They paused for a moment, and waited, but it seemed to them that their panting and the loud thumping of their hearts would betray them. How far had they to go yet? they asked each other. Then, with a shudder, Cowdie turned and began to retrace his steps, whispering to his comrade:
"We have come the wrong way. Those are the German trenches over there, and look, they are forming up over the top ready to attack."
"Good heavens! Then we are lost," replied his comrade.
"No, we may yet be in time. Come along. It cannot be far."
With his keen blue eyes Cowdie peered through the gloom, for Cowdie, the "spare part," had been the first to make the discovery. He had seen the shadowy forms of the Germans not twenty yards away. Fortunately, they had not been observed as yet, but they were not out of danger. They had regained their right direction, however. The British trenches were not more than seventy yards away.
On they stumbled, over the broken ground, through pools of water, and soon they reached the tangled wire. Exhausted they were ready to sink with fatigue, yet they held out. But their hands were bleeding and torn by the wire, and their clothing was in shreds.
Suddenly they heard the sound of voices behind them. Low voices called to each other, and the tramp of feet was also heard.
"They are advancing. Quick! quick!" shouted Cowdie.
Then, knowing that the British trenches could not be more than thirty yards in front of him, he called out:
"Stand-to! The Huns are attacking!"