"We'll have it again for you!" This time I choked with emotion at the last lines. I added: "Look here! The Bosches think we're not worth taking into account. They think we're safely shut up in the camp. We're going to fall upon them in the rear!" Their faces suddenly cleared. "Good biz!" said Judsi. "Wot a lark! Lor', the blighters! Wot a biff we'll give 'em!" It was like a fuse followed by an explosion of gaiety. Some of the men were already buckling on their packs, and others pulling on their boots and doing them up. Bouguet began to sing at the top of his voice: We don't care a blow! Tra-la-la-la. We don't care a blow! Lamalou spoilt his effect. "Wot do you mean, 'don't care a blow'?" They went on getting ready to a chorus of jests. They might have been starting off for a holiday. Directly I was fully equipped, I went out and was one of the first to get into the avenue. I could not master the transport which swept me off my feet, at the thought of going into action. Of taking the offensive again! The captain must have second sight--and the time was not past. Our chance was intact, indeed, increased. Heavens! All that I had hoped for was coming to pass. Let me confess my vanity, my childish simplicity. I was actually under the delusion that if our luck was turning, it was my reward, for having drawn myself out of the pit to help others. And was I so very much mistaken? Was I not responsible for a small share in this immortal decision? Would our leaders have taken such a risk--it was a bold move!--if those waves of faith and enthusiasm, which a few of us had raised, had not spread from our watchful quarters right away to them? _BOOK IX_ _September 7th-9th_ CHAPTER XVI FINAL ANTICIPATION We started that evening from Rosny-sous-Bois, and spent part of the night in the train, slipping along at an indolent pace. We had not the least idea where we were being taken to. During the last hour, the rumble of the guns began to make itself heard. We were rolling slowly towards it. The day was breaking when we got out of the truck. A lot of men had dozed, and had puffy faces, and dirty tongues. There was a persistent rumour that if we stopped in the open country, it meant that the line was cut. There was a station not far off; Ducostal bicycled to it and told us when he came back that it was Nanteuil-le-Haudoin. The colonel held a consultation with his officers. Henriot was rather pale when he reappeared. He took me aside and told me in confidence that they had just been introduced to a regulation concerning them. All commanders of units whose men showed signs of faltering "would be held personally responsible." He sounded me. "Do you think that means that we should--be shot?" "Exactly! You're lucky to have a platoon like ours!" "That's true," he said, regaining his self-possession. I added: "While the first--for instance!" "Well, well?" I stopped, and did not give him my reasons.