"Off we go!"
De Valpic was the next to turn up: "You read that splendidly!"
I soon noticed a sort of irresolution among the men, due to surprise more than anything else. Start again! When they thought they were going to have several days' rest! And they had felt so sure that there would be no more fighting in the open for them!
Some of them had instinctively gathered round me: Judsi, Bouillon, Corporal Bouguet, Icard, and Gaudéreaux. They were puzzled, too, but only asked to have things explained. They asked me about the paper that I had read out. Several of them had not been there.
"We'll have it again for you!"
This time I choked with emotion at the last lines. I added:
"Look here! The Bosches think we're not worth taking into account. They think we're safely shut up in the camp. We're going to fall upon them in the rear!"
Their faces suddenly cleared.
"Good biz!" said Judsi. "Wot a lark! Lor', the blighters! Wot a biff we'll give 'em!"
It was like a fuse followed by an explosion of gaiety. Some of the men were already buckling on their packs, and others pulling on their boots and doing them up. Bouguet began to sing at the top of his voice: