Page:Lieutenant and Others (1915) by Sapper.djvu/41

 from the parapet where it had embedded itself, and completely defeated everyone; till a stray gunner, passing, told them that it was merely part of a German Archie shell—which had burst up at a great height and literally fallen like manna from the heavens.

“Slow in front—for Heaven’s sake.” Agitated mutterings from the rear came bursting up to the front of the column, mingled with crashes and stifled oaths as men fell into shell-holes they couldn’t see, probably half-full of water.

“Keep still—duck.” An insistent order muttered from every officer as a great green flare shot up into the night and, falling on the ground near them, burnt fiercely and then went out, leaving everything blacker than ever. On their left a working party furiously deepened a communication trench that already resembled a young river. Coming on their right, as they crept and stumbled along in single file, a small party of men loomed out of the night. More agitated mutterings: “Who are you?” and from a medley of answers, comprising everyone from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Kaiser, the fact