were approaching. "Aren't they doing it magnificently?"

I knew the voice. It was the old colonel, standing up in the car to watch
us. With him were Vera, Frances, and their hosts the Chapmans.

The captain came close up and spoke to us. "Corporal, has your flank
guard seen any outposts?"

Bann called across the road to Knudsen. "What have you seen?" He answered
"Nothing."

Said the captain, "After the next rush I shall send your whole squad
across. Forward now to the line of that row of apple trees ahead." And at
Barm's "Follow me!" we slipped ahead not merely to the line of three old
trees, but also to the position of the waiting motor, which was just
abreast of us. While the rest of the company slipped forward to our line,
I took a satisfying look at the girls. Frances saw me, and we smiled.
Vera was absolutely intent on something behind me, of course the captain.
And still not a shot from the flank-guard in front, I think a sleepy
platoon under a sergeant. We chuckled. But then a gun went off in our
line somewhere on the right. We swore. Ahead of us the enemy broke into a
crackle of gunfire, not very heavy.

In it, so few were the guns that were firing, I clearly distinguished,
among the short dull explosions of the blanks we know so well, a sharp
and angry crack, followed by a tearing snap right over my head.

Surprised, I yet recognized the noise of the passage of a bullet. A
second time!--and then, familiar as I am with the legend of the clip of
ball cartridges, I instantly knew it to be true. And again--Crack-snap! I
heard the old colonel crying to the ladies, "Down!"

Then a long blast of the captain's whistle. I knew he was on his feet
behind me, then heard his voice through the sputter of fire that was
beginning from our own line. "Cease firing!" Over my shoulder I looked at
him, a fine manly figure in the attitude of command, one hand stretched
threateningly toward the line in front.

Then, as the roar of our guns burst out on the right, his hat flew
backward, I saw blood start out on his temple, and as if an axe had
struck him, he was down!

Quickly as I was on my feet, someone was quicker. A flash of white went
past me, and there was Vera on her knees, gathering into her lap the head
of the fallen man. I heard her little moaning cry.

In the few moments that followed I stood stupidly helpless. Our fire
stopped suddenly, as the sergeants enforced the captain's command. The
fire stopped in front.