"You've lost your cherubic mug too, old man. But look here; whistle over this tune; let's hear what it is."
Harry took the paper, scanned it for a moment or two, then said:
"It's no tune at all. The notes go up and down all anyhow."
He whistled a few notes.
"Oh, for any sake stop it!" implored Ginger. "It's Stoneway's exercises, by the sound of it. Call that music! It's enough to make a cat ill."
"I'll give it back to Stoneway next time I see him," said Harry.
"Tear it up," said Ginger. "If he hasn't got it, perhaps he can't----"
A shout interrupted him.
"Stand to! Here they come!"
They seized their rifles and rushed out into the trench, Harry stuffing the paper into his pocket. The men were posting themselves a yard apart on the banquette, looking excitedly through the loopholes. Across the open ground in front the Germans were advancing in a serried mass. It was a surprise attack, not heralded, in the customary way, by a bombardment. The testing moment had come for the Rutlands at last.