The trench2 was so narrow that the men had to glue themselves against the parapet in order to let me pass. I forced myself to give a friendly word of encouragement to each man. I suddenly bumped into a body. Gaudéreaux! The poor fellow's skull3 had been crushed like a nut.
There were wounded men here and there. Bouguet, who had had to give in and sit down, his face drawn4 with pain; and Icard, with folded arms, as plucky5 as ever, though his shoulder had been ripped up by a splinter of shrapnel.
For whom was I looking? I did not realise it until De Valpic hove in sight. There he was, safe and sound. What a relief! His cap was pushed back on his forehead, his cheek-bones were purple, and he had a scratch on his temple which was bleeding.
He had caught sight of me, and was coming up when I saw Chailleux, our connecting file, appear behind him. He shouted:
"Where's the lieutenant6?"
"Any orders?"
"Yes, we're to fall back."
[Pg 461]
"What?"
I was disgusted.
"We're outflanked on the right."
The edge of the wood sloped away on that side.
A sudden squall hurled10 us all to the ground. We were blinded by soil. De Valpic was half buried. Two yards from us a man, who was leaning against the parapet, reeled, but remained standing11 on his feet. Horrors! His head was severed12 as if by the blow of an axe13, just above the contorted mouth. De Valpic who had freed himself, and was none the worse, except for feeling somewhat dazed, could not bear the sight of it. He tottered14, and his eyes were dimmed. I went to his help, but he recovered himself immediately.
"Carry on, carry on," he murmured. "You're needed over there."
I went back and found Henriot feverishly16 repeating:
"Now, don't let's lose our heads."
"It's a good job we're going to hook it," Guillaumin said to me. "We're about done."
It was quite true. There were nothing but bewildered, dazed-looking men all round, with strained and haggard faces and trembling hands. They would not have counted for much against a resolute17 onslaught. The enemy, cautious and practical, seemed as busy as possible digging new trenches18 two hundred yards away from us.
I looked blankly at Guillaumin:
"What do you think? Are we done for?"
"Could we ever be done for?"
[Pg 462]
The quartermaster-sergeant20 came round, with two of the men. All three were smilingly handing round their caps, collecting:
"Please help the poor."
What did they want? Ammunition21? Yes, a few extra rounds for the platoon which was to stay and cover the retreat.
I started. So some men were to be sacrificed. I put on a detached tone:
"Which platoon has been warned for the job?"
"They drew lots," he said. "It's to be Delafosse's."
No. 1. I hurried along to them, feeling that I could not go without shaking Humel by the hand. He was touched by it.
"It means hell for us," he said. "But mind you fellows get off all right."
The men accepted their lot without keenness or bitterness. Descroix was standing a few yards away. I took a step towards him.
"Good luck, Descroix."
"Like to change places?" he snapped, in a fury.
I felt certain that he was going to be killed, and I was sorry that his last hour should not see his mind ennobled.
At a pre-arranged signal, we all leapt out of the trench together, and bolted at the double, bending down as low as possible. Bullets whistled past our ears, but No. 1 platoon retorted vigorously, and the enemy, as I have already said, seemed equally short of ammunition.
[Pg 463]
By a lucky coincidence, the fury of the artillery had diminished. We reached the wood without losses.
Arrived there, the difficulty was to slip through this inextricable tangle24 of leafy branches and jagged tree-trunks. Everything was splintered and hacked25, and struck one as being the work of drunken woodcutters.
We had to climb and hoist26 ourselves up and slither down the other side, and cut our way through. Our accoutrements caught into everything, and the rifles impeded27 our progress. I bruised28 my leg badly against a treacherous29 stake. We nearly lost our way, having had to make a large circuit in order to avoid a lot of big trees which were still smouldering. An acrid30 smoke followed us, with which there was mingled31 a vaguely32 putrid33 stench. Under the piles of foliage34, hundreds of dead bodies were lying, which had been in a state of decomposition35 for four days.
My great object was to avoid getting separated from my men. I shouted to them continually, and they followed as best they could. Some of the wounded, Bouguet among them, dragged themselves along heroically.
