He was choking.
Playoust stopped in front of us and chucked down his pack exclaiming:
"Wot's the use o' goin' on? We're goners!"
Some of the men followed his example.
"You thundering lunatic!" I shouted to him.
Guillaumin shook his fist at him. I shouted:
"Keep your rifles, lads! The war's beginning in earnest now, when you've got to fight for your crops and homes, for everything that's dear to you!"
Two or three men who had dropped their arms picked them up. We reached a cross-road.
Our poilus were grouped round us.