the end--a huge spherical cannon-ball on
a steel stalk. They were coming from Leicester Square, and he met them
just as they turned up the Haymarket. Waiting until they had all gone
by, he followed on in the rear of the party, which suddenly turned sharp
to the left, and disappeared into the bowels of the earth.

"No. 7," murmured the Sapper to himself. "I wonder if the officer is
new?" He turned to a bombardier standing at the entrance to the passage.
"Is your officer here?"

"He's down below, sir." The man drew to one side, and the Sapper passed
up a narrow deep trench and went "down below" to the trench-mortar
emplacement, a cave hewn out of the ground much on the principle of an
ordinary dug-out. But there were certain great differences; for half the
roof had been removed, and through the hole thus formed streamed in the
early morning sun. A screen of rabbit wire covered with bits of grass,
lying horizontally over the open hole when the gun was not firing, helped
to conceal it from the prying eyes of Hun aeroplanes. Let into the
ground and mounted and clamped to a stand was the mortar itself--while
beside it sat a very young gunner officer, much in the attitude of a
mother beside her firstborn. He was obviously new to the game, and the
Sapper surveyed him with indulgent eye.

"Good morning." The Gunner looked up quickly. "I'm the Sapper Officer
on this bit of line. You've just come in, haven't you?"

"Yes, early this morning. Everything seems very quiet here."

"From four till eight or nine it's always peaceful. But I don't know
that you'll find this spot very quiet once you start pooping off. This
particular emplacement was spotted some two months ago by the wily Hun,
and he got some direct hits on it with small stuff. Since then it hasn't
been used. There are lots of others, you know."

"I was ordered to come to this one," answered the boy doubtfully.

"Right-oh! my dear fellow--it's your funeral. I thought I'd just let you
know. Are you letting drive this morning?"

"Yes--as soon as I get the order to fire."

The boy was keen as mustard, and, as I have said, very young--just
another infant. He had not long to wait, for hardly were the words out
of his mouth when a sergeant came in.

"Captain's compliments, sir, and will you fire two rounds at G. 10 C. 5
4?"

Rapidly and without confusion the men did their appointed jobs; the great
stalk slithered down the gun, the bomb--big as a fo