“Poor Corporal O----, whose face already has death written all over it, bids me a farewell that draws tears from my eyes. All are in dreadful agony, for they are parched with fever and haven’t a drop of water to drink. “In the curtain of the fort, another German prisoner, one of the 1916 class: a savage-looking brute. Next to him is an N.C.O., short, spare, light-haired, aged about twenty-four, clearly a man of good breeding; he is an architect from the outskirts of Cologne. * * * * * “_6 o’clock_ P.M.--The bombardment opens again. “A stretcher-bearer, gasping for breath, comes to lean for a few moments against the wall of my headquarters. His plucky, honest, good-natured face is now worn and hollow; his eyes, with blue circles round them, seem to start out of his head. “‘Sorry, sir, but I am simply done up. There are only three of us stretcher-bearers left; the others have been killed or wounded. For three days I haven’t had a bite of food or drunk a drop of water.’ “One feels that his frail body only lasts out through a miracle of energy and will-power. They are always talking of heroes nowadays; here is a hero, a more genuine one than many who are so acclaimed. “The appalling cannonade goes on all the time. “There are no green rockets. “D----, R----, and I, under a low shed built of planks covered over with a few sandbags, wait for the shell which will blow us to pieces. We all look glum. The horror of the situation is clutching at our very vitals. “8 P.M.--We are relieved! * * * * * “11 P.M.--A note from the colonel: In view of circumstances which have arisen, the 101st cannot be relieved. “Thanks! “What a disappointment for my poor lads! “Lieutenant X---- is astounded at them, and with good reason. But I have only thirty-nine left! “_Monday, June 5._--I should like to take a rest, but the fleas seem to have an objection. “Since the relief has been countermanded, the company won’t have any water to-day. As soon as I received the order I sent out a fatigue party for water. It did not come back. It must have been overtaken by daylight. Probably it is held up at Tavannes or in the tunnel. “Luckily it is raining. The men go to spread out canvas so as to catch the water. “One’s throat is parched with a terrible thirst. I am hungry. To eat bully beef with biscuit will make my thirst still worse. “‘Coffee, sir!’ “H---- is in front of me, with a smoking mess-tin in his hands. Yes, it really is coffee! I can hardly believe my eyes. “‘I found some coffee tablets, sir, so I said to myself, “This is where I come in! I’ll make coffee.” Would you care to accept the first mug, sir?’ “What good fellows they are! I am so deeply moved that I don’t know what to say. “‘But what about you, old chap? And your mates?’ “‘We have some for ourselves.’