"Now the infantry will charge," exclaimed Jacques.
"Poor fellows," muttered Leon.
"Yes," agreed Jacques; "not many of them will ever get past our rifles and machine guns."
"Or the seventy-fives," added Earl.
As they stood talking an officer approached.
"I want a man to volunteer for a very dangerous mission," he announced as he drew near. "Who will go?"
Immediately he was besieged on all sides by an excited crowd of men, every one of them eager and anxious to be the one selected. Needless to say Leon, Earl, Jacques, Armande and Dubois were among the first to offer themselves. The officer smiled as he saw how the men responded.
"I want only one," he said. "I can't use you all."
"Take me; take me," begged every man eagerly.
"I will select you," he said, and as he spoke he laid his hand on Jacques' shoulder. The rest of the men shrank back disappointedly.