The Captain signalled for the man to be taken to him. The soldier, who had thrown away his arms, did not hurry to obey.
"What are those troops down there?" asked the Captain. "French?"
"I don't know!"
"Well, where do you come from?"
The soldier waved his arm with a vague, comprehensive gesture which embraced half the horizon.
"From over there!"
The Captain shrugged his shoulders.
"Yes, but where are the Germans? Do you know whether they have turned Marville on the south?"
"No, sir.... You see, I was in a trench.... And the shells began to come along—great big black ones.... First they burst behind us, a hundred yards or more.... Then, of course, we didn't mind 'em. But soon some of them fell right on us ... and then we ran!"
"But your officers?"