"Do you think so?"
"Certainly! It's probably true that the Bosches mark the N.C.O.'s."
Goodness knows I held no brief for Descroix, but Guillaumin disgusted me then with his little heroic sniffs.
I had decided to use my pack as a shield. I told him.
"Pooh! Do you think that's any good?"
I implored him to follow my example. It was sufficient protection against grape-shot. He ended by allowing himself to be convinced, and gave the same advice to the men who for the most part did not follow it.
Henriot, on his knees, was watching for the signal and giving us endless pieces of advice in an under-tone.
"You'll all start at once. Keep your eyes fixed on me, see? At the double. Is that clear? And as for firing, be careful about that. Be sure to wait for the order to fire!"
"Talk away," muttered Lamalou; "think we're going to wait for your bally permission when we get a sight of the Bosches?"
The whistle was blown.