re even
more than ordinarily dangerous excursions, as the enemy trenches
commanded the road, we having captured the position from them shortly
before. Hence sniping was continuous, and the cart was often hit and our
men killed or wounded. We therefore took observations.

THE SNIPER WHO LIVED IN A TREE.

[Illustration: A GERMAN SNIPER'S NEST]

In course of time we came to notice that the most dangerous part of the
road lay between a willow tree-stump and the White Farm. Our men were
shot here nightly in getting back to the trenches. A party was formed to
make a tour of the field in which the tree-trunk stood. The first thing
we noticed was that after we entered this enclosure the shots were less
numerous. We split up in open order and approached the willow, taking
care to drop to the ground on our hands and knees. As we neared the
tree, lo and behold! a shot rang out from it and only just missed the
corporal. He jumped up at once and we all followed suit. All dashed on
for the tree. What did we find? It was nothing but a purposely hollowed
trunk used as a shielded nest for a German sniper, the inside being
fitted with a shelf to rest his arm on as he coolly picked off our men
through a hole. He endeavoured to make his escape in the darkness, but
we brought him down. He had evidently been using this sniping place for
weeks, though this was the first time we had located him.

CHAPTER VIII.

THREE DEATH TRAPS.

I suppose it may be said, without exaggeration, that we were in a death
trap all the time, but I have sketches to show of three particular and
"extra special" sort of death traps. The first is of:--

SUICIDE BRIDGE.

[Illustration: "SUICIDE BRIDGE."]

This bridge, made by the British, was called "Suicide Bridge," because
it was, and was at, such a specially dangerous spot. The British
trenches were in the foreground and beyond the bridge. We held these
trenches for fourteen days against the enemy's attacks. The gap was nine
feet deep at this corner, and the black hole on the left faintly showing
a fireplace was our kitchen, scarred by bullet marks made by snipers.

The place was infested with rats. Great water-rats were continually
getting at our food and cheese in the dug-outs. In one "rat hunt" we
killed eighteen of these rodents in one morning. The stream itself
supplied us with drinking water, but one day our men began to fall ill.
The doctor analysed the water and discovered that the dast