ll. And it was that
simple action which changed our very superior young "gentleman" into a
man: on such slender threads hang the destinies even of nations.

He watched the brick idly as it went through space; he watched it idly
as it hit the ground just by a clump of dock leaves; and from that
moment idly ceases to be the correct adverb. Five seconds later, with
a pricking sensation in his scalp and a mouth oddly dry, he was
muttering excitedly into the ear of the now infuriated Ginger.

"A man where, you ruddy perisher?" he grunted savagely. "Fust yer
tells me if you goes and looks at the 'Uns you can see 'em; and then
you says there's a man in the nettles. You ought to be locked up."

"There is, I tell you. I heaved a brick at that bunch of leaves, and
it hit something that grunted." Reginald was still clutching his
companion's arm.

"Un'and me, Clara," said the other peevishly, "this ain't a sixpenny
'op."

He got up--impressed in spite of himself by the other's manner--and
peered at the mass of debris. "Wot d'yer want with 'eaving bricks for,
anyway," he continued irately after a long inspection which revealed
nothing. "This 'ere ain't a bean-feast where you gets the bag of nuts."

"Watch this time, Ginger." Once again a large fragment came down in
the neighbourhood of the dock leaves--followed by an unmistakable groan.

"Lumme, mate," said Ginger hoarsely, "wot is it?" The two men stood
peering at the rubbish, not ten yards away. "I'll go and get the
corporal. You . . ." But he didn't finish his sentence.

Two shots rang out almost simultaneously. One was from the German
lines, and there was a short stifled scream from the other side of the
traverse. The other was from the rubbish heap ten yards away, and the
blast made a piece of hemlock rock violently. Otherwise the rubbish
heap was lifeless--save for a sepulchral voice--"Got him." There was a
crash of falling bricks from a house opposite--the sound of what seemed
to be a body slithering down--and then silence.

Ginger's grip relaxed, and he grinned gently. "Gawd 'elp you,
Reginald; you 'ave my blessing. You've been dropping the brickyard on
Shorty Bill's back." He faded rapidly away, and our friend was left
alone, gazing with fascinated eyes at the miraculous phenomenon which
was occurring under his very nose. Suddenly and with incredible
swiftness a portion of the rubbish heap, with dock leaves, nettles, old
cans, and bricks adher