'Heavens! it was,' he said, and I thought he shuddered.
'We had passed the Germans' first line,' I continued, 'and I was struggling along in the open, hardly knowing what I was doing, when I saw some men whom I thought I recognized. I heard the awful whine of a shell, which fell close by, and it was not a dud. It exploded with a tremendous noise, and for some time I was wellnigh blinded by dust and sulphurous smoke. A great hole had been torn in the ground, and a huge heap of rubbish hurled up. After a bit I saw a man digging as if for very life. He was right out in the open, and in the greatest danger a man could be. The men who were still alive shouted to him to get into the shell-hole, but he went on digging.'
I was silent for a few seconds. I did not know how best to conclude the story.
'Well, what happened?' he asked.
'He dug you out,' I replied.
'How do you know it was I?'
'Because I helped to carry you to a place of safety.'
'By Jove! I knew nothing about it. But who was the chap who dug me out? I should like to know.'
'Surely you know?'
'I told you I was unconscious for several days,' was his answer, 'and when I asked questions, was told nothing. Who was the chap who dug me out? I—I should like to thank him.'