n called to his
people.

And yet that was only one side of the picture. Territorial gains had
no doubt been obtained--territorial gains of no mean dimensions; but,
as we have inferred, and as the War Staffs of Austria and Germany knew
well enough, the troops of the Allied Powers were unbeaten, were
getting stronger every day, while those of the Central Powers were
becoming less numerous; and more than that--far more perhaps--was the
fact that trade for the Central Powers had ceased altogether. Nothing
might come to either of these countries that did not first pass
inspection by the ships of the British fleet; and, as a consequence,
food-stuffs, raw material, everything, in fact, had practically ceased
to enter the country. Thus food was short: bread was hardly
obtainable, though a substitute had been invented; while meat was a
luxury to be enjoyed only by the richest. Yes, the condition of
affairs in Germany and Austria was none too exhilarating, and Austrians
and Germans alike needed some stimulus--something to hearten them, to
keep up their spirits and their courage. And here was stimulus indeed.
The fort of Douaumont was captured--that fort which they had been led
to believe was heavily armed, was deemed impregnable indeed, and the
capture of which was a feat almost impossible of achievement, had
fallen to the valour of the Germans, to the valour indeed of the
Brandenburgers. What then could prevent the fall of Verdun itself?
That indeed would compensate them for the hunger they suffered, and for
the cruel losses the French were inflicting upon their soldiers.

And but for Henri's little band, as we have said, the fortress of
Douaumont was captured.

"See them down in the hall, Henri, mon garcon," said the bearded
veteran, who crouched beside our hero, and who, indeed, seemed to have
taken him under his own particular protection--not that Henri needed
much protection from anyone, for at that moment as he sat there in
command of his detachment, he looked as resolute and capable a young
fellow as one might wish to meet.

"Yes, they are there, mon ami," he replied. "I see them, and,
moreover, they too see us. We shall hear from them shortly."

And hear from the Brandenburgers Henri and his party presently did.
For an officer dragged a much-soiled handkerchief from his pocket and
picked his way, over the tumbled masses of masonry littering the floor
of the hall beyond, towards the exit which gave access to