"Come back soon--we miss you! "Degove." FOOTNOTES: [2] French sailors. They wear a white hat shaped like those of our own sailors and a long flowing coat. On the hat is a large red tassel. In France this has given rise to the expression, "Les petites demoiselles aux pompons rouges," or the Little Ladies of the red tassels.--Tr. [3] AUTHOR'S NOTE.--I took the base of this shell the same evening to General Hély d'Oissel, who commanded the Division. Until this moment he was still undecided as to the caliber of shell the enemy had been using since early that morning. [4] Surgeon.--Tr. [5] Je suis la corvée.--Tr. [6] The red tassel of his hat.--Tr. [7] Vacations. CHAPTER TWO MALANCOURT WOOD AND ST. MENEHOULDE _This chapter adds a few impressions noted by the author during a very short trip he made to the Argonne in the month of July, 1915._ _It was at this epoch the army of the Crown Prince undertook strong attacks to the north of St. Menehoulde._ _This sojourn took place between the two periods spent on the Belgian front._ _For the first time Sub-Lieutenant Capart took part in an episode in the war of mines._ _After having visited Verdun, Douaumont, and made a series of reconnaissances in Malancourt Wood, that of Hesse, and also to the west of Vauquois, Capart left for the Flanders' front where he took up his unfinished work._ CHAPTER TWO ALONG THE MAIN STREET, ST. MENEHOULDE. _July_, 1915. Cannon rumble in the distance---- _Poilus_ go and come along the thoroughfare. There is a great bustle in the village. The Argonne is the only interesting sector at this moment. "Pretty hot up there?" "I should say! Just came out of it!" "Did you advance?" "Yes. They attacked in mass formation, shouting 'St. Menehoulde--St. Menehoulde!'" "You replied?" "Pigs' feet! Pigs' feet! and we ate 'em up, lieutenant!"[8] AN EPISODE IN MINING WARFARE, MALANCOURT WOOD. _July_ 7, 1915. We arrived yesterday afternoon toward dusk, in an automobile, and in full view of the enemy. General de Salins, who commanded the Brigade, found us at this moment on the edge of the wood and could not believe his eyes--Guéneau and I were bumping along, making very slow progress on account of the numerous shell-holes along the road made during the last bombardment. What a magnificent afternoon! At this time of the year, Malancourt Wood is an exquisite sight. The lengthening rays of the sun easily penetrate the green foliage of the trees that completely surround us. This sector had been active enough before, when the enemy for the first time attacked with flame-throwers. After that, save for the days when mines were exploded, the wood became one of the most quiet spots on the front. We are heartily received by our sapper-comrades. At night we all go together into the first-line trench, where there are but few soldiers. It is very black without. Not a rifle shot, not the sound of a cannon. What a difference from the sector in Flanders!