CHAPTER XIV
DETAILED TO SCOUTING DUTY
The joy of that meeting, even under such grim circumstances, can bebetter imagined than described. To all it seemed unbelievable thatthey should have been spared to fraternize once more. The tears racedfrankly down Ignace's smoke-blackened face as he crooned over Jimmyin Polish. He could find no English in which to express his utterhappiness at seeing his best beloved Brother safe and sound. By commonconsent the quartet sought a dugout for a few minutes' talk. They werewild to compare notes.
"Take that handkerchief from your face," Jimmy commanded of Schnitzel."Where's your first-aid packet?"
"Gone. Used it on one of my men. It didn't do him much good. He wentWest in my arms. This beauty spot on my cheek is nothing much."
Schnitzel's joy at seeing his friends vanished from his face, leavingit doubly somber.
"I've only one whole man in my squad," he said. "Curse the Boches!"
"Amen!" agreed Roger savagely. "They lost me two good men. Theycertainly soaked it to the fire trench."
"We went 'em one better," exulted Schnitzel. "Their artillery isn't init with ours. It's a wonder they didn't slam their own fire trench.Some of those shells were aimed by Boche tailors, I guess. Theycertainly went wild. But, oh, Boy! What our batteries did to theirtrench was beautiful! Wish we'd gone over the top. We could have takentheir first trench easy as wink."
"That's what I thought," put in Roger. "I expected every minute to getthe order to go after 'em."
"We're too green yet, I suppose, for that," was Jimmy's opinion. "Thisstretch in the trenches is really our practice turn. Next time in,maybe, we'll get a chance to leg it across No Man's Land."
"That's what the Boches had up their sleeve," declared Schnitzel."They've been on pins to find out our strength and all that. Theyhaven't got much of a line on the Sammies yet. They'll know more aboutus when we get through with 'em, those that are left alive."
"So think I. By my squad have I the one man see get the head shoot off.Now will I soon the five Boche kill. So is it to pay the head thispoor man. This remember I when go over top. I will it do, I no get thecroak firs'," vowed Ignace vengefully.
"A Polish vendetta." Schnitzel smiled faintly. "A five to oneproposition like that suits me, though. I'll rid the earth of as manyFritzies as I can. If ever I get one where I want him, the Kameradbusiness won't go down with me. They say the dogs whine like anythingfor mercy in a bayonet charge. Cold steel gives 'em the Willies."
Having won safely through their first trial by fire, the Khaki Boyswere full of rancor against the enemy. The horrible slaughter of theircomrades had given Hate fresh impetus.
Bob presently returned, his face neatly plastered. Another joyfulreunion took place between himself, Ignace and Schnitzel.
"Go and get your face fixed, Schnitz," he advised when the firsteffusion of greeting was over. "The first-aid fellows have their ownhands full, but they'll do you up quick if you can get hold of one."
"I'm going to feed first," replied Schnitzel. "I didn't know I washungry until I saw you guys. Seeing you all to the good brought back myappetite."
"I'm hungry, too. It's a queer game, isn't it? How a fellow can seehis comrades go West by the shell road and then feel like eating is apuzzle to me," mused Roger.
"We're beginning to get used to the trenches," was Schnitzel's grimopinion. "A few more scraps like this and nothing will faze us. If weexpect to be any good as fighters we've got to eat, no matter whathappens."
A little later the five bunkies found breakfast very palatable, evenafter the horrors they had recently witnessed. The trench now fairlyclear of wounded and dead men, the survivors sat along the fire stepand hungrily devoured their stew and hot coffee.
After breakfast, sleep became the order of things, except for thosedetailed to various trench labors, particularly that of completelyrestoring the parapet. Men engaged in this task were relieved from timeto time by a fresh detail, thus enabling all to get a few hours' rest.Except for occasional Boche shrapnel shells aimed principally at thecommunication trenches, all remained serene.
A communication trench is not easy to hit, as it makes use ofeverything available for cover. It is cut through the ruins of barnsor houses and seeks in every possible way to conceal itself from enemyobservation. As it must run indirectly at right angles to the firetrench and thus toward the German, its zig-zag, tortuous windings arenecessary to keep it from being enfiladed by the enemy guns. When itreaches a spot bare of bushes, ruins or similar protection, it makesa quick turn to the right, then to the left, to the left once more,forming a partial square, which prevents the preceding bit of trenchfrom being enfiladed.
It is generally about five feet deep and the earth taken from it ispiled up on each side, forming mounds. Stakes are driven into it to aheight of about two feet above its open top on each side, and betweenthese stakes expanded metal is stretched to keep the piled-up earth inplace.
Along the dirt walls on each side are rows of telephone wires. Thesebelong principally to the artillery batteries. Failing to get a directwhack at a communication trench, the Germans are fond of shelling "atit" nevertheless. In consequence, their shrapnel does much damage tothe top and sides of it. After a bombardment it keeps both engineersand sappers (wiring men) busy putting it in order again. Often thewires become so tangled that the various artillery signalers have greatdifficulty in locating their own.
