"As a final effort I suppose," said Leon.

"Exactly."

"Here's breakfast," shouted Earl, trying to make himself heard above
the roar of the artillery. "That coffee looks good."

Hot coffee was furnished to every man and a meal was made of bread,
sardines and cheese.

"What's the time?" asked Jacques.

"Eight-thirty," replied Earl.

"Three quarters of an hour more," sighed Jacques. "I wish it was time
to start."

"Look here," cried Leon beckoning to his two companions. He was
peering out from one of the low places in the parapet and Jacques and
Earl quickly took their places beside him.

"You can see the German barbed wire in front of their trenches," said
Leon excitedly. "Do you suppose we'll ever reach that?"

"We'll go right on over it," said Jacques confidently. "Don't you
worry about that."

The scene was fascinating to the three boys. So it was also to their
comrades in the regiment. As far as one could see in either direction
along the trench men were lined up, waiting for the word to advance and
now and then stealing a glance, out across the field that stretched
between them and their goal.

"We are to keep in line with those two big trees on the hill yonder,"
said Jacques, pointing to a spot behind the German positions. "As long
as we keep headed for them we will be all right."

"That ought to be easy enough," exclaimed Leon.

Suddenly the command was passed down the line for every man to be
ready. Leon glanced at his watch; it was just nine o'clock. Every
knapsack was hoisted to its owner's back and guns in hand the men began
to file along the trench.

Thicker and ever faster the shells rained down. The French guns roared
continuously, doing their utmost to clear the way for the infantry
which was to sally forth so soon.

All at once a whistle sounded. The long line halted abruptly. A sharp
command followed and with a rattle the bayonets were fixed to the
rifles. Once again the whistle sounded; this time twice. Every man
made the final adjustment of his equipment and glanced at his
neighbor's to see if it too was in order.

"Good luck," said Jacques and he extended his right hand to Leon and
Earl in turn. They shook hands solemnly and the twin brothers standing
side by side gripped each other's hand without a word.

Leon looked along the line. Many of the men were grinning. Most of
them were white and their faces were drawn. The young American felt
queer; somehow he