They were, too, and 8-inch shells were dropping wholesale.
"No, I think I will take the risk and run over the open. Are there any dug-outs at the battery?"
"Yes, sir, jolly good ones; forty feet deep; regular beauties. Evidently made up their minds to stay the winter. Electric light, libraries, and beds with real spring mattresses. My, sir, but they were comfortable. And what do you think I found there, sir?"
"Heaven knows," I replied.
"Well, sir, several ladies' fringe nets and hair-pins."
"The devil you did. Well, Fritz knows how to make himself cosy."
With that remark we parted, Tommy having a broad grin on his face.
"You will see the place where you get out of this ditch, sir," he called out; "a shell has blown it in; strike off on your left straight ahead. You'll see them in front of you."
The shelling was getting very unpleasant, and I had to keep low in the trench the whole of the time. At length we reached the point where we had to get over the top.
"Well, come on, let's chance it," I said to my man. I saw the battery in the distance before getting over.