Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/122

96 the surface again, a small procession crossed the peaceful garden. Through the stooping, slow-paced files we saw a still form on a stretcher. It was covered with a stained blanket.

We turned gladly to follow our guide through the archway and down another flight of steps deep beneath the surface. We emerged into a tunnel-like room crowded with switchboards before which soldier operators sat, smoking and calling into the transmitters. The wires strayed across the ceiling like the web of a gigantic spider. We were told that from this protected cave one could communicate with any portion of the front or with the etat major. From it radiated black passages designed to furnish shelter for hundreds of men. We were permitted only a minute to explore these with a candle, for other plans had been made for us.

"I am going to show you an artillery observation post," the officer said, " if you are not afraid. You will please not speak above a whisper or make any unnecessary noise."

We went at his heels down one of the dark passages.

The only light was an occasional flash from the officer's lamp. He paused at the base of a perpendicular ladder which rose beyond the roof