The long line stole through a pitchy darkness, knowing that at any instant a blaze of fire such as flamed before the Highlanders at Magersfontein might crash out in front of them.

A hundred, two, three, four, five hundred paces were taken.

They knew that they must be close upon the trenches.

If they could only creep silently enough, they might spring upon the defenders unannounced.

On and on they stole, step by step, praying for silence.