THE TRIP THROUGH A GERMAN TRENCH It was the sergeant who led the way.

He and his detail moved, except at special times, in a fan-shaped formation with the noncommissioned officer ahead, three men on either side of him formed lines obliquely back.
In the center, within these oblique flanks were the French lieutenant and Captain Prescott.
It was a compact formation, useful in keeping all hands together and in instant touch, yet likely to prove highly dangerous should the enemy open on them with rifle or machine-gun fire.
In the center of No Man's Land was a wide, deep shell crater, caused by the explosion at that point of one of the largest shells used by the Germans.
Crawling down between friendly and hostile lines, the sergeant made for this shell-hole.

When still several feet away he held up a hand, whereupon Lieutenant De Verne gripped Prescott's leg.
Leaving the others behind the noncommissioned officer moved silently forward.

It was his task to make sure that an enemy party had not been first to reach the crater.
Only eyes trained to see in that darkness could make out the fact that the sergeant had held up a hand once more.

This was the signal to advance.