The major, commanding Ornes, says to me:
"This is what must be done! Our left has completely collapsed and we
can be flanked at any moment. I have sent a reconnaissance to Herbebois
Wood; the patrol has returned and tells me no one is there any
longer----
"As you know the sector perfectly, you must go to Louvemont yourself
to inform the Division of our situation. Take someone with you so that
if one is killed the other can carry the information just the same!
Be careful along the Chaume Wood, because from here to Chambrettes,
you will meet up with a boche patrol. It has now become a first-line
position. Keep your revolver in your hand----"
"Yes, major."
"Go, my friend."
"Thank you."
"Good luck----"
THE MATCHLESS POILUS, BEFORE CHAUME WOOD.
_February_ 23, 1918.
The road from Ornes, before Chaume Wood, has assumed a fantastic
appearance! The trees are fallen and the branches are entangled----
The beautiful countryside has become chaotic following this avalanche
of projectiles of the preceding days. The bombardment is always
frightful. The snow which has fallen the night before makes going bad
and one slips and stumbles incessantly. How difficult it is to follow
such a road at night when you haven't slept for three days!
Again I have been made a scout and I ask myself if I will be not soon,
in my turn, one of these hideous corpses which I pass each instant and
which have been snapped up by death along this damned road. It seems
now as if the shells were searching you out and rifle bullets followed
you----
In the semi-moonlit shadow I perceive two stretcher-bearers caught by
death as they carry their wounded; the one in the lead is on his knees,
the other already down, both clutching the handles of the litter.
I continue my route. Before arriving at the bifurcation of the two
roads to Ornes and Beaumont, I cannot longer recognize my direction, so
great has been the change in the aspect of the surroundings during the
last three days.
I overtake two men who, en _pères peinards_,[22] happy at meeting
someone, suggest we go together. They walk without haste; the terrain
has become very difficult to follow and it is dark----
Suddenly one of them makes a false step, he has not seen an immense
shell-hole, and he falls forward head first----
His comrade, on the edge of the crater, bursts with laughter.
"You're not crazy. You know well enough the subway is closed at this
time of night!"