that have preceded it on any other portion of
the line. They tried, these Boches, to burst their way through Ypres
in April, you will remember, having failed to do so in the previous
October. They have tried their hand in other parts, and always with
failure. Now it is the turn of Verdun--a salient like that at Ypres,
and one which must be held against all oncomers. You ask the fortunes
of our other troops. Listen, then, my friends; for by dint of crawling
and creeping, often across the open--for communication-trenches have
been obliterated--I was able to reach a centre where information had
been gathered. We, here, in the neighbourhood of Brabant, stand firm,
thanks to the heroic fighting of our comrades."

"And thanks, monsieur, to the noble leading of our officers," declared
the bearded veteran; whereat the _poilus_ clapped their hands in
approbation.

The officer's face was radiant at such a compliment, which, let us
observe, was thoroughly well deserved; for if the _poilu_, the common
soldier of the French armies facing the Germans, had fought well, his
officer had indeed set him a magnificent example.

Much need, too, had the _poilus_ holding the Verdun salient for the
best of officers. For the German onslaught, though it had failed so
far, had at least the prospect of future success because of the
surprise effected. Not that the attack was entirely unexpected on the
part of the French, but surprise was great at the vast preparations and
massed guns and infantry the actual attack had disclosed to our ally.
Those guns had first deluged every few yards of the twenty-five miles
of trenches from Brabant to Troyon, and later, swinging round, had been
concentrated on a narrow sector of four miles perhaps, a sector
occupied by Henri and his friends and other Frenchmen.

As to the German infantry, they were in great numbers. Indeed, there
were some seven German army corps massed against the Verdun salient;
while the French, with incomplete information of the intending coup to
be attempted by the enemy, had but two army corps to defend the
positions. Moreover, time would be required in which to bring up
reinforcements; for, be it remembered, the Verdun salient is pushed out
to the east of the River Meuse, and though there are bridges crossing
the river, they are not so numerous as to allow of huge forces being
rapidly transferred across them. A still more important factor in the
position was, perhaps, the di