"Why! It's Verrier! Poor old fellow!"
It is indeed Verrier, whose one thought has been all along to join his friends. His strength, however, betrays him, and he lies there flat on the ground.
The lieutenant understands—
"You'd better return, Verrier. I must send you back to the grotto."
A voice answers, as though from a distance—
"Ah! Thanks! Thanks!"
And he quietly returns, exposed to the enemy's fire all the way. I look back after him, and when he makes too long a pause, I remark—
"It's all over. Verrier's dead."
I am mistaken, however, for he soon resumes his crawl. Finally he disappears.
What time is it? Half-past one. How slowly the hours pass!