"I'll write that to Jack," said Henry. "He will understand--and your platoon commander will be pleased. He and the adjutant talked to me to-day as if something were coming to you--a D. C. M., I think. What happened to your first adjutant, Capt. Long, by the way?" "Long's gone west," replied Dick briefly. "I'm sorry to hear that. Shell get him?" "No, sniper. He took one chance too many." "I heard at the brigade on my way in that your friend, Dave Hammer, has his commission. I wonder if they have told him yet." "Good! Let's go along and tell him. He is sleeping to-day." They found Dave in his little dugout, with the mud of last night's expedition still caked on his person from heel to head. His blankets were cast aside, and he lay flat on his back and snored. His snores had evidently driven the proprietors of the other bunks out of that confined place, for he was alone. His muddy hands clasped and unclasped. He ceased his snoring suddenly and gabbled something very quickly and thickly in which only the word "wire" was recognizable. Then he jerked up one leg almost to his chin and shot it straight again with terrific force. "He is fighting in his dreams, just the way my old dog Snap used to," said Dick. "We may as well wake him up, for he isn't resting." "Go to it--and welcome," said Henry. "It's an infantry job." Dick stooped and cried, "Hello, Dave!" but the sleeper only twitched an arm. "Wake up!" roared Dick. "Wake up and go to sleep right!" The sleeper closed his mouth for a second but did not open his eyes. He groaned, muttered something about too much light and began to snore again. Dick put a hand on his shoulder--and in the same breath of time he was gripped at wrist and throat with fingers like iron. Grasping the hand at his throat, Dick pulled a couple of fingers clear. Then the sleeper closed his mouth again and opened his eyes wide. "Oh, it's you, Dick!" he said. "Sorry. Must have been dreaming." He sat up and shook hands with Henry. When he heard of his promotion he blushed and got out of his bunk. "That's a bit of cheering news," he said "I'll have a wash on the strength of that, and something to eat. Wish we were out, and I'd give a little party. Wonder if I can raise a set of stars to wear to-night, just for luck." Henry went away half an hour later, and Dick returned to the fire trench. Capt. Keen, the adjutant, came looking for Hammer, found him still at his toilet and congratulated him heartily on his promotion. "Come along and feed with me, if you have had enough sleep," said the adjutant. "The colonel wants to see you. He had a talk with you yesterday, didn't he--about to-night's job?" "Yes, sir; and it will be a fine job, if the weather is just right. Looks now as if it might be too clear, but we'll know by sundown. I was dreaming about it a while ago. We were in, and I had a big sentry by the neck when Dick Starkley woke me up. I had grabbed Dick."