"Blimey!" it said; "there's nuffink 'ere. I think there's the German wires."
"That you, Spudhole?" Benners whispered.
"Oo's that?" came the answer. "You, Bowdy?"
"That's right," said Benners, getting to his feet. "Don't make a noise. Where are you coming to?"
"We're looking for your body," said Spudhole, standing upright. "Gawd! We thought ye wor dead. Wot 'ave ye been doin'?"
"I've been fighting," said Bowdy. "Had a bit of a row with this man lying here."
"'E looks as if 'e's been in the wars," said Snogger, who was leading the search party. "By Gawd, ye 'ave been knockin' 'im about.... I suppose we'll 'ave to carry 'im back."
"Do whatever you like with him," said Bowdy. "I'll not be able to help. It'll be as much as I can do to carry myself in."
The party got back to the trench an hour later. The sniper was searched and in his pockets was found in addition to other things, his own photograph taken when he had appeared on the English music halls as a professional wrestler.
He was carried down to the dressing-station on a stretcher; Bowdy Benners walked down, and both men were treated by the same M.O.