ned in and the chorus swelled as man after man lent his voice to
that stirring anthem. In a few moments every soldier present was
singing and even the roar of the great guns became faint and indistinct
as the thousands of throats chanted the great hymn of victory.

A thrill ran up and down Leon's spine. He used to regard the
Marseillaise as the national anthem and had often heard it sung without
any particular feeling. Since the war had started, however, it had
seemed different to him. As the soldiers sang it, biting out each word
sharp and short, it had become a battle-cry. He realized how terribly
in earnest these Frenchmen were who stood there in the darkness and
hurled defiance at their German foes.

At length the order came to move. Slowly the column moved out of the
camp and turning to the right marched down the road leading to the
trenches. On both the right and left could be seen other columns
moving in parallel lines and in the same direction.

"Who are they?" whispered Earl.

"I can't tell," replied Jacques in answer to his comrade's query.
"Both regiments are attached to our division though, I think."

Slowly and at the same pace the three columns advanced. The men were
unusually quiet and none of the customary bantering was present.
Perhaps every man was busied with the thought of what was going to
happen to him at quarter past nine the next day.

"This seems like a funeral march," exclaimed Leon in a low voice.

"And I don't like it, either," added Earl.

"Wait," cautioned Jacques. "Everyone's spirits will revive in a few
minutes. The strain will wear off soon."

His prediction proved to be correct. A short time later the pace was
quickened and the murmur of low-voiced conversations could be heard.
The men even began to tease one another and tell jokes. It seemed
almost incredible that men preparing to face what they were to meet-on
the morrow could be so light-hearted.

"Here we come to the trenches," exclaimed Jacques. "What time is it?"

"Just eleven o'clock," said Earl, consulting his watch.

"An hour so far," murmured Jacques.

One by one the soldiers filed into the trench. All talking ceased and
mile after mile they moved forward. In single-file the men marched
through the communicating trench. Every little while a lateral trench
appeared and as they came closer to the front these trenches increased
in number. The roar of the giant guns steadily became louder and
louder