Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/182

150 made repairs where an ugly lack of uniformity in the parapet recorded the entrance of a recent shell.

" Those chaps don't look particularly fidgety, do they?" he asked. "If our little companions have largely left us it's because shorter periods in the trenches, compulsory baths, and a complete change of clothing once a week have made us less enticing for them, and a lot fonder of ourselves."

A harder burst of firing directed his glance towards the parapet. We crowded at his heels in the direction of a periscope.

Their sausage is keeping them busy this morning," he said over his shoulder. "By the way, any of you fellows heard news of Blank?”

The freckled face of the brigade officer darkened. Williams wanted to know what about Blank.

“Went up in one of our balloons yesterday," the trench officer answered. “A lucky shrapnel shot cut the cord and we could see him from here drifting over the trenches while the Huns shot their heads off."

"I heard this morning," the brigade officer said, " that somebody had seen him cut loose his parachute."

"Not much chance that way," Williams mused.