In a few words he repeated the information he had just received. It was this. We were engaged in what might be called the second battle of the Ourcq, for there had been another fought and lost, between the 4th and 7th, by the plucky divisions of reservists from the Paris garrison. The great object of the Staff had been to collect a large army of fresh men to place in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief, the 7th Army Corps coming from Alsace, the 4th--that was ours--and then the divisions from Africa which had just disembarked at Marseilles. (So there was some truth in Pomot's tales, I thought.) With all those combined we should pull it off. We had been withstanding the pressure brought to bear on our weakest point all that day. Now we were going to take the offensive. If we managed to pierce their line...! From a certain thrill in his voice I imagined that that was not all. "What? What more do you know? Out with it!" De Valpic hesitated for a moment: "And the decisive attack, the Big Push, is to come off to-night, according to my cousin!" "Do you believe it?" Guillaumin yawned. "I say, they're not counting on us, I hope!" "Why?" I said, sharply. "We've done our bit!" "That's no reason!" "I'm sleepy." "Get down to it, old chap. We'll wake you in time for the fun." He lay down in the ditch. The night reigned. Searchlights swept the heavens. There was an occasional star-shell, and firing all the time. A fresh breeze got up. Some time slipped by. We were all, or nearly all, dozing. That vague fusillade in the distance would have been enough to upset us. But suddenly without a whistle, without a call, everyone was on his feet. The echo of a bugle-call was borne to us on the wind, coming from several miles away--impressive, rousing notes. The solemn sound of the Charge. Each man seized his arms ready to rush forward. But it was not to be. The captain came by: "Our turn will come, lads. Go on resting for the present--sleep, if possible!" He certainly had us well in hand. Those few words from him were enough. The men lay down in the grass again, wrapping their greatcoats round them, and it was not long before they were sound asleep. Stars were shining in the calm sky above us. CHAPTER XXI THE CULMINATION "Up you get, sir!" "What, what!" Guillaumin was in front of me, smiling and swinging a lantern. Half-joking, he repeated: "I think we're in for it, sir!" I got up. Shadows were moving round us. The sharp air stung. The night was clear but moonless. I asked what time it was. Three o'clock. I immediately had a pleasant surprise. That form on the road--"Humel!" I dashed at him. "Hulloa, my boy! So you got through!" "By jove! It was a bit of luck," he acknowledged. I hungrily clamoured for details.