In going to an advanced first-aid dugout to have their slight woundsdressed, Schnitzel and Bob had traveled back a little way through oneof these trenches. By daylight it was teeming with activity. Theypassed sappers, engineers and various worried-looking persons, all ofwhom were busy putting the place to rights after the attack of themorning.
Bob, in particular, was so much impressed by what he had seen that,before going to sleep after breakfast, he wrote down a detaileddescription of the communication trench as it appeared to him. Proudlyexhibiting it to Roger, he met with a severe shock.
"You'd better tear that up quick," was Roger's stern advice. "Youmustn't carry it around with you. Suppose you got the order to go overthe top. You'd go and maybe get killed. Then some Boche might get holdof that paper. It's information, you know."
"Oh, I'd tear it up if I knew I was going over," asserted Bob.
"You might forget to do it. Better be on the safe side and can it."
Grumbling a little, Bob reduced the fateful paper to bits.
"I guess I won't gather much data in this dump," was his regretfulopinion. "If I write it in billet and try to send it home to Mrs.Blaise, the censor'll probably can it. I'll have to keep it all inmy head. If a shell takes my head off, it'll be a great loss to theliterary world and a greater one to Bobby."
"When the war's over and you get back to the U. S. you can scribble allyou want to and no one will stop you," consoled Jimmy. "Won't that benice?"
"Yes, when it is and when I do is something to gamble on," jeered Bob."Another such shindig as this morning and Bobby may be taking a littletrip West. I'm going to sleep and forget this pesky old ditch for awhile."
Awakened toward the middle of the afternoon to relieve men who had beenon duty, the five Brothers were kept busy by various tasks which theywere called upon to perform. Quiet still prevailing, evening drew onwith no signs of immediate hostilities on the part of the foe. All daythey had prudently kept the smoke curtain across their lines in orderto conceal their activities from the Americans.
Shortly before dark Jimmy Blaise was set aquiver with excitementwhen he received information that he had been chosen to make one ofa scouting party who were to go out on a scouting expedition into NoMan's Land.
The party was to start out at ten o'clock and creep across to theGerman lines in order to discover whether the Boches had repaired theirwire entanglements or had still left lanes in them, preparatory tomaking a raid that night. They were also instructed to keep their eyesand ears open for anything else that might fall to their lot to see orhear.
Realizing that this scouting duty might be his last, Jimmy sought outhis bunkies for a farewell word. Though it was still light, the order"stand to" had gone forth and half of the occupants of the front-linetrench ranged along the fire step with bayonets fixed and ready. Theother half were still resting in the dugouts.
"I'm going out as a scout," he informed Bob, who was nearest to him.
"You don't say! Take me along!"
"Wish I could. I don't know who all is in the gang. LieutenantRedmond's in command," Jimmy replied. "I've got to beat it and see thefellows before dark. Now will be my only chance to get a word with 'em.We're to start out at ten. See you again in a few minutes."
So saying, Jimmy went on down the trench to where Ignace, Roger andSchnitzel were usually stationed. He was not sure whether they were onduty or in a dugout. He soon came upon them. They were seated on thefire step not very far apart.
Jimmy's news brought a shadow of deep gloom to Ignace's solemn face.
"I no like," he said sadly. "I would by you go the care you to take.You no come back, I hope shail hit me then pretty quick."
"Cheer up, Iggins. I'll come back. Now shake hands. Not good-bye. Justfor luck. I'll see you again to-night all right."
Ignace looked his deep distress as he mournfully shook his Brother'shand. He would not have minded going out on such a hazardousenterprise, but he hated to see Jimmy go.
Roger accepted the news very quietly. There was a wistful look in hisblue eyes, however, as his hand met Jimmy's.
"Do be careful, Blazes," he urged. "Don't jump headfirst into somethingwithout looking before you jump. You're too blamed venturesome for yourown good, you know."
"I'll be a regular slippery sleuth," Jimmy promised as he left Roger togo on to Schnitzel. "Schnitz," he began, "I'm going out on a scoutingparty. I----"
"So am I," was the amazing response.
"Under Lieutenant Redmond?" was Jimmy's excited query.
"Yep."
"Good work!" Jimmy brightened visibly. "Then we're in the same detail.It certainly suits Blazes."
"That's fine," glowed Schnitzel. "I was going to wait till a littlelater and tell you fellows. I intended to ask leave to have a word withyou and Bob before I went."
Together the two walked to where Roger and Ignace were stationed.Pausing only to shake hands again with both, Jimmy went on to hisstation, leaving Schnitzel with his other two bunkies.
Shortly afterward Schnitzel came to bid Bob farewell. The latter didnot look as cheerful as usual. Jimmy had already informed him thatSchnitzel was also to be one of the party. Two bunkies going on adanger hike into No Man's Land made Bob feel rather downcast. He kepthis feelings to himself, however.
The same yearning light that had darkened Roger's blue eyes leaped intoBob's black ones as he shook hands with Schnitz and wished him a safereturn. He could not help thinking that it would be a miracle if eitherSchnitz or Jimmy Blazes got back from the detail alive.