try to

get a little rest as Jacques advises."
"Jacques won't be able to lie down," laughed Leon. "He's too tall."
"Not at all," protested the young Frenchman quickly, taking this remark
literally. "I am but six feet two; you and Earl are at least six feet."
"Not quite," said Leon. "At any rate I was only fooling."
"I see," said Jacques soberly. He did not always catch the drift of some
of the sallies his young American friends made.
"How about sleep?" exclaimed Earl. "We can get some little rest
anyway."
The three young soldiers followed the example of most of their
companions in the trench and lay down, with their knapsacks under
their heads. Still the artillery roared. Incessant explosions shattered the
night air, predicting the struggle to take place on the morrow.
CHAPTER III
THE ATTACK
"The cannonade is worse than it was last night."
"I think you're right, Leon," Jacques agreed. "That is quite natural
though."
"As a final effort I suppose," said Leon.
"Exactly."
"Here's breakfast," shouted Earl, trying to make himself heard above
the roar of the artillery. "That coffee looks good."
Hot coffee was furnished to every man and a meal was made of bread,
sardines and cheese.

"What's the time?" asked Jacques.
"Eight-thirty," replied Earl.
"Three quarters of an hour more," sighed Jacques. "I wish it was time
to start."
"Look here," cried Leon beckoning to his two companions. He was
peering out from one of the low places in the parapet and Jacques and
Earl quickly took their places beside him.
"You can see the German barbed wire in front of their trenches," said
Leon excitedly. "Do you suppose we'll ever reach that?"
"We'll go right on over it," said Jacques confidently. "Don't you worry
about that."
The scene was fascinating to the three boys. So it was also to their
comrades in the regiment. As far as one could see in either direction
along the trench men were lined up, waiting for the word to advance
and now and then stealing a glance, out across the field that stretched
between them and their goal.
"We are to keep in line with those two big trees on the hill yonder,"
said Jacques, pointing to a spot behind the German positions. "As long
as we keep headed for them we will be all right."
"That ought to be easy enough," exclaimed Leon.
Suddenly the command was passed down the line for every man to be
ready. Leon glanced at his watch;