"I should say not," cried Jacques. "Our regiment is ahead there and that's where we ought to be."
With a shout he dashed forward and close at his heels followed his ten comrades all eager to be in the fray once more.
CHAPTER VI
UNDER FIRE
Ahead of them was a small wooded ridge and towards this they made their way. The field was littered with corpses and it was necessary to exercise great care to prevent stepping on the dead bodies.
A few moments later the eleven soldiers reached the ridge and there came up with their battalion; at least what was left of it, for it had suffered heavily during the charge. The three boys were very glad indeed to rejoin their company and were soon in their accustomed places.
"We're pretty well protected here," remarked Earl when they were in the abandoned German trench under the shelter of the ridge.
"Yes," agreed Jacques. "Those scrubby little pine trees hide us from the sight of the German observation posts. Their artillery won't bother us much here."
"We don't want it to," said Leon grimly. "It has done enough of that already."