place before dark though; it would be sure death to try."

"Oh, I'm all right enough," said Jacques. "This is only a scratch."

"A pretty deep scratch I should say," replied Leon grimly. "It'll
leave a scar as long as you live."

"What of it?"

"It won't help your looks any."

"What do I care? That scar will always remind me that I did something
for France. I shall be proud of it."

"Do you feel any better?" asked Leon.

"A little. I'd like my canteen though."

Leon reached for the article in question which was lying on the edge of
the little ditch. As he turned he felt a blow in the shoulder.

"What's the matter?" demanded Jacques as he saw his companion sink back.

"I'm hit," said Leon simply.

"Where is it?"

"In the shoulder."

"Unbutton your coat and shirt and look at it."

Leon quickly complied and a moment later picked a rifle-ball out of his
shoulder. It had barely broken the skin and the wound bled but little.

"That's funny," mused Leon. "How do you suppose its force became spent
so soon?"

"It must have struck something else first."

Leon looked about him. "I should say it did," he exclaimed. "Look
here."

He picked up Jacques' gun which was lying on the parapet. The bullet
had struck the magazine of the rifle, knocked out one cartridge and
torn a hole through the wooden stock.

"Pretty lucky for you," said Jacques. "If it hadn't been for that gun
you'd have been done for now."

The afternoon dragged slowly along and the bombardment began to
increase in severity once more. Evidently the way was being prepared
for a further advance of the infantry that night.

"I'd better leave you now I guess," remarked Leon as dusk began to
creep over the battlefield. "You stay here and I'll go back to your
ditch."

"Be careful," warned Jacques. "Keep low."

With a quick jump Leon sprang out of the ditch and over into the one
Jacques had formerly occupied. His appearance was greeted by a volley
of bullets from one of the German machine-guns but the aim was too high
and he reached his goal in safety.

As night fell half the section remained on the alert while the other
half slept. The cannonade was now furious but the men managed to get
some rest. At midnight Leon was relieved from his watch and prepared
himself for sleep. One of the men furnished him with two overcoats
stripped from dead Germans and with these he made a fairly comfortable
bed.

In spite of the terrific di