tillery is," said Jacques proudly. "That
one battery that's left would have been silenced long ago too if it
hadn't been hidden pretty well."

"How do you know it's hidden?"

"Because they'd have located it before this time if it wasn't."

The French aeroplanes which had been soaring overhead for a long time
now began to swoop lower. Evidently the aviators were searching for
the battery in question. A swift biplane swept past, barely two
hundred and fifty yards above the trenches. Amid a perfect storm of
shot it returned safely to its lines.

"Dig the trenches deeper," came the order.

"Hear that?" demanded Jacques. "That means we stay out here all night,
I guess."

CHAPTER VII

IN THE DITCH

The time passed slowly. The cannonade slackened in intensity and at
times almost ceased entirely. The men spent their time in improving
their positions and enlarging the ditches in which they were lying.

"What are you doing, Jacques?" demanded Leon suddenly.

"Watch me," was the young Frenchman's only reply.

He placed his steel helmet on the end of his bayonet and raised it
cautiously above the edge of the parapet. Almost immediately a storm
of German bullets struck all around the spot.

"You're crazy, Jacques," exclaimed Leon. "Stop that."

"Not at all," chuckled Jacques. "I love to fool them."

"You'll get fooled yourself if you're not careful."

"No, I won't either."

He repeated the move and again the bullets rained all about him. He
soon tired of the game, however, and for a time lapsed into silence.

"How big is your ditch, Leon?" called Jacques.

"I don't know; it's pretty good size."

"Large enough for two?"

"It might hold two I guess."

"All right then," exclaimed Jacques. "I'm coming over to see you."

With two quick jumps he was out of his ditch and alongside Leon.
Little spurts of earth flew up from the parapet in front as he took his
place.

"You were too slow that time, my friends," chuckled Jacques addressing
his remarks to the Germans.

"That was a risky thing to do," exclaimed Leon reprovingly.

"I know it," admitted Jacques. "All war is risky."

"Just for that reason there is no use in taking unnecessary chances."

"That was not unnecessary," grinned Jacques. "I understand that you
have some bread and cheese still left and I am hungry."

"That's true," admitted Leon and from his knapsack he produced both
articles in question. Lying side by side in that sh