Suddenly, as I was balancing myself on a huge fallen oak, there was a spurt36 of flame, and a deafening37 report. I was flung into the under-wood. I got up at once, and, directly the smoke began to clear away, looked round for the lieutenant. I had a terrible feeling that he was pulverised.
No, I soon discovered him, stretched under some bracken. He was motionless. I bent38 over him and saw that his eyes were open and full of tears.
"Hit?" I said.
[Pg 464]
I looked. There was a large tear in his trouser, and underneath40 I caught a glimpse of—such a mess!
"Not—w-worth it," he stuttered.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
I should have liked to pick him up in my arms and carry him away, poor Henriot.
He made an attempt to unbutton his tunic42. I helped him. He nodded approval. I think he wanted to get hold of some photograph or letter—the tradition of the dying soldier, whose eternal nobility moved me.
Of my own accord, I fumbled44 in his pocket, took his letter-case and held it out to him. He half-opened his eyes again, and raised himself. His lips moved. His eyelashes fluttered. He took a breath and fell back. I did not know whether he was dead, or had only fainted.
Another shell burst just by. Something struck my cheek. I put my hand up. There was blood on it. But it was only a fir-cone which had been flung down.
I turned towards Henriot again. Our men were scattered45 in the distance. It was impossible to call any one back, and equally impossible to carry him without help. He and I were alone, face to face. What was it he had wished to confide46 in me? This incomplete scene was becoming tragically47 mysterious.
"Good-bye, good-bye," I murmured, perhaps to a dead man.
[Pg 465]
I took the letter case with me, and stumbling beneath the weight of my pack, plunged48 into the thicket49 in pursuit of my companions.
I did not catch them up until I got to the other side of the wood. Guillaumin was looking out for me!
"What's become of Henriot?"
"Poor fellow!"
And then:
"You'll take command of the platoon?"
I hesitated:
"Why not you?"
"You're the senior."
As a matter of fact, I had come out a few places above him at the end of our time at the "Peloton."
"You've got your platoon commander's certificate. You're senior to Guillaumin."
(How on earth did he know?)
He continued: "You will immediately become acting53 sub-lieutenant. If we both get through safely, I'll see that you get your commission."
He got back on to his horse, which his orderly brought up, and leaning across the animal's neck, said:
"In case the matter interests you, we are retiring because we chose to. Our line has not been forced. It's the enemy who can't hold out any longer. Only there's a detachment of Landwehr trying to turn us southwards."
I thanked him with a beam.
[Pg 466]
As I drew near to the platoon, Guillaumin raised his voice:
"Your new subaltern, lads!"
"Good luck to him!" Bouillon exclaimed.
There was a subdued54 murmur15 of satisfaction and approval. I must be forgiven for having noticed it. It was one of the great moments of my life.
I signed to them to be silent. Guillaumin shook my hand.
"You deserve it, Michel."
I only answered by a shake of the head. We started off again, and I was thankful that my cap threw my face into shadow. Nobody guessed that my eyes were wet. Oh, how extraordinarily55 buoyant, how strong I felt, both physically56 and morally!
The last barrier had fallen between these men's caste and mine. No more domination imposed by chance or force. I was the leader they would have chosen, just as I was the leader imposed upon them.
This was the only legitimate57, the only true authority.
We were again traversing the same boundless58 plain, which yesterday had seen us braving the Teuton artillery, but this time in a slightly oblique59 line. No shells escorted us, for a change! How good it seemed.
We were marching at a smart pace, and had put not far off ten kilometres behind us. The poilus were reviving. Their behaviour delighted me. They marched with a will across the dry stubble. Judsi began to rag:
"If only I'd 'a thought o' bringing my grub."
Bouguet still kept up—a miracle of energy. He had got his arm in a sling60. He was only sorry—no[Pg 467] one could guess it however long they tried—that he was not allowed to sing.
We had had nothing to eat for forty-eight hours, and had been fighting for thirty hours almost uninterruptedly.
Call us beaten men? Nonsense! About-to-be victors!
