My hosts prepare a bed for Perron and one for myself. I can no longer see clearly, so I turn in and go to sleep.
Thursday, 14th January.
Twice in the night I awake with a start. Bare-footed and in my nightshirt, I run outside to listen. They are our own troops passing in the direction of Vénizel. The Germans will not cross the Aisne.
At eight in the morning I continue my way, with a wounded man belonging to the 21st. Billy is a very excited place.
I perceive Sergeant Chevalier of the 24th. At once he reassures me: Verrier, Reymond, Varlet, Maxence and Jacquard are safe and unhurt. The company has suffered but little: five or six killed, a score of wounded.
What a relief! I make my way towards Septmonts in almost a gay mood, half supporting the man of the 21st, who is wounded in the arm, and half supported by him. My companion tells me that he has been engaged in hand-to-hand fighting in the branches, and has fired point-blank on the Germans. The more they killed, however, the more there seemed to be left.
Unfortunately, no one can tell me anything of Belin!
At Septmonts an ambulance doctor examines me thoroughly.
"Good; I must pack you off to bed. Go and see Desprès."