"Ah! there you are, _mon gros_, why are you all dressed up?" "I leave on vacation, lieutenant." "Where are you going?" "Paris." "Lucky fellow! When you get there what will give you the greatest pleasure after all the hardships you have endured?" "A woman's smile!" THE POILU WHO NEVER SMILES, VERDUN. _March_, 1916. This morning I was with a group of soldiers, laughing and joking with them. The newspapers had brought us good news and our joy manifests itself in loud bursts of laughter---- A man was seated aside from the others and had an absent and gloomy look. My attention had been drawn immediately by the expression of despair which one could easily read on his features. I lowered my voice and said: "Look, sergeant, what is the matter with that _poilu_? He cannot enjoy himself and laugh like the others? His face is drawn and pale! Can you explain that----" "Well, lieutenant, one night he had instructions that were not clear and a patrol came back into our lines. He believed it was the boches and fired. He killed a close friend---- "From that time he has always been sad and several times I noticed he cried at night. You will see, one of these days he will do away with himself----" HOW THEY LIVE AND HOW THEY DIE, TAVANNES TUNNEL. _March_ 15, 1916. Tavannes Tunnel, everyone will tell you, leaves a memory of hell. It constitutes a natural shelter for troops in reserve in the sector of Vaux. The enemy bombarded the extremities of the Tunnel with gas shell and those of a large caliber---- During the long months we had dead piled up at the entrance to these villainous holes, because access was had by means of two passageways, opening to the sky, with each side of the rocky walls very abrupt---- When shells burst in this limited space, it was impossible to get under cover and the corpses of our dead accumulated at the two outlets of the Tunnel! Those who met in Tavannes Tunnel must have hated the spot. They groped around blindly awaiting anything! At times, I believed myself that I would be one of these kind of bugs, black and stinking, that one crushed under foot! * * * * * One day the moment arrived to send re-inforcements to a place very near there. There was nothing to say but get going immediately! A sergeant took command of the little column---- "Forward, _mes enfants_!" The cannonade raged and it was "bad" outside--The 150 timed-shell and the big 210 percussion shell followed each other rapidly, searching out the more nervy ones---- The sergeant left the Tunnel first, briskly ascending the incline, believing he was followed by his men. He turns and perceives they are not there--yet! "_Nom de Dieu!_ what are you doing, you laggards! Are you coming to-day or to-morrow!" They came out, the _poilus_, but with head and back bent as if under a shower of rain. They hurried, without precipitation, because of the steep climb. Now that they have left the Tunnel, they are all right----