d the opportunity."

"Then the sooner we get out of this and back to our friends the better.
Besides, there's that news we have got for our commander. Let's make
tracks now," said Jules. "By creeping along carefully, and listening
for voices, we may be able to steer clear of the Germans and reach the
open."

"Listen to them!" whispered Henri. "It's evident they've no fear of
the French overhearing them, and that they are searching the woods for
us. That's all the better for us, Jules, as you suggest, and by
listening carefully we ought to be able to creep past them."

As it proved, the attempt to extricate themselves from their awkward
position was not by any means easy; for the discovery made by that
officer, and the anger it induced, caused him to call up a number of
men who were resting in the woods within easy distance. Sentries were
at once thrown out, so as to place a barrier between the two French
soldiers so recently discovered and the open country lying between the
woods and the French positions. Then other soldiers were set to work
to search the woods, a few of them even producing lanterns. Yet, by
dint of crawling, of hiding in hollows and under brushwood, and by
steering a course away from approaching voices, Henri and Jules at
length managed to place themselves beyond the barrier of sentries, and,
rising then to their feet, ran on through the wood till they gained its
edge and emerged into the open.

Then commenced the final stage of their journey. Crawling over the
flat plain which swept gently down to the River Meuse, on the far side
of which lay the Goose Hill, Caurette Wood, Crow's Wood, the Mort
Homme, and Hill 304--positions to win unending fame in this warfare in
the neighbourhood of Verdun--they gained at length the ground which
ascended on their left towards the Poivre Hill, and beyond that again,
giving access to the plateau of Douaumont, a plateau destined to see
some of the most tremendous fighting in this conflict. Here,
anticipating easy going and a country free from the enemy, the two
stood upright--for they had been crouching and creeping along
before--and marched rapidly towards their destination. But if that
slope had been free of Germans during the daytime--as indeed it was,
for the guns of the French lining the crests of Poivre Hill commanded
it completely--the darkness which had now fallen and hidden all objects
had made a most decided difference.

There was the loud tra