Fuselli walked past them towards the town. “Say, Fuselli,” shouted Meadville. “Corporal says hell's broke loose out there. We may smell gunpowder yet.” Fuselli stopped and joined them. “I guess poor old Bill Grey's smelt plenty of gunpowder by this time,” he said. “I wish I had gone with him,” said Meadville. “I'll try that little trick myself now the good weather's come on if we don't get a move on soon.” “Too damn risky!” “Listen to the kid. It'll be too damn risky in the trenches.... Or do you think you're goin' to get a cushy job in camp here?” “Hell, no! I want to go to the front. I don't want to stay in this hole.” “Well?” “But ain't no good throwin' yerself in where it don't do no good.... A guy wants to get on in this army if he can.” “What's the good o' gettin' on?” said the corporal. “Won't get home a bit sooner.” “Hell! but you're a non-com.” Another train of motor trucks went by, drowning their Talk. Fuselli was packing medical supplies in a box in a great brownish warehouse full of packing cases where a little sun filtered in through the dusty air at the corrugated sliding tin doors. As he worked, he listened to Daniels talking to Meadville who worked beside him. “An' the gas is the goddamndest stuff I ever heard of,” he was saying. “I've seen fellers with their arms swelled up to twice the size like blisters from it. Mustard gas, they call it.” “What did you get to go to the hospital?” said Meadville. “Only pneumonia,” said Daniels, “but I had a buddy who was split right in half by a piece of a shell. He was standin' as near me as you are an' was whistlin' 'Tipperary' under his breath when all at once there was a big spurt o' blood an' there he was with his chest split in half an' his head hangin' a thread like.” Meadville moved his quid of tobacco from one cheek to the other and spat on to the sawdust of the floor. The men within earshot stopped working and looked admiringly at Daniels. “Well; what d'ye reckon's goin' on at the front now?” said Meadville. “Damned of I know. The goddam hospital at Orleans was so full up there was guys in stretchers waiting all day on the pavement outside. I know that.... Fellers there said hell'd broke loose for fair. Looks to me like the Fritzies was advancin'.” Meadville looked at him incredulously. “Those skunks?” said Fuselli. “Why they can't advance. They're starvin' to death.” “The hell they are,” said Daniels. “I guess you believe everything you see in the papers.” Eyes looked at Daniels indignantly. They all went on working in silence. Suddenly the lieutenant, looking strangely flustered, strode into the warehouse, leaving the tin door open behind him. “Can anyone tell me where Sergeant Osler is?” “He was here a few minutes ago,” spoke up Fuselli. “Well, where is he now?” snapped the lieutenant angrily. “I don't know, sir,” mumbled Fuselli, flushing. “Go and see if you can find him.”