.

Soon the lateral trenches became very numerous. Every one was filled
with soldiers, their arms resting on the ground. They eyed the
regiment filing past them enviously and were apparently curious to know
why it had been selected to lead the charge in preference to themselves.

"Who are you?" demanded one man.

"_La douzieme_," said Jacques.

"Ah," said the man. "I see."

It was a famous regiment to which these three boys belonged and its
record for daring and bravery was known by all the army. No wonder it
had been chosen to lead the advance. If anyone could get through, _la
douzieme_ was that one. A feeling of confidence pervaded the regiment
and the knowledge that the army shared that feeling was a source of
satisfaction to every member.

"Look!" exclaimed Leon suddenly. "What place is this?"

"There's not much left of it whatever it is," replied Jacques grimly.

The regiment had suddenly emerged from the trench into the street of a
village. At least it had once been a village, but only its ghost now
remained. Every house had been bombarded and battered until now there
was standing only bare walls, when indeed they had been spared.

"There's the moon," whispered Earl suddenly. "I saw it over my right
shoulder. That means good luck."

"We'll need it," said Leon grimly.

Down the ruined village street the march continued and then another
trench swallowed them up. Straight ahead they went and then turned
sharply to the right. A short distance and they swung to the left.
Finally the advance ceased and the men came to rest.

"We're in the first line trench," whispered Jacques.

"You don't have to tell me that," exclaimed Leon.

"Look here," cried Earl who was peering cautiously through one of the
holes made for the rifles.

Following his instructions Jacques and Leon could see the French shells
exploding in the opposing trenches. Big and little they were, and had
somewhat the appearance of a great display of fireworks. The noise was
beyond description. So fast did the shells burst that they seemed all
to be part of one continuous explosion. The German return fire only
added to the din.

"They say," shouted Jacques after a consultation with the man next to
him, "that only the German long range guns are doing any damage."

"I hope they don't find us here," said Leon grimly. "I want to live
long enough to get into this fight to-morrow anyway."

"How big are those long-range cannon of