mpany had a shrewd idea that something was afoot. But one does not
walk along trenches--especially in the front line--for pleasure; and
beyond a casual inquiry as to what new form of insanity he was up to
now, the company commander was not interested in Percy's doings. Now
that the place had been cleared out, the opening was covered during the
day by a trench-board carefully stolen from the nearest R.E. dump;
while the members of the platoon assiduously collected old tin and
china utensils, both great and small, which were thrown into the cavity
and arranged tastefully by the stage-manager.

At night the trench-board was removed, and after careful weighting with
two dud shells, a piece of rail, and the stalk of a sixty-pound
trench-mortar bomb, it was placed on edge beside the hole. It was so
arranged that it leaned slightly inwards, and was only kept from
falling by a cord which passed in front of it and which was attached to
two screw pickets--one on each side. The hole itself was covered with
a sack. So much for the scenery.

The stage directions were equally simple. The curtain rises on a
German raid. Noises off, etc.; the flashes of guns, the bursting of
rum jars, the dazzling brilliance of flares lighting up the lowering
night. On the entrance of the Hun into the trench (if he did), a watch
would be kept on the hole (if any one was there to watch). On the
sound of the first crash of breaking china, no action. On the sound of
the second crash of breaking china, Percy himself (if alive) or a
substitute (if not), would dash forward and cut the string. The
trap-door would fall; and then, having repelled the Hun, they could
return and examine the bag at their leisure. So much for the plot.
Now for the action.

It has always been my contention that Brigadier-General Herbert
Firebrace rather brought it on himself. There are things which
generals may do, and there are things which they may not; or shall we
say, lest I be deemed guilty of _lese majeste_, things it were better
they did not? All things to them are lawful, but all things most
undoubtedly are not expedient. And no one--not even his most fervent
admirer--could say that the General's action was a wise one. Let it be
understood that when the more exalted ones of the earth desire to make
a tour of trenches, there is a recognised procedure for doing it.
First comes the sergeant of the platoon occupying the portion of the
line under inspection--ex