THE FIRST ADVANCE
""My eye, you chaps! Come out and have a look," exclaimed Penfold, who, having gone to draw rations for the rest of the occupants of the dug-out, had just returned with a generous quantity of tea, bacon, and comparatively fresh loaves.
"Look at what?" asked Alderhame, still stretched on his bed of damp straw. "The dawn——?"
"At what those strafed Huns have done," declared Penfold.
"If it's young Sidney they've been doing in there'll be trouble," declared Alderhame.
The quartette left their subterranean retreat and made their way to the fire-trench. By means of a trench periscope they surveyed the hostile lines. Above the sand-bags was a rough notice-board on which was chalked:
"OTHER COMRADS WELKOME."
A fusillade of rifle bullets quickly demolished the offending board, but almost immediately it was replaced by another:
"WHEN ARE YOU ENGLANDER COMING? WE
ARE TIRED OF WATEING FOR THE ADVANCE
PROMISED."
This, too, was speedily shot to pieces, and having let off a considerable quantity of "hot air" the Tommies returned to their breakfasts.