uld have been
called "I want to go home," for that was its dirge-like refrain, always
sung very cheerfully indeed, or with mock earnestness. Time and again I
heard its chorus taken up with terrific gusto from end to end of this
trench, and the whole extraordinary composition spread to other trenches
like a contagion. Its popularity was instant and enduring--and as
unaccountable as the popularity of many other popular songs. I think I
quote the inspired words of the chorus correctly:--

"I want to go home,
I want to go home--
Tho' the Jack Johnsons and shrapnel
May whistle and roar,
I don't want to go in the trenches no more;
I want to be
Where the Alleymonds can't catch me:
Oh my!
I don't want to die--
I want--to go home."

Three rifles are deposited on the steps of the fireplace--the usual
position for rifles when not in hand, dropped inside canvas bags,
bayonets protruding--kept well greased, to prevent them from getting
rusty.

TRENCH PERISCOPE.

[Illustration: TRENCH PERISCOPE IN USE.]

The uses of a trench periscope are so well known that they need not be
described. The feature of my last sketch of a trench from the inside is
that it shows one in actual employment.

CHAPTER VII.

THE RUSE OF A GERMAN SNIPER.

Snipers on both sides exhibited the most extraordinary artfulness,
cunning and ingenuity in the discovery, adaptation and invention of
"cover." The great desideratum, of course, was to hide where we could
see without being seen, to shoot from where there was least danger of
being shot.

I helped to track and put an end at Houplines to one German sniper who
had resorted to a ruse that I really think deserves the dignity of a
short chapter all to itself. The story is tellable in a few words, and
may be introduced by this drawing of "The White Farm," so
christened because of the whiteness of the walls of its house; although,
as will be noticed, there was little of this or anything else left
upstanding when I drew my sketch.

[Illustration: "THE WHITE FARM."]

The position shown is the entrance to the trench at this point, and the
shovels, barrels, pails and water trough are all such implements as had
been used in making and draining the cutting.

The cart shown is the "ration cart" used at night for bringing
provisions from the Transport Corps wagon. It was usual for the ration
parties (as elsewhere) to go out every night after dusk. These we