Suddenlythelong，unpicturesque`guerredetranchees’wasatanend，andthefieldreallypresentedtheaspectofthefamiliarbattlepictures，——
thebattalionsinmanoeuvre，theofficers，superblyindifferenttodanger，gallopingaboutontheirchargers。ButnowtheGermanguns，movedback，begantogetourrange，andtheshellstoburstoverandaroundbatteriesandtroops，manywithadmirableprecision。Heremybestcomradewasstruckdownbyshrapnelatmyside，——painfullybutnotmortallywounded。
Ioftenenviedhimafterthat。FornowouradvancedtroopswereincontactwiththeGermansecond-linedefenses，andtheseprovedtobeofacharactersoformidablethatallfurtheradvancewithoutapreliminaryartillerypreparationwasoutofthequestion。Andourrole，thatoftroopsinreserve，wastoliepassiveinanopenfieldunderashellfirethateveryhourbecamemoreterrific，whileaeroplanesandcaptiveballoons，towhichwewereentirelyexposed，regulatedthefire。
Thatnightwespentintherain。Withportablepicksandshovelseachmandughimselfinaswellaspossible。Thenextdayourconcentratedartilleryagainbeganthebombardment，andagainthefusilladeannouncedtheentranceoftheinfantryintoaction。
Butthistimeonlythewoundedappearedcomingback，noprisoners。