There are two kinds of work for ambulances--evacuating and _poste de
secours_ work. The former consists in removing the _blessés_ from the
back hospitals to points where they are put on the trains. The _poste
de secours_ work is going up to the point where the _blessés_ are
dragged from the trenches and carrying them back to the above-mentioned
hospitals. Of course, the _poste_ work is the liveliest and the most
dangerous. We shall be sent up to do that within a week or so, as they
shift about: several months of _poste_ work and then several months of
evacuating. The Section had done its turn at _poste de secours_ before
I joined it; it has also been evacuating from here quite a while, so we
shall no doubt be sent out nearer the front pretty soon. That's what
we are here for. We are not a great distance from the lines now; in
fact, shells have come over us and landed right across the road, but
when we move, it will mean the most dangerous of work, for the roads
are full of shell holes, no doubt, and wild shells get loose now and
then. I'll write you again soon, but now I'm going to bed,--that is,
roll up in my blankets on my stretcher, for there is an early call for
to-morrow morning. Early call means getting your machine over to the
château at six o'clock, all ready for the day's work. It's great fun
and I am awfully glad to be here. Moreover, there is a satisfaction
to realize that you are helping. The French are very appreciative,
from the _poilu_ up to the highest officers. Oh! I forgot to mention,
in describing our billet, that flies and mosquitos are abundant. We
all have mosquito nets which we put over our heads in the evening,
making us all look like the proverbial huckleberry pie on the railroad
restaurant counter. The _poilus_ around us have adopted our methods,
and you see them sitting around looking for all the world like Arabs
in the distance. Before closing I might mention also that besides
fishing to pass the time, the _poilus en repos_ catch foxes, hedgehogs,
rabbits, and other animals and train them. There are two of the cutest
little foxes I have ever seen over across the road in one of the
courtyards. They play around and are just like little collies until we
show up; then they scamper and get behind a box or a stove and blink at
us. We tried to buy one of them, but the owners are too fond of them to
let them go.
Well, good-night and best love to you and G.
As ever,
CHICK
(_Charles Baird_)
Have not seen George Hollister yet, as he is in Section 3. Maybe I'll
run across him later.