Every man seized his rifle and crouched in the pit he had dug and faced his front. We waited: the bombardment had stopped, and the crack of the rifles alone disturbed the night.
I drew my revolver and waited in breathless suspense for the sudden rush which seemed imminent.
Were our preparations to be nipped in the bud, after all? Would it be a sudden rush; a desperate hand-to-hand fight?—and then, what then?
The minutes passed like hours in an agony of suspense, and then, unable to bear the strain any longer, I crept cautiously forward into the inky darkness towards one of the sentry groups to find out what was amiss.
"Halt! Who is there?"
"O.C., B Company."
"What's up?" I asked, sliding into the shell-hole beside the corporal.
"There seemed to be a patrol moving about in front; it's all quiet now, sir."
"All right; double the sentries for the next hour."