What made me a little anxious was the need for sleep manifest in nearly everyone. Sentries were to relieve each other in definite order--but what guarantee was there? In another hour all these men, who were yawning now, would be snoring! I myself was dying to go to sleep. In view of the gravity of the situation I encouraged myself in the idea of going the rounds every hour. But the lieutenant came to find us and told us of his intention of mounting guard himself. He asked us, in a friendly way, to do the same on our side. We three between us would ensure the safety of the sector. We must needs bow to necessity. I was tempted to admire Henriot; he showed the vigilance of a real leader. Then I smiled. It was no doubt the effect of the minute received that morning concerning responsibilities. What an interminable vigil that was. The men slept like logs, including, to begin with at all events, several of the sentries. I can answer for it that I shook them in a way that made them sit up. When I got back to the picket I had chosen, I had all I could do to keep awake myself. A helmet of lead seemed to encircle my temples. I had a headache and felt overpoweringly drowsy. I dozed off about midnight, but not for long, luckily! The respite did me good. Hour after hour passed by. It was a clear night, though the moon made only a late appearance. The landscape was lacking in any conspicuous features. There was nothing that caught one's eye right away to the horizon, which might be near or far. It would not be long before daybreak. We were freezing where we stood. B-r-r! B-r-r-r! I shook myself and rubbed my shirt against my skin to warm myself. My attention had wandered. Guillaumin suddenly appeared. I had not seen him coming. He said to me: "Not noticed anything?" "No. Have you?" "Yes, for the last few minutes.... I think there's something doing." We strained our ears for a few thrilling seconds. Dead silence. Guillaumin admitted that he must have been mistaken, and apologised. But at this point Bouillon came crawling along in a hurry. "Here come the Bosches. Look! Look!" Yes. There was a moving line yonder, cutting across the pale grey of the stubble. What orders would the lieutenant give? We went to look for him, quickly rousing the _poilus_ on our way. They got up, rubbing their eyes, and noiselessly seized their rifles at the order to stand to arms. We met Bouguet on the way, equally on the alert. The whole platoon was breathless with excitement. We passed word along the line to our neighbours. And what of Henriot? We ended by discovering the poor wretch, who had probably held out all night against his weariness, overcome by it at last, and snoring away with his head on his arm. Guillaumin shook with laughter. "A lot of good all his trouble had been!"