Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-13

dugout last night, hurriedly fastened
his equipment and went into the other
dugout. Stanhope was on duty and
Osborne had already gone up to the
trench. While he hesitated as to whether
he, too, should go up and see what he
was supposed to do when he got there,
Trotter came busting past.
Better come along with me-" he said.
1t was still quite dark. but one knew
that the dawn was at hand because of
the quietnesS and the cold fresh breeze
that came In gusts. 1t seemed, too, that
the stars in the east were turning slight
ly pale. To Raleigh 1t was quite I'M
cannily quiet. He had not much i'm
agination, and it seemed almost impos-
sible to believe that somewhere in the
darkness beyond the front line the
Germans we're waiting, as the British
were waiting here, for an attack Ever
so far away to the north there must be
some sort of bombardment, for the al
most incesSant rumble of guns came
very family to his ears like distant
thunder on a Summer evening.
They don't 'arf ate each other up
there by Wipers," commented Trotter
He led the way, Gathering along over
the duckboards to the firing line, where
rows Of SentrieS,, standing on the fire
time to time, with q sharp hiss and a
little trail OF sparks, Very light shot
up into the air, burst into vivid
incandescence. and f1oated slowly down.
ward, showing up this row of sentrieS
In dark silhouette. Raleigh went along
to his own platoon. talked a while to
the sergeant, peered, too, into No Mans
Land, and longed for the time when
the command would be given to stand
az h
shave and some breakfast.
Further along the trench, Stanhope
went from sentry to sentry. He could
chat to the men with a friendliness
which even Osborne, being more re-
served, could never have achieved, and
which led to too much familiarity when
initiated by Trotter. Despite his keen
sense of discipline and the increasing
uncertainty Of his moods, every man in
the company would rather have gone
to him than to any other officer for help
or advice. And the older the soldier
the greater became his confidence in
the captain.
Some one passed along word that the
colonel was up In the line, and Stanhope
met him just where the sap joined the
main trench. He was accompanied by
Trotter-since this was the sector oc-
cupied by his platoon-and by an
Good morning. stanhope," he said
I want word with you"
Right, SIR" He stepped up on the
fire platform, and peered over No Mans
Land. The white line of the German
sandbags was now plainly visible, and
the sky behind them was clear, with a
faint golden haze on the horizon. He
turned to Trotter. "You might tell
Osborne to carry on for the time being ="
he said. Better give them another
10 minutes before they stand down.
Then he sat down with the colonel
on the fire-step to hear the news
ITS about this German attack" the
colonel explained cd Company took
prisoner last night, and he says it's
coming, probably on the 21st."
The 21st? That's the day after to-
morrow"
Yes, and wanted to let you know
that when it does come we can't expect
much support from behind"
Il see," said Stanhope grimly.
you'll have to stay where you are
as long as you can"
AS long as we can, sir?"
That's it; you know what that
means"