At nightfall I learnt a little more from one of Moreau's assistants,
Lieutenant Chabert, a former brilliant pupil of the Ecole des Arts et
Métiers, who, owing to his deep knowledge of electrical science, has
on countless occasions rendered invaluable service. He is one of those
men who can turn their hands to anything in the scientific line. He
staggered into our dug-out, dead-beat, after ten hours of feverish and
continuous work with the sappers, and before throwing himself down to
sleep had just strength enough to mumble, "See that I'm called as early
as possible, _mon ami_, will you? I've got hundreds of yards of wiring
to see to yet. _Dieu merci_, we've still got a day before us!"
I promised to wake him at five sharp, and, envying him his sleep,
immediately went in search of Sergeant Fleury, to delegate him to carry
out the duty entrusted to me in case--one never knows what the fortunes
of war may bring about--I were prevented from doing it. By the time I
had found the sergeant the moon had risen over the battlefield, and if
I live to be a hundred I shall never forget the sight. Our machine-guns
were still firing two hundred rounds a minute on the German formations.
As the enemy approached through the ravines round Flasbas and Azannes
they were enfiladed, and the deep clefts in the hills were positively
filled up with dead. Then, towards the early hours of the morning,
came a lull. The respite was doubly welcome; it gave us both time to
breathe and behold the work we had done. A ghastly spectacle indeed was
revealed as our searchlights swept over the battlefield.
When the dawn came the lull continued--at least, till noon, when we
had once more to face the hammer-blows of the Kaiser and the Crown
Prince. I called Chabert at the appointed hour. After a great stretch
and a yawn, he went off like a giant refreshed to his work among the
human moles of the Caures Wood. About noon, Moreau came to hold a
consultation with Captain Peyron, under whose immediate orders we were,
but he was in such a hurry to get back to his sappers and electricians
that he had not time to say more than:--
"_Bonjour_, R----; see you later. All goes well!"
The satisfied expression on his face told me that without words.