Only one thing worried me. The almost empty cartridge-pouches.
Just then we unexpectedly came across the train of company waggons61. We halted, and while the replenishment62 was going on, our men slanged the drivers roundly. Slackers who had not been able, or had not wanted, to find us!
As for me, I looked for Playoust, determined63 that he should pay for some of his delinquencies. But at the sound of his name a corporal looked up:
"A sergeant of that name?"
"Exactly."
"Well, he didn't last long!"
"What?"
"He was killed yesterday morning, just as we left Nanteuil. We hardly saw him as a matter of fact. A shell splinter."
"Yes, yes!"
"He looked a good sort, and an amusing fellow, I should say, wasn't he?" He insisted.
"One of the best?"
"A ripper!"
The halt here was prolonged. Coffee was made.[Pg 468] The sun set in fiery68 splendour. Our arms were piled up at a short distance from a cross-road. The traffic there was intense: waggons, lorries, and batteries. We drew each other's attention to four armoured motor machine-guns, which were the object of a great deal of curiosity. They were the first in use, I believe, and were going southwards.
In the growing gloom, Guillaumin pointed69 out De Valpic to me, deep in conversation with an officer in the Dragoons. When the latter had hurried on, our friend came back to us.
"I've just seen my cousin De Montjezieu. It's ripping the way one comes across people!"
"Any news?"
"Yes—interesting too."
We looked up anxiously.
In a few words he repeated the information he had just received. It was this. We were engaged in what might be called the second battle of the Ourcq, for there had been another fought and lost, between the 4th and 7th, by the plucky divisions of reservists from the Paris garrison70. The great object of the Staff had been to collect a large army of fresh men to place in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief, the 7th Army Corps71 coming from Alsace, the 4th—that was ours—and then the divisions from Africa which had just disembarked at Marseilles. (So there was some truth in Pomot's tales, I thought.) With all those combined we should pull it off. We had been withstanding the pressure brought to bear on our weakest point all that day. Now we were going to take the offensive. If we managed to pierce their line...! From a certain thrill in his voice I imagined that that was not all.
[Pg 469]
"What? What more do you know? Out with it!"
De Valpic hesitated for a moment: "And the decisive attack, the Big Push, is to come off to-night, according to my cousin!"
"Do you believe it?"
Guillaumin yawned. "I say, they're not counting on us, I hope!"
"Why?" I said, sharply.
"We've done our bit!"
"That's no reason!"
"I'm sleepy."
"Get down to it, old chap. We'll wake you in time for the fun."
He lay down in the ditch. The night reigned72. Searchlights swept the heavens. There was an occasional star-shell, and firing all the time. A fresh breeze got up.
Some time slipped by. We were all, or nearly all, dozing73. That vague fusillade in the distance would have been enough to upset us. But suddenly without a whistle, without a call, everyone was on his feet. The echo of a bugle-call was borne to us on the wind, coming from several miles away—impressive, rousing notes. The solemn sound of the Charge. Each man seized his arms ready to rush forward.
But it was not to be. The captain came by: "Our turn will come, lads. Go on resting for the present—sleep, if possible!"
He certainly had us well in hand. Those few words from him were enough. The men lay down in the grass again, wrapping their greatcoats round them, and it was not long before they were sound asleep. Stars were shining in the calm sky above us.
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1
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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9
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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10
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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13
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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15
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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16
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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18
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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19
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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21
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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22
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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23
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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24
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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hacked
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| 生气 | |
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hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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27
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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30
acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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31
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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32
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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33
putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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34
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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35
decomposition
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| n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃 | |
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36
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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38
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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39
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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41
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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42
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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43
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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44
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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45
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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46
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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47
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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48
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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49
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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50
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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51
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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52
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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53
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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54
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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56
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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57
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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58
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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59
oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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60
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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61
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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62
replenishment
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| n.补充(货物) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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64
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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65
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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66
posthumous
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| adj.遗腹的；父亡后出生的；死后的，身后的 | |
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67
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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68
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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69
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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70
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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71
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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72
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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