"Sure to!"
He exclaimed:
"Well, to be going on with, you know we're at Mulhouse! Absolutely official!"
On the outskirts of Ste.-Menehould, there was a prolonged halt, without permission to get out. Another convoy was standing on a side line. There were some poilus on the platform. Bouillon drew attention to their regimental numbers. They belonged to our division. The men at once called to each other, and asked them to join in a drink. Everyone was delighted. It seemed little short of marvellous to find neighbours from their part of the world, Beaucerons, so far from home!
A new start. The country was becoming hilly and picturesque. There were some gorges and then a long tunnel. There was no more doubt about the direction we were taking! Corporal Bouguet, who had served his term with the 4th, was most emphatic: we were taking a bee-line to Verdun!
Good! the idea of fighting under the shelter of a powerful fortress was not displeasing.
Two hours more. The valley of the Meuse was reached, Verdun attained, and then left behind.... The deuce! Were they going to detrain us at the frontier in the first line...?
No, a few miles farther on, the train stopped in the depths of the country. There was a bugle call, and Henriot shouted:
"Here we are!"