Page:Ambulance 464 by Julien Bryan.djvu/141

 near the bottom, especially where sections of the trench had been caved in by shells. Finally, after we had sunk in up to our knees several times, Foker decided that we could take a chance on walking in the open again. A couple of shrapnel burst above us but it was such a short distance now to the second lines that we didn't bother about going back to the boyau again. We came to the "Poste de Secours" which we recognized some distance away by the Red Cross flag, stuck in a lump of clay outside the abri. We stopped for a few minutes to get warm and also to inquire if it would be possible to go to the first line trenches. One poilu volunteered to take us up, but the Doctor in charge told us it would be safer to make the trip at night. The trenches were in such bad shape from the last two attacks that one of us would very likely be potted by a German sniper in passing through a destroyed section. We were thankful for their kindness and I promised to return at nine that evening, if there were no "grand couchés" to take down to Ville. When we left the post a severe snowstorm was blowing which permitted us to make the entire trip back to the château in the open. No souvenir hunter could imagine anything more wonderful. The whole side of the hill was literally strewn with hand-grenades, unexploded German shells of every size, huge trench torpedoes, ready to