torted
neither by pain nor hate nor fear--the face of one who was indifferent,
and very, very weak.

With that he returned to the trenches. "'Ere yer are, sir, I've started
this 'un for yer," one man shouted. He threw off his equipment, and
began to dig as he had never dug before. Each spadeful was safety for
another inch of his body. It was fighting against time for protection of
life and limb. The work was engrossing, exhilarating. Some of the men
were too tired, too apathetic, too lazy to dig trenches as deep as they
might have done. They had to be urged, cajoled, enticed, ordered.

The day was beautiful, hotter a great deal than those the men were
accustomed to. The Senior Subaltern had been occupying a small hut as an
advanced post. The enemy came within his range in some force, but having
the presence of mind to restrain his men from firing, he managed to
withdraw without loss. All the while the cavalry were being rapidly
driven in.

This was about three o'clock, and the sound of a terrific bombardment
could be heard from some miles to the left. This puzzled them, as it was
naturally expected that the battle would develop from the north-east.
The regiment on the right had been occupying a small copse; this was set
alight to the rear of them, and they were forced to draw back through
it, which must have been a terrible operation.

Fresh meat, in the form of a stew, was brought out to the trenches at
about three o'clock. The bombardment on the left, like a terrific
thunderstorm, rolled on till dusk. A few aeroplanes flew overhead,
looking like huge birds in the blue sky. As yet the troops found it very
hard to distinguish the Germans from the English, although several
pamphlets had been issued on the subject.

As evening drew on, the trenches began to assume a more workmanlike
aspect, although when one got down deeper than three feet the ground was
like chalk and very difficult to cut.

Thus ended that memorable Sunday, when the English line, the last hope
of the French, was pierced at Mons, when the appearance of a huge force,
above all strong in cavalry, appeared on the left of the English line,
and rendered the whole strategic position of the Allies so dangerous,
that there was nothing for it but to fall back in order to avert a
terrible catastrophe.

To ensure against surprise, he posted three sentry groups to his front.
They had not been out more than half-an-hour before a huge fusillade
broke out alon