Part 5 (1/2)
”They think that we've aineer, ”and they always keep potting at the place”
”But have we?”
”I dunno”
”We wouldn't do it,” said Kore, as of a rather religious turn ofAre they the brutes the papers make them out to be? Do they use dus that they'd not do in the ordinary way,” was the noncoineer
”Have you seen many killed?” asked Mervin
”Killed!” said the h this and not see sights I never even saw a dead man before this war Now!” he paused ”Thatjust now,” he (p 068) continued, alluding to the death of the two soldiers in the trench, ”neverjust new out, but when you're a while in the trenches you'll get used to it”
In front a concussion shell blew in a part of the trench, filling it up to the parapet That afternoon we cleared up theof bricks in a newly opened corner When night cae in the rear ”The Town of the Last Woman” our men called it Slept in cellars and cooked our food, our bully stew, our potatoes, and tea in the open Shells came our way continually, but for four days we followed up our work and none of our battalion ”stopped a packet”
CHAPTER VI (p 069)
IN THE TRENCHES
Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day
Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And noe are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap
We had been at work since five o'clock in theaway at the new communication trench It was nearly noon now, and rations had not coons were delayed on the road
Stoner, brisk as a bell all the ry as ninety-seven pigs,” he said, and pulled a biscuit froot'?”
”Dog and ot” means biscuit and cheese, but none of us had the latter; cheese was generally flung into the incinerator, where it wasted away in smoke and srind of war
”I've found out so the sweat fro over the parapet towards the firing line A shell whizzed by, and he ducked quickly We all laughed, the trenches have got a humour peculiarly their own
”There's a house in front,” said Mervin, ”where they sell _cafe noir_ and _pain et beurre_”
”Git,” muttered Bill ”Blimey, there's no one 'ere but fools like ourselves”
”I've just been in the house,” said Mervin, who had really been absent for quite half an hour previously ”There are toirl, Bill” The eyes of the cockney brightened
”Twopence a cup for black coffee, and the same for bread and butter”
”No civilians are allowed here,” Pryor remarked
”It's their own home,” said Mervin ”They've never left the place, and the roof is broken and half the walls bloay”
”I' over the parapet and stopping a shower ofin his face We ith him immediately, and presently found ourselves at the door (p 071) of a red brick cottage with all the s smashed, roof riddled with shot, and walls broken, just as Mervin had described
A nu An elderly, well-dressed woman, with close-set eyes, rather thick lips, and a short nose, was grinding coffee near a flabut very sweet in manner, said ”Bonjour, messieurs,” as we entered, and approached each of us in turn to enquire into our needs Mervin knew the language, and we placed the business in his hands, and sat down on the floor paved with red bricks; the few chairs in the house were already occupied