The aviator's son glanced toward the listening post with fascinated attention. The trench appeared so perfectly safe, with the walls rising on either side—and yet what peril lurked in every meter of the way!
"By the looks of things one might judge that the Germans could rush this trench and capture it," he remarked, reflectively.
"Yes; but the very instant they started the wires would flash the news back to the support trenches," said the officer, "and the reserves would come pouring out and stem it in short order. Surprise attacks do not cut much figure in this war."
"Crack—crack—crack!"—three rifle shots in quick succession.
A dull thud followed, as one of the bullets struck a sand-bag.
The soldier smiled.
"No occasion to worry, mes garçons," he continued.
"We're not doing any," grinned Don.
Not very long afterward the ambulanciers resumed their journey.
On and on they went, at a leisurely pace, always seeing the same sights and hearing the same sounds. Occasionally the twitter of birds came to their ears. They alone could dare to show themselves above the surface.