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been at the front long enough to realize that the only thing likely to happen
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was the thing which seemed unlikeliest。 And he felt a morbid curiosity to
learn more about the personnel of those dormant German trenches。
Wherefore he had sent an order that a handful of the 〃Here…We…
Comes〃 go forth into No Man's Land； on the first favorable night； and try
to pick up a boche prisoner or two for questioning… purposes。 A scouring
of the doubly wired area between the hostile lines might readily harvest
some solitary sentinel or some other man on special duty； or even the
occupants of a listening…post。 And the division commander earnestly
desired to question such prisoner or prisoners。 The fog furnished an ideal
night for such an expedition。
Thus it was that a very young lieutenant and Sergeant Mahan and ten
privatesthe lanky Missourian among themwere detailed for the
prisoner…seeking job。 At eleven o'clock； they crept over the top； single file。
It was a night wherein a hundred searchlights and a million star… …flares
would not have made more impression on the density of the fog than
would the striking of a safety match。 Yet the twelve reconnoiterers were
instructed to proceed in the cautious manner customary to such nocturnal
expeditions into No Man's Land。 They moved forward at the lieutenant's
order； tiptoeing abreast； some twenty feet apart from one another； and
advancing in three…foot strides。 At every thirty steps the entire line was
required to halt and to reestablish contactin other words； to 〃dress〃 on
the l ieutenant； who was at the extreme right。
This maneuver was more time…wasting and less simple than its recital
would imply。 For in the dark； unaccustomed legs are liable to
miscalculation in the matter of length of stride； even when shell…holes and
other inequalities of ground do not complicate the calculations still further。
And it is hard to maintain a perfectly straight line when moving forward
through choking fog and over scores of obstacles。
The halts for realignment consumed much time and caused no little
confusion。 Nervousness began to encompass the Missouri recruit。 He was
as brave as the next man。 But there is something creepy about walking
with measured tread through an invisible space； with no sound but the
stealthy pad…pad…pad of equally hesitant footsteps twenty feet away on
either side。 The Missourian was grateful for the intervals that brought the
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men into mutual contact； as the eerie march continued。
The first line of barbed wire was cut and passed。 Then followed an
endless groping progress across No Man's Land； and several delays； as one
man or another had trouble in finding contact with his neighbor。
At last the party came to the German wires。 The lieutenant had drawn
on a rubber glove。 In his gloved hand he grasped a strip of steel which he
held in front of him； like a wand； fanning the air with it。
As he came to the entanglement； he probed the barbed wire carefully
with his wand； watching for an ensuing spark。 For the Germans more than
once had been known to electrify their wires； with fatal results to luckless
prowlers。
These wires； to…night； were not charged。 And； with pliers； the
lieutenant and Mahan started to cut a passageway through them。
As the very first strand parted under his pressure； Mahan laid one hand
warningly on the lieutenant's sleeve； and then passed the same prearranged
warning down the line to the left。
Silencemoveless； tense； sharply listening silencefollowed his
motion。 Then the rest of the party heard the sound which Mahan's keener
ears had caught a moment earlierthe thud of many marching feet。 Here
was no furtive creeping； as when the twelve Yankees had moved along。
Rather was it the rhythmic beat of at least a hundred pairs of shapeless
army bootsperhaps of more。 The unseen marchers were moving
wordlessly； but with no effort at muffling the even tread of their multiple
feet。
〃They're coming this way！〃 breathed Sergeant Mahan almost without
sound； his lips close to the excited young lieutenant's ear。 〃And they're not
fifty paces off。 That means they're boches。 So near the German wire； our
men would either be crawling or else charging； not marching！ It's a
companymaybe a battalioncoming back from a reconnaissance； and
making for a gap in their own wire some where near here。 If we lay low
there's an off chance they may pass us by。〃
Without awaiting the lieutenant's order； Mahan passed along the signal
for every man to drop to earth and lie there。 He all but forced the eagerly
gesticulating lieutenant to the ground。
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On came the swinging tread of the Germans。 Mahan； listening
breathlessly； tried to gauge the distance and the direction。 He figured；
presently； that the break the Germans had made in their wire could be only
a few yards below the spot where he and the lieutenant had been at work
with the pliers。 Thus the intruders； from their present course； must
inevitably pass very close to the prostrate Americansso close； perhaps； as
to brush against the nearest of them； or even to step on one or more of the
crouching figures。
Mahan whispered to the man on his immediate left； the rookie from
Missouri：
〃Edge closer to the wireclose as you can wiggle； and lie flat。 Pass on
the word。〃
The Missourian obeyed。 Before writhing his long body forward
against the bristly mass of wire he passed the instructions on to the man at
his own left。
But his nerves were at breaking…point。
It had been bad enough to crawl through the blind fog； with the
ghostly steps of his comrades pattering softly at either side of him。 But it
was a thousand times harder to lie helpless here； in the choking fog and on
the soaked ground； while countless enemies were bearing down； unseen；
upon him； on one side； and an impenetrable wire cut off his retreat on the
other。
The Missourian had let his imagination begin to work； always a
mistake in a private soldier。 He was visualizing the moment when this
tramping German force should become aware of the presence of their
puny foes and should slaughter them against the merciless wires。 It would
not be a fair stand…up fight； this murder…rush of hundreds of men against
twelve who were penned in and could not maneuver nor escape。 And the
thought of it was doing queer things to the rookie's overwrought nerves。
Having passed the word to creep closer to the wires； he began to
execute the order in person； with no delay at all。 But he was a fraction of a
second too late。 The Germans were moving in hike… formation with
〃points〃 thrown out in advance to either sidea 〃point〃 being a private
soldier who； for scouting and other purposes； marches at some distance
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from the main body。
The point； ahead of the platoon； had swerved too far to the left； in the
blacknessan error that would infallibly have brought him up against the
wires； with considerable force； in another two steps。 But the Missourian
was between him and the wires。 And the point's heavy…shod foot came
down； heel first； on the back of the rookie's out…groping hand。 Such a
crushing impact； on the hand…back； is one of the most agonizing minor
injuries a man can sustain。 And this fact the Missourian discovered with
great suddenness。
His too…taut nerves forced from his throat a yell that split the deathly
stillness with an ear…piercing vehemence。 He sprang to his feet； forgetful
of orders intent only on thrusting his bayonet