"Gin a body, meet a body,
Comin' thro' the rye."
Meanwhile the picks and spades were kept going in the trenches of the 28th Regiment. The earth and stones flew with a rattle over the top of the breastworks, making them stronger and stronger, pioneers and infantry working side by side in the dark, hollow space. The battalion on guard kept strict watch in the direction of the enemy, continually expecting to see creeping figures suddenly pop up out of the darkness.
"Didn't you hear something, captain?" asked one of the men on watch.
"No, where?"
A curious purring sound like the whizzing of a small dynamo became audible.
Some one gave a low whistle, and the pioneers stopped work, and leaned on their spades. All the men listened intently, but no one could make out whence the strange sound came.
Suddenly some one spoke quite loudly and another voice replied. Up in the air—that's where it was! A black shadow swept across the sky. "An air-ship!" cried one of the men in the trench, and sure enough the whirring of the screw of a motor balloon could be distinctly heard. Bang—bang—bang, went a few shots into the air.
"Stop the fire!" called a commanding voice from above.
"Stop! It is our own balloon!"
"No, it's a Japanese one!"