* * * * *
Ah! _mes enfants_, how it fell!
When I took the first steps outside my legs trembled and I believed I
would be incapable of accomplishing the task I had imposed upon myself.
Fear shook me. I walked along the street. Gradually I felt stronger.
Suddenly, after a few minutes' walk, I felt as calm as if I had been
walking along a promenade at Nice----
Despite the flurry, the smoke and brick dust which I had to breathe,
I continued the route, taking pleasure in my folly, experiencing an
unhealthy and dangerous joy----
Soon, I found myself at the side of the machine which had not been
touched, but an unexploded 100-shell was half buried on its flank----
I lifted the shell out and, carrying it in my arms, took the road for
the shelter. The returning was effected like my going, through a cloud
of dust and smoke of bursting projectiles. Never had a walk done me so
much good and when I entered the dugout with my "precious souvenir" I
thought:
"This time I am armored!"
I walked through the group of men and deposited the shell on the
captain's table.
"What was that you said? You are both chumps and your machine is
uninjured, but I found this alongside of it. I make you a present of it
so it will be a reminder of to-day----"