V. GOING UP THE LINE 24 PERFIDIOUS GANG-PLANKS. D'ARCY STRANDED. GUIDES WHO CANNOT GUIDE. A HEATED ARGUMENT. VI. RATIONS 33 I LEARN TO HATE FOOD. MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS. VII. ST. AMAND 37 I REPORT AT HEADQUARTERS. THE PROBLEM OF VENTILATION. VIII. EARLY IMPRESSIONS 41 BILLETS. A STARTLING INCIDENT. REST CAMP. IX. DEPARTURE FOR THE SOMME 48 CORBIE. HAPPY VALLEY. PASSING THROUGH THE GUNS. X. ARRIVAL ON THE SOMME 57 FEEDING THE GUNS. SEPTIMUS D'ARCY ARRIVES. A CURIOUS KIT. XI. DEATH VALLEY 66 MOVING OVER BATTLE-FIELDS. ---- BATTALION, LONDON REGIMENT, IN POSSESSION. THE MYSTERY TRENCH. FALFEMONT FARM. XII. OUT IN NO MAN'S LAND 71 SUDDEN ORDERS. THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE. DIGGING IN. XIII. A NIGHT OF ALARM 82 SEPTIMUS IN A NEW RÔLE. SAVING THE AMMUNITION. THE LAST CARTRIDGE. XIV. NEXT MORNING 87 A COUNCIL OF WAR. OPERATION ORDERS. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. XV. THE ADVANCE THROUGH LEUZE WOOD 91 NEW OPERATION ORDERS. "AT ANY COST." LIKE RATS IN A TRAP. XVI. THE ATTACK 101 A DESPERATE SITUATION. BATTLE FORMATION. "FOR ENGLAND." XVII. AT ANY COST 110 OVER THE TOP. MAD, FIGHTING MAD. THE FINAL ASSAULT. XVIII. LEFT ON THE FIELD 116 THE MYSTERY OF DEATH. THE SECRET CODE. TWO TERRIBLE DAYS. XIX. THE JAWS OF DEATH 123 LONELINESS, DARKNESS, AND SILENCE. A LAST EFFORT. I PREPARE FOR DEATH. XX. AT THE MERCY OF THE HUN--AND AFTER 130 A BASIN OF SOUP. HOSPITAL AT ST. QUENTIN. THE "OPEN SESAME." XXI. ALIVE 143 XXII. BLINDNESS 147 XXIII. THE WOMAN WHO WAITS 151 THE TELEGRAPH BOY'S RAT-TAT. KILLED IN ACTION. WEEKS OF MOURNING. XXIV. WARD 43, RESERVE LAZARETTE 5, HANOVER 156 OCCUPANTS OF THE WARD. CHIVALRY OF THE AIR. XXV. SANIEZ 160