As he spoke, another dull roar marked the falling of a second shell.
"I don't see why they start up to-night," said Zaidos. "I wonder if that did any damage."
"They want to worry us enough so that the men will lose sleep," said a soldier standing near. "But no one will bother about a few shells. The men will get into the bomb proof shelters until daylight. It is a waste of ammunition as it is."
An orderly entered with a written call for a nurse for the First Aid Station. Nurse Helen was called to the Head Nurse and in a moment came hurrying back to Zaidos.
"They have sent for me now," she said. "I suppose some other cases have come in."
"I'll go back with you," offered Zaidos, and together they stumbled along through the rapidly gathering dusk.
Three more men had been hurt, and when they had finally been sent back to the hospital, it was almost midnight.
Zaidos found Helen sitting at the opening of the shelter, looking up at the stars. She made room for him on the plank.
"I'm thinking hard about home, John," she said. "One's viewpoint changes so. I wish I knew that I have done right to come here and leave my parents and little sister. I'm just so lonely and troubled to-night that I have half a mind to tell you my story."
"I wish you would," said Zaidos, "if you feel like telling me. I told you all about myself, and it would make me feel sort as if I was really am old friend of yours if you told me things, too."