The Yale expositor., 1916-11-30
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

ID
That was the worst part of II all
the waiting. Heart-rending reports OF
happenings in many Belgian villages
came to the British. for Courvoisier
was only one Of many hamlets that
had tragedies to relate. And the Brit
ish were powerless to aid those strick-
en- people.
Trench 27-the English trench which
Strectman had indicated upon his map
as being the keystone 10 the enemy's
defense-lay I'm the first line OF the
British. All unconscious of any spe-
cial designs that the Germans might
nave against their particular position,
the Tommles stationed there proceed
ed TO put things in shape for the gen
eral action that was bound to come.
AFTER completing their grim arrange
ments, there was little for them TO do
for the time being. except rest. And
that they were glad enough to do,
after their herculean exertions OF
those first days Of the war That there
was worse ahead of them they did not
douDt. But In the meantime there
was no reason why they should not
make themselves at home.
1t was night-the second night fol-
lowing that fatal day when the Ger
mans descended upon the Lion dor
ana robbed Jeanne Christophe OF her
father. In Trench 81 four soldiers
were playing poker under the shelter
or bombproof hut that they had con
structed by digging into a side OF the
ditch Dirty, unshaven, begrlmed.
they were nevertheless ENJOYING TO
the full their wel-earned respite. And
the hickerirg light Of the candle which
stood upon their rude table revealed
no fear upon the face OF any OF them.
At either end of the trench two men
stood guard, while close at hand a
periscope lay upon makeshift bench,
ready for instant use in case the
watchers should detect any unusual
and suspicious movements I'm front OF
them. out there beneath the stars the
first outpost of the enemy had already
dug itself in. And in testimony OF
their alertness the Germans contlnu.
ally played a searchlight upon the
British position. That prying shaft OF
light was never still. Now It swept
the top Of Trench 81, now hickered
upon tree close by. and then
searched the intervening ground be-
tween the two lines in an effort to de-
tect some venturesome observer.
To the four privates in the bomb
proof shelter there came momentary
interruption, In the shape Of a lieu
tenant. who sauntered into their
trench from the left. This youthful
officer, whom they had already voted
"a bit of albright" observed them
pleasantly.
Hello, boysr' he said
They sprang up and saluted, MUIR
muring Good evening. STRIP
Flows the gamer the lieutenant
inquired.
Henry, there, is winning all our
cigarettes" one of the men said.
The young officer smiled And then.
drawing a pencil and a postcard from
his pocket, he seated himself and pro-
ceeded to write a note to a young
woman In London. For Guy Falconer
had consistently kept his promise to
write Georgy every day.
The privates promptly resumed their
poker game.
IL raise it one cigarette" one OF
them said. And again Guy smiled.
He was glad that his boys were en-.
joying themselves.
So engrossed did Lieutenant Fal-
coner become in his note to his lady
love that he did not notice when his
captain appeared. in the company OF
a civilian. Captain Montague paused
and turned to his guest.
"Now, Mr.. Brown" he said, you're
In the first line of the English trenches
Trench 27-and | may say you're
the only American correspondent who
has had this experience"
Charlie Brown looked about with
undisguised interest.
"And | rather butted In" he re.
marked.
well, as long as you stumbled in
side our lines. you might as well see
something, II you give me your word
not to write anything"
That's a nice thing to say TO a
newspaper man." Charlie retorted.
"But I have your wordY"
81 s'pose sou 1t cost Mr.. Brown
some effort to promise that He saw
the makings Of bully scoop before
him. And he hated to forego such n
wonderful opportunity.
1.-THE closer you are to the front, the
less you know OF what's happening"
Captain Montague resumed, except
on your own very small square of a
very large checkerboard. But,
technically, you are under fire."