Chapter 26 THE THIRD LESSON IS LEARNED

And so it came about that three months later Reginald Simpkins-lance-corporal-and Shorty Bill-private-were seated on the fire-step of a trench side by side. With one continuous droning roar the shells passed over their heads and crumped into the German lines opposite. The days of peace for the battalion were over; in a quarter of an hour they were