"He must have got the news by telegram or wireless from Charleroi. But really it was your doing, you know. I must make that clear."
"Don't talk rubbish! I only gave you the information. I liked the look of him. What keen eyes he has!"
"He's a splendid fellow. But come along! Our men are a hungry lot, and I don't want to find the board cleared."
They were sitting at lunch among a group of cheery young officers when a bugle rang out. The officers sprang up, seized their arms, and rushed out of the cottage.
"The Germans are coming on again," cried Pariset. "Come and see."
They ran back towards the trenches, which were already filling with riflemen. A deep boom sounded from some distant spot.
"A German gun!" said Pariset.
"I don't see the shell," said Kenneth, looking round.
"My dear fellow, it had fallen somewhere before we heard the sound. Ah! the forts are replying."
In a few minutes the silence of the summer noon was shattered by the continuous thunder of artillery. With the deep slow booms of the big guns was mingled the quicker, sharper bang of machine guns somewhere out of sight.