Fighting in France

times almost ceased entirely. The men spent their time in improvin

g, Jacques?" deman

the young French

sed it cautiously above the edge of the parapet. Almost imme

cques," exclaimed

kled Jacques. "I l

d yourself if you

won't e

ined all about him. He soon tired of the game

r ditch, Leon?"

w; it's pret

enough

hold two

aimed Jacques. "I'm co

d alongside Leon. Little spurts of earth flew u

friends," chuckled Jacques addr

hing to do," exclai

itted Jacques. "

here is no use in takin

es. "I understand that you have some brea

duced both articles in question. Lying side by side in th

ld say if they could see me now," mus

e fighting here

y I should want to enlist in some other co

y," exclaimed Jacques. "America

people would probably wonder why I should w

r independence in the war of the Revolution? Why then is it strange that Ameri

think it's only right. What I said was, that

s. "They both had to fight hard to get it and now they s

ve always been good

simply, "and I hope

to his feet. He clasped both hands to his face and tried to rise but

in alarm, kneeling beside his c

ween the fingers of

Leon. "Take your hand

er but continued his

es was now bespattered with blood which spurted from a lon

ques," begged

his back in the ditch. Leon reached for his emergency dres

hit me, I guess,

soberly. "It's a lucky thing it did

. Pretty w

Leon. "You can't leave this place before

ugh," said Jacques. "T

ay," replied Leon grimly. "It'll

t of

help your

ays remind me that I did something

any better?

d like my can

ch was lying on the edge of the little ditch

anded Jacques as he saw

" said Le

re i

e shou

coat and shirt

a rifle-ball out of his shoulder. It had barel

. "How do you suppose its

struck somethi

I should say it did," he

The bullet had struck the magazine of the rifle, knocked o

ues. "If it hadn't been for that

to increase in severity once more. Evidently the way was be

on as dusk began to creep over the battlefield.

warned Jacqu

formerly occupied. His appearance was greeted by a volley of bullets from one of

he men managed to get some rest. At midnight Leon was relieved from his watch and prepared himself for sleep. One of

but suddenly he awoke to find himself in complete darkness. He felt suffocated. He tried to rise but was unabl

his breath and his mouth filled with dirt. Suddenly the