The strain of lying there hour after hour had become unbearable. The idea had also struck him that now was his opportunity to glean some information, if possible, about the lie of the land. There would be warm work, he knew, and that before long, for the French "75's" were barking in the distance, and shells were falling about Biaches and upon the hill away to the left.
Field wagons from Péronne had clattered past his hiding-place, carrying reels of barbed wire, and if he were fortunate he might be able to slip through the advanced German trench before it was hedged in by that difficult barricade. Bodies were lying thickly strewn among the brick heaps, and one little alley down which he tried to pass was piled up six deep with corpses.
"I wish I could get on a listening post," he thought to himself. "That would give me a fine chance." And just then he collided with somebody, who shook him by the shoulder and swore lustily; and he recognised the voice of the good-natured sergeant.
"You should look where you are going, Kamerad," said the man. "And, by the way, where are you going?"
"To the front trench, sergeant," replied Dennis, speaking at a venture. "I have just secured a fresh supply of racket bombs."
"What, you are Carl Heft, surely! Good lad, I did not see you in the mêlée, but I have no doubt you acquitted yourself well. I also am going to the front trench, to our company's sector. We will go together."
Dennis clenched his teeth, but he knew that he must put a good face on the matter.
"With pleasure, sergeant," he made answer. And the pair walked along side by side. "Have we lost many?" he inquired.
"Yes, a good few, and I believe it was their own fault. To tell you the truth, Heft, the battalion is not in a good state; they were left too long over there in the front line without being relieved. Our company in particular is very homesick, and can you wonder when you look at the captain they have?"
"True, he is a great brute. You will let me say that to you, sergeant?" replied Dennis, anxious to draw the man out.