Regimental Headquarters

Steep prickly slopes in shadow from the moon sagging behind us down the strident sky. Guns blaze and slam. The stars burn fever bright. A low white ridge ahead, and the crumpled sound of shelling. "Jerry's out--" A snarling croon wheels over us--quick glittering tracers fly down a pale searchlight, and along the ground bombs blast into smoky yellow shot with light. "These runners will get you up there pretty soon. --Take them up to the Second Battalion." My tongue goes dry and scrapy, and my lips begin to jerk-- --"Look out for the gas--they been pumping it in all night." "Let's go, Tommy." "0 God wait a minute--I've found something wrong with my mask--the damn thing doesn